Broke my ankle and leg in 3 places and I’m getting surgery tomorrow. Idk how to feel or what to expect.

  • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    I triple broke my ankle last year, so let me tell you it sucks tremendously.

    Depending on the severity of your fracture you will be spending a couple months on crutches, and then up to a year doing physical therapy to restore mobility and the lost muscle and circulatory function in your leg(s).

    As for the surgery itself, my ankle was broken in three places and basically turned around 180 degrees, so in a first surgery my foot and leg were fixated using metal rods that were pierced through my ankle and screwed into my shin bone, to allow the swelling to reduce.

    Then some days later, the external fixture got removed again and the foot was placed and fixated in an orthopedic boot, a modern version of plaster casts that can be removed intermittently.

    Now, almost 18 months later I am still not completely done, because the third surgery to remove leftover metal elements in my leg has caused the massively scarred area to heal very poorly, causing a fucking antibiotics resistant infection in the wound as well.

    In short, you have my sympathies, it fucking sucks so much.

    • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Oh jeez. I really hope I don’t have a recovery like that. I expect it to be so rough though. Idek what is going to be done. I haven’t met my surgeon yet. It’s late here, so everything is being done in the morning. They put me in a special splint and have me on pain meds.

      • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        When you do meet your surgeon, don’t worry if they aren’t a people person. The skill you need is in their hands, not their personality. When you meet the anesthesiologist, (and general advice with all medical personnel) be honest about anything they ask you, like about previous drug experiences. They don’t ask to judge you, it’s to judge what and how much to give you, and how to expect you might react.

        • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 year ago

          I’ve had experiences with surgeons, so I won’t be surprised if this guy is kind of an ass. Idgaf as long as he fixes me. Every anesthesiologist I’ve met have been so nice

      • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        Yeah it probably won’t be as bad, but still. Not a fun experience.

        On the plus side, the pain meds are pretty fun. Through that whole ordeal I sampled a wide range of them, ketamine (ketanest) was probably the most intense. Felt like someone rolling a huge, soft but very loud boulder over me.

        • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 year ago

          I had fentanyl in the ambulance and it made me super talkative. I had morphine earlier and that was fun. It has worn off and I have no idea what I’ll be getting next.