Purple casts are the way forward

It is now 3 weeks since I broke my ankle, it seems like a lot longer, but this week it feels like I have made some progress with my visit to the fracture clinic, which I will come back to later.

I had a proper night out this week with my group of lovely friends, I managed to venture as far as my friends Nics house and had a couple of drinks, it was so nice to chill out, get out the house and have a laugh and a gossip.  We were discussing our trip to Las Vegas in October to celebrate 4 of my friends 40ths birthdays.  Lorna decided it would be a good idea to ring the hotel in Vegas to tell them to expect us in October and to ask about the White Night parties at the Nikki Beach Club which is in our hotel!  We have previously done 2 other trips, the first one was to New York in April 2008 and we went skiing in Morzine in February 2010, this is our final 40th trip so we will have to find another excuse to go away over the next few years!

The weather has been miserable most of the week, so much rain all the time.  When I do get to leave the house Andy makes sure I wipe my crutches before I come back in! I managed to venture to Next this week and treated myself to a new pair of pumps, which is about the limit of my footwear at the moment. I should have got a discount as I only need one at the moment! I cant wait to be able to wear some different footwear and look forward to the day when I can see my 2 feet properly.
This week looks as though me might get a high of 16c woohoo! At least its not showing rain every day!

I saw a guy on crutches when we were out and without thinking I said to him "Ooh, a crutch man!", Andy said I didn't need to acknowledge everyone else on crutches, like VW Beetle drivers do! Maybe I could invent some sort of greeting where we bang crutches, like a version of the All Blacks haka.  OK maybe not.

Its been a sad week in the news with the tragic events in Barford and the father and son that were killed when their boat went over the weir, how the mother will find the strength to carry on is beyond me, but she has 2 children thankfully that made it out of the river alive, only just.  It puts things into perspective when you hear about tragedy and sadness in the news, especially when its close to home.  The awful weather we have experienced definitely played a part in the events on the river that day, its too sad to think about.

This week I have been busily searching the Internet looking for deals to Florida for Christmas and New Year, once our insurance claim for our cancelled trip is underway we can rebook.  We did consider going next Easter but its this years holiday so we may as well go the whole hog and spend Christmas & New Year away.  I have found some great flight deals, and the villas we have been looking at are absolutely amazing, with everything you need for a fantastic holiday, Pool, hot-tub, games room and lots more and they are all massive 5 bedroom homes, so I am looking forward to spending my first Christmas out of the UK with my family and the Fitzmaurice family. We are seeing the Fitzmaurice family this weekend so will hopefully decide on dates/villas etc so we can rebook.  It would be nice to have it booked before we were originally due to go on 1st June as it will take my mind off it.

Harry Potter Land Universal Studios Orlando

I had my appointment at the fracture clinic this week, its so busy in there. Who knew so many people fractured bones!  Admittedly a lot of them had a fractured finger, so I think they should have gone to the back of the queue as I quite clearly had the most serious fracture in the clinic that day, only kidding! (I did though).  The nurse cut off the temporary plaster and removed the dressings with no discomfort felt. She then left the room for a while which gave me a chance to take a look at my surgery wounds for the first time (photos below, but only scroll down if you have a strong stomach). My ankle  shape didn't look too bad, still a bit swollen but no bruising at all.  The wound on the inside of my ankle is approx 6cm long across my ankle bone with 11 stitches in, this is where the screws are holding the bone together that was broken in 3 places.  This wound was quite tidy and neat compared to the other one, the wound on the outside of my ankle where the plate is inserted is approx 12cm long with 14 stitches in, it was sutured together tightly so was a bit puckered and looked like Frankenstein's neck if I am honest!  I had a bit of a cry when I saw them as I have no other wounds on my body and now have these 2 horrid scars in a very obvious place on my body, it just brought it all back to me what a horrible injury I am dealing with. The nurse removed the stitches, which I didn't feel as my foot is pretty numb around the ankle, which the nurse said was due to the nerves being cut in surgery.  I was then sent for xray and then Mr Shah, the orthopaedic consultant looked at them to decide the next course of action.  He said the bones were all aligned correctly and were showing good signs of starting to knit together, this was the good news I wanted as I know of other people who have had to have further surgery to correct the bone alignment when it hasn't worked the first time. The consultant then put pressure on the sole of my foot to start moving my ankle up!! OUCH!! I expected major pain but again it felt quite numb and all I could feel was some pulling and slight pain near my Achilles tendon. He managed to move it a couple of inches altogether, although it wouldn't go anywhere near 90 degrees so getting my heel to the floor will be the job of the physio and my exercises at home once I am out of plaster.  I was sent to the plaster room, where I chose bright purple to cheer me up, and again my foot was pushed up as far as it would go so it could be set as close to 90 degrees as possible to stop the Achilles tendon from shortening too much.  This plaster is so much easier to be in, as its lighter and better fitting so makes it much easier to move around in and sleep in too.  I am back in a few weeks when I will find out whether I am in another cast or a splint boot, and this depends on the bone healing at that stage.



looks quite normal here!



my skinny leg :-((

who said coloured casts where just for kids!

I have been out for coffee again this week, this is still a very exciting event, believe me! I have also been to the hair salon again for a new colour and I had my colleagues here from work this week for our monthly meeting which I offered to host as I thought it would be a chance to catch up on what was happening. It was lovely to see everyone, but by 2pm I was brain dead and I slept for 90 minutes as soon as they had left.  I am hoping to return to work (from home) in 3-4 weeks, but it will be a long while before I can drive, so return to normal service will be a few months yet.

I am getting quite good on crutches now, my balance is better and its definitely strengthened my core.   I am more confident on the stairs now, Andy even dragged me round Sainsbury's this week but I did sneak off and find a chair when I got too tired!  I am getting a bit impatient now as I am keen to get to the next stage in recovery, and start some physio but the consultant said it wont start until I am out of plaster, logical really!

Anyway, keep smiling, pecker up, best of british etc etc etc :-)

(only scroll if you want to see the pictures!!)

this is where the plate is inserted along the bone

Inside ankle bone where screws hold bone together

DISCLAIMER. - I will not be held responsible for anyone fainting or throwing up, I warned you!

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger

The boredom has begun to set in now along with frustration.  The first area of frustration is not being able to exercise properly.   I am finding it hard to read the comments on the Regency Runners Facebook page of the great runs people are having.   I have worked so hard in the last year getting my running pace up, and improving my fitness.  I managed to knock 7 minutes off my 10k time at the Regency Run in April from the last race I did. I also ran a half marathon in March, raising over £500 for Cancer Research.  My race time wasn’t much too write home about, but at least I completed the race and ran it all.  I don’t intend doing another half marathon either so that will remain my personal best! Right at this moment in time I can’t imagine ever running again and that breaks my heart.  It is my main stress buster and energiser.  I actually enjoy running now, whereas I never used to!  Plus I have a pair of Brooks Glycerin 9 that cost £100 sitting in my wardrobe, that were prescribed to my gait at Warwick Sports, my left foot gait will have changed by the time I am back on two feet! The second area of frustration are the things I cannot do for myself, such as carrying things around, tidying up, popping up/down stairs, going out to the shops.  Every time I try to tidy up in the kitchen or lounge Andy tells me to sit down, but he doesn’t realise I need to feel as though I am still able to do some things for myself.  I appreciate every trip I make out of the house, and this week I have managed to go to Neros’, the pub, friends for dinner, hair salon and out for cooked breakfast so it’s been great to feel as close to normal life as I can get at the moment. I am grateful every week for the help of my friends & family I don’t know what I would do without them all.  We had  a laugh about all the weirdo's in Leamington Spa when we went out for breakfast, we all seem to know them which is quite worrying, and what is even more worrying is that we might end up as one of the weirdos one day!  I'll be the one that drags my leg behind me as I wander around the shops trying to find a pair of shoes in 2 different sizes to fit my deformed foot ;-))

I finished reading a kindle book this week that I had started before we went to Cornwall called "She Won't get far her bag's too heavy" by Marie Stamp, its a true story about Marie, who is in her 50's and she decides to walk the South West Coastal Path, having previously done Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. The South West Coastal Path starts in Minehead, follows the north coast of Devon into Cornwall through Bude, covering our 10 miles section, onto Lands End and back along the south coast to Poole, a total of 630 miles.  Its quite amusing as she tells the story of her journey, and how she refused to queue to pay for a jacket potato as it would get cold so she just left the shop without paying, and her exploits of wild camping in random fields on her route.  I decided to re-read the section covering Bude and Cracklington Haven to see if she mentioned any landmarks we had passed, or even Dizzard Woods where I slipped.  She mentions a section where she walked along a steep clifftop, which I remember was about 10 minutes before my accident spot.  Another walker and dog were approaching her and the other dog rushed past her and made her stumble down a rabbit hole, and she thought she had broken her ankle, luckily for her she had just twisted it! Maybe there is a bit of a Cornish triangle there!

I have done a bit more research on my injury this week, to try and find out how long its taken other people to heal and to understand a bit more about my type of fracture.  The trimalleolar fracture is also known as a Weber C, there is a Weber A & B too.  Approximately 70% of people suffer a Weber B, and only 20% manage a Weber C.  The direction I broke my ankle in is in the majority though, as I broke it in supination, as opposed to pronation (see pic).  I have made an enquiry about hydrotherapy, where you are in a small pool with water temperature of35c, with a physiotherapist.  This allows you to make normal movements but not fully weight bearing, so I am going to book this as soon as I am out of my cast, and luckily there is one in Leamington Spa.  I am hoping I can do this as well as the NHS Physio treatment I will start once I am out of my cast.  I found a blog the other day by a lady called Charlotte Ord, who is from Godalming in Surrey.  She is a well known personal trainer and has featured on lots of TV programmes such as ITV’s The Biggest Loser. http://www.charlotteord.co.uk/  .  She suffered the same injury, jumping off a rock and landing badly on her foot  in November 2010 and was back in the gym 4 months later doing squats & lunges, she then progressed to the cross trainer and finally running after approximately 6 months.  Its great to read a blog written by someone who is positive about making a full recovery, as I like to think I am.  She has made a full recovery and says it no longer affects her gait/walk but she doesnt have full flexibility in it.  Many of the other blogs I have read have been stories of people who are full of problems, pain & suffering for a year or more after.  These people seem to feel really sorry for them self and also don’t seem to help themselves by spending 16 hours a day on the sofa watching TV!  I am now doing daily leg exercises by squatting on my good leg, and leg raises on my bad leg.  I am also doing abdominal crunches & planks (on one leg!) and I also stretch my legs and toes daily using a resistance band and I am trying to walk a little further with my crutches, still non weight bearing though, this is my arm & shoulder workout!  I might try and walk around my road this week!  I have set up a forum site this week for people with broken bones as there isnt any such thing, so I need members who have a broken bone now or have had one previously, or a serious knee injury that required plaster!  http://www.brokenbones.ning.com/

Mine is a Supination break

no excuse for no exercise!

toe stretching!

My cast is feeling looser each day as my calf muscle shrinks, I can get my hand half way down inside  it now and I think I can feel my metal plate!! Yuk!  I am keen to see what my orthopaedic surgeon says on Monday and get a more permanent cast fitted.  I think I will also feel more at ease to know the bones have been aligned properly and are healing alright without the need for further surgery, so please all keep fingers crossed for me on Monday 14^th May!

My mum had her visit to her consultant in Faro yesterday, he was an English speaking doctor and has informed her she doesn’t need surgery at the moment, and has told her she can put a small amount of weight on her foot, but is not to remove the Cam Boot cast to move her ankle around which is what she had been doing.  I have recommended some hydrotherapy for mum when she is ready as there are some lovely spa hotels in Albufeira with Hydro pools. 

If my therapist is anything like this I am going daily!

I have a lovely display of flowers still, they smell gorgeous.  I have to ask my in-laws to tend to them every few days as I cant do it myself! I have had some fabulous funny/kind/rude cards too.  The kids have been keeping everywhere tidy in the house, Andy has had a bit of a moan this week as things have got a bit much, but its to be expected with myself and 2 kids to care for ha ha!

Flowers from work

I am now in week 3 and the time has gone quite quickly, which is surprising.  I am hoping the next 3 weeks go quick too as I am keen to get to the next stage at 6 weeks,  where I can semi weight bear on my foot as this will make life so much easier.  My right shoes are taking too much wear, I will end up with one faded converse in a few months time!

Next week, details of my visit to see the orthopaedic surgeon and my xray results...

Let the healing begin

Am I adjusting to being back at home? Not sure really?  

I don't spend much time at home usually as I am always out working, exercising or socialising! Daytime TV leaves a lot to be desired so I am trying to build up some recordings of decent stuff to watch. Lots of things have had to change and thankfully I have a very organised and efficient husband (Andy, note I am praising you!). I have to be up and in the shower by 7.30; I need help getting in and out of the shower, but thankfully can dry myself and get dressed.  However getting my knickers & trackies on requires me hooking them over my club foot, pulling them up to my thighs, then rolling backwards in a gambol to get them over my bum.  I make sure everyone has left the room at this point, probably not a nice sight! I have taken to coming downstairs on my bum now as the stairs are the hardest obstacle in the house. Andy then makes breakfast and a packed lunch for me and I am usually ready and sat on the sofa in my corner position by 8.30am!  I can’t risk showering or navigating the stairs when everyone is out at the moment so it’s a case of having to be up & ready early.  I also have to make sure I drink lots of water as that makes me get up hourly for the toilet as my bum gets sore sitting all day, I can only imagine how painful bedsores must be!  Andy came in with some Jif Lemon wipes the other day and said he wanted to wipe my crutch!!  Thank god he meant my walking aid! I had moaned that it smelt plasticky! There are many things I have had to laugh at this week, such as the shoes lined up in the hall the other day, along with my “shoe” for my right foot.

Guess which one is mine?

Shortly after I arrived at Plymouth hospital last week, I realised I ought to tell my parents I had injured myself as they were in Australia at the time.  They were visiting my sister and family as it was the 1^st birthday of my niece Ruby and they were having a naming ceremony on Bondi Beach on Sunday 22^nd April.  However I decided not to tell them until after the naming ceremony as I didn’t want them to be worrying about me, so decided to text them later on Sunday.  I woke up Sunday morning in hospital and turned my mobile on to read the following message:

I think I must have read it 3 or 4 times before I realised I wasn’t dreaming, you can see the start of my reply below it.  What are the chances of that? Mother & daughter breaking an ankle on the opposite side of the world, 12 hours apart! Mine is my left and Mum’s is her right.  Mum had a double fracture, she hasn’t yet had surgery and may not need it, her foot is in a boot cast.  They had to arrange their repatriation back to Portugal through insurance as the consultant had insisted her leg be elevated for the whole flight, so it had to be business class.  I said to Mum it’s a very dramatic way to get an upgrade!  They also had accommodation paid for as my sister lives in a 3 storey town house in Sydney so mum didn’t have easy access to the bathroom and sleeping on the sofa was not ideal.  Mum & Dad are now back home in Portugal where she will get another X-ray to see if they recommend surgery to insert plates & pins in her ankle too! Can you imagine if we fly together, we will both set off the alarms as we go through security at the airport with our bionic legs!  Get welll soon Mum, love you lots.  Everyone has laughed at me including the paramedics & nurses when I have told them I have a metal allergy.  I am allergic to cheap metal jewellery (nickel) which gives me a nasty rash, so I thought I had best mention it as I was having metal inserted into my leg for the rest of my life!! Well it paid off as I have titanium plates, worth top dollar on eBay apparently, no bog standard NHS rubbish for me ha! I thought I might as well tell the surgeon I was allergic to cats, dogs & horses too but he assured me there were none in theatre that day.


red circles show area of break, obviously have to be an expert
as I wouldn't have spotted it!

The kids have slowly adjusted to me changing from “busy working mum” to “mum on the sofa”.  They have been really good and have helped Andy around the house with not too much nagging, Joseph has vacuumed and helped tidy up and Georgia has kept her room tidy and put plates and dishes away, after her obligatory reply of “hang on a sec”!  I was hoping the novelty of using my crutches might have worn off with Georgia by now as she uses them and then leaves them in another room! I shouldn't moan, as they are always there to give me a hug if I get tearful, which I do frequently!  Georgia makes me stand up for a hug though as she says its not the same when I am sat down ;-)

One of my hourly walkabouts

I have had lots of lovely visitors since arriving home last Wednesday and a great variety of gifts, I am not being inundated with grapes which is good.   My lounge looks like a florists, I have fruit platters, jaffa cakes, scented shower gel & bubble bath, magazines & a lovely M&S pamper hamper from the girls at work.  We have had dinner cooked and delivered by friends, lunch bought in for me and continuous offers to get things in town.  I am overwhelmed by the kindness of people, not that I had any doubt but I have a great bunch of friends and family around to help out.   It really breaks up the time when I have visitors and is the highlight of my day.  I am having to write down my visit schedule though as I am still a bit “away with the fairies” otherwise I forget who is coming and when.  We went out to the local pub with friends for Sunday roast this week and I was taken to Nero by friends on Monday, it’s nice to breathe fresh air and it makes you realise how much we take normal activities for granted!  I bumped into Rachel from Regency Runners at Nero who assured me I would be back running in no time, I can’t see it myself at the moment but it’s a goal to aim for!


My escape to Nero with Cheryl and 2 of my fellow
walkers Michelle & Paula

My leg is less swollen now and I can see the muscle in my thigh and calf shrinking already from lack of exercise and general usage.  The best position is still to have it elevated on pillows day and night, otherwise as soon as I stand up or put my leg down the blood flows to my foot and it feels like its going to explode out of the cast. I am not in constant pain, I just get a bit of discomfort around the wound and a bit of aching from time to time.  However if I try to do more my ankle makes sure I pay for it, for example not having it elevated for an hour or so one day made it so painful that night I barely slept.  My next appointment at the fracture clinic is Mon 14 May, when they will x-ray to make sure the broken bones are setting straight and I will hopefully get a new lighter weight cast, so I might get to see the wound then!   I am still on daily pain relief, I tried to wean myself onto Paracetamol for a few days but have gone back onto Cocodamol until the pain calms down again. The healing process relies on good nutrition and a few good quality supplements to help you along the way, so my friend Sarah has sent me some useful links to information for certain types of Vitamin E, Calcium Citrate and Magnesium Malate.  These along with a healthy diet should help the bones, muscles, tendons and skin heal quickly.

nice bruising post surgery with surgeons fingerprints top of pic

Our holiday to Florida on 1^st June with the Fitzmaurices has now been cancelled by the travel agent.  We have lost 70% of the package holiday cost but got a full refund on the park passes, airport parking/hotel and car hire, apart from small admin fees which we can claim back.  We can claim the 70% loss back on our insurance once we have all the paperwork we need and are currently looking at re -booking for Christmas, which will be something to look forward to. Holiday insurance has saved my family & I over the years many times!!

I have stopped with the “what if’s” now as there are too many, and as my sister said “it is what it is”.  I said to Andy I wished I had taken the time to look for my walking sticks which I have taken on every mountain walk we have done previously. Maybe they might have saved me falling, which they have done many times when its slippery or uneven under foot. His reply to that was “If my aunt had bollocks she’d be my uncle”. So, no more what if's!