s/p heal surgury

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i made a post about my burst fractures last week seems a minorish probblems now- today under 36 hour s/p - i am feeling soo much pain and uncertainty- i wish i would have gotten a third opinion. the doc said i would have arthritis later on if i didn't have surg. now he went in and put 6 screws and a plate compaired to a few screws and he had said i would be wereing a soft support boot and now i have a tight compression hard cast. it was a day surg. which i turned into a 23 hour observation and am spending my first night back - waking in pain 8-9 on a 0-10 scale. the lortab do work a bit -- but no too===== the pain is nothing like 'd expected

thanks for letting me air out and you guys being my nurse on your time off

does any one have any input- links thanks sooo much vicky

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard an orthopaedist say something looked a lot worse when they got in there than it did on the films. Like I said earlier heel fractures HURT. I hope you are feeling better by the hour. Remember to watch your neurovascular status. Wiggle the toes . Any duskiness should go awaywhen y ou elevate your foot. Call for any numbness.

I had what they call a Pott's fracture almost 20 yrs ago (distal tib/fib etc) and chose not to have surgery. Believe them when they say arthritis would develop. Owwiiieeeee.

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I can't tell you how many times I've heard an orthopaedist say something looked a lot worse when they got in there than it did on the films. Like I said earlier heel fractures HURT. I hope you are feeling better by the hour. Remember to watch your neurovascular status. Wiggle the toes . Any duskiness should go awaywhen y ou elevate your foot. Call for any numbness.

I had what they call a Pott's fracture almost 20 yrs ago (distal tib/fib etc) and chose not to have surgery. Believe them when they say arthritis would develop. Owwiiieeeee.

You mean Pilon Fracture, I think. Unfortunately even with surgery, you stand a fair to resonable chance of having post traumatic arthritis of your sub-talar joint. (the joint between the calcaneous (heel bone) and Talus (Lower ankle bone). Hopefully not, but as I have posted before and P_RN has also said, the calcaneus fractures are the things that people have a tough time getting over even in poly trauma situations. Luckily, there are fixes for this ailment called "sub-talar arthritis". Some can be fixed with a rocker-bottom shoe for support and physical therapy to injections into the joint all the way to sub talar fusion surgery (which sounds more malignant than really is)

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thanks guys

i am now another day along in my recovery and i am in disbelief as to how much better i feel- the burning, pressure and throbbing has almost stopped -- now of course when i am up using my crutches it is a bit different-- my faith in the surgeon is renewed-- i haven't been given P.T. orders only 2 weeks til i see the doc again- but i am wiggling and doing my toe

A B C's-- i hope the cast will come off sooner and i can start something-- probably swimming-- then when all is safe back to my near 20 year sport of rock climbing. thanks for the input. vicky

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

pilon fracture : comminuted fracture of the inferior articular surface of the tibia and the malleoli, caused by axial compression of the ankle joint

Pott's or Dupuytren's fracture : fracture of the lower part of the fibula, with serious injury of the lower tibial articulation, usually a chipping off of a portion of the medial malleolus, or rupture of the medial ligament

Symptoms & signs : Keen's sign : increased diameter of the leg at the malleoli

Nope it was a potts. http://focosi.altervista.org/pathohomotissueskeletal.html

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pilon fracture : comminuted fracture of the inferior articular surface of the tibia and the malleoli, caused by axial compression of the ankle joint

Pott's or Dupuytren's fracture : fracture of the lower part of the fibula, with serious injury of the lower tibial articulation, usually a chipping off of a portion of the medial malleolus, or rupture of the medial ligament

Symptoms & signs : Keen's sign : increased diameter of the leg at the malleoli

Nope it was a potts. http://focosi.altervista.org/pathohomotissueskeletal.html

Nice, never heard it called Pott's before. Must be old school.

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hey guys and girls

i had my surgury and if i knew how to cut and paste i'd show you my plate and 6 screws--

appointment this week

maybe i can soon weight bare

hope they don't have to come back out

feel good occational thob of a pain

a big pain in the but nonweightbareing

i'll be the most compassionate nurse after this

love and light

vic

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i have called my friends and screamed --yea!!!! i can walk with out crutches- got the word from up above- the doc- just today -- it doesn't hurt - not really - so now hopefully my burst fractures L1 and L4 will heal faster since there is not the wiggle with crawling or the hopping with the crutches not to mention the Pain in the A__ pinch at my armpits from the TLSO brace-

just wanted to let you friends know too

love and light

vicky

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I thought I heard some hollerin' out west way. Congrats on the progress!

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thanks so much -- it is just such and up and down ride p rn--

a good nurse can always look at a patient and turn them around 190 degrees and see the frown become a smile--

thanks for the smile

the sun went behind the clouds and i must remind myself-- i don't have to stand on my head to smile!!!

love and light --vic

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