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Hi, my leg cast was too loose

Posted , 5 users are following.

karen70040
karen70040

so, had ORIF ankle surgery almost 4 weeks ago, trimaleor surgery. on my last hospital visit they cut the fibreglass cast and put it back on with an elastic bandage to hold in place. I think it became too loose, and now my inner ankle area, where my 2 screws are is hurting. I managed to put my foot back in the heel area of the cast, it seems to have stabilized the inner ankle, but still have some tingling in that area. I can move my toes with no pain and the colour is good. Any one else had similar happen?

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • kathy2019
    kathy2019 karen70040

    Posted

    Hi Karen,

    I sure hope u get feeling better soon and heal quickly.

    I had 5 plastic casts since 3/18/19. I had a too tight one then a too loose one and then had what I called the santa clause boot. I needed major padding cuz the other casts rubbed my ankle raw.

    I only have a tibia break but its been very painful and my foot has been swollen for 4months. I would request a more padded cast if you can.

    Hope you heal fast and get pain free soon. Hang in there.

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kathy2019

      Posted

      Hi Kathy,

      Gosh you have been through it. This is the same cast they put on 4 weeks ago. I am thinking I should get another one. More padding around the ankle areas would be nice. Everything looked Good concerning the skin on Friday.

      Good luck to you. Have you talked to them about you swelling ? Thank you for taking time out to reply.

    • kathy2019
      kathy2019 karen70040

      Posted

      Hi Karen,

      Hope your having a good day. The doc told me the swelling will continue for prob 6 months to a year. I just don't trust this doc. I don't have insurance & I feel he is just giving me minimal care. He remarked on a visit with me that he was only contracted to take care of my leg. This was when I pulled all my tendons out of my right arm from the crutches and asked for an xray. He has no bedside manners nor good communication. I asked for a different doc in his facility & I was denied request. So I'm at his mercy which is no mercy. But he sure knows how to charge $300 a visit!! I'm just doing self care. The good news is I walked with boot 1st time down my street with our loveable Bassett Hound! So I guess little by little I will get back to normal. Ok have a good week feel good. 🙏 & hugs.

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kathy2019

      Posted

      Hi Kathy,

      Oh boy. I live in the US but was visiting when I fractured my ankle. I am insecure because the British system is different from the US. I am going through it too. Even though the nurses and the surgeon I feel like they know what they are doing, it's still different. They use different meds and techniques etc.. So I am here until September as the surgeon says 3 months till I can fly. In the meantime i have to have another surgery to remove the screws at 6 to 8 weeks. They did not take xrays at my 2 week check up. When asked why they said Its fixed! Ha! Just like that. But I said I wanted to know If the bone is fusing, went over their heads. I think sometimes the British defy logic! so, here I am 4 weeks post surgery wondering if I'm healing correctly. So, i. in my own private anxious place. Now 2 days,ago I have come down with hives. Itchy horrible welts all over. To say one is miserable in an understatement. You sound like you have it in control, I hear you when you say you are taking care of yourself. Hey at least you can walk on it okay, and am enjoying your dog. I have 3 more weeks till I see the surgeon. I just hope I'm healing! Take care Kathy👍

  • kenneth_06543
    kenneth_06543 karen70040

    Posted

    i had same issue. your ankle when elevating your foot keeps the swelling down which causes the cast to be loose and the rubbing against the where the stitches are, that's a good sign that the ankle is doing good. the tingling is just the nerves coming alive. i wore the cast for two weeks and then put in a boot. your ankle is doing great

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kenneth_06543

      Posted

      Hi Kenneth,

      It's so comforting to hear of similar stories, as I wait it out, I never know If my cast and ankle are doing okay or not. Relieved to know that the tingling is a good thing. Hope you made , or are making a good recovery yourself.

  • kenneth_06543
    kenneth_06543 karen70040

    Posted

    i'm two years orif surgery with ankle broken 3 places, 7 screws, dislocation. so i know first hand what your going threw.

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kenneth_06543

      Posted

      Hi Kenneth,

      Really. How did your healing process go? You were out in a boot after 2 weeks ? I'm still in a cast, being that we had similar fractures. I'll be in a cast for 6 to 7 weeks.

  • kenneth_06543
    kenneth_06543 karen70040

    Posted

    i wore the cast for two weeks !!! my doctor then gave me the air boot. i was still not bearing weight with the air boot but i was going to physical therapy 3 times a week. the air boot was by far more better than the cast cause you can take the air boot off . every doctor is different and have their own ways of handling injuries i guess. thats along time to have your cast on and you cant do any physical therapy until he takes it off!! the good thing is you will heal and be back to normal. i never thought that i would ever be the same but physical therapy proved me wrong!!!

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kenneth_06543

      Posted

      Hi Kenneth,

      since our injury sounds the same. Did you have any numbness at the top of your foot? my big toe doesn't have a lot if feeling in it either. wondering if this is normal. I too feel it's too long in the cast. I'm about ready to order an air boot on amazon, and place my foot in it. This cast is for the birds. I would appreciate your feedback. Thank Kenneth.😊

    • kenneth_06543
      kenneth_06543 karen70040

      Posted

      yes mam i had numbness on top of foot and big toe. every so often i had a sharp pain from big toe to top of my foot. my doctor told me that it was the nerves. now that your still on cast wiggling and moving your toes is start of your therapy right now.. whenever you start therapy they will work on moving and the wiggling of the toes. i may be moving a little fast right now or looking to far ahead but you will need to get a tennis ball . rolling your foot on top of the tennis ball will take the tingling from bottom of foot when you start walking. my main suggestion is go to find a physical therapist

    • karen70040
      karen70040 kenneth_06543

      Posted

      Hi Kenneth

      That is good to know that you also had numbness. How long did it take for your foot to have feeling? Also I have to have my screws out , 2 of them. Did you? You sound like you are in the US? I am in the UK for now. Yes, would love to start PT as soon as I can. I have been reading about various techniques to get my foot going again. I wiggle my toes like mad, all day long.😊 I thank you for your time in getting back to me. Have a great day.

    • kenneth_06543
      kenneth_06543 karen70040

      Posted

      10 weeks i was full weight bearing and walking without the boot. the process for your ankle to heal is a daily process, everything depends on the work to put into your therapy. it all depends on you. when i first started walking i was favoring the ankle scared that it was going to hurt but it didn't. the swelling lasted about a week after i started walking around the track but i continued to walk and the swelling stopped. push yourself but don't hurt yourself, your ankle will let you know when you overdue it ..i never had an injury this serious before and i didn't know what to exspect. my advice to anyone that i talk to is that if they can get a therapist to help you

    • kenneth_06543
      kenneth_06543 karen70040

      Posted

      also my doctor told me that if the screws are not causing me any problems to leave them in , most doctors recommend to take out but every doctor is different.

  • rebecca22334
    rebecca22334 karen70040

    Posted

    I had a ankle operation 2 weeks ago and I have screws and a plate in it, I get pain in my big toe sometimes, and the cast has come off my heel, I go back to the hospital for a 2 weeks checkup to see how it going, do u think it be OK atill tomorrow

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