How long before broken foot in cast doesn't have to be elevated above the heart 24/7?

As for driving your doctor will provide want you off of all pain killers and out of the cast or boot on your driving foot/leg. Then you will need to be weight bearing and have enough strength to push hard enough on the brake and acceleration pedals. It will also involves using your thigh muscles . It’s surprising how many muscles you do use. My therapists again evaluated me on my readiness and then I made several practice runs around my neighborhood before venturing out. 

This recovery is a difficult one, give yourself a break and try to take a day at a time. I did a lot of planning and research from my recliner for 2018,  Things like trips, house improvements, looking up recipes etc. trying to be productive a little bit each day, I’m in my 8 th week from surgery and finally able to start driving on my own and my surgery wasn’t even on my driving foot.  I’ve had a lot of surgeries over the years but this was the most limiting because of the non weight bearing. I also found I needed to accept my recovery time and stop fighting and trying to fiqure my out ways to shorten it. 

Hang in there, it really is temporary, it won’t be forever!

I broke my ankle in August and was in a cast for six weeks, then in a boot for another 4. I pretty much kept it elevated the whole time I was in the cast unless I was walking with my crutches. I also iced it several times a day to help with swelling. Once I began weight bearing in the boot and began PT I didn't elevate quite so much. Really it depends on swelling. Once your out of the cast exercises are so important for the swelling too. I drove the day I was out of the boot 10 weeks post op. (I couldn't wait!!) Independence yay! The cast is the hardest part, you will get there, its a long slow recovery.

Take care

Hi Kathryn,

My surgeon had me ice on the back of my leg just above the cast to cool the blood vessels and reduce swelling. While I was wearing the boot I would remove it when I was sitting or laying down, so icing the ankle directly was possible. My physical therapist wanted me out of the boot when I was sitting or laying down so I could do my exercises all through the day. Pumping ankle up and down and writing the alphabet with my foot, stretching ankle with a band were the exercises I started with , it helped with the swelling, and slowly I began to get some flexibility back. As for exercises in the cast, I found the only thing I could do was wiggle my toes. Your leg will atrophy, its unavoidable, but it didn't take too long to regain my leg strength. My calf looked like a child's leg when the cast was removed.  Finding an excellent PT is so important in your recovery. 

Try to keep your spirits up! I had a lot of dark days while in the cast. It was so hard just waiting for the bone to heal and losing my independence. I also found it impossible to sleep in the boot so I would remove it. I was very mindful to leave my foot out of the blankets so it would not get tangled up and pulled. My doctor did not recommend this but I just had to get some sleep.

Five months latter my recovery is well on it's way,  although my foot doesn't feel normal yet, I am almost walking with a normal gait again (yay). 

You got this girl!!

I hope you find a wonderful Physical Therapist