Update

I have now finished my course of antibiotics. I am due to see the nurse at the clinic tomorrow to check my pinsites. I am still dressing them every other day at the moment just to be on the safe side. It is not so tender as it has been but I still feel bruised at the front of the shin.

I saw the Physio last week, I was a little emotional as I explained I am not taking any risks or unnecessary exercises until I have had the frame removed. I do not want to do further damage to my muscle and explained (emotionally) I am a mum and need to be able to walk my children to school and all the other things that come with being a mum. When my pinsite was at its most painfulness I had to rely on other people and my children found it quite distressing. I think they have been though enough so the physio will have to wait. No more seeing what position I can get into!

Having said that I am doing gentle exercises that are necessary and focusing on my walking and applying weight into my leg. I am doing alright.

This Friday I will have done 3 months, there is light at the end of the very long tunnel.
Half the battle has been a positive mind, I have found that if I give myself a challenge for the day it helps. I do feel very isolated but I am very reluctant to go out to the places I normally go. I hate been stared at and don't like constantly being asked to explain what happened. People don't understand the feeling of flashbacks. I tend to make a joke that I wish I could say I was skiing or skateboard and laugh about it. I am sure it will get easier after time.  I have discovered a support network on Facebook for External Fixators, it is good to see you are not the only one.

Well my challenge for the day was to get the washing on the line of which I have done. I think I may treat myself. I certainly deserve it!

Another week of antibiotics

So I am now taking the second week of antibiotics. The redness is settling but the tenderness remains. I don't feel flu type symptoms anymore my temperature has settled. Hopefully things will improve. I can move my leg about without feeling to much discomfort.
Still keeping my leg well raised when resting. Back to walking with one crutch, my main focus reduce risk of injury and gradually increase my walking putting my weight into my injuried leg.

So the count down has begun

So according to my daughters the count down has begun. They have decided that they will use the Mr Men stories as they have worked out it will be 46 days to reach the four month milestone.
Today they have completed Mr Good book number 46!
It's great how little people deal with things they are so excited about their countdown.

My leg is still tender, I continue to keep it up and keep the swelling down. I have cancelled the Physio appointment this week as the GP surgery suggested. It is such a disappointment but I don't want to end up tearing the muscle again. It has had a heavy impact on managing the day to day stuff. From now on I am playing it safe, I certainly will not be doing the exercises that require me to get in to uncomfortable positions like kneeling.
The pinsite is still oozing so I am cleaning it daily and dressing it. Hopefully it will dry up soon and reduce the further risk of infection. The GP surgery has given me another week of antibiotic if needed. I have two more days left of the first lot. I plan to drop into the clinic tomorrow and hopefully check with the nurses to make sure I am doing all the right things with the infected pinsite.

A back step

So last week I felt my muscle tear around my top pinsite. It was very painful. At the time I was doing my exercises, I was trying to get into my kneeling position and felt it go. Unfortunately I have gone on to develop a infection in that pinsite.
I think I have torn my fibularis anterior muscle. It was very warm to touch and swollen. I applied lots of ice packs to it. Unfortunately two days later it became very red around the pinsite and started to ooze bloody discharge. My GP surgery put me straight onto Flucloxicillin 500mg. I have to go back Monday for review.
So at this moment it's rest my leg up really high and gently mobilising when able. However when I do put my leg down it feels really tight and very painful. I have a massive bruise to the front of my leg.

I am very disappointed as I was coming on really well. I will not be kneeling whilst I have this frame on. I do not want this to happen again.

Catch Up

So I saw the consultant at the clinic. The good news was the X-ray check was fine.

The Consultant tightened the large screws at the front of the frame. I explained I was having shin pain following my exercises. It felt like I was kicked in the shin. Since the tightening of my screws the pain has settled. I am able to put my weight into my leg without any pain and popping sensation.

The physio suggested I tried with one crutch which has improved my walking so much. Still find it very difficult with the height difference of my leg.