Pain from area with plate and screws.

[RaceMX84]

I have a plate with 7 screws in my ankle. I did it in octoboer. The doctor cleared me to do anything after new years.

This past weekend was my first time doing any extreme sports. I went snowboarding. When i went i had no pain in my ankle at all. Now the area with the plate and screws is bothering me pretty bad. It hurts to the touch. Its not the worst pain ever but it definitly is bothersome. Is that normal to have pain like that for a while?

[MX-WFO]

No. You may have reinjured the area.

[DrMark]

The plate and screws are no longer necessary and irritating the peroneal tendons. Its time to have them taken out.

[RaceMX84]

The plate and screws are no longer necessary and irritating the peroneal tendons. Its time to have them taken out.

Thats kind of what i was i thinking. Im going to contact my doctor about it this week. Im sure ill get them removed though, i dont want to deal with this for the rest of my life.

If i have them removed, how long should the recovery be? Should i be able to walk on it right away?

[DrMark]

For a plate on the fibula, and a couple of screws in the tibia, I let guys start walking right away, and ride in a week or two.

[Thunderbug]

I just have to ask, why would you go snowboarding with plates and screws still in your ankle from an injury just last October?

Irregardless of what your doctor said, do you have no common sense?

[RaceMX84]

The doctor told me it was 100% healed on december 4th. He then told me to give it about a month before riding again. The plate and screws were to stay in my ankle for ever unless they bothered me.

[skidlid]

I had my 10 screws and plate removed from my ankle in August after almost a year. I could not touch the skin where they where located as it hurt. When I wore a boot the pain increased. Now that they are gone it has improved and the ankle appears to be getting smaller looking finally. I am so glad they are gone!

[johnwayne]

you suppose to take it easy on your first day out you know.. Then build yourself up gradually. Not go all out on your first day out.

[Thunderbug]

Don't let your doctor replace your sensibilities.

Remember, medical school was expensive, and they're in it for the money. Its your body, not theirs.

Always remember that.

[RaceMX84]

you suppose to take it easy on your first day out you know.. Then build yourself up gradually. Not go all out on your first day out.

I only snowboarded for maybe 2 hours. I wasnt on the terrain park or anything. I was just going down the hill. I had been running on it a little bit before that and i never felt this pain. It could have been from the boot itself, but thats what made me wonder about the motocross boot giving me this problem.

[RaceMX84]

One more question about this.

I have been working out (riding a stationary bike) since i could walk. I started off with no load and have gotten to a full work out without my foot bothering me. Becuase of this pain from the tendon being bothered should i stop working out until the pain goes away or until i get the situation resolved? Basically what im asking is will it cause more damage to work out or is there not really any damage being caused, just irritation?

[chadk66]

I'm with the doc on this one. I had 3 plates and 17 screws in my tib,fib in the ankle. At 5 months I had to have them out because I couldn't wear winter boots. From the day I had them taken out I had no discomfort whatsoever.

[speedfrk]

I was told that I needed to wait 12 months before removing plates/screws.

It hs only been three ..... and counting.

Good news is they used titanium, and I do not set off the security alarms at the airport.

I was not looking forward to that full body cavity search while the metal detector kept going off !

[llamaface]

Don't let your doctor replace your sensibilities.

Remember, medical school was expensive, and they're in it for the money. Its your body, not theirs.

You mean I didn't need to wait 7 months after my open femur fracture to start snowboarding again? dang, I missed like 6 weeks of great snow from listening to my doctor. Oh well. Hopefully going tomorrow.

[chadk66]

My orthopedic was very hesitant to take mine out at 5 months, he said he usually will not take them for six months at a minimum. I had to twist his arm because it was mid december and I didn't want to go thru another deductible and max out of pocket with my insurance. So he agreed but I had to promise to take it easy for at least a year. He said the holes will not grow shut for 1 to 2 years.

[RaceMX84]

My doctor told me the pain was a nerve and to give it a while. Then if it still hurts ill talk to him about having them removed.

Speedfrk. Im wondering about the airport security as well. Im flying in about 2 weeks so i guess ill find out haha.

[speedfrk]

I was told that only if I try to pass through a HIGHLY sensitive aiport,

(Like Israel) I might have a problem. I have been through 4 different US airports, and a few in South/Central America, with NO problems. I do make sure to remove ALL other metals. (Belt buckle, watch, etc) I have Plate in my Fibia, with 6 screws, and 2 Long ones in the Tibia.

[DrMark]

A plate on the distal fibula wouldn't go off in the metal detector entering the White House.

A well healed fibula can have its plate removed at four months, not one year.