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What Causes Stiffness, Swelling, Itching And Pain In Ankle After Treating Calcaneal Fracture?
Posted on
Thu, 17 Sep 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 17 Sep 2015
Answered on
Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello Doc,
I suffered from Calcaneal fracture two years ago when accidentally i fell from a height of approx 10-12 feet. i had plaster on my left leg for 10 weeks with complete bed rest for almost 3-4 months.
Now, it's been two years since than, i am still suffering from stiffness pain swelling itching and cramps in my ankle. There are several black dots which looks like eczema , however i consulted skin doctor it's not eczema. Every morning when i woke up my leg is swollen and i am not able to walk properly due to stiffness and pain. Not only during morning hours however when i stand up after sitting for few hours in office i face same issues and complications.
I am really tensed about my leg as i am only 31 years young and these issues are troubling me a lot in my day to day life.. please help.. will i be able to walk and run like before. ??? Please HELP..
Regards, XXXXXXX
I suffered from Calcaneal fracture two years ago when accidentally i fell from a height of approx 10-12 feet. i had plaster on my left leg for 10 weeks with complete bed rest for almost 3-4 months.
Now, it's been two years since than, i am still suffering from stiffness pain swelling itching and cramps in my ankle. There are several black dots which looks like eczema , however i consulted skin doctor it's not eczema. Every morning when i woke up my leg is swollen and i am not able to walk properly due to stiffness and pain. Not only during morning hours however when i stand up after sitting for few hours in office i face same issues and complications.
I am really tensed about my leg as i am only 31 years young and these issues are troubling me a lot in my day to day life.. please help.. will i be able to walk and run like before. ??? Please HELP..
Regards, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Please upload images.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, XXXXXXX
I understand your concern.
I can guide you better if you can upload images of the eczema spots and well as the ankle overall.
This can help me to formulate an accurate hypothesis and offer relevant therapeutic protocol.
Thank you.
Please upload images.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, XXXXXXX
I understand your concern.
I can guide you better if you can upload images of the eczema spots and well as the ankle overall.
This can help me to formulate an accurate hypothesis and offer relevant therapeutic protocol.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Copied That Doctor, uploaded PDF file.. Please find.
However my major issue is not echzema, it is ankle pain and stiffness.
However my major issue is not echzema, it is ankle pain and stiffness.
Brief Answer:
Kindly resend PDF.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I am yet to find the attached copies of PDF on my dashboard.
This could be a technical error.
Kindly email it to me - YYYY@YYYY .
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Kindly resend PDF.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I am yet to find the attached copies of PDF on my dashboard.
This could be a technical error.
Kindly email it to me - YYYY@YYYY .
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Hello Doctor,
This is with reference to the conversation on healthcaremagic.com
Please find attached pics of my swollen ankle and the spots on my ankle. Hope it suffices.
My issues are
1. The black spots as it hardly itch (only when my leg comes in contact with salty water, beach or rain even it start itching otherwise it’s never itching)
2. The Pain, Stiffness, cramps and swelling (every morning I woke up with all these symptoms for 20-30 minutes, also when I stand up after sitting for a period of 2-3 hours)
3. I have done Physiotherapy for 2 months, have taken medicine from Homeopathy, allopathic and Ayurveda’s doctors.
4. I got tested my Vitamin D and B12. B12 was OK, Vitamin D was quite low for which I have taken injection as well as oral capsules for almost 10 weeks. Now even my Vitamin D level is within the limit.
My (unresolved) Query was-
I suffered from Calcaneal fracture two years ago when accidentally i fell from a height of approx. 10-12 feet. i had plaster on my left leg for 10 weeks with complete bed rest for almost 3-4 months.
Now, it's been two years since then, i am still suffering from stiffness pain swelling itching and cramps in my ankle. There are several black dots which looks like eczema , however i consulted skin doctor it's not eczema. Every morning when i woke up my leg is swollen and i am not able to walk properly due to stiffness and pain. Not only during morning hours however when i stand up after sitting for few hours in office i face same issues and complications.
I am really tensed about my leg as i am only 31 years young and these issues are troubling me a lot in my day to day life.. please help.. will i be able to walk and run like before. ??? Please HELP..
Hello Doctor,
This is with reference to the conversation on healthcaremagic.com
Please find attached pics of my swollen ankle and the spots on my ankle. Hope it suffices.
My issues are
1. The black spots as it hardly itch (only when my leg comes in contact with salty water, beach or rain even it start itching otherwise it’s never itching)
2. The Pain, Stiffness, cramps and swelling (every morning I woke up with all these symptoms for 20-30 minutes, also when I stand up after sitting for a period of 2-3 hours)
3. I have done Physiotherapy for 2 months, have taken medicine from Homeopathy, allopathic and Ayurveda’s doctors.
4. I got tested my Vitamin D and B12. B12 was OK, Vitamin D was quite low for which I have taken injection as well as oral capsules for almost 10 weeks. Now even my Vitamin D level is within the limit.
My (unresolved) Query was-
I suffered from Calcaneal fracture two years ago when accidentally i fell from a height of approx. 10-12 feet. i had plaster on my left leg for 10 weeks with complete bed rest for almost 3-4 months.
Now, it's been two years since then, i am still suffering from stiffness pain swelling itching and cramps in my ankle. There are several black dots which looks like eczema , however i consulted skin doctor it's not eczema. Every morning when i woke up my leg is swollen and i am not able to walk properly due to stiffness and pain. Not only during morning hours however when i stand up after sitting for few hours in office i face same issues and complications.
I am really tensed about my leg as i am only 31 years young and these issues are troubling me a lot in my day to day life.. please help.. will i be able to walk and run like before. ??? Please HELP..
Brief Answer:
Possible RSD, a likely chronic phase.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I understand your concern.
I apologise for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through the images in detail.
These changes probably represent a condition termed as Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a clinical syndrome of variable course and unknown cause characterised by pain, swelling, and vasomotor dysfunction(skin discoloration, dryness and itching) of an extremity. This condition is often the result of trauma or surgery.
This RSD seem to be in chronic phase as evident by the stiffness of the joint which might reflect underlying fibrosis around joint.RSD has 3 phases- acute, subacute or chronic.
This condition can occur due to inherent disturbances in sympathetic nervous system outflow.
This condition should be best dealt when it is in initial stages.You have neglected at this stage.Medical management at this stage would have yielded successful results.
Underlying profound bone demineralisation is usually associated with chronic RSD.
For this, I advise you to get an X-ray of the ankle both in AP and lateral Views to detect the degree of demineralization.Please update me with the results.
At this stage, let us initially try with Medical management and observe the outcome.
To assess the stage accurately, a bone scan of the ankle can be considered.
I generally treat my patients with sympatholytic drugs and anti-inflammatory agents like Prednisone, Prazosin and Diclofenac sodium for 2 weeks followed by tapering over 2weeks.Please check with your physician if he shares my view and if can prescribe them to you.
Based on the response, further action can be taken.
In case, you have not responded after 2 weeks additional treatment protocols have to be considered.This includes sympathetic blocks and surgery.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Possible RSD, a likely chronic phase.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I understand your concern.
I apologise for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through the images in detail.
These changes probably represent a condition termed as Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a clinical syndrome of variable course and unknown cause characterised by pain, swelling, and vasomotor dysfunction(skin discoloration, dryness and itching) of an extremity. This condition is often the result of trauma or surgery.
This RSD seem to be in chronic phase as evident by the stiffness of the joint which might reflect underlying fibrosis around joint.RSD has 3 phases- acute, subacute or chronic.
This condition can occur due to inherent disturbances in sympathetic nervous system outflow.
This condition should be best dealt when it is in initial stages.You have neglected at this stage.Medical management at this stage would have yielded successful results.
Underlying profound bone demineralisation is usually associated with chronic RSD.
For this, I advise you to get an X-ray of the ankle both in AP and lateral Views to detect the degree of demineralization.Please update me with the results.
At this stage, let us initially try with Medical management and observe the outcome.
To assess the stage accurately, a bone scan of the ankle can be considered.
I generally treat my patients with sympatholytic drugs and anti-inflammatory agents like Prednisone, Prazosin and Diclofenac sodium for 2 weeks followed by tapering over 2weeks.Please check with your physician if he shares my view and if can prescribe them to you.
Based on the response, further action can be taken.
In case, you have not responded after 2 weeks additional treatment protocols have to be considered.This includes sympathetic blocks and surgery.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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