I have received many emails and messages from my wonderful readers, so I wanted to take the time to sit down and explained what happened to me! Broken bones are thankfully something I have never had to deal with. I made it through childhood and adolescence with not a single bone and thankfully (knock on wood) thus far none of my children have experienced anything broken either.
Well all that came crashing, or should I say falling down Thursday evening as I tumbled down an entire flight of stairs holding my 18 month old! My main concern the entire way down was not landing on him! Babies are resilient and he has tumbled down the stairs before with no injuries- but I knew if I landed on him- he could really get hurt. I knew the second I hit the ground I did something bad to myself. Emmitt was fine, I completely saved him. But when I got up, I heard the dreaded pop.
I have sprained my ankle many, many times. So I assumed it was just a really bad sprain and the pain would go away. I did the RICE method for the rest of the evening, ate dinner with family and crawled up my stairs to bed. After an hour of tossing and turning because of the pain- I grabbed my computer to research the difference between a sprain and a broken bone. Research quickly convinced me it was much more than a sprain so I headed to the ER. They did xrays and found out I had indeed broken my ankle. The image on the left- is what an ankle should look like. The image on the right- is my ankle…
The next morning I met with an orthopedic surgeon who said it was one of the worst breaks he had ever seen. He scheduled me for emergency surgery the next morning to place 2 screws on the outside of my right ankle to help the bone grow back together.
When I woke up from surgery I was told my ankle was even worse when they got it open than the x-rays had looked. I required 6 screws and a plate to put me back together! Now I am home, trying to relax and keep off of it. The pain is horrible so they have me on some pretty strong medications- but even with those sometimes I can feel the throbbing through it! I have to get around my house using a walker or crawling and I was advised to not leave the house accept for doctors appointments. I can not put weight on it for 6 weeks, and after that they will reevaluate and see if I can be put in a walking cast!
Thank you all for your emails, get well messages and support through this tough time!
Update: I went to my post op appointment and got to see my new xrays. They said the hardware looks great but I still am not to put any weight on it for 5 more weeks! Cabin fever is starting to kick in!
OhMyGosh – Skye – that’s awful 🙁
Wishing you quick miraculous healing, and some good support from those around you 😀
Thank you, so so much Amy <3
Yikes! Glad the baby’s okay and that you’re on the mend. That looks painful and sounded scary!
Wow, hope ur feeling better soon ! I fell down a flight of steps an broke my leg . It was more painful then childbirth !!
I defiantly agree. Much worse than child birth.
Child birth is one day and done.
You feel icky for a few days- but not weeks…
wow! thinking healing thoughts for you!
Thanks Courtney!
Holy cow, that’s a crazy story! Hope you heal quickly!!!!
I am so glad to hear your baby is ok! I did have the unfortunate time of a broken ankle a couple of years ago and it was horrible! I was in a partial cast then an air boot forever (well it seemed that way) I still have problems with that ankle and the dr said I probably always will. At least you had surgery I hope you don’t have anymore problems!
I had a broken ankle a couple years ago. Fortunately no pins, screws, or plates. But it hurt a lot and even worse after a couple weeks. I had to keep it elevated nearly the whole 6-8 wks of healing because it kept swelling. I developed a very strong upper body using a walker because I was too awkward with crutches and fell several times trying to use them. Praying the pain disappears quickly as well as the swelling and you are on your way to a speedy recovery. I would not wish a broken ankle on anyone. Least of all a mom.
I fell several times using crutches as well. They gave me a walker. My palms hurt SO bad from carrying myself around!
Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry to hear you’re in so much pain, but what a great mommy for protecting Emmitt.
Oh no! Sorry to hear that. I haven’t had a broken ankle or anything but with my bed rest when I was pregnant I read a lot of magazines!
I am so sorry to hear this, but glad to hear your baby was ok. Get lots of rest and hoping you have a speedy recovery.
OMG Skye!!! Bless your heart!!!! That’s a terrible looking xray, I now you are in some major pain!!!!!
I thought I broke mine a couple months ago. I got up to stand (my leg had fallen asleep) & when I stepped down, my entire foot was turned on its side & completely inwards to when I put my foot down to STEP, my ankle was touching the floor & I stepped down on it!!!! That was the worst pain ever. Burning like I’ve NEVER felt before,even from fire! I could see the busted veins & everything in my foot. I could only imagine the pain you were feeling with that bone completely broke in half!!!! You have months of recovery to endure & I hope & pray you make it through it fine & thankful Emmett is fine as well! It’s hard not to pick him up now I bet? But, I pray you get better quickly!!!! Godspeed to you!
Wow, not good. I pray that you have a speedy recovery. Take it easy and ask for help when you can. I’m sure it’s not easy taking care of the family, but they’ll be OK.
I am an xray tech and that is 1 nasty break
No broken bones, but I did have a complete knee replacement in April. I am still healing. I hear it takes about one year to get back to “normal”. Scared to death I will fall down and mess up my knee. Hope you get better soon. Not an easy task with a little one. I’ll pray for your recovery.
Oh no, so sorry to hear that! Praying you have a speedy recovery. And thankful your baby is alright.
It is so awesome that you were able to prevent your child from getting hurt. Thats what mommies always worry about. Never ourselves. I wish you a speedy recovery. Try not to go to stir crazy. Not putting any weight on it for that long will probably drive you crazy. Good luck with the recovery.
Julie-
I totally went nuts for months! This was a year ago, so I am much better now! 🙂
I am so sorry to hear about your fall. Never fun, especially when carrying a child. I fell down my ex MIL’s stairs many years ago holding my 11 month old daughter (she turns 28 this year). I kept her from getting a single owwie, but in doing so managed to break my tailbone.
In 07 I had surgery on my R ankle for tarsal tunnel syndrome. Walking boot was placed on my foot immediately after surgery. But there was no way I could walk even with one. So I had to resort to crutches. Gained some great upper arm muscles from it, but wasn’t any fun for the 3 months I had to use them. On the day I had my final appt with my orthopedic Dr., I could have kicked myself in the butt for not investigating mobility options. For there in the Dr’s office was a woman who had had the same surgery I had had, but instead of crutches, she was on a little scooter device that she could bend her leg up on (keeping one foot on the floor and keeping her surgical foot off the floor). It had handle bars on it like the razor scooters todays kids have, only the part that they stand on was elevated. You might want to check around and see if there are any medical supply stores around you and see if they have one that you could lease until you are better able to use your broken ankle.
A knee walker!!! I had one of those- http://www.realmomreviews.net/2012/09/free-spirit-knee-walker/
Crutches were not an option for me, I used them for a week and my under arms were so bruised and swollen I had to crawl to the bathroom!
This injury was exactly one year ago! I’m much better now.
ss to see your bad break. i broke that knob off the bottom & know how much that hurt at least i had a walking cast for that. good luck
I am very glad to hear that you are feeling better, and I’m glad at the time of the fall you were able to prevent your child from being injured. Best wishes as you continue to heal…