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Cast to boot . . . what to expect?

Posted , 13 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Mid thirties female here, bimalleolar fracture with dislocation on 7/21, surgery on 8/1. In about ten days, I'm transitioning from a hard cast to a walking boot. My surgical staples will be removed the same day. I've been on a knee scooter since the third day after my injury as I'm very bad with crutches. All totaled, I'll be NWB for about 4 weeks before the boot. I'm pretty scared to put weight on my ankle needless to say. What can I expect from the transition? What do I need to be prepared? Do people really use shoe lifts for the uninjured foot? Does the boot irritate the incision site?

0 likes, 21 replies

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  • carol36366
    carol36366 Guest

    Posted

    When you get the boot you may still not be weight bearing. When you do start walking expect swelling and discomfort when the leg is not elevated. It is a long difficult journey emotionally and physically. I was non weight bearing for 10 weeks. I am now 18 weeks and walking and doing stairs normally.
    • carol36366
      carol36366

      Posted

      My boot did irratate the surgical site. I put large bandages on the site and it helped. With the boot I wore a wedge sandal.
  • karran6974
    karran6974 Guest

    Posted

    Even ups for your good foot. They will slip on your sneaker. Look on Amazon. They will help u to b more balanced with the boot. I couldn't use the crutches either so I used the walker for my first steps. I was in the boot for 6 weeks. It was never really comfortable, no pain though just couldn't wait to get rid of it. I did resort to an extra sock inside before strapping in. Listen to your dr. Be happy you r making progress and you r on your way to b pain free. That's what we all want.

    Karran

    • Guest
      Guest karran6974

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice! I'm really interested in the walker because I think it's a good next step from the scooter. Glad to hear someone used it with success. 6 weeks sounds like a good pace. What was your mobility like after the boot?

    • karran6974
      karran6974 Guest

      Posted

      Lo, I had a TaloNavicular fusion so my situation may b different. After 6 weeks in the boot I am walking 5 weeks in a rocking shoe that is stiff with no bend in the center part of the foot. Not easy to start walking again. Bottom of my foot is slowly getting used to being on the ground. Foot still swells but better each day. My only exercise is at the ankle, up & down. I can now finally point my feet at the same angle. Hopefully in 2 more weeks I can start pt.

      the best part of being out of the boot is now I can drive (since it was my rt foot) freedom.

      Hope this helps.

      Karran

  • patti123
    patti123 Guest

    Posted

    Did you have surgery? The Even Up is great (keeps your hip from getting messed up because of mal-alignment). Crutches are dangerous until you're PWB.

    • Guest
      Guest patti123

      Posted

      Thanks! Yes, surgery on 8/1. I'm glad to know the even ups have worked for people. Crutches are dangerous for me period.

  • dawn83397
    dawn83397 Guest

    Posted

    Hello,

    I have the same injury. I have been in a splint cast for 3 weeks and now I have been in a walking boot for 1 and 1/2 weeks roughly and I have 2 more weeks to go NWB. I will get x rays then before any weight bearing begins. For me the boot is heavier but more comfortable then the splint cast. I have not been tempted to even try to put weight on it since I am still non weight bearing. I am allowed to take it off when resting, not sleeping. Also allowed to swim in a pool whuch I did tonight but I have to let it dangle. Not try to use it. Since I am still non weight bearing I didn't buy any kind of foot lift to even it out. I see that they run $30 and I am not even sure how long I would need one so I opted on not buying one. The boot is a little warmer but it is nice to take it off.

    • Guest
      Guest dawn83397

      Posted

      A pool sounds awesome! Good luck with your continued recovery. This injury is no joke!
    • patti123
      patti123 dawn83397

      Posted

      I wore mine for the 5 weeks of PWB to FWB (with crutches and aids) and then I was still in my boot when FWB for some time, without aids. I probably got several months use out of the Even Up. I noted during that time that some people who didn't have one were complaining about knee and hip problems, so I was so glad I had mine. I never had any knee or hip problems during the healing process. It seemed like a cheap price to pay for all that protection. 

    • patti123
      patti123

      Posted

      The importance of staying off your foot while it is healing is so important from everything I have read about arthritis (while the bones are healing and soft). I think if it gets even a mm off alignment it can cause bad arthritis years later. Then once you get past that (for me it was 7 weeks) then the weight on it actually helps it. 
  • kathryn94423
    kathryn94423 Guest

    Posted

    I had a bimalleolar fracture on May 10 and surgery on May 13. I was put in the boot right after surgery. I was NWB for 5 weeks and used a wheelchair to get around. Then I was PWB for another 3 weeks using crutches An even up is essential in my opinion. I got one on ebay for $18. Now at 12 weeks I am almost FWB but I'm still using a cane to get around . It still swells up if I'm on it too long.

    • Guest
      Guest kathryn94423

      Posted

      Congratulations on your progress, Kathryn! Thanks for sharing your timeline. So much of this injury is mental, and I think it's hard for people at the start of the journey to have realistic expectations of their progress. It's also depressing to look ahead and see more pain, inconvenience, and the fear of trying to walk again. I feel better just knowing others are getting through this. I'll go ahead and order that even up so I'm ready for my boot on Monday.

    • kathryn94423
      kathryn94423 Guest

      Posted

      I was so not prepared for the emotional/ mental part. Those weeks of NWB were horrible. I had many meltdowns. I hated asking for help too. It got easier when I was able to drive at 7 weeks. I was able to go to the store and shop using the motorized scooters that the stores have. Of course I forgot about getting the groceries up 5 steps into the house. I was able to do it a bag at a time but was pretty exhausted by the end. Still it was worth it to have some freedom and control. Hang in there.
    • kathryn94423
      kathryn94423

      Posted

      Oh yeah. I forgot to say that I took the boot off to drive and put it back on when I got therePhysical therapist okayed it
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