"I feel let down and totally unsupported"

I recently fractured and dislocated my ankle and needed an operation (ORIF) to repair the bones. My treatment on F20 was good although I never got to speak to a doctor after my operation before I was hastily discharged the day after a 3-hour operation. I must commend the nursing staff on this ward who always answered my buzzer for a call of nature. This I very much appreciated. 

I was discharged with an appointment for the fracture clinic two weeks later, where theatre cast and stitches removed and another cast put for 4 weeks - continuing to non weight bare. I then had another appointment for 4 weeks where I assumed cast would be removed and discuss beginning to weight bare. 

I want to say this is the visit quite frankly I was left traumatised! My cast was removed and I was asked if I’d brought socks and footwear! I said no because I wasn’t informed too. I then saw the doctor who looked at my x-rays and asked me to stand on my foot which I gingerly did. I was then informed I could weight bare and discharged! I was then told to see physio. 

I left the room in my wheelchair in a daze, I felt faint and lightheaded from having the cast off and my leg was left undressed, wounds weeping, dried blood everywhere, swollen and bruised! I was left like this in the corridor with everyone looking, I then was called into physio, I was very tearful from the shock of being told I can now walk when clearly I couldn’t! Instructed how to use crutches (which by the way I fell off in A&E!) this was done in the corridor with everyone watching, personal medical details are discussed with doors open and other patients waiting just outside the door! 

And that was it! Not one person explained or advised how my recovery should be, no one offered to wash or dress my ankle, no one explained partial weight bearing, I wasn’t allowed a boot to help me transition to full weight bearing. 

I’d also like to mention the lack of recognition or understanding of the mental and emotional impact serious and debilitating fractures have on a person, this is an area that I feel is neglected by every level of the medical profession, and really needs to be addressed. 

I feel let down to be honest and totally unsupported in my continuing journey to full healing - which I might say I’m a very long way off!