tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496231175684208893.post5147516301113960996..comments2024-03-20T15:55:48.642-04:00Comments on Snowboarder vs. Tree: External Fixators AnonymousExpert Snowboarderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17588262712067406501noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496231175684208893.post-60829335669810357422012-06-17T00:28:59.414-04:002012-06-17T00:28:59.414-04:00THANK YOU!!! For posting this My name is Marlene I...THANK YOU!!! For posting this My name is Marlene I live in Chicago. Im only 23 years old and I also have been in a External fixtature, While reading your post and reading everything you have been thrue, I literally have tears in my eyes. Its been a Journey for me, the pain and the desperation of getting better and going back to work is unbelievable. April 20th I fractured my Tibia and fibular on my left leg, I fell down wearing heals ... yes heals something so fashionable and all of us young ladies believe we can wear with ease it's actually very dangerous!! So ladies please stay off stilettos and high Wedge heals .. My story has been crazy this happened to me with just heals my doctor literally said my break was as if I fell of a two storie window, or a almost deadly car crash. Now lets not talk about all the pain medicine you have to take and after time it doesn't do much for me. But I keep my head up high and stay positive. I just truly do not wish this upon anyone. To whoever read this and is in about the same situation I say to you don't give up the good part of all this is that if the Surgery was well done you can and will walk again. I know that I will. God bless you all and be safe :')Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496231175684208893.post-4431640136744414782010-09-21T06:20:22.958-04:002010-09-21T06:20:22.958-04:00Thanks for posting this it was helpful for me as w...Thanks for posting this it was helpful for me as well. I didn't break my ankle snowboarding, I had a bad ankle joint from birth that has slowly become worse over time. I had to stop snowboarding about five years ago due to pain and because my ankle/foot were turning inward (pronating). I had ankle fusion surgery on June 17 this year and had the T2 Styker system nail/rod with five screws installed; an internal fixation devise. Long story short I ended up with an Enterobacter infection that showed up about two weeks after surgery. I had a wound on my heel that would not close up on it's own and ended up with a wound vacuum as well. I had that for five weeks. I had a second surgery on July 20 to clean out the deep infection in my ankle and heel and to culture. I had a PICC line installed then too. Then after seven weeks of the infection not getting any better and two abcesses on my shin over the top of one of my screws (similar to your pic with tendons and nasty stuff showing) my Dr decided to take my hardware out. So last Tuesday night I had the hardware out and then Saturday morning I had another surgery to install a bone cement rod with antibotic packages. I will have a fifth (and hopefully final) surgery in five weeks to have the bone cement rod taken out and a second bone graft added to the rod area for stability. Ugh, I don't know how you have done it for as long as you have without losing your mind :) I feel like I am on the verge everyday. I just wanted to add a few things I found helpful: knee scooters are awesome for below the knee injurys, it allows me a lot more freedom (think carrying things) than the crutches. If you need roller bottom shoes try MBT's they are expensive but so worth it if you loose flexability of movement in your ankle. If you ever decide to break down and join Facebook we have an excellent support group for Ankle injuries and ankle fusion a great group of 100 people. Thanks for your blog you are bringing laughter to a situation that is truely tough and that is a unique ability. Good luck I will continue to check in to see how you are doing. I think after reading this that if you put your mind to riding again you are just the kind of person that will.<br />NicoleNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09655631603143384564noreply@blogger.com