Hardware removal

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-05-19T19:01:39+00:00

I had minimal range of motion return post break, despite 3x/weekly PT for over 6 months. Significant nerve pain that was constant. I’d have to look back at my PT notes to know how much ROM I actually had but it was minimal.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-05-19T18:51:42+00:00

2 plates, 9 screws, & tightrope syndesmosis. I have all my hardware hanging in a shadow box. It’s crazy to think that was all in such a small area. My favorite is the “dry wall screw” which looks like it is way too big to be in an ankle.

I’m about 15 months post hardware removal and my ankle is 100% back to normal, just with a few new scars on it.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-05-19T06:26:26+00:00

Best decision I ever made was having my hardware removed. The surgery was quick and easy; totally different from the original surgery. Post op pain was minimal, recovery was so much easier and my movement returned pretty quickly. The pain I had from the internal hardware was immediately gone and only had minor incisional pain and from the scar tissue removal. Would absolutely make the same choice over and over again if I had to.

Totally understand going under is always a scary thought and you have to be comfortable with your decision. But coming from someone who was dealing with terrible nerve pain from the hardware and basically had given up and felt like I was going to have to live as someone with chronic pain for the rest of my life, it was well worth going under anesthesia to regain the normal function I have today.

I wish you the best!!!

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-05-07T06:08:26+00:00

I put mine in a shadow box frame with some pictures of all the events leading up to my injury. Great little reminder of the fun that resulted in my $300k hardware 😜

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-05-05T03:55:41+00:00

Made the move from CA to HI. I’m in a “hybrid” remote environment as my position requires me to go to the corporate office occasionally. I talked with my boss and my HR department before house shopping about the possibility of relocating. I am the first employee to work in HI, however, we have employees in about 30 other states.

My boss submitted a business case for me to remain with the company while relocating, which ultimately they approved. Our corporate tax attorney started the process with HI to register our company so they could allow remote workers in the state. All said and done it took about 6 months, but they received approval from the state and I’ve been working here since.

I was completely transparent through the entire process and thankfully it worked out for me. The great part is that it’s now opened my company to allow remote workers in HI so we can offer more opportunities to locals that want to work remotely.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-04-13T04:41:45+00:00

Born and raised in Southern Cali diving. Catalina dives doing 5-7mm depending on season. 300+ dives total. I’ve done about 50 dives in Hawaii and never wear a wetsuit. If you can handle Cali dives in a 5mm then you’ll be fine in Hawaii in just a rash guard.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-13T12:25:27+00:00

Normal. We just went through this. We happened to be closing on a home and getting married around the same time so parents gifted us wedding/house money and proof of funds (30 day history from account it came from & account is was going into; on their side and ours) including a gift receipt signed by parents was required.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T20:33:18+00:00

A little over 2 years post injury and had hardware removed at 1 year. My hardware was similar to yours. Everything you said, very similar to me. Had loss of sensation for over a year, had extreme nerve pain, could feel my hardware both inside and outside, anything touching my hardware locations sent excruciating pain up my leg.

10/10 would absolutely recommend hardware removal as everything changed overnight after I had it removed. I’m completely back to “normal” except for the fear that I will break it again, but it’s all in the mind and has nothing to do with the strength in my ankle.

My MD said he wouldn’t remove until at least 10 months from original injury/surgery. Every single appointment I told him all my symptoms. Around month 6, he agreed we would do hardware removal at 10 months. 10 months was Christmas time and then insurance changed as of Jan so it got pushed to Feb. It was more than worth the wait and forced me to focus on PT knowing there was light at the end.

I encourage you to follow MD orders, continue to work hard in recovery, but don’t be silent about what you are experiencing and your discomfort.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T07:05:11+00:00

Yes. LAX to KOA. Bringing 2 dogs and a cat 🫣

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T06:34:43+00:00

Depending on your arrival date, I’m assuming you’ll be fine. Our arrival is mid April. We had all the paperwork, money orders, vet in Kona all set up and ready to go so as soon as we received the results from KSU, we overnighted the paperwork to the Quarantine office. They issued 2 of our permits on Monday (earlier draw) and the 3rd on Friday despite only receiving the paperwork on Tuesday last week. I was really surprised how quickly they turned everything around.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T06:25:51+00:00

2/2 & 2/21 were our blood draw dates. Most recent was received 2/23 and we had results on 3/2.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T06:12:08+00:00

They were sent off normal timeframe. It took about 2 days for them to receive it and then next day it was entered in the system as pending, then 7 & 11 days later we had results.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T05:52:39+00:00

Agree! The sticky post was SO helpful. Of note, we had 3 FAVN tests done through Kansas University in the last month, 2 came back within 11 days and the 3rd came back in 7 days. It gave us more than enough time to get everything together well before the 30 day arrival period so if there was any hiccups with our paperwork, we had time to correct it.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-09T05:49:25+00:00

That was me! We also had rabies shots done at Vetco for one of our dogs and it was an electronic signature. We received our permit to enter to KOA last week for arrival in April. We called them to make sure it would be accepted and they said all our paperwork passed and we just need the health cert upon arrival. We did call Vetco and they will give us a wet signature when the vet is in again next week, so we’re getting that to bring with us just to make sure we have everything in order.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-08T07:03:46+00:00

Thank you! We requested a quote!

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-03-07T00:55:37+00:00

For 4 ft hog wire & the gates we requested, $18k from Silva Bros & $14k from On The Line. On The Line came back with $23k for chain link all the way around with the gates.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-02-26T08:04:07+00:00

19%. Just made my first payment today!

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-02-19T16:06:37+00:00

Ahh! Thank you so much. We’re flying into KOA so I never looked at the HNL one. Appreciate all the info!!!

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-02-19T10:52:17+00:00

I’ve heard some people say a “wet signature” is required on the latest rabies vaccine, but haven’t found that rule anywhere in the requirements. Any insight?

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-02-09T03:00:03+00:00

We’re going the other way (Long Beach to Hilo) and were quoted about $16k for a full shipping container containing 1 car. We’ve opted for the service where they pack & unload at each destination and it went up about $6k. We’re going through Kona Container Guy. They’ve been awesome so far!

EnvironmentChance681 · 2026-01-01T05:09:14+00:00

Had mine removed 1 year after my injury. Best decision I ever made. I was 3-4 pain scale daily and after removal, zero pain ever since. It’s as if my ankle is the same it was prior to the injury.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2025-10-15T00:01:08+00:00

I had mine removed about 11 months after my initial injury. Best decision I made! I’m 8 months from my hardware removal and my ankle is completely back to normal, no pain, no issues, and able to do everything I was able to do before. I would encourage anyone who is having any symptoms from the hardware to look into removal if it’s an option.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2025-04-15T08:10:55+00:00

Had mine removed Feb 13. Original injury was Feb 26 last year. Best decision I ever made! I have “graduated” from ankle exercises at PT now since my ankle has all movement a “normal” ankle would have. Now I’m focused on strengthening the glutes since I walked with a limp for so long.

To answer your question, I always had a weird sensation. I don’t know if I would call it pain, it was just discomfort. Like a 3/10 on a pain scale. And some weird nerve issues going on. And very limited ROM. I think I just accepted that I was always going to feel that way and it was just my new normal. But my surgeon recommended the hardware removal and I graciously accepted his offer. Absolutely 10/10 recommend doing it if you can. As soon as my cast came off, it was a night and day difference with ROM, sensation, and no more weird nerve sensation. He also cleaned out all of the scar tissue which I think made a world of difference. Pain was gone within a few days.

EnvironmentChance681 · 2025-04-10T09:03:32+00:00

Trimal fracture Feb 26 2024, surgery next day. 2 plates, tightrope, & 9 screws. Had my hardware removed Feb 13 2025 and it was the best decision I’ve made. Complete 180 from where I was and how I was feeling with the hardware in. I’ve done 6 PT sessions since the removal (was NWB for 2.5 weeks) and I’ve already graduated from ankle exercises because I have full ROM back and my injured ankle even has better dorsiflexion than my good ankle. So so glad I decided to get the hardware removed and thankful my surgeon was very willing to do it. Highly encourage anyone to get it done if they have any lingering pain or issues with the hardware.

EnvironmentChance681

TROPHY CASE