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Hurts!!! 6 more weeks of NWB

Posted , 6 users are following.

michele22619
michele22619

I had my post op this past Tues. 14 stitches were removed. I now have 6 more weeks of nwb!! My ankle hurts so much. I can't get comfortable. 8 screws and a metal plate on my Fibula and Tibia on the outside. It's below my ankle on the inside that hurts. It's difficult to get the full effect of ice through an air cast. My hips hurt from sitting/laying funny. I've also sprained the muscles/ligament between the fibula and tibia.

I get up every hour per Dr instructions.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get comfortable? This hurts.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • rose71920
    rose71920 michele22619

    Posted

    Hi Michele, 

    I'm so sorry for your pain. The only advice I can give you is to keep ahead of the pain meds and keep icing/ elevating above the heart.  Do what the doc says.. its good to move it and keep things circulating.   You are not cracking up either, every thing does start to hurt from the sitting/laying. 

    I'm sorry I don't have a heap of advice to give you. sad 

    Good luck!

    Rose

     

  • amanda84923
    amanda84923 michele22619

    Posted

    Make sure to elevate both legs, not just the injured one, even if you can't get them to the exact same height. I find it helps me get comfortable and limits hip and knee pain

    • michele22619
      michele22619 amanda84923

      Posted

      Amanda, thanks! No one has said anything about elevating both legs. It does make sense since I am putting more weight on one side. I'm going to try elevating them both now. Thanks again.

  • tricia09818
    tricia09818 michele22619

    Posted

    I don't know where you are post op (how many days) but I had the same pain in the same place from the 1st day after surgery. I'm now 4 weeks since surgery, I'd say that pain got a lot better about a week ago. Its still uncomfortable if I've been up on the crutches for   the afternoon but it will get better!

  • CarolynCL
    CarolynCL michele22619

    Posted

    Are you not allowed to remove the air cast at all? I was allowed to remove it to ice it and perform NWB ankle exercises three times per day. I had a much less serious injury (Weber A fibula fracture), but I understood that ankles mended with ORIF are actually more stable than the ones that are left to heal on their own without surgery. Maybe you can see if the doctor will allow you to ice and elevate out of the boot (maybe not right away, but I would think they would permit before the end of the 6 weeks... I would ask if I were you... can't hurt wink ).

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