Wrote this 2nd June 2008 (but didn't get around posting it!)

Funny thing is the thing that kept me awake was not the broken leg but my heel bone pain. Felt like broken glass pressing into it. Maybe due to poor circulation because of the cast or pressure sore, I don't know. I couldn't sleep well and was in pain whole day/night. A painkiller didn't work at all! This happened one week after the first cast and about two or three weeks after the second cast.

Only solved it when I lowered my leg and didn't elevate it. What worked temporarily: toe massages (not too hard), standing up (with my crutches) for a short while. changing the position of the direction I rested my foot. If you don't have any swelling (indicated by pain in the broken bone area), it's okay not to elevate the leg, said my doctor. Now, I put my leg on one pillow. I used to put it down on a kiddy chair next to the bed (put a pillow on it or rectangular detachable armchair). This was after the nurse said elevating is definitely better for the leg because the blood can circulate better. I stupidly realised this was true only after it stuck me that the reason why my feet turned purple was because I didn't elevate it (when sitting in the living room couch for long periods of time) and not because my feet had permanently turned purple in colour!

Every day, I massage/cup my hands and hit my thighs, legs, upper torso. Massage my scalp with my fingers, rub back of my upper shoulders near the neck, rub the back of my scalp near the neck. The TCM doctor told me to do this for circulation. The tibia is notorious for poor blood supply.I heard it's common to get leg cramps because of the cast. I don't like crutches because I had problems focusing because I am so used to multi-tasking. That's why I make sure I have someone around me when I'm using it even though I'm more confident now.

My physiotherapist neighbour said I can't afford to fall, now or in the future. It's disapppointing that the bones aren't well-aligned even after casting. Maybe it's because it's a spiral fracture (oblique and v-shaped) and they didn't want to risk it breaking it. Felt close to tears just now thinking I should have gone for surgery. I hate thinking my decision is going to cause me problems later. But what can I do now but just have faith? Each day I just visualise the bone joining up.The good news is I have been getting sensations in the leg once or twice a day lately. I don't know if it's because I've been taking boiled Chinese herbs twice a day for a week. Before this, I could not lift my leg up from the left because of pain (I twisted my right leg to the left when I broke it). A few days ago I felt stinging pain in the lefthand side of my leg for about 5-10mins. Now, I can lift it up from the left without pain.Had to postpone my family holiday too But it's just a matter of time! Am going for knee cast this Friday after 6 weeks. After that I'm going for acupuncture.

The cast gets loose over time so I was able to wriggle my toes more. I felt very claustrophobic at first because that foot area was too tight. Now it's better. I think even the ones who had surgery have problems with the ankle or knee later. Probably the only thing that helps is physiotherapy, massages, heat/ice packs, special stockings, and acupuncture.

My husband bought me a mobile standing air-con unit with ions that is about 1-1.5m metre in height. Sometimes I just keep it directed at the leg so the air can go in the cast, especially hot days.

I just ordered Biosil which is supposed to help heal bones faster. It's supposedly the best form of silica - a little silica was proven to help heal unite bones (even bones that had not healed for over a year) in a study.

SpringerLink - Journal Article

Silicon supplement may benefit bone healthSpringerLink - Journal Article

I'm kind of worried because the tibia is notorious for healing slow.But ultimately, your diet would help too. I'm eating more proteins - fruits (eg figs, papaya, bananas, apples), oats, veggies and fish than I ever did before! I lessened my carbo to avoid putting on weight due to less mobility.

These are the things I'm taking: 1) liquid calcium citrate 1,200 mg (in divided doses) with magnesium, boron, zinc and vitamin C (other types of calcium not so good for absorption). I'm lactose intolerant.
2) homeopathic tissue salts for bone healing 2x a day
3) fish oil with vitamin D (you need about 1,000 to 2,000 iu)
4) glucosamine+chondroitin+MSM(just started. For joint flexibility)
5)silica (horsetail while waiting for Biosil)
6) Chinese herbs (prescribed by TCM doctor) 2x a day
7) lots of morning sun to help form the bone

For digestion (and to ward off constipation) when needed
8) acidophillus tablets (also makes absorption of vitamin K easier which is needed to build bones) 9) digestion enzymes (I can't digest meat very well so it helps)
10) WATER! I am trying hard to get 2 litre a day.

I am also wearing a germanium/magnet bracelet to help with circulation. Don't know if it works but worth trying. My gran swears she can sleep better with it. Wow! That's a lot! But I think it's helping. The colour of my nails are getting pinker (a few days ago it was very white/pale). My circulation wasn't good before the break because I had been having sinusitis. I was getting dizzy spells for several days- low blood pressure - but I suspect because lack of iron. Has gone away since I ate more animal protein (although I know it causes calcium loss).