Broken ankle with CP

Vicky Martin-smith

Hello. I'm broke my ankle 6 weeks ago. I also have hemi cp and I have broken my affected leg. Just wondered if anyone has experienced this. I have been placed in a walking boot but I am having trouble standing on my bad leg, it feels very weak. Thanks in advance

Noah

Sorry to hear about your broken ankle. I imagine it will take a while to heal up fully and regain some strength. What have the hospital recommended? Do you have a specialist consultant who understands cp? Will you require some rehabilitation physio? I don't have experience of breaking my ankle, but do regularly pick up injuries due to falls etc, my worst being a high impact to my knee and some torn ligaments in my foot. The body does an amazing job of healing, but it is important to follow all the advice of the professionals to try and minimise future complications. Not always easy tho.

Wish you all the very best and a speedy recovery.

Noah

Vicky Martin-smith

Thanks Noah. I do have a great consultant and am booked in for some physio. I am just worried about the timescale as I am due to return to work week after next and at the moment can only manage a few steps in the boot. Just wondering if my CP would mean that my recovery could be slower. One step at a time, I will get there

Noah

Possibly CP will make recovery slower as your body is already compensating a lot so there is much less slack in the system.

I'm pleased you have a good consultant and physio.

Maybe do some research on good nutrition for recovery from broken bones.

If you need an extra week off to enable you go back successfuly then you should take it.

Have you been through occupational health for work? Have you discussed reasonable adjustments to duty's etc and a possible phased return?

The important thing is you get fully better and are able to successfully return to work.

Vicky Martin-smith

Yes seen occ health and she seemed to think I may need more time! I am probably just being a bit impatient but determined to get back to normal for me!! If I need more time then I will have to take it. Its more driving that's worrying me as I have a 30 mile each way commute. Thank you for your advice

Vicky Martin-smith

Will look at diet too!

Noah

Yes - I can understand being very determined and impatient. I'm exactly the same when poorly.

It is always best tho to follow the advice of occupational health. Also listen to your body. They want you to return to work successfuly, and not have to take further time off due to going back too soon.

30 mile driving commute that is a long way, is there not any public transport? Do you drive an automatic car? Have you considered hand controls? My car is automatic and has cruise control which helps take some of the fatigue out of driving.

Noah

niceboots

Hi, I have cp and, broke my femur on my more affected side and my wrist on my less affected side in a motorcycle accident a few years ago. Just after fully recovering from major surgery on my legs (which took over two years!) I would say that in my experience (although everyone is different, and I'm not clinically trained) the recovery from my injuries did take longer than it would take someone without cp. I found that it really affected my spasticity, from both where the injury was and that my body was compensating and working differently. I found physio invaluable during that time, I had to do lots of extra stretching and strengthening exercises to get me back on my feet. I agree with Noah, follow the advice of the professionals but listen to your body too.... I know how frustrating it can be!!

Vicky Martin-smith

Thank Noah and niceboots. I am probably going to accept it will take as long as it takes! I do have a long commute so will have to make sure I am able to manage it before I commit to working. I drive an auto but still drive my right foot. I did manage a few steps unaided in walking boot today so a little bit of progress. Unfortunately I can do a gradual return to work but every day I don't work will come out of my annual leave so keen not to do too much! Thank you for taking the time to reply

Noah

Your welcome - it maybe an idea for you to look to see if access to work can help you with getting to work if you are unable to drive. They can help with loads of things to enable employment for people with disabilities.

I'm no expert on employment law but it doesn't seem quite right that you will have to use your annual leave, when you are not fit for work.

It maybe an idea to seek some clarification on this, I know we have one or two employment advisers that are part of the Community, that maybe able to help, should you require it.

All the very best


Noah

Stayce

Hi Vicky
Sorry to hear you have broken your ankle. I too have Hemi CP. I think we are indeed more prone to musculoskeletal injuries to affected and unaffected limbs. Both of which take longer to recovery because if its the affected side pain increases spasms and muscles that once worked, quickly switch themselves off. While injuries to unaffected side are also slow to recover as these limbs never truly get a rest even when injured. I speak from experience currently recovering from shoulder injury(non affected side) and ankle injury (affected side). Don't rush your rehabilitation, make sure you are ready to return to work.

Noah is correct. You should not really be using your annual leave whilst you are unfit for work. Technically speaking if you are unfit for work you are also unfit to take annual leave. Have you got a sick certificate from your GP?

What sort of contract are you on with your employers - Temp? Zero Hours? Or have you only recently started this job? As if you are on a permanent or fixed term contract your employers should be paying you sick pay. In the majority of cases this starts off as full pay then gets reduced to half (which is often related to length of service). Once that is exhausted Statutory Sick Pay is then available to you. I would ask your employers for a copy of their sickness and absence policy (every firm has to have one of these and is required to supply you with it.)

Have you thought of asking if you can work from home? If of course you do a type of job that this is possible?

Hope this helps

Best wishes and good luck with your recovery.