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ORIF Ankle Surgery- What to do about lower back issues?

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NC_Travelgirl
NC_Travelgirl

I unfortunately had a hiking accident on vacation last week, and was rushed into emergency ORIF surgery last Monday (broke fibula and tibula and now have plates and screws in my left ankle). I am off work and have been very good about elevating the leg. Since it is elevated 23 hours a day, it is starting to cause some stress on the back! I normally see a chiropractor twice a month, but since I am fresh off surgery and NWB fr at least 6 weeks, now sure when I will be able to see my chiropractor next.

Anyone have back pain due to elevation and suggestions on what to do about it besides ice? Did anyone see a chirporactor when NWB or know if that's a terrible idea?

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  • mHettyR
    mHettyR NC_Travelgirl

    Edited

    Hi, I hope you are feeling better and a bit more mobile. I am currently 3 and a half weeks post bimalleolar fracture to my right ankle with orif - a screw to tibia and plate and screws to fibular - non weight bearing for 6 weeks. I have experienced lower back discomfort, i think due to the endless sitting in bed or in a chair and sometimes my hip and right thigh ache from all the raising of my lower leg. I have a stretch that helps my lower back pain - lie on your bed with your bottom on the edge of the bed (make sure you aren't going to drop off on to your injured leg!), bring one knee to your chest and hold it to tilt your pelvis up and protect it and let the other leg hang down so you can feel a big stretch from the side of your stomach through your hip and into your thigh. I'm not any sort of medically qualified person but my osteopath showed me this stretch for lower back pain a few years ago and it seems helpful now. I am taking my foot out of the boot now to do gentle ROM exercises which were scary to start with and my ankle feelsl very strange and stiff but at least it can move a bit without hurting too much - it really aches afterwards though. Have you started moving your ankle yet, I think you might be a week ahead of me in the recovery process? Best wishes for your recovery. x

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