Hi Everyone! Long time since I've been on the site so here's a big hello to all my friends -  been off line, but not forgotten. Missed you all.

I broke my right foot - 5th metatarsal, 8th December 2007 and found out 3 months later, after cast taken off, that fracture probably not healed. MRI scan last May diagnosed non-union fracture plus, i'd completely torn my anterior talo-fibular ligament and anterior tibio-fibular ligament, which was why i was still in a lot of pain and still couldn't walk very far without crutches! I didn't actually get this info until appt end of June 2008.
Due to holidays booked i couldn't have surgery until November. So, on 17th November, last year I had surgery - Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of the 5th met fracture and arthrsocopy for debridement of fibrous scar tissue in my ankle joint. I began physio, once again, in earnest day after the cast came off, mid January 2009.
To cut a long story short, the ligments haven't healed and I have constant pain and swelling still, in my right ankle. Also having problems behind anklebone - possible tear of posterior talo calcaneal ligament and injury to peroneal tendons! I am to be booked in for further arthroscopy and surgery, after 3rd June - once again, holiday has gotten in the way! At least i'll be able to swim and get 2 tannned legs beforehand! Mr Suneja plans to repair the lateral ligaments and have a good look around my ankle joint with the arthroscope and repair nything else that needs doing. It's going to be a long and painful raod to full recovery but i am so fed up i just don't care anymore. I just want to be able to walk properly, drive again - new car January that i haven't been able to drive yet! - and no more pain and swelling. It will be almost 2 years since the original accident by time I'm fully fit and back to normal again - 2 years!! So, for the time being i'm on crutches and wheelchair bound a lot of the time when we go out for the day etc. I do my physio exercises - 20 exercises 3 times daily, swim at least once a week - hydrotherapy exercises and lengths, rowing machine/exercise bike at least 3 times a week, for 5+ mins.
I have to be very careful not to over do it and trigger off an acute lphs episode, which I have done in the past few months and ended up really ill  and in bed for weeks.

Whilst in hospital, in November, I had a Pain Nurse Specialist available at all times, befroe and after surgery and my meds were changed to sustained release morphine capsules twice daily  and immediate release morphine tablets, 4hrly, for any breakthru pain. It has made a huge difference to the lphs pain and I can cope a lot better with my daily life - or would be doing, if it wasn't for my stupid ankle! It is so painful at times that i need to take the IR morphine for my ankle pain!

I must admit that i've had really good care - despite a lot of problems in the first 6 months after the accident - and always been believed as to the severity of the pain in my ankle/foot, which has helped enormously. No battles with drs for adequate pain relief! Until August I was being seen by a hip/knee consultant, but then Mr Suneja began working at Salford Royal (Hope) - a Foot and Ankle Consultant and he's excellent. The ORIF was a success and the fracture has almost healed and have very little pain in it now, just the odd twinge and slightly more if been on my feet a while.

So, as you can see, life has been rather awkward for me - and David and Trystan - these past 17 months.
I don't get out unless David can take me in the wheelchair as i can only walk for a bout 15 mins on the crutches before ankle swells and very painful. We go for days out, with the wheelchair, into Manchester, Bolton, theatre, cinema etc. The buses have low floors so easy to get on and off and so are the trams. The worst part has been having to be so reliant on Trystan to take us anywhere by car as he has enugh to do on his days off etc and I don't like to ask him at times. If I'd done my left foot/ankle I'd be fine as my new car is an automatic! Oh how i wish David could drive. He really is a damn nuisance at times like this! Our friends Amanda and Wendy have to take us to cat shows. Our next one is this coming Saturday.

Well, just wanted to say hello and let you all know I'm fine!
Love to all,
Helene xxx