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Pilon fracture recovery blog full#

“What is your name and date of birth?” The effects of pain “What is your pain now?” medics asked me. I was bombarded with questions and probing hands as I felt the cold, hard sensation of trauma shears exposing my tattered naked body for all to see. The pain was at such a level that my head was swimming, but morphine helped to alleviate it.Īs I was wheeled into the trauma bay I remember seeing a blurry ocean of white and blue. I tried to breathe through the pain while the EMTs carefully wheeled me onto the rig. Shortly after, the police and an ambulance showed up. The car’s driver, who I learned was drunk, pulled over and asked me if I was OK. Also, I developed a greater understanding of the frustration and helplessness patients with limited mobility can feel.įollowing the car-bike collision on that Saturday, I lay on the pavement in pain. Specifically, I learned that emotional trauma often accompanies physical trauma, but that physicians usually aren’t trained to recognize and treat it in their patients. The experience provided me with a valuable window into the world of the patient and changed my outlook on medicine. It happened in 2007 during my second year at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford. The brace is usually only a temporary precaution for a few months.This is the story of my broken leg, hospitalization and lengthy recovery. Once your injury has fully healed, your doctor may still recommend that you wear a light ankle brace when you’re most active, usually during sports activities. Your doctor may remove your pins or screws once your ankle is fully recovered, especially if they cause you discomfort. Talk to your doctor about removal of pins and screws.

Pilon fracture recovery blog full#

Depending on your injury, your doctor may prescribe some physical therapy to help you regain full mobility and use of your injured ankle. It may also require you to have additional surgery. If you put weight on your ankle too soon, you can slow the healing process and increase your pain. You should not put any weight on your ankle until your doctor approves it, even when you’re in a cast or brace. Be sure to only take the medication as prescribed by your doctor, and be sure to discuss any concerns you have about your medication.Īvoid putting weight on your ankle. Be aware that many prescription pain medications can cause dependency. You can take over-the-counter or prescription pain medications provided by your doctor. Tips for aftercare during recovery include: It’s not uncommon for some people to take up to 2 years to reach a complete recovery and return all normal activities without a limp.

$pilon fracture recovery blog$

4 to 6 months: You can typically return to sports activities.3 to 4 months: You can typically return to normal activities, excluding sports.9 to 12 weeks: You can return to driving.6 weeks: Your doctor will remove the cast.Your recovery time can be affected by other health conditions, the severity of your injury, the extent of your surgery, and whether you smoke. However, no two people will recover at the same speed because there are so many variables that affect recovery. If you also had damaged tendons or ligaments, then those may take longer to heal. It takes about six weeks for a bone to heal after a fracture. If treatment was delayed and a deformity is apparent, then an additional surgery at a later time may be necessary to correct any deformity that remains.

$pilon fracture recovery blog$

However, the type of cast or brace depends on the extent of the surgical procedure and the severity of your injury. The cast is usually a half-leg cast, which means it stops at your knee. Bone grafting may also help reduce the chance of developing arthritis later.Īfter surgery, your doctor will put you in a cast, splint, or brace, depending on your situation. This can help you regrow bones that have shattered into too many pieces to pin or wire back together. The surgeon may also need to perform a bone graft. The surgical procedure may include some of the following options to stabilize your ankle: The exact procedure your doctor uses depends on the severity of your injury. The goal of surgery is to stabilize your ankle and help speed the healing process. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription pain medication as part of your treatment plan. Nonsurgical treatment would be recommended only if surgery would pose too high of a risk to you due to other health conditions. Surgery is usually the recommended treatment. A trimalleolar fracture is an unstable type of ankle fracture.

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