Originally Posted by Lonehunter21

My story is somewhat long so I will try and make it as short as possible. Almost 1 and 1/2 years ago while I work I fell about 2 and 1/2 feet, landing on my left ankle. I was brought to the ER and recieved an X-Ray it came back as nothing broken. They said it was just a bad sprain and to stay off it, if the pain and swelling didnt let up see an ortho the following week. I was lucky enough to already be seeing a good ortho due to knee problems. Upon seeing him I was diagnosed with a 3rd degree sprain. Basically I have torn all the ligaments in my ankle.
He said PT would eventually be needed to correct this, stating ligaments don't repair themselves due to lack of a blood supply and PT would help the formation of scar tissue in the ankle to support everything. PT was a horrible experience and very painful. Forgot to mention this is a workemen's comp case, so I had them checking up on me. My 1st round of PT lasted about 3 months. Upon going to my ortho again my case manager said my ankle didn't look right and she suggested I have RSD after looking more at the ankle the Dr. also came to this conclusion. After they both told me what exactly RSD was I was pretty scared of what it could turn into. I was assured with the proper PT everything would take care of itself.
Another 3 months went by and I did have some relief, but at this time PT said I had reached a point where they couldn't help me, but I was still using a cane whenever I would leave the house. After talking to my case worker I saw a neurologist RSD was present, but he was unable to provide me with a proper treatement. So We went to the next steep and looked up a very good neurologist in Boston, MA. Lucky for me it's not a far drive
This Dr. was very experienced with RSD and provided me with a good PT treatement. However as time went along it was clear I still had ligament and tendon issues. After spending quite some time in PT for the 2nd time my progress began to slow and halt. I was still using a cane, I had greater range of motion, but the RSD wouldn't go away. Another round of PT was order, finally I had some luck and the RSD started to go away. Now thid became a ligament issue, which PT wasn't helping. I got in touch with a very good surgon in Boston. Upon going over my records he told me my only option was ankle ligament reconstruction surgery, but he was very worried about the presence of RSD. He told me I would be better off living the way it was instead of going forward with an operation since there was a very good chance it would cause full blow RSD and be potently crippling. Having no other options and wanting to lead a normal life again I went with the surgery.
I was told due to having RSD I would have to stay overnight so they would moniter and manage my pain. I had surgery on Oct 27 2008. What was supposed to be 1 day, turnt into 2 and 1/s days due to the levels of pain I experienced. I was on a pain pump, which hardly took the edge off. After the 1st 24 hours I was taken off it and give meds orally. This didn't do anything and I was literally laying in bed in tears till a nurse came and gave me a shot of morphine. This went on for an another 24 hours. On my 3rd day they started to refuse me morphine saying I can't keep recieving it. By this time the oral medication was having some effect, but I was still in a considerable amount of pain. It was decided for me to spend a 3rd night to get it under control, but the attending Dr. or what ever he was said I was stable enough to go home. And I was pretty much discharged against my will.
I spent about a month in bed, only getting up to use the bathroom and wash up. I was on some pretty heavy medication which by this time was working on controlling the pain. When I went for my follow up my surgon said the site had become infected and I was put on antiboitics. This cleared up in a few weeks.
Now a little over 2 months I am NWB when I go out of the house, but I got cleared to WB around the house while using both crutches and in an aircast. I have another appoitement coming up, but I'm unsure how I feel about it. I am still in pain and fear PT may upset the RSD, the Dr. also fears this. Going into this whole thing he was against it saying my odds of getting full blown RSD are quite high since it was such an envasive operation.
I have been trying to find out what I should avoid doing to reduce the chance of my RSD becomming worse, but I haven't out too much on how to exactly stop RSD. Everything I read points to leaving an infected limb with RSD alone, but this is the exact opossite of what PT is. I have to underdo PT to get the ankle moving and healing, but I am weary on how much I should push myself with the treatement.
I realize this is a long post, I tried to shorten it was much as I could while keeping the severity of the issue in context. I hope to get some answers and welcoming into this community.