How Did It Happen?
I am 31years old I was driving home after night shift, fell asleep and crashed my car into an embankment. I was taken to emergency had xrays and was quickly placed in a back slab or half cast. The treating doctor told me I had a displaced talus fracture that he classed as severe. I spent the next few days in hospital where I had an M.R.I scan and more xrays. I was told it could be up to 14 days before surgery, allowing swelling to go down. I am very fortunate that a friend knew of a very good orthopod who specialised in ankles. due to workers comp I was transfered to private hospital which made my 2 week stay bareable
How Was Your Recovery?
I recieved 2 screws into my talus bone. i had fairly substantial pain before and after surgery. I was on high dose of morphine and paracetemal. After arriving home I continued the meds for 3 or 4 days. I was then a mess for 5 days due to morphine withdrawals and the realisation of my injury. the old saying of making a grown man cry was very real. soon I learnt to cope with the boredom by reading, buzzing around on a motorised wheel chair(highly recomended) and catching up with mates for a beer. I am now into my 10th week after the accident. I have little to no pain. still in a fibreglass full cast. I still get a rush of fluid to the ankle after a while of being upright. I would estimate an 80% loss of muscle in my right leg. I am still non- weight bearing and on crotches. I do have minimal movement of my ankle in my cast, which i was told not to move but it doesn't hurt at all and i am not putting any stress on the area.I was told that I was in the high risk of AVN about 40%. this scared me a bit but it is now up to fate. Before my injury I was a keen surfer amoung other sports and hope to get full movement back. I now have 14 days till the removal of my cast, I then get a boot which can be removed for washing and excersize. I then have a 2 week period until I see my specialist have an xray and he will tell me if I can put it on the ground or not.my biggest hurdle is passing the time and coping with the depressive side. but i am more than half way so i am looking up. my suggestion to anyone with the same injury is keep your chin up the time will pass, make sure the surgeon is experienced in this op. I hired a gogo mobile for about $50 a week and it helps a lot.
Tips and Tricks
- be sure of the surgeon, its your choice.
- keep as active as possible
- have a bath and read a book it helps
- if your wife or spouse is looking after you be patient and help where you can
- get a gogo mobile
How Long Was It Before You Returned to Sports?
havent yet but cant wait
