thank you so much on this video. I'm going in tomorrow to have hardware removed. I really didn't want to have the surgery done because of my last experience when they restructured my ankle. Now that you have posted this I feel so much better knowing what its like. The doctor said it was only going to be about 15 minutes to remove the screw so that made me feel a little better also. I was living on a sofa for 3 months after my first surgery and it was a horrible experience for sure. I couldn't use my bathroom or shower and had to sponge bath and use a portable toilet. I'm very happy that this next surgery isn't like the initial one. Thanks again.
PUNJABI GUIDE YOOO! i just got my 2 screws removed from my ankle 5 days ago ! i had then put in back in 2013 , so u waited a bit long. But i’ll tell u man. after the first 3 days of pain, it gets much better. i am feeling pretty good and i can feel the metal gone alrdy and that its worth it , and im not healed up yet at all, cant even put my foot flat on ground yet lol. but everyday im gaining more mobility back. cant wait to get the stitches and staples out . Just for advice , KEEP your leg elevated for the first 3 days at all times. only time u know to get the blood flowing is when u go take a leak or something fast. Bc i was so high and loopy the day i came home i felt no pain. and i was sitting in a chair normally while playing guitar and i bled out a lot lol. but nurse comes to u and changes bandages every few days. ALL in All , 100% worth it. and I think it’s messed up that surgeons don’t encourage getting it taken out asap .
@@saintholland2772 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fviWK-GgYdg.html It's been 2 years now and I can't tell you how happy I am to have taken out my hardware... what a great choice for me...
Thank you for sharing this video, I am having my hardware removed tomorrow. I have to admit, Im a bit nervous. However hearing you talk about the recovery has helped me. I am supposed to start a new job on Friday. This is a new positives chapter for me. Thank you again :)
Thank you for your video…I’m having the same operation in a few days……you just gave me lots of hope and encouragement …I hope that you are feeling better now 🙏👍
Have a good recovery. I had my fibula surgery about 14 yrs ago I want it out because it’s restricting my workouts, stretching. How long was your hardware in for? Oh by the way if I didn’t stretch I would limp on that foot.
I agree 100% get it out as soon as you can, I just got out an 8inch plate & 16 screws a week & a half ago & I feel great, nothing compaired to the first surgery, a walk in the park.
I just got my 2 screws removed from my ankle yesterday morning ! it went really well, the first day was so great i didnt keep it elevated, got carried away and sat up playing guitar for awhile. unfortunately it bled a lot for like 30min. now there is bled around the plastic in the inside . so if your watching this . KEEP IT ELEVATED , for at least 3 days
If it bleeds again i will go to hospital so they can make rewrap it , and also maybe one of my stitches came out from the pressure ? either way its awesome to get the metal removed. like in in pain and it still is a relief
Thank you for sharing this. Like so many other people listed in the comments, I will have tomorrow a surgery to remove the hardware. Was getting quite nervous of the thought that it would take the same recovery as when I have had my first ankle surgery. But it seems now not a big deal. Thanks
Just got my plate and wires and screws out 7 days ago. It's definitely way easier than the first surgery. The first 24 hours with Tylenol and anti-inflammatories was still only about as painful as my ankle would get when it would flare up from the weather changing or when I'd get sick. So pretty tolerable. I was even walking around (to the bathroom, couch, bedroom, food, drinks) that first day though I tried to spend most of my time with it elevated and iced. After 5 days I decided I couldn't stand the boot anymore as it was aggravating my ankle and hurting my foot, so I ditched it. I still wear the boot when leaving the house, otherwise I just wear slippers around the house. I am able to take daily showers by wrapping my calf with a hand towel and taping it in place tightly, and then putting a garbage bag over the top of that, and taping it tightly closed. Then I sit on a orthopedic stool in our shower and use the wand (helps keep water from directly spraying onto the garbage bag). So a week in and I'm walking around and even able to make dinner or rest my foot on the floor comfortably while sitting, but there's some nerve pain on the top of my foot (swelling by the fibula must be compressing the nerve, or maybe they nicked it getting the incision open). My incisions over the medial malleolus are also still moderately sore, tender, stinging, etc. Hopefully everything is healing great--we'll see what the podiatrist thinks tomorrow when we unwrap it for the first time. All in all, it's still too early to tell if I've gotten any additional ROM back or if the pain and discomfort which motivated getting the hardware out is resolved.
@@brokenankleclub very successful! Two weeks post op and I'm back to walking 10,000 steps and life is pretty normal already. I can't believe it. Still some nerve pain to resolve, but functionally I'm back in business. And the pain which motivated me to get the HW out seems entirely gone! Amazing!
I had my screws and plates out Friday and it burned so bad for two days, but on the third day i was cleaning my home vacuuming, giving my two dogs a bath and took them out today , washing clothes, went to the grocery store, cooking meals hmmmmmmm am I doing too much? ? After hearing her, I might get back in bed and rest. I'm walking fine with a boot on. Hmmm maybe I am doing WAY too much.
Hey so reading everyone's comments here I am very surprised that my experience has been so very different. I had a small plate and screws removed from the fibular. The reason is because it was starting to look like my body was rejecting it. My doctor also did some arthroscopy to clear out some scar tissue, a bone spur, and repair some ligaments. For those who aren't familiar, arthroscopic surgery is very non-invasive. It requires two tiny incisions and they go in with a microscopic camera and tools to do repairs. I also had a larger incision to remove the plate. So recovery for me is where I'm seeing such a difference. I was sent home in a splint and told no weightbearing. They gave me crutches but those were too hard to use, so I purchased a walker. I kept the leg elevated and iced often but had really no pain at all. I went back the third day after surgery and they removed the splint and wrapped it. Then, even though I was told to continue non-weightbearing for at least two more weeks, they put me in a BOOT! I was told to wear it 24/7 except when sleeping or icing. After 5 hours in the boot I had intense pain, break-through bleeding, and swelling. When I have to use the walker to go to the bathroom or take care of my animals or fix a meal, it hurts intensely. I want to know if anyone else was told to wear a boot after this type of surgery. Mind you all of the bones from the initial fall are healed, and this was just clean-up. I have not been told that I can walk freely on the foot. Thanks for any response.
Oh yes, I was told to wear a boot too. Ideally for 1-2 weeks. But my boot really started to piss off my ankle and hurt my foot after about 5 days so I've ditched the boot and am just VERY carefully navigating the house. I feel okay doing this because apparently it was a very successful surgery and they didn't have to chip any bone off to get the plate or wires out, so theoretically everything is reasonably sound and my foot itself isn't particularly swollen. The worst thing about the boot was all the rubbing on the incisions. OUCH. Otherwise I've made sure to do lots of elevation and icing and keep it dry and wrapped--and am making sure to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I was hoping for less pain at this point, but at least as long as I avoid the boot it's tolerable. Without knowing your situation I can't tell if doing without the boot is a good idea or not, but I like to think that listening to our bodies and intuition is a good idea. Plus you might consider calling your surgeon and asking if you can ditch the boot and just share with them that it's hurting your ankle. Good luck!
just want to say a million thanks for this info and for your willingness to reply to comments. I am having my 3 screws and plate removed in 48 hours and even though I am a dr. I still have lots of questions about the process afterwards. My surgeon says I can walk on it right away and basically nothing to keep me from working right away, which I have thought was a crazy notion since ahhh i am having surgery you know! You helped relieve some of my anxiety about what to anticipate afterwards and that is much appreciated.
I had my entire tibula an muscle an blood vessel removed to repair. My pallet an gum. I was walking that evening. 19 days in the hospital. Been home 1 day an very nervous showering without my leg boot.
This is good to know. Because when they told me they wanted to take some hardware OUT, I was thinking, why? I will watch your other videos to see your progress. Thank you.
Thanks! I am definitely getting mine out now after seeing this video. How long after your initial surgery did they remove your hardware? I'll definitely be reading your e-book as well.
Akka azz It was in there for 9 months. My surgeon said that that's what was needed for everything to heal properly. Of course, I'm sure this differs from injury to injury.
Mihal Freinquel wow...Thanks. I will be seeing my ortho tomorrow. I'm at about 45 days so now I got an idea of what to expect. I read the description of your injury seems we have/had the exact same amount of hardware. I think the injury is different. So how is your ankle now? Do you feel confident in it? Does it feel solid? I know it will never feel the same but I'm trying to get an understanding of how natural it feels after it has healed. Right now I feel like it just can't possibly be good again. Or good enough, I guess is what I'm saying.
Hey guys...Im 17 year old male (18 in a couple of months) and had my surgery literally 18 hours ago for my hardware removal and I just want to say it's completely nothing compared to the implementation of the hardware. I had the Block's (numbing) for the implementation of the hardware and the pain was still speeding through the Block's effect...so I can't imagine what the pain would've been without it...but anyways. The pain is not even comparable😂. Im taking 1 hydrocodone every 5-6 hours with helps significantly. Now I will say, there were a lot of things in my favor...such as; being young, I worked out a lot (very healthy/broke and dislocated my ankle in a wrestling match actually), My surgeon's son is going to be attenting the same high school as me (he'll be a freshman), and the person who stitches went to my high school when he was younger, and my mom is very good at taking to the nurses and such so that they like her and connect their likenesses towards me. So, I did have a lot in my favor for the surgery to go very well, BUT despite that, if you already went through the 1st surgery of implementation of the hardware, then it will literally not even be comparable of pain. Like...yeah I have pain, but its so much less it shouldnt be compared. I just want to tell you guys that since i was super afraid too. Now I will say my right ankle does feel extremely light for some reason (so much better). What ever your first surgery experience was, I'd knock down the pain to 25%-5%. The pain varies, but is mostly goes to from a sharp pain to a throbbing pain to a very very small pain (almost not even there) to a sharp pain and repeats. BUT its not like the sharp pain or the throbbing lasts long at all. The very very small pain is definitely the longest (thankfully). I do get VERY sharp pains for a moment (especially sitting/standing) but STILL, it doesnt even compare to the pain before. You CAN bare weight and your are given and wrap aroung your ankle and part of you foot and lower leg for the bleeding. Ths only problem is to not get an infection within 2weeks (removal of stitches) and your all good to go. Now, I'm planning on putting weight on it everyday little-by-little just so I can get to walking or fast walking atleast when I get the stitches out. Im also sitting everyday for atleast 3hours which I do want to say hurts really bad (obviously because the blood is rushing around your stitches). The pain to expect when sitting is sharp pain that proceeds to a small throbbing to a 5% pain (almost nonexistent), but it then relapses to the sharp pain for a moment and repeats. But the longer you sit, the better it gets...and remember all of this is literally maybe 2 hours after my surgery. Now the mistake I made was eating a lot and got pretty chubby and which took me a little bit to get off after I had the stitches removed for my first surgery. If you are active and workout or do running everyday...you will gain water weight, but water weight is very easy to remove. If you eat too much or the wrong foods, you will actually gain fat and it'll be tough to get off after your stitches out. Right now I going to eat watermellon, cantaloupe, pineapples, blueberries, and some meat every other day. I am 17 and my mom is taking care for me and cooks for me, so if you cant cook meat (Steak/Beef/Pork/Chicken/fish..ew) then I would recommend ATLEAST buying the cooked meat at the store (Kroger/Food City/Walmart/Whole Foods/ Target). I am 100% sure every single one of those places sells pre-cooked meat. Because you really do need the meat now than ever if you want to recover fast (I eat meat all the time, but will have to cut down since i dont want to eat too much since im literally doing no physical activity). But to summarize the eating...you should eat a lot of fruits and a chicken breast and some beef everyother day to get ALL of the benefits of meat into your system. BUT do not buy processed meats. Processed meats are actuallt pretty bad for you and shouldn't even be called "meat". Just think of the feeling of when you eat some roast beef (processed) and when you take a nice bite out of a steak with it oozing...it doesnt even compare. Now Im not saying buy steak everyother day, but you should buy good quality meat so the healing process is very fast and solid. Just buy some good meat that makes you feel good when you eat it is all im saying. I dont eat very mant vegetables, but if you do want to eat vegetables...youll need to carefully watch how much you eat. Thats why i recommend eating fruits instead because the its mostly water anyways, so youre full, fruit tastes good, and it has just about 0 calories in fruit. Have you ever seen a fat person eat fruit? Just dont eat so much to where your stomach is hurting or you obviously gain fat...even with something thats 95% water 😂. Just stop when your stomach is full. My mom is cutting the fruits for me, but if you cant do that, then the best option is going for the fruits in the containers. Also the cost will be extremely low for the fruits and some meats everyother day and you wont feel hungry. Im planning on taking those immune system gummies just in case is get a very small infection in my leg...and since I do have a fairly good immune system, i would recommend doing those little gummies just to help your body focus on the surgery site rather than something else (maybe you get a cold during recovery). So those gummies can really help. Now, my first surgery experience was very painful, but i recovered extremely fast. Had the stitches out, and start to waking that same day, even though I was limping extremely bad (because i couldnt move my ankle at all and I had no muscle) I started to walk normal just 3 days after the stitches came out, so I assume this to be even better since im not in a cast and just some wrapping for the beeding The thing is this surgery really shouldnt be compared to the first one. Its honestly JUST stitches. Theres not a fucking nice thick plate in your side...just a cut. And from what my surgeon told me and the nurses, you'll be able to walk during the recovery. Thats why I advice to sit down atleast for 3-4 hours (imagine giving advice to sit down😅, where as its usually to stand and move). And I'd advise to stand and put very very little weight on your foot every so often just to get the blood flowing and to get used to the pain so that it dies down. Especially if you have to return to work before you have the stitches removed, you really do want to start doing some very little home physical therapy. Summary: If you're thinking about getting the hardware removed or not, I would definitely go towards getting it removed. The pain is not even comparable to how it was during the first surgery and even without my ability to full move my ankle yet...I can feel my ankle more free and just significantly BETTER without the hardware in. Hope my advice helps and experiences with your decision or if you have almost no choice (like me) in the removal. :) (Everything above is what I have experienced within the last 18 hours or so...and i just woke up, so knock off like 9 hours of sleep).
My Dr thinks I have a reaction to the metal. I have to see a dermatologist to confirm. I might get it removed if it is allergic reaction. How is the healing process afterwards? Do you miss more work or anything
I had mine removed last week and my ankle feels stiff and I was told to leave it covered with the bandage and dry. But it is stiff and it hurts a little bit
IMB TAVY I could move my ankle it was just stiff with the screws in. Now I have better range of motion just have to move my ankle more and do self therapy at home.
Wow you went through a lot! I just had my plate and 6 screws removed from a broken arm (radius) after 11 years in my arm. It was the second plate to be put in my arm because the first plate broke in my arm. I have a couple vids on my channel about it
I had bimolar which my fibula was broken and I chipped the inner part of my ankle March and June of 2014. In March I had slipped on black ice and it happened so quick, but the pain was intense. June I went to walk the dog and he jerked me unexpectedly and dragged me into wet grass and it snapped in two places. I needed surgery. April 16, 2015 I just got my hardware taken out and it feels much better. She's right the scab does feel like it will rip open. It healing great.
Thank you for this! I just subscribed! I am having surgery in a few days. I have to have the metal out because it ruined the last 3 years of my life! I have a nickel allergy and they didn't do the patch test! Looking forward to seeing more videos!
Hmmm, hard to quantify it because it's such a continuum, versus one day you have pain and the next day you don't. I'd say it took me a good 3-4 months before I actually felt HEALED healed from that particular surgery. But if you've been following me for a while, you know that my pain has never fully resolved.
Thanks I really didn't know having it removed could be an option. My mom broke hers and it will require same type of surgery. Just trying to know what to expect and know her options.
So appreciate your video my doctor is hesitant as he said there can be wound complications. Did you remove your because you were having pain? What pushed you to hacking your metal removed?
Hi, How is your ankle now in 2019? I have six screws and a plate on my fibula done 2 yrs ago.. I'm starting to feel a nerve twitch inside my ankle, esp. when it"s raining. Do you still recommend to get them removed? I will ask my doc this question, but do you know if the holes fill back up the mass in the bones?
I 100% recommend removal. The holes take a few weeks to fill up where the screws were, so during that time you just take it easy. I've made videos since this one to document my progress (check out the rest of my channel) - but it looks like it may be time for another :)
Hi, I have gone through ankle surgery, it's been 4 months now, I started walking slowly without crutches. I am very concerned about my weight, I put on lot weight and I want to reduce that, what type of exercise should I do? Can you give some tips?
I'd say walking is the best approach - any kind of movement that makes you feel good. Or yoga, have you seen my videos? Also, pay attention to what you're eating - just because you're not moving as much, does mean you need to pack on pounds. Eat clean - remove sugar, and white carbs. Focus on veggies, fruit, complex carbs and good healthy protein.
Hey, okay so I can walk around just fine but EVERY NIGHT when I’m in bed my ankle feels restless, lots of discomfort and pain. Did you experience this? Because I’m at the point where I want hardware removal done!
Hi, how long (since my Dr does NOT like giving me anything remotely resembling a straight answer) do you think between hardware removal and being able to work (which for me entails heavy lifting and loading trucks)? BTW, did you have fixation strictly for a fracture or for a high sprain tib/fib stabilization? Thanks so much!
+mikper7 I think your doc isn't giving you a straight comment because it's different for everybody. I was walking the next week, but I doubt I would have felt comfortable with heavy lifting and loading trucks. If I remember correctly, it takes about 6 weeks for the holes to close up, so with physical labor, I would have given myself at least a month.
MP not sure if you went a head with your removal surgery. I had hardware in my arm removed 8 weeks ago and it was hard lifting more than 3lbs with that arm for the 1st 6 weeks. However I’ll say get the hardware out, mine was in 11 years and the bone is so deteriorated because the plate made my bone so weak long term. I have 2 vids about it on my channel. My 1st plate broke in my arm right after surgery 11 years ago too
Hello, I’m grey and 29 years old, I had my surgery in June and I broke my ankle bone while crossing the road, I got a plate with 6 screws so after 1 year it’ll be removed so I wanted to ask how long is the recovery after the plate removal? Does it hurt after and do they put a cast after it as well??
It depends on how you define recovery. I was starting to bear weight the next day. And no, I didn't have a cast. I talk way more about removal here - be sure to check out the links in the description too: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kXlEPzRPTe4.html
Hi Mihal, even I had a surgery yesterday and removed two 85mm screw from my ankle. and i wanted to knw what do u suggest to do like what kinda of exercised should we do or sth u should have done and didnt do at that time?? any suggestion??
+aayush shrestha I think after the removal it's best to take it easy. As it feels right, start flexing and pointing again, doing ankle circles, whatever exercises you did after you got the hardware put in. Yoga was also great for me, because it stretches and strengthens.
Hi! I'm planning to undergo the same procedure. However, I am wondering how long it will take for me to go back to work or to travel again? Did you make enough progress in order to tackle daily chores in let's say 4 days after your surgery? Many thanks in advance for your opinion!
Hey Ellen - I was on my feet quickly. I was walking with a crutch for a couple of days, but I could do daily chores etc. That's not to say that it all felt back to NORMAL. The incision was really really tight until about 3 weeks afterward, when my massage therapist got in there and could start massaging out the scar. And when I could start putting lotions and oils on it. That was my experience anyway :)
7 лет назад
Had the plates and screws removed in March 2003 but unfortunately I have chronic pain in my right foot/ankle since the accident in november 2001.
12 screws and one plate in my ankle … want the inside ones taken out….outside plate doesn’t hurt as much unless I bump it or put shoes on then it feels really weird
am having screw removed tomorrow 3 months after breaking ankle in 3 places my ankle still hurts worried if something is wrong already have metal plate and 8 screws they said r staying in,hopdfulky the re.oval will help will be worried and I'll write afterwards ,will take any advice please watched lots of ur videos Michal thank you
Hi Mihal, I was so happy to find your blog. I'm having my screws (7) and plate removed June 19th coming (2014). I hope you are well healed now, as its nearly end of May. Glad you feel better after getting the metal out. My screws stick out so I'm really looking forward to having them out.
hey how u doin, i am getting 4 screws removed from my ankle in 3 days , had been keeping those for 18 months ...my rom is only 65% or so .. its about time to get those mf's out they ruined my life so far ...do you think with time I can get close to 90% rom ?
yes get them out!! (given the timing of your comment, it looks like you did about 3 days ago - how you feeling?). Without knowing anything about your injury I obviously can't tell you how close you can get your ROM, but I definitely suggest massage and yoga when you feel ready. I don't think I would have gotten this far without those.
That's a tough question because it's not like one day you're recovering and the next day you're better - it's a process. Definitely check out my blog/ebook for more on that! (linked in description)
i’m pretty nervous that something is wrong. I got my screws removed 18 days ago and it’s still impossible for me to walk without crutches. it’s very stiff, I just got my staples removed today. and he said i should be able to walk. and thats not possible
I hear you, Joshua. I was feeling a little down about being day 7 and having ankle incision tenderness, soreness, stinging, and tightness still when there's a couple accounts on RU-vid from people who got their hardware out and had like no pain in under a week. Ugh. Just gotta trust that even if it takes a bit it'll get better. Everybody's body is different I suppose.
Hi there, I had my surgery 41/2 yrs ago and have finally decided to discuss getting the hardware removed because of stiffness, cramping and not bing able to wear some shoes because of swelling. What was it for you that you decided to have yours removed. Thanks
Dachshynd H have it removed if u haven’t the bone deteriorated badly in mine after 11 year. I have vids on my channel if u want to hear more. I’m just 8 weeks post removal now
Did u remove the screws to releive the pain.? Doctors put screws in my ankle and ever since i had them in ive been feeling pain in my ankle 24 hours a day my life is ruined. Plus i didnt do much physio after my ankle cast was off do u think that could be effecting my pain to?
Yes, I removed the screws to alleviate discomfort, and yes, physical therapy was a critical part of healing for me, definitely recommend it. Your life isn’t over it just sucks right now! Have patience.
So do you feel better after removing the hardware? I fractured my 5th metacarpel a while ago and I often exersize it but its always stiff and in pain the next day so I'm wondering if removing the hardware makes any difference?
I just had a removal of plate/6 screws. Already much better but recovery is slow because my bone deteriorated so much from the plate/screws being in for so long. I have vid with X-rays in my channel if u want to see it. Take yours out, it’s not good long term
