Twisted ankle and foot

[Cal66]

HiDoes anyone know if injuring your foot and ankle by twisting it takes longer to heal when you have lupus?

On the 24th I slipped on the narrow step trying to get into my sister's car. My left foot slipped off the step, 1st going over on my ankle and then twisted making a horrible snapping noise. My foot swelled up, huge bruising, it is still swollen, difficult to walk on, not that i could walk far before and a burning feeling at night. I don't think that it's broken, it may be a soft tissue injury & that is 1 reason I haven't been to the hospital. So has anyone else injured themselves since having lupus?

[PMRpro]

Soft tissue injuries sometimes also need similar attention to a broken bone - if tendons are ruptured they may need more than just rest. And they take a lot longer to heal than a break. I would get it checked out.

[Cal66 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, that's what my sister keeps saying, but each day I keep putting it off, since our mum died in July I've been trying to keep away from the hospital

[PMRpro in reply to Cal66]

I'm so sorry - I do understand, But by ignoring it you might end up there for longer, Do you only have the choice of one?

[Cal66 in reply to PMRpro]

HiYes, we only have Sunderland Royal hospital or our GP and getting an appointment is a nightmare as with all GP surgeries

[Spanielmadlady]

I feel in Dec and heard my ankle snap...like twanging an elastic band.i didn't go to hospital either at first...it was Xmas don't go unless life threatening etc etc but eventually did at new Yr after it didn't improve.an mri scan showed I've completely torn my ATFL ligament and damaged the tendons I spent 5 weeks in a boot then a splint then had steroid injections and I've been having physio but it still may need reconstruction surgery. They are wary due to my immunosuppressants. It still gives out on me xx

[Cal66 in reply to Spanielmadlady]

HiThat sounds painful, I hope you recover soon.

I at 1st thought that I had snapped my ankle, but because it was night-time we couldn't leave my nephew and puppies on their own in the house for a long time. My mum before she died, she had been on a trolley for 19 hours and we couldn't stay that long, so that's why I never went, after that I have kept putting off.

[Spanielmadlady in reply to Cal66]

Im sorry to hear about your mum...i lost mine 12 days ago. I understand your reasons but you still have to look after yourself .i was seen in minors and given an appointment for fracture clinic 2 days later so the wait wasnt too bad.im now under orthopaedics. Ive had 3 steroid injections in mine because of chronic inflammation in the area .it doesn't pay to ignore you could end up suffering in the long term walking,driving etc x kind regards

[Cal66 in reply to Spanielmadlady]

Sorry to hear about you losing your mum, 12 days ago isn't very long. We are finding dealing with the bills and sorting out the DD a pain, as my sister & I are continuing to live in the house everything has to be transferred into our names.It would have been my mum 's 80th birthday last week and we found that very difficult, as it was going to have been a joint celebration with my nephew turning 18 the week before, so that was difficult. Had our plans not changed then I possibly would not have injured my foot.

@

[svfarmer in reply to Cal66]

Hi cal66 I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your mum too 💕

[Cal66 in reply to svfarmer]

Thank you, its dealing with her finances, she took loans out to pay for our roof, we were told that when she dies, then the loans die with her. Now today we have been told that it will probably need to come out of her estate, meaning if we don't or in our situation can't pay, then our house will have to be sold. If we did manage to sell my sister, nephew and I will be homeless.

[svfarmer in reply to Spanielmadlady]

Hi SML I’m so very sorry to hear of the passing of your mum 💕

[Spanielmadlady in reply to svfarmer]

Thank you Sv x

[Chris21 in reply to Cal66]

I hear what your about going to the hospital, I had my sister and mum die within two weeks of each other. Both were in and out of the hospital until the end. I cried when I had to go the first time for myself, as it brought back memories, sometimes we have to be brave to get the job done. What would your mum say to you? I’m sorry she’s not with you anymore. 😢

My son in law, fell down 2 steps in the house last year, he refused to go to get it checked. Bought himself a boot off Amazon, he’s still limping unable to walk very far. We find it hard to have sympathy with him.

Please go and get it checked, it might be a torn tendon which is more painful that a break but does need different treatment, I don’t think having lupus makes any difference to the healing process. X

[Spanielmadlady]

Same here I hurt my ankle hurrying when mum became unwell.My mum was 91 .im in a different situation as i have a house to empty but sorting things so far has been OK the tell us once form saves alot of phone calls.

I've needed a steroid and pain meds increase from my gp to try to limit a flare.i have a Rheumy appointment today not looking forward to the drive but needs must .we will get through it xx

[Chris21 in reply to Spanielmadlady]

I’m sorry to hear about your loss, yes you will get through it but take your time healing. I still have moments four years on that I’ll sit and wish she was still with me. We laugh with the memories of the good times, I hope you do too. X

[Stills]

note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid disease, I do not have a diagnosis of Lupus.

During covid (October 20) I injured my leg but didn’t seek help, limping caused bursitis, a year later I started physio, a year after that I was still limping and a year on from there takes me to now. Still in pain and slight limp, can only wear walking boot type shoes and ankle support. Every physical thing has been affected, can’t squat to wash floor, reach up to high shelves, driving hurts, walking, swimming, cycling hurts, lying in bed is awkward….. I could go on. Leg should have been immobilised and non weight bearing instead of limped on, now its permanent so take my advice and get all the help you can to return to full function ASAP

[Cal66 in reply to Stills]

I have had put my walking stick away and are using crutches to get around the house on, I have decided that up to now I will go to hospital tomorrow to get it checked out. My nephew will be off college to look after our 2 puppies, neither have been left on their own before.

[Stills in reply to Cal66]

Good luck. I can’t use crutches due to arthritis in shoulders, elbows and wrists etc. let us know how you get on.

[Spanielmadlady]

Thank you x

[Lex54]

Hi go to the hospital you may have damaged a ligament which requires the correct treatment to allow it to heal also lots of bruising could indicate either! Gp would not be able to assess your injury properly so go to minor injuries or A&E. Good luck!

[chrisj]

I would have at least seen a gp by now if not hospital, you may well have broken something, why not get it checked out?

I twisted my knee some time ago but I have severe arthritis in it, needed to rest for a few days after calling out a doctor to have a look at it. I really don't understand why you havent done that...

[Cal66 in reply to chrisj]

Thanks, up to now I am going tomorrow.When I was a teenager I was always spraining my ankles not long after my sister and I started figure skating. My ankles strengthened up, but lupus put a stop to that, so I just hope this doesn't happen often.

[chrisj in reply to Cal66]

Hope its not too bad and recovers well. Take care, so glad you're getting it looked at xx

[Carcrashgal]

I fell off a pavement when I was 15 and thought - as did the GP - that I'd sprained my ankle. In fact, I'd torn my LLL (left lateral ligament) - and because I hadn't been treated immediately, I ended up having to have several attempts to repair it. Get it seen to!

[Cal66 in reply to Carcrashgal]

Thanks, up to now I am going tomorrow

[Poshcards]

I had a really bad fall over our conservatory step 18 months ago, had a huge heamatoma on side of knee and leg and almost broke my shoulder, went to a and e, and I am still suffering with both, my leg still looks and feels bruised xx

[Cal66 in reply to Poshcards]

Oh that sounds nasty and very painful, I hope that they get better soon.

[michaellasmith Administrator]

Hi there Cal66,

So sorry to read about the recent passing of your mum ❤️

Did you manage to get up to the hospital to see someone about your ankle/foot? if so, how did it go?

Warm regards,

Michaella

[Geeforce99]

Hello Cal

Sorry to hear this has happened yes it will take longer, I ruptured my tendon in foot and they explained it could me longer to recover and with autoimmune it can cause more complications, as my body was repairing the injury it was like it caused my condition to flare with auto immune it can attack your own tissues. It took me five months to recover enough to return to work on crutches.

Hope this helps, I wish you a speedy recovery 😃 all the best. Rest up.