3 weeks post ORIF hot sweaty when I exert myself

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi, 

Did anyone experience getting hot, sweating excessively, or short of breath when you started moving around again? I'm 55 and had ORIF surgery 3 weeks ago. My surgeon put me in a hard cast last week. I'm still under the NWB restrictions and am useing a knee walker to move about. I was happy to get it just to be able too get around easier. But I start getting hot, sweaty, and short of breath if I am moving around cooking, doing laundry etc. I don't have any history of heart ,BP, or pulmonary problems. Is this very common after surgery. I live in the South so it's been pretty hot as of late but I'm staying in with the A/C. I've not had any problems other than this since the surgery. No pain and very minimal discomfort. Stopped pain meds the day after surgery and not even taking ibuprofen - just an 81 mg aspirin a day.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi. Think it's just the whole ordeal of surgery as it's a very traumatic experience. I m 10 weeks post surgery and partially weight bearing. I have 10steps at my front door and I go up them on my bum. By the time I get to. The top I need to stop and have a drink of water. I'm 49. Hate feeling so unfit. Only good think is all the walking on the crutches tones up ur arms. Wait til you see yourself in a other few weeks. Ull be like a new person.

    • Posted

      Well I can sure use the arm toning. I'm using a knee walker now. I always felt of balanceon crutches, I fracture my left ankle and fibula but my right ankle isn't really strong. I sprained the right badly about 2 years ago. It's still has some weakness. But I suppose when I start partial weight bearing I'll have to use crutches. I

       

    • Posted

      Yes. I had shied away from using crutches and I was going around house in borrowed wheelchair. My husband was on my case. He said to me. Will you stop using that wheelchair. A double amputee uses a wheelchair less than you. Tough love but spot on. I go up and down the street at my house with my crutches now partially weight bearing and I even go in the supermarket on them. Mind you I did have to rest on top of a box of fabric softeners in supermarket absolutely exhausted but I will get there and so will you
    • Posted

      When I fell and broke my fibula I sprained my other ankle. I do all of the physical therapy exercises on BOTH ankles to try and help the sprained one. I too, like you, feel it's weak. This is a long journey that tests your patience but stay positive. It can always be worse. You may be sweating and out of breath from exerting yourself in ways you usually don't and using muscles you typically don't. Take care. This will be behind you soon.

    • Posted

      Thats a good plan, I am really eager to get to the point the dr will refer me to physical therapy . Not sure when that will be.  But your right, I'm getting started on the stretches, and core exercise I did with the sprain. Any strength I can build up has to help. Onward!

  • Posted

    Yes. And though I went thru menopause at 50, symptoms never disappeared totally. Did come back strongly after snapped fibula and 5 months later after surgery. Now, 10 months later after folding washing and doing housework gets my metabolism going, and I feel my my muscles building up. My non broken leg has been worse with a Baker's Cyst, not enabling for a few months, to even push my knee scooter around. I fell over and burst it, had to let it get stronger with physio, and can weight bare now the torn muscle on that calf is repairing.

    Yes I believe it is normal. Your body had been through hell. Been zapped of energy for your healing.

    If worried ask physio and or Dr.

    I think you may be doing too much too soon, but we're all different.

    @(*+*)@

    • Posted

      I think your right. I was so happy to get the scooter because I would be able to do things myself. It does give me mobility but I learned quickly that  I couldn't jump right in. I think your right about menapause symptoms being triggered. I've been dealing with the syptoms for the last 3 years. My hot flashes have often been triggered by stress. The hot sweTy feeling I get is just like the hot flashes but amplified, I live in the southeastern part  North Carolina and we've had some really hot weather. The times I have been out the heat has bothered me so much more than ever before. I'm staying inside with the A/C! My husband has even not fussed when I've turned it down a couple of notches! I haven't seen anyone in physio yet. I went to the Surgeon early last week and after the crays he took my splint cast off, removed stitches and pit me right in a hard class. I 

       

  • Posted

    Oh meant to say. Don't know what I would do if weather was unbearably warm here. I'm in Ireland and today it's 18 Celsius

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