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Removal of metal from broken ankle

Posted by oelkersj @oelkersj, 2 days ago

I broke my ankle 26 years ago and have recently started having pain and feelings of pins and needles in that foot. Has anyone else had this problem? Has anyone had the metal removed and how did that go?

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Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | 1 day ago

@oelkersj I had my surgical plates and screws removed from my ankle, but that was after a year and a half. You may want to see a neurologist to try to determine if the symptoms you are having are connected to your hardware. It could also be due to scar tissue. In my case, I had throbbing pain from the hardware, some skin pigmentation over the plates and chronic hives anywhere on my body. All of that resolved after having the hardware removed. If you think it may be a sensitivity to metals, there is a lab in Chicago that can test this called Orthopedic Analysis. https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/

You may be interested in this discussion
Bones, Joints & Muscles - "Hardware removal after tibial plateau fracture (tpf)"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hardware-removal-after-tibial-plateau-fracture/
Have you discussed these symptoms with your doctor?

REPLY
1 reply
oelkersj | @oelkersj | 1 day ago
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@oelkersj I had my surgical plates and screws removed from my ankle, but that was after..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@oelkersj I had my surgical plates and screws removed from my ankle, but that was after a year and a half. You may want to see a neurologist to try to determine if the symptoms you are having are connected to your hardware. It could also be due to scar tissue. In my case, I had throbbing pain from the hardware, some skin pigmentation over the plates and chronic hives anywhere on my body. All of that resolved after having the hardware removed. If you think it may be a sensitivity to metals, there is a lab in Chicago that can test this called Orthopedic Analysis. https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/

You may be interested in this discussion
Bones, Joints & Muscles - "Hardware removal after tibial plateau fracture (tpf)"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hardware-removal-after-tibial-plateau-fracture/
Have you discussed these symptoms with your doctor?

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. I am scheduled for an X-ray and an appointment with an ortho doctor.

REPLY
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | 1 day ago

@oelkersj
It sounds like it would be good for you to see a podiatrist to check your ankle and hardware. If it is pressing on nerves and/or blood vessels, it may be best to come out, depending on how your foot/ankle healed.

It may also be good to see a neurologist about your foot pain/pins and needles to check for nerve damage. They may want to do some testing like EMG/nerve conduction study of lower limbs and small fiber neuropathy blood tests/skin punch biopsy.

REPLY
2 replies
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | 1 day ago
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@oelkersj It sounds like it would be good for you to see a podiatrist to check..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@oelkersj
It sounds like it would be good for you to see a podiatrist to check your ankle and hardware. If it is pressing on nerves and/or blood vessels, it may be best to come out, depending on how your foot/ankle healed.

It may also be good to see a neurologist about your foot pain/pins and needles to check for nerve damage. They may want to do some testing like EMG/nerve conduction study of lower limbs and small fiber neuropathy blood tests/skin punch biopsy.

Jump to this post

@oelkersj
Another thought is to see a vein/vascular specialist if there are any issues with blood flow/circulation causing your symptoms.

REPLY
oelkersj | @oelkersj | 1 day ago
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@oelkersj It sounds like it would be good for you to see a podiatrist to check..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@oelkersj
It sounds like it would be good for you to see a podiatrist to check your ankle and hardware. If it is pressing on nerves and/or blood vessels, it may be best to come out, depending on how your foot/ankle healed.

It may also be good to see a neurologist about your foot pain/pins and needles to check for nerve damage. They may want to do some testing like EMG/nerve conduction study of lower limbs and small fiber neuropathy blood tests/skin punch biopsy.

Jump to this post

Thank you!

REPLY
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