Anyone cheat (be honest) with weight bearing?

No, I definitely did not. I had the talonavicular joint fused in my ankle and bearing weight could have ruined the fusion. I used a knee scooter for 6 weeks and didn't really use crutches at all because of the arthritis in my hand. My doctor told me not to even "tap down" for 6 weeks.

Hi Suzie,

Honestly?  No way.  I have been thru so much pain with my ORIF broken fibula, dislocated ankle and torn ligaments that I am afraid to do anything unless I'm told by the Dr. it's ok.

To me that would be foolish because you are jeopardizing the healing that has already taken place.  Personally, I wouldn't take any chances that it would add five minutes of recovery time onto what I've already suffered.

After nine weeks of casts and now an air boot, I have finally been given the go ahead to put up to 20 lbs. on my foot and I no longer have to sleep with that anchor of a boot at night.  Because my ankle is still very sore, I will keep the boot on just to protect it while I sleep.

I'm just grateful to be standing with a walker and on my way to getting my life back again.

Wishing you a speedy recovery ... don't cheat ... lol  !!

Hi Suzie,

I am also about 5 weeks out and have been totally non weight bearing. I don't want to prolong this injury by even a day. Crutches are really difficult, but I have gotten so much better on them.

If your 5 weeks out hopefully no injury was done.

Take care.

You are only cheating yourself and you could need anither operation if you screw something up! Just follow Dr orders or you will be the one suffering the consequences!!!  Your Dr will just make more money repairing the damage you do to yourself.

I'm six weeks in and the doc still says NWB. He told me twice this Monday because I ask each week. I had complications after surgery  with an infection etc.,  so I am terribly fearful of damaging the healing that has taken place even though it has been very slow.  I've used a wheelchair because I could not use crutches. A walker is helpful as is the scooter that Amazon sells.  I have several broken bones in my ankle  and torn tendons with lots of hardware holding them together.  I just wouldn't chance having to start over. 

I was told to start partial weight bearing at 4 weeks, then full weight bearing at 8 weeks,  all while still in plaster.  Obviously you should follow the advice of your own surgeon, however mine told me that a little weight bearing from fairly early on helps with the fusion (but not for the first 4 weeks).  Just don't overdo it and stop if you have pain. 

Hi Suzie, I fullt understand your situation but, like the other replies say, I wouldn't risk it.  I'm 4 weeks post ankle fusion and the last thing I want to do is to have it done all over again.  I'm using an Iwalk (http://iwalk-free.com) that I bought ahead of time (it'll go on eBay when I'm done with it).  It is really useful as you have your hands free, a bit like a knee scooter.  I hope you haven't done any damage to yourself and hope you have a good recovery.

Suzie,

You didn't state the nature or severity of your ankle fracture and injury, so frankly it would be futile to try to give you an opinion on whether your little weight-bearing adventure did any harm or not.

You also didn't mention if at the time you were on crutches but also were in a cast or properly worn moon boot-- that fact could make all the difference in outcomes.

5 weeks on into fracture recovery (on average, and none of us are 'average' would allow significant bone mending. But only x-ray images and your doctor's expert opinion could say with some certainty if there is still unstable, incompletely knitted bone displacement that could be jeopardized by weight and jostling.

Yes, putting weight on both healing and healthy bones is a good thing, but only if the bone breaks can absorb such weight and movement without undoing hard-won gains in bone mending.

Why take chances anyway? You will soon enough get to weight-bearing if you are willing to be patient.

I did exactly as doctor ordered. I used a walker with seat and wheels because I was scared of falling with crutches. I am using crutches now that I am FWB but it is hard to try to carry things with them. Even just a purse!

Sent you a private message.