Broken ankle..

[CurvyEm]

I am really worried that I may have broken my ankle. There's no one here at the moment, and I can't remember doing it. It hurts like hell, it took me about 15 minutes to crawl into the livingroom, while sobbing like a baby. I don't really want to go to the hospital because I look a mess, and I don't want to crawl out of the front door into a cab, I don't even know if I have the money for a cab. I'm just curious if anyone has experience with broken ankles, and will it heal on it's own?

[TallFatSue]

When in doubt, see a doctor and get an X-ray. About 3 years ago I slipped on some ice (whoops, crash, on my big fat ass) and thought I had broken an ankle, but the doctor said it was only a sprain. He wrapped up my ankle and advised me to keep my weight off of it -- no easy feat for a 450lb woman! It was 6 weeks before I could really walk on it again, and probably 6 months before it felt fully back to normal. During those 6 weeks, I hobbled into my office with a cane, parked myself at my desk chair and hardly moved all day. Some of my staff took it upon themselves to wheel me down the hall in my desk chair to the conference room whenever I had to attend a meeting. :)

[BBWMoon]

Em,

It sounds like you're in a lot of pain. If you've hurt yourself, you need to get it checked. It will get worse, if you don't. If you can, call someone to come over and help you to get ready, and into a car. You can apply ice and wrap it in a bandage as well, but if the pain persists, go to the hospital.

I hope you feel better soon.

[CurvyEm]

Oh God. It does sound fun being pampered! but there's no one here to do it. If it takes that long for a sprain, I really hope it's just that. I guess there's no chance of me going on a night out tomorrow?

As for the hospital, at this moment in time I can't go, I've got no pennies and there's no one here :( bah i'mfeeling sorry for myself.

[Santaclear]

Go get it looked at, Em!
If it's only a sprain it'll heal fine but if it's broken you can really screw yourself up if you don't take care of it properly.

[abluesman]

If that ankle is broken and you don't have it looked at, you could be limping for the rest of your life.

Go NOW !!!!

[BBWMoon]

Good Morning, Sue!

When I was 15, (Memorial Day Weekend/Friday) I was running around the back yard and jumped off a 6ft. stone wall and hurt my left leg. My parents decided it was a sprain, but I insisted we go to the hospital because I knew it was broken, (I had heard the sound of the break).

It certainly was broken, a Spiral break in my leg, and several fractures in my ankle. They had to call in a specialist (who was on vacation for the holiday & wasn't a happy camper to deal with me) to set my leg. They weighted my leg down in the hospital bed overnight, and I had to wait until the next day for surgery. When I was done, I had a permanent plate in my leg, and several pins to set my ankle. (The pins were later removed).

Because of the major surgery, I missed my school finals. I had to take a summer course. My birthday was two weeks later, and I had no sweet 16 party. I was on Crutches until the end of July and I finally walked on my own again by the beginning of school.

I still unknowingly "baby" my left leg. My right leg has more muscle tone because of this, and does double the work. I'm not supposed to wear heels.
(I sometimes do, but it's a rare occassion). I don't have any pain, but there are days when It feels stiff, and I limp for awhile.
:(

[FEast]

Just exactly how did you injure yourself, Em? As a person who's often fallen or twisted this or that, my experience has been that a soft tissue injury hurts a heck of a lot more than a broken bone...except at the actual point of impact, so to speak. When I've actually broken a bone, I've learned what "seeing stars" means. It also hurts like crazy the first couple of days, but after that, it's nothing compared to a really bad sprain or severe bruising of soft tissue.

First and foremost, of course, is to apply ice. If you don't have something you can put ice in, a large bag of frozen peas is great for this. Then be sure to elevate your ankle.

Since you live alone and can't manage on your own, it's best to call an ambulance. Be sure to tell them you have no money, so you don't get hit with a huge bill. Over here, we have local volunteer ambulances we can call if we don't have insurance to pay for the City ambulances; don't know what you have on your side of the pond.

I know how you feel about not wanting to go anywhere until you've cleaned up. Since this is not a life or death emergency, therefore, you have the "luxury" of waiting until you can ask a friend or relative to come help you shower. After that, however, I'd recommend you get to an emergency room, where they can x-ray your ankle. If it is broken, you need to get it set as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse it will be, as it will start to knit, and if it does that without being set, you could wind up being in constant pain and limping, and requiring surgery to get it re-broken and set properly.

Whatever you do, don't let them bust your chops about your weight. And when you get to the hospital, make sure that, if they don't provide you with a stretcher, you ask for a wide wheelchair with a leg lift, so you can keep your ankle elevated until they can see you. If the place is very busy, be prepared for a long wait, as your problem won't be seen as that big of an emergency, although it's definitely one that needs attending.

Good luck, Em! Having this type of injury is bad any time of the year, but I'm especially sorry this happened to you now.~Bountifully, Fuchsia

[CurvyEm]

Thank you for all that. We have free healthcare here so a bill isn't a problem, I just really hate the hospital. I'm going to see if it gets any better. I've managed to get some peas now.

As for what I actually did to it. I really do not know. I was so drunk last night that I can't remember anything. :confused:

[BBWMoon]

Great Advice, Fuchsia! :)

(Have a Wonderful Holiday, too!)

[Tad]

Curvy;

I doubt you would have gotten yourself home and to bed last night if your ankle was broken, but it is possible I suppose.

It is more likely that it is sprained, but that does not mean it is a minor injury--especially for someone over 300 pounds! A sprain is basically damage to the 'soft' tissues like tendons and ligaments, and these can be harder to heal up than are bones. There was a BBW I used to chat with in Dimensions who went through endless problems after something like this.


So do NOT just ignore it and hope that it will get better. Get to the hospital, emphasize how much it hurts, so that even if it is 'only' a sprain you get the proper advice on how to take care of it.

Best of luck!

-Ed

[Ceres]

ok hun,i think it is broken:( ....if it blue and it feels uneventhen is broken...i had a hairlline fracture 2 years ago but i thought it was just a sprain...instead was really a fracture so now when i walkk sometimes i feel a sharp pain in it and the ankle fold over himself...so go to the hospital..dont you have a friend that can drive you?well then maybe you should call 911 explaining that you cant walk trough the door to go at the hospital....keep us posted...Ceres

[CurvyEm]

I'm back now, when my friend came to visit she demanded I went to the hospital. It was hard work getting to the car and she got me a wheelchair when I got there (which was surprisingly VERY roomy)

It is only sprained, they've given me crutches and I'm to keep my weight of it for a while yet then do exercises.

Thanks for the advice everynow. Now if anyone wants to come and pamper me and give me sympathy I'd be very happy :D

[BBW Betty]

Glad to hear it's just a sprain. It should heal up a lot better then. Still, it's a good thing you had it looked at--without proper attention, it could "heal" all wrong, and you end up with problems the rest of your life.

That's one part of the arthritis in my ankle. When I was 13-14, I sprained it several times. The repeated injuries led to complete deterioration of my cartilage. I can't even rotate it normally without bone grating on bone.

I know it sucks to be laid up this time of year. Good luck with it, and take care of yourself.

[CurvyEm]

I know it sucks to be laid up this time of year. Good luck with it, and take care of yourself.

Damn right it does, I was supposed to be going out for a meal and a night out tomorrow, out to my friends for dinner and then a night out on boxing day, and then out new years eve. But I don't think any of that is going to happen now. Instead I'll be sat in alone tomorrow night.

Sorry I'm feeling sorry for myself because I've ruined xmas.

[Totmacher]

{{{{{em}}}}}

[swamptoad]

Hiya Em,

I used to work in the Emergency Room. You already stated that you have crutches. That is a good thing. Be very careful using them too because a lot of people have returned back to the E.R. from having crutch accidents. Another thing that is great for your ankle are landing gear splints. *ankle stirrup splints* which immobilize and help reduce the swelling. Medical supply stores have them..maybe Wal-mart has them also. Hospitals have them for sure. Also ace wraps can be handy for reducing the swelling/inflammation as well. Make sure you elevate you ankle too...prop it up on something.

Definitely use an ice pack. They have them disposable kind in the E.R. *ammonium nitrate* but i am sure you can use just about whatever...like frozen peas, frozen ice packs that can be used over and over again...or just plain ole ice..make sure you don't place it directly to the skin...always use a barrier like a wash cloth.

GINGER Ginger, grated and infused with boiling water like tea then cooled relieves travel Sickness, nausea, and digestion problems. Sip slowly. Ginger sprinkled on food can also help. A compress soaked in a ginger infusion relieves sprains and strained muscles.

[Jes]

Damn right it does, I was supposed to be going out for a meal and a night out tomorrow, out to my friends for dinner and then a night out on boxing day, and then out new years eve. But I don't think any of that is going to happen now. Instead I'll be sat in alone tomorrow night.

Sorry I'm feeling sorry for myself because I've ruined xmas.


listen, drunky mcdrunkerson, quit drinkin' half an hour earlier next time, and we'll have no more holiday mishaps!

c'mon! :) you know i'm right!

[AnnMarie]

Hope it's feeling better before long, Em. :)

I sprained mine (may have been a bit beyond that in reality) when I was about 7 years old. My parents didn't have health insurance, and my mother was a nurse, so my dad made me a splint. They wrapped it up, and let it heal, but it's never been the same.

It's one of those weird things, if I step on it even slightly off center, I'll twist it and hurt myself. If I step on the edge of a street curb, and I'm not careful, it will go right out on me.

So, make sure you heal up well and properly before you go jumping about! :)

[CurvyEm]

Emma needs hugs :(

It's Xmas eve, all my friends are out having fun, my mums gone out and I'm sat here all alone and I can't even get into the kitchin to get any food because I can't carry it :(

[like em big]

Hi Emma, so sorry for the sprain. Really great advice about ace bandage and frozen peas..ice packs. At night elevate your leg to prevent..ease throbbing. Please practice using the crutches. Practice slowly going up steps with someone to help you. I had a hip replacement and I learned to use crutches for 6 months. So far you've done everything right. In a few months, if you keep doing the right things, you'll be back as new.
just my 2 ¢.
Huge big Hugs and kisses.

[Totmacher]

*HUG*
Emma, have you tried hopping? I dunno how good an idea it is now, but last time I sprained my ankle (way back when) it was the way to go for short trips.