Moon boot and non weight bearing after ankle surgery
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I recently fractured my left ankle and almost 3 weeks later had surgery.. nothing too serious, just a couple of screws.
It’s been over 3 weeks now since my surgery and I have had the cast taken off and now have a moon boot. I still have 3 weeks before my next appointment where I will hopefully get cleared to start bearing weight again. I am 25 and very fit and active.
Anyway at my last appointment they really didn’t give me much info on what I can/can’t do with my boot and altough I asked questions, I also assumed they would give me more info so I didn’t go in very prepared to ask lots of different questions. The dr just said that I should move it up and down and around every day and that I should sleep in the boot in case I wake up during the night and go to walk on it.. since I know there’s no chance of me doing that, I’ve stopped wearing it while I sleep and haven’t experienced any pain or anything as a result (just a better nights sleep!).
I’ve also been going to the beach and just floating around a bit and swimming a little when it’s not too rough and I’ve actually found that this has helped loosen my foot up a lot!
I just want to make sure that I’m not actually interfering with the healing process? I rested and elevated my foot as much as I could while I had the cast on but 9 weeks without being in the ocean is a very long time for someone who usually swims every day..
Anyway I have no idea how much I’m supposed to be trying to “move it up and down and around” every day or how much I should be pushing it.. is a moon boot really that crucial to healing if I can’t bear weight on it anyway and I’m supposed to be moving it around?
If anyone has had similar surgery and got a bit more information from their dr about these things, your help would be very appreciated 
0 likes, 1 reply
kpower leah56068
Posted
Leah,
Sorry about the cryptic and meager info you are getting from the doctor. Doctors vary widely in the 'bedside manner', and it seems some medics assume way too much in terms of what the patient needs to know.
You are now just 3 weeks from surgery and your fractures are likely far from mended and stable. That means you must stay immobilized in boot and keep weight off it. It might be okay of course to take boot off occasionally to air out the foot but your doctor should be explicit about what you can do and not do.
I have no idea really what doc wants you to 'move around a bit' but I bet you dollars to donuts it isn't that broken ankle of yours, without boot on!
My ortho explained that the boot should be worn in bed (until fracture is stable) because when sleeping (and unconscious) your body may move and twist and put pressure on ankle.
Reminder-- be sure you are wearing the boot properly-- it should fit snug but not so tight you suffocate the foot.