Louise Galvin: Cast builds character but emotional roadblocks hamper any recovery

Eight weeks post ankle break. One week out of cast. How am I getting on? That is the million dollar question. Physically and mentally it is time to take stock.

Modern medicine has evolved immeasurably, with the ultimate result being that men and women live for longer. Yet, for all its advancements, broken bones are still treated much the same way without much quickening in healing times. Fractures are immobilised for weeks on end to allow the fracture to heal and new bone to be laid down in its place.

What problem do I have with this? In a sense, it is robbing Peter to pay Paul. As this immobilisation is taking place and the new bone is being protected, the other structures around the area are being tightened and weakened. In my case, all the joints in my foot and ankle, each sinew supporting them, and my Achilles tendon and calf muscles, have been dormant for seven weeks. Once the cast was removed a week ago, as expected, the muscle wastage was cruel and unforgiving. If my emaciated calf was of the four-legged variety out in the farm at home, I’m not sure my dad would even waste the vet bills on it!