Broken Ankle
Posted , 3 users are following.
I have recently come out of a cast after 5 weeks and now in a boot for another 3 weeks. I am in the 2nd week of boot and can now put weight on my foot when in the boot. I was given foot exercises from physio while leg elevated, but now feel I may have overdone it. My ankle/shins now feel really bruised and I'm worried in case I've damaged myself. Is this normal when u start exercises??
0 likes, 6 replies
becky7624 kerryG
Posted
I'm not doing physical therapy, but the same thing happened when I started walking in my boot last week. Some days it seems I can even see that my leg is bruised. I guess it's normal, at least I hope it is. Good luck with your recovery.
kerryG becky7624
Posted
I really hope it's normal. Thanks Becky. Good luck too.
diane_b kerryG
Posted
I didn't have a boot but did get quite a lot of pain after my cast came off (six weeks), my physio said it's normal and the pain can increase for a while as the swelling goes down. Good luck with your recovery and keep up the exercises.
Diane
kerryG diane_b
Posted
I'm back on medication cos I've been feeling weak and now scared to do my exercises. My husband says I need to be patient, but it's soooo hard. Maybe just need to do the exercises less now ??
diane_b kerryG
Posted
Your husband is right, you do need to be patient. I'm 14 weeks post break and still have some stiffness and swelling and I'm still doing the rehab exercises. Try just doing a little to increase mobility. In my case it was 5 weeks after the cast came off before my physio moved my ankle around and said there was 100% mobility there (that was her being able to rotate the ankle not me being able to do it myself), and to me it still felt stiff and uncomfortable if I walked too far on it. That was the point at which she told me I could exercise as much as I felt able to without causing harm so it does take a while. It also seemed to hurt everywhere except the break, my toes, foot, calf, shin etc. It's because all those areas gave been immobilised in a cast and have become stiff and weak. At first I just moved my foot around whilst sitting on the sofa. Now I'm still aware of some stiffness but increasingly able to do more and can see that it will eventually feel normal again but it has been over three months. It can feel depressing but you will gradually realise that you are improving. Take it gently, even though you probably want to rush off and get doing things (isn't being in a cast the most boring, frustrating experience?). Go slowly and take it from me that you will gradually realise it's getting better but it is a long process.
Take care
Diane
kerryG diane_b
Posted
Oh thank you Diane for your encouraging message. I'm defo gonna take it easier and do a little less than what I was doing. Back to work Tuesday week on shorter hours just because I want to feel a bit normal again. Not rushing cos will be sitting in the office.