any suggestions have you hadsimilar symptoms

[Lizmcgarty]

I live in Tenerife and broke my ankle in 3 places inMarch. I have two plates fitted. Very good movement but a nasty ulcer that took 12 plus weeks to heal. In the middle of rehabilitation I started with bad back ,then sciatica but the physio was only to do my ankle.

By the time I finished all the muscles in arms and legs felt as if I’d done a heavy session in gym. My joints hurt, knees and shoulders. It’s agony to lift my arms the muscles hurt so badly and can only get half way. If I sit and use iPad my shoulders are so painful like a trapped nerve. These symptoms are bad in morning legs are ok when I get going.

the nurse has told me folic acid is very low and uric acid raised. (No copy so can’t say levels) Tests done in July but locums taking surgery said I have to see my GP for referrals. Im hoping it’s my GP on Monday I’m going with a translator ( I speak Spanish but medical I need someone)

Any ideas of what May be from your experience

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Ifyou had a broken ankle then the chances are that you weren't able to get out and about much. This may well have weakened the muscles in your back. You really need to speak to a physio and get some suitable exercises to strengthen back muscles. You might also benefit from some exercises to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles, If the physio you have at the moment can't advise can they recommend someone who can? I ended up going to a private physio when I broke my ankle because the support I was getting wasn't enough. You probably won't be able to see two physio at the same time though.

[Lizmcgarty in reply to Gambit62]

thank you, but I had ten weeks of physio 5 days a week with nhs here. Was one idea we had thought of .When I explained it’s worse overnight in bed the GP feels it’s not that.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

This being your first post, so far we don't know much about you. Safe to assume you have PA/ B12 deficiency. Do not know how you are treated for this in Tenerife: frequency, cobalamin type, whether over-the-counter /self-determined treatment ?

Muscle weakness, joint pain and slow healing are among the generally accepted symptoms of B12 deficiency - so perhaps a long operation, with blood loss and use of medication that depletes B12, could be the cause of your problems ? Worth exploring. Some antibiotics, some painkillers and nitrous oxide can be detrimental. You may have had all three.

I have no medical training, so do not know what raised uric acid might indicate.

I have, though, had B12 deficiency for six years - and have experienced lower back pain, weak arms and legs with muscle deterioration, loss of energy, susceptibility to infections and slow and poor healing as symptoms.

Maybe I'm wrong - but it would not hurt to get tested for B12, folate (already indicated as low, but useful to see if improving/deteriorating), ferritin and vitamin D as if you are starting from the beginning. If your B12 is low, you will need to restart with a loading dose.

I wish you well. Let us know, Liz.

[Motheroflittle]

I fell off my Dads patio in June 2021 and broke both ankles. 3 places in left , 1 in right. I chose not to have surgery but just wear casts for 12 weeks. Yes ,the heeling is very slow and it took me well over a full year to get back to walking without a limp or without pain. I still limp without shoes on. The mornings are bad after the feet muscles have been still all night. It starts to loosen up after I walk around a bit. When I fell I landed on my left hip and it has messed up my sciatica too. I do some stretching but I think I need to try a chiropractor to re-adjust my lower back. I did not have any rehab. I have read that my PA probably causes my balance issues. I have been on B12 injections every other week for several months now and it has helped with so many things! Especially the extreme tiredness, heavy arms and legs, vertigo, palpitations, tinnitus etc.... I had tried the oral B12s for 20 years but they only jacked up the numbers and did not alleviate the symptoms . The injections have made a huge difference in how I feel. I am blessed to have found a nurse practitioner that actually listened to me about my PA and prescribed the SI B12 twice a month. My folic and uric are fine. I have megaloblastic anemia.

Your total body has been through a shock. It will take time for your body to heal. Keep moving forward and try not to let it get you down. Things will improve gradually. I may never do all the things I did before I fell but that's OK. I still get around pretty good.

Hoping your GP has some answers for you on Monday.