Hello Dr. Siegel, My name is James I recently borke my fibula and tibial badly in such a way that it required a surgical procedure in which a plate and screws were required. The surgery went well and I was placed in a cast for a period of 2 weeks, and an appointment was then scheduled for the removal of the cast and sutures; however I must first admit that during that time I did not follow the post operative instructions to perfection. In fact I was moving about on my crutches I would say at least 75% of the time, and subsequently I took a fall in which the left leg with the cast was the first to hit the floor foot first as if though I was literally trying to break my fall. As you probably could imagine got concerned about whether or not I reinjured myself or caused further damage. I was uncertain of both, but realized that there was no extraordinary pain that followed and the plates and screws did not seem to be out of place or come loose; nor did the bones seem to shift as they did prior to the surgery, so I thought all was well. After the 2 weeks I kept my appointment following week...everything was removed and the incision the was healing unremarkably well; however there was still a great deal of swelling that remained. I was then given a boot and told to begin range-in-motion exercises. Since then my pains have increased, and there s still swelling, I have not regained all feeling in my knee and leg, and there is often a bit of numbness from time to time. My concerns are multi faceted in that first of, I m concerned about the level of nerve damage. I m unaware of serious nature of my injury, the location of my fractures, will I be able to ever walk properly again, and more importantly now the pain, and numbness is now becoming more intense, and it seems like as though somehow my bones are moving the way they did prior to my surgery; as though something has loosened or come undone, but not in an extreme way, but subtly. I m contemplating returning to the ER to find out what is going on.. Can you give me some answers please Seriously concerned, James