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I am worried! 6 weeks post ORIF surgery. :(

Posted , 5 users are following.

kilanyworld
kilanyworld

2 days ago, my doc remove the cast, and asked me to start partial WP, but I can't even try! its hurting and the weird thing is that my HEEL does not touch the ground when standing, there's a gap between my heel and the ground when standing so how I should be putting weight? I'm frustrated and started to have a negative thought, becasue he keeps pushing me to start walking and I can't! it's hurting if I push on my ankle to put my heal on ground.. it's stiffed!  

he said, I should see him next week so he decide regarding the PT! but im not sure i'll improve from today to next week! 

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • yvonne13888
    yvonne13888 kilanyworld

    Posted

    Call your dr and demand exrays. Your dr needs to honor your request. My dr office never returned a call when I had problems. I tracked the dr down at an alternate office by studying all possible website entries for his name and then finally reached a live person at the other end of the line. And only then, they scheduled out over a week away for an appointment. You need to immediately see your dr. If the exray is fine, then you absolutely need pt for recuperation to even start weight bearing. All the best. Yvonne
    • kilanyworld
      kilanyworld yvonne13888

      Posted

      The crazy thing is that he checked the Xray I had before removing the cast, I texted him about my case and he still thinks that i should try to walk! I'll seek for another opinion by tomorrow.. 

  • rose71920
    rose71920 kilanyworld

    Posted

    Hi Kilany, 

       PWB is difficult in itself to try to do.  I hope you have a walker for that? Or a cane. That is what I used.  Listen, everyone goes at their own pace. If you are not comfortable, don't do it.  From my experience they are trying to get patients to move more and more.  But again, that is my experience. The first surgery my doc said at six weeks in his office... " GO ahead and stand on it for me!"   My reply? "are you crazy?" LOL   And he said yes!!   So, I did ... and it hurt but I didn't fall over or break from it. He just told me to keep doing that. Followed by PT and so on.   

     

     Remember, this is a very slow process.  Very slow. Baby steps.  And what Yvonne said is correct, if you feel like something is not right then get back to your specialist. It won't hurt them for your pc of mind. 

    Good luck!

    Rose

    • kilanyworld
      kilanyworld rose71920

      Posted

      Since we don't have AIR boot, I decided yesterday to wear normal shoes, and it felt much better than trying without shoes, some people justify this because the cast was not built to make my foot 90degree with my leg. so it requires time. shall I start PT now? because my doc said wait 1 week. but why?

    • rose71920
      rose71920 kilanyworld

      Posted

      It might be because of the pain. But also, it will take a week or so to get in any way.  Also, go to Amazon if you can. Buy some resistant bands for yourself. This is something they will have you do in PT.  Go to You Tube and follow the instructions of rehabilitation.  So nice to have this at home. I believe its what strengthened my ankle to were it is now.  

      Oh! There are 3 different band strengths! 

      Rose

  • gigi06729
    gigi06729 kilanyworld

    Posted

    Kilanyworld!

    My foot was the same way, and PT helped me get my foot flat on the ground. But it took time and therapy. Your doctor shouldn't expect you to do this on your own. Insist on a prescription to PT. 

  • amanda84923
    amanda84923 kilanyworld

    Posted

    I also had the same problem.  It was from my foot/ankle not being in a 90 degree angle while in the cast.  I was in a boot when I was told to start walking and immediately started PT. PT gave me a foam wedge to put in my boot so my foot was resting on something and I could start walking.  I worked on my range of motion in PT and was eventually able to get my foot all the way to the bottom of the boot.  It took a couple of weeks.  I don't see how you can go straight from a cast to walking without a boot or anything, especially if your range of motion is poor.  Look up range of motion exercises on youtube and practice those every day. 

    • kilanyworld
      kilanyworld amanda84923

      Posted

      you explained my issue perfectly! you mean i should remain optimistic because was very disappointed yesterday, today, I tried to wear my normal shoes, and I felt better in walking attempts. when did you start WP and PT? and do you think I can follow the instruction found online? 
    • amanda84923
      amanda84923 kilanyworld

      Posted

      I was in a splint for 2 weeks post op and then a hard cast for 4 weeks. At 6 weeks post op I was put in a walking boot and I started PT within a week.  Definitely remain optimistic. I'm walking with only a very small limp right now and in regular shoes at 4 months post op.  I broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocated it.  You'll get there.  The initial range of motion exercises are pretty simple. You should be fine. If it hurts, don't push too hard. And if you're still not comfortable by the time you return to the doctor, request PT.

    • kilanyworld
      kilanyworld amanda84923

      Posted

      may i ask about your age? in the last 2 days after cast off i didn't notice any improvement. 

    • amanda84923
      amanda84923 kilanyworld

      Posted

      Just turned 36 years old. Keep practicing moving your ankle. My progress seemed slow, but it got there.
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