Ankle Injuries

[johny26]

hello all, just browsing the web for ankle injury forums. get ready for a long read lol.

im 26, at age 17 i suffered a open fracture ankle dislocation (right foot.) tearing of pretty much everything on the outer side of the ankle, including the deep peroneal nerve. this was done playing basketball of all things. i went up for a rebound, left the foot dangling a bit, and SNAP. sounded like a loud rubber band snapping. i fell to my left trapping the foot underneath the leg, making the arch of my foot touch my leg. so thats a good mental picture for ya lol. a good flap of stuff became trapped in the joint, so they had to open it up to get it out and clean out the joint.

what i felt during intial injury was numbess from the outer knob, all across the top of the foot. the part where the peroneal nerve tore, burned like a zapping fire. and a hot poker being jammed in front of the inner knob of the ankle (not where the tarsal tunnel runs, but in front of it)

i was told it was a bad injury, i'd most likely have pain, and it'd get worse as i aged. most likely no more basketball (obviously lol)

so i go to a doctor maybe 3 times in 9 years and no one did anything but a cortozone shot. 2 on the outer side, one on the inner. it actually made the ankle hurt worse.

now i have deep piercing pain the joint, the achilles feels strainged, it still feels like a stab in front of the inner knob. there are also 3 area that are tender to touch. those are underneath the outer knob, on the front of the ankle just below the shin bone, and also on a spot just below the tear, where those things connect to the toe. that part feels like its ripping open if i pivot on it.

the deep piercing pain and the stab got a point summer 06, where i didnt even want to drive anymore. it was too painful/risky.

october 06 i see a podiatrist that recommends me to a pain management doc for rsd/crps diagnoses. they try a lumbar nerve block that made me feel like i was being gutted from the front. all i felt in the ankle was a warming sensation on the tender spot thats on the front part of the ankle, just below the shin.

he recommends me to dr pinzur at loyola, who's supposed to be the number 2 guy in my area. a foot and ankle disorder surgeon/specialist. he says he doesnt think anyone would risk going in there, cause it would most likely make the pain worse. so he sends me to chronic pain center of chicago. that doc initial agreed that no one would risk surgery, but began to change his tune after the first couple of months. so he recommends me to dr kelikian who is supposed to be the number 1 guy in this area. he treats the chicago bears, and has a book out that most foot and ankle disorder specialists/surgeons use.

i was getting sick of the run-around routine. sick of pain meds as well. i was taking 160 vicodins a month, then reduced to 60 a month, with kadian as well. trazodone for sleep. i've had my fill of pills, that routine gets old as well.

i almost didnt go see this new doctor, but im glad i did. i dont know the exact details (will find out january 18th) of what he's going to do. he's a very busy guy, and i got the brief explanation. he'll replace some of the outer stuff, and scope the inner part of ankle. the deep piercing pain in the joint is due to instability, and the stab could be a small tissue tear. i hope it is, cause it can be fixed. i was originally seeing him for fusion eval. but he doesnt think thats the proper course right now. surgery is set for febuary 6th, and im a bit FREAKED out about it lol. mostly cause of the sciatic nerve block involved to numb the foot. if it hurts as bad as the lumbar block, i might end up swingin at someone lol. he says i'll always have nerve pain, the nerve was just damaged too bad. but the stab in front of the inner knob and the deep piercing pain in the joint, he'll try to fix

i am learning that its not that i was getting the run-around routine. its that there arent many qualified to deal with such a complex injury to the ankle. i mean, my god i tored my foot off playing basketball. the achilles was the only thing keeping it somehwat intact.

my mri last year showed posterior medial malleolus spurring

small fluid build up within the tendon sheath of the tibialis posterior tendon at the level of malleolus, compatibal with tenosynovitis. there is also fluid within the tendon sheath of the flexor hallucis longus tendon, however this is more likely secondary to the ankle effusion

addendum to the report

there is thickening of the posterior calcaneofibular ligament with intermediate signal, consistent with chronic injury. there are also post surgical changes along the lateral malleolar region

so im just posting at numerous sites, trying to get all the info i can, and trying to find people with similar pains/experiences.

is posting of pictures allowed, or links to pictures? i have taken a few pictures and made diagrams of what i felt during initial injury, and feel now. would love to post em, cause the ankle looks a bit jacked. when i flex the ankle muscles, theres a good long gap just in front of the outer knob, that dips in about a quarter inch. also a pic of the line where it tore, and the spot where the ice pick feels like its sticking in. so if a mod can let me know if i can post a link to a few pics, tyvm.

i am glad i went to see this doctor, maybe i can be more active next summer. gonna be a long painful recovery im sure. im hoping for 60-70 percent reduction in pain, and 60-70 percent of the functionality i used to have (im at around 30 now, no driving, just walking around the house hurts.) my spirits are as high as they've been since the injury. my wife wanted to jump up and hug this doctor when he said he'd try to go in and fix it up a bit.

im hoping they'll let me record the surgery, or at least get some pics of the scarred up stuff, and the stuff they'll replace lol. im just curious, and like to know whats being done. i ignored the pain for so long, and now i just want to know every single thing i can know.

so if anyone has any advice, or have dealt with a similar issue, please post and let me know. and mod, dont forget to let me know if i can post pics, or the link to the pics. theres a strange gap in front of the outer knob, and the tear line looks pretty cool lol.

ty for reading, and i hope none of you tear your foot off playing a silly game lol