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Just got cast removed after 8 weeks what to expect?

Posted , 6 users are following.

netta44450
netta44450

Broke left fibula Aug 3rd 2016, had surgery plate and 6 screws Aug 17 2016. Got my cast off Oct 14 2016 and was told to weight bear as tolerated. I can put a little weight on it but not much as my heel is painful, was wondering if anybody had advice on exercises to do to loosen this stiff ankle up. Is it better to heat or put ice on it? I have minimal swelling and move toes freely but the heel and below the pinky toe is sore and painful. It's on been two days since I was taken out the cast I know I shouldn't expect much but I am very anxious to get a few steps in. Thanks in advance for any help.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • dawn83397
    dawn83397 netta44450

    Posted

    Hi Netta,

    I am glad to hear you are now fwb. Yes it is common to have foot pain. It will take some time for your foot to be less sensitive. The more you use it the better off you will be. I would not use ice anymore due to how far along you are. I was told the ice prohibits the healing at this stage and is best used during the initial injury. Keep elevating your foot. You will have to work thru the stiffness and sensitivity of your ankle and foot. Further resting of it will just delay your progress. If it hurts too much and swells greatly then you did too much. So I would go as far as you can go with it without overdoing it but try to push thru it if you can so you feel better quicker. Good luck, I hope you sail thru this.

    • eileen90189
      eileen90189 dawn83397

      Posted

      Hi Dawn, your response to Netta helped me too. Thank you. I will be 12 weeks post op next week and am very hopeful the doctor will say weight as tolerated. I am 50% weight bearing now but really need to push myself more to walk longer distances. The upper part of my foot and ankle are stiff and my big toe is still partially numb. Perhaps walking more without over doing it will help alleviate this. My foot also still turns colors when down.
    • dawn83397
      dawn83397 eileen90189

      Posted

      Hi Eileen,

      That sounds normal when your foot turns color. Don't worry about it too much. What helped me is really focusing on my ankle when I was walking, and doing exercises and most of the time when I thought what was pain was really just stiffness and not actual pain so I was more willing to work thru it once I became more aware of it. A sure way to know that is the case is that things will start to loosen up and feel better, not get worse. Good luck and I wish you a good recovery.

    • eileen90189
      eileen90189

      Posted

      I hit the wrong key. Best of luck to you!
    • shantell03710
      shantell03710 dawn83397

      Posted

      Hey dawn how is everything going? I have question do you still have a limp ?and its it dark around your incision ? do u still wear a bandage on your incision?
    • dawn83397
      dawn83397 shantell03710

      Posted

      Hi Shantell,

      Everything is good. I stopped limping two weeks ago. Right when I started jogging it stopped. Weird, but somehow the jogging motion helped me walk better. I don't wear anything on my ankle, and sometimes I think there are dark areas on my ankle but I don't know for sure if they have been there or are newly developed. I have been able to go completely back to everything I have done before the injury. I am working on strenghtening it though because it isn't as strong. My range of motion is 75% as of last week's pt measurements. I'm finished with pt but still do some of the exercises and focus on the harder ones. So overall I feel great. Enough about me, how are you?

    • shantell03710
      shantell03710 dawn83397

      Posted

      That is great..I am doing better exercising everyday still have a limp but my doctor said it will go away im really worried about that but I go to the gym and workout ... thing's are getting better....keep up the good work.

  • Kathy032364
    Kathy032364 netta44450

    Posted

    I'm 6 1/2 weeks postop from left foot talonavicular fusion and I was just told I on Wednesday that I could fully weight bear with a boot. The first day was not a great feeling and I just walked about 3-5 steps next to my knee scooter about 5 times that day. The next day I used my crutches when I went out for my initial drive and dinner with a friend. Friday I did more and then yesterday towards the end of the day I was only using 1 crutch to help with walking. While I keep my foot elevated and iced I move my ankle up and down to keep it stretched out.

    I start PT on Tuesday and I'm sure that will make my ankle stronger.

    Good luck on your healing and listen to your doctor and body.

    Remember be elevate and ice for swelling.

  • connor_mm
    connor_mm netta44450

    Posted

    Hi Netta, I am 9 weeks post ORIF op, plate and 11 screws. Broke tib and fib at ankle.

    I had my plaster removed just over two weeks ago,

    I did not have a boot or crutches, initially I thought I would be bouncing around like tigger but reality is a different thing. I have seen my physio twice and I have many exorcises to do 4 times a day, I am guite good and do keep up wit them I am swimming 3 times a week. But reality is that my ankle is sore most of the time, swells every day and aches quite a lot by the end of the day. I am back at work full time but desc bound for now, I have a stool and am elevating as much as possible, I can walk but not to far without the swelling aggravating me, Its ok very slow very deliberate steps, in an attempt to loose the gait and return to a normal stance, but by mid afternoon my ankle is throbbing.

    So whilst I thought I would be whizzing about like a mad thing it's not going to happen, I realise now it will be as long out of cast as I was in cast before there is any normality Mbe even longer? Not driving yet won't risk it till 100% confident

    That's fine once you get your head round it, I just allow more time for everything and elevate, elevate, elevate 😄 I am not using pain killers avoid them if you can not that good for you long term and you get used to the aches and pains. Hope all goes well Netta

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