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No weight bearing (no walking) for 3 months

Posted , 10 users are following.

hilda81793
hilda81793

I was in a bad car accident April 7 fractured my femur really badly on my right side and fractured my foot and ankle on the left side really badly also. I had to get surgery for both now I have metal fixators on my left foot for 6 weeks then I go back for xrays then a cast for 4 weeks and then back to xrays to check on my pelvis since I also somewhat fractured that too. I am wondering if there is someone with similar issue of that went thru this how did you get by for so long how was therapy.. I am scared that I won't walk the same again and depressed that I have to be without walking for so long. I am 21 btw please help.

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • MR_ANKLE
    MR_ANKLE hilda81793

    Posted

    Hi Hilda

    I had a paragliding accident in South Africa with the same problem that you have. The fema took about a year to stop hurting but the big problem is my ankle. This is still giving me pain a year later although the joint has been replaced.

    I think you must look to a 18 month period to arrive at a full recovery.

    Regards

    Mr Ankle

    • hilda81793
      hilda81793 MR_ANKLE

      Posted

      You were not able to walk for 3 months also? How was therapy for you? They did tell me the goal was for me to walk by August which is what I'm hoping for, my ankle fracture wasn't as bad as the actual food since I did break all the bones on top and the ONE full bone on the bottom was broken into 7 pieces, my femur bone is not that painful right now just a little sore feeling but since I have the injury in both legs I can't walk because I can't put all the weight on my left leg, otherwise I would be using crutches.
    • nyahsnanna
      nyahsnanna hilda81793

      Posted

      Hilda, my injury pales to inconsequential compared with yours. My comment is a not comparative one, nor one of precisely shared experience.

      It is that when I reached the last sentence in your post, I breathed little sigh of relief.

      YOU ARE 21! If there is any positive aspect to your injury, it is that fact. Healing and relearning will be optimal for you now over that for a much older patient.

      Also you sound quite impatient to return to life as you knew it. That impatience, although subject to some inevitable disappointments along the way forward will serve as motivation for you to continue as rapidly as your medical advisors and your condition allow.

      As a 74 year old I have a long enough point of view to know this is so.Although I'm healing adequately from a much lessor ankle and foot injury and am sensible

      enough to be grateful for that, I am often made aware that much earlier in my life healing and probably attitude aa well were rather more brisk.

      My best to you as you face the inevitable challenges ahead.

    • hilda81793
      hilda81793 nyahsnanna

      Posted

      Thank you , the hardest part for me is not being able to put any weight on either legs so having to be on a wheelchair or in bed is really hard for me as I am a very active person. Also I am scared that I won't be able to do the same things i was able to before the accident. I just hope I have a 100% full recovery before September.
  • linda66990
    linda66990 hilda81793

    Posted

    I'm sorry to hear of your suffering and wish you a speedy recovery.  Take of day at a time and before you know it you'll be ambulating.  You have youth on your side.  I have one broken bone in the ankle and it has been hellalious so I respect what you are going through and wish you all the best!
  • dbee
    dbee hilda81793

    Posted

    Hello Hilda

    Just read your message and wanted to say dont dispair.  At 38 yrs I also had  bad break in my ankle and had 2 large screws put in to secure the break.  I was non weight bearing for about 6-8 weeks  and 6 months later the screws were taken out again.  I have to say that apart from losing  some downward movement in the foot,  - I have had many years of ankle free pain and led a normal life, even running.  But I am now 68  and the ankle is  arthritic  and I am now contemplating ankle replacement.  The thing is your injuries sound horrendous but you are young and the body heals well at your age.  Be patient  and dont try and rush things.  Find things to do whilst in a wheelchair  like maybe needlepoint  tapestry  (it may sound boring but it can be very theraputic)   I made 2 lovely cushions and enjoyed it very much.  Take care.

    • hilda81793
      hilda81793 dbee

      Posted

      How did you make it thru those 8 weeks 😭 I'm on the 3 week now 5 more to go and then after that another 4 without weight bearing
    • dbee
      dbee hilda81793

      Posted

      Hello Hilda, sorry not to get back sooner.  To be honest it was such a long time ago but I do remember being in a heavy cast and found that after 4 weeks I was able to gingerly put my weight on it but lightly, using the crutches.  I went on like this for another 4 weeks I think but the fact that I could put my weight on the broken ankle helped me get around more easily.  Then  after a while I found I could do without the crutches.  When the plaster came off I found the ankle quite stiff and had lost some of my forward/downward movement but I was able to walk pain free.  I hope you too will be able to do the same.  I cant remember how I got through those days I had 3 children but a very helpful husband.
    • hilda81793
      hilda81793 dbee

      Posted

      Yes I have external fixators right now since I had more than one fracture, I fractured my ankle plus I had a lateral malleoulus talar fracture so I'm 4 more weeks with the external fixators then I get them removed and get a cast for another 4 weeks. The orthos said there's a few steps after the cast but I start physical therapy to walk after the cast is removed so hopefully with my will to want to walk as soon as possible I can get thru any pain that comes my way and hopefully by August I can be walking and working again. Thank you for your response
  • diane26225
    diane26225 hilda81793

    Posted

    Wow hilda, you sure have been in the wars you poor thing. It sounds like you are in for a long and slow recovery, but if you  do as the specialists tell you then you should get back to relatively normal over time. I dont thing any of us feel like we will ever walk normally again, but, I know a lot of people who have suffered all sorts of breaks and fractures who are all back to normal again. It just takes time, and we have to be patient. Try and focus on the positive and not the negatives, or possible negatives. Every day is a day closer to being fully healed and that is a positive.
  • therese29317
    therese29317 hilda81793

    Posted

    Hi, I did both my ankles and am still trying to recover it's a long journey. I assume that since you are so young you will have family looking after you. In my journey I did everything by myself with the help of a couple of good friend.

    At present I am just walking with the aid of a walker. Took a while just to get this point, my biggest problem when trying to walk was horrible heal pain and then toe pain. My calves are better, lost a lot of mussel, atrophy, well it happens in the heals and toes and trying to tolerate that when weight bearing almost drove me crazy. When you get to this point massage with comphry cream stretch upwards and tolerate pain. The heals the same however I used a small vibrator and slowly pain is much better.

    Legs will feel like jelly, do strength exercises at your own pace. I am at 13 weeks and if I can help you with any questions on how to do things, two legs are very different than one. Take care

    • hilda81793
      hilda81793 therese29317

      Posted

      Thank you, I am going to make 1 month since surgery on the 14th. Then I need 8 more weeks after that of no weight bearing and then I start therapy, what I fractured was my ankle and a lateral malleoulus talar fracture on the left foot and on my right leg I broke the femoral head and the wall of acetabulum so far so good, I have much less time left I hope that by August I am walking fine with the help of physical therapy.
    • julia75685
      julia75685 hilda81793

      Posted

      Hi Hilda

      You must have been recovered by now from your surgeries and hope you are doing well.

      I somehow got similar injuries to yours.

      November 2016 I fractured my ankle and was supposed to have cast for 2 months ...no weight on the leg at all.

      Just 5 days before cast removal while getting up I lost balance and fell down...consequence-fractured right femur. I had surgery the next day.

      It's been 5 weeks since me surgery and I still can't really walk

      I was in the same situation like yours having two broken legs and not being able to walk.

      I am 36 and I have 3 kids to look after.

      Life can be though sometimes but we have to face the hills sometimes.

      20 years ago I had horrible knee injury (the same leg where my fractured femur is right now). I had ACL reconstruction and 4 surgeries on the knee. It took me years to recover. And today I face the same nightmare.

      Best is to stop thinking. There is no formula nor deadline on when should someone start to walk or feel better. Orthopedic injuries take time so carry on with life...make some adjustments and no days counting.

      As the days go by your body will heal.

      Wish you all the best.

      Take care

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