ORIF surgery 12 days post op
Posted , 4 users are following.
Evening.
im a 29 year old female and i had ORIF surgery 12 days ago.
I had my post surgery appointment on Tuesday, they removed the cast and placed me in a walker boot, although i am to contiune NWB for the next 4 weeks.
i have been advised to start remove the boot for showering/bathing, for exercise of the ankle joint 3 times a day for around 5 minutes each time and was even told i can remove for sleeping if im comfortable doing that (i dont yet feel comfortable to do that)
i wasnt really given any instructions on how to put the boot on, i know its not rocket science but i am very cautious of causing further problems down the line. as long as your foot in in the boot and its tightened securly is there any other tips/rules regarding putting the boot on?
Also, i have looked about a bit online and nowhere else have i seen people been able to remove the boot so soon and start movement etc. i know everyone is didferent but i was wokdering if anyine had had a similar experiance to me.
im in very little pain, in fact the only 'pain' i have is a dull ache when wearing the boot and the straps on the top of my foot/leg, this isnt enough to require pain meds and im 4 days medication free. when the boot is off the foot seems to take a similar position to the right foot this is about 45 degree angle, should i be trying to keep the ankle at 90 degrees at all times?
I think reading online everyone seems to have longer recovery time frames and im a little anxious that ive been missadvised/rushed with my recovery and the last thing i want is too need further surgery.....
As for the NWB, when securing the boot can you push your foot againt the end of the boot? or do toh just olace the foot? i mean while sitting with the injured foot elevated not pushing againt the floor.
i feel like everything in the hospital was all rushed through and ive forgotten important things i should shouldnt be doing.
thanks for any replies
0 likes, 4 replies
stephanie18432 vanessa76023
Posted
I can speak to my experience as far as timelines...
Had ORIF surgery 7/17...2 weeks in a splint, 4 weeks in a cast (so, 6 weeks total) (you went a LOT quicker than I for post surgery care). But...I remember reading an article about some doctors going the approach your doctor took depending on the severity of your injury.
As for NWB, my surgeon told me, when I was still in a cast, that I could use my NWB ankle to "steady" myself if I needed to (like sitting on the toilet) so I would think that you could put a bit of weight on your ankle to get your foot in the boot.
vanessa76023 stephanie18432
Posted
thanks for tour reply.
my consultant said some doctors go with a cast for 6 weeks, so i have heard this myself too. I have now been a week without my cast and have been doing small ankle movemnets 2/3 times a day.
pain is minimal, almost none exsistant 95% of the time.
can i ask what your movement was like after you had the cast removed? im concerned with the very minimal movement i have, although im only 3 weeks post surgery so should i be pleased with any movement?
thanks
stephanie18432 vanessa76023
Posted
After the cast came off, I had almost no movement initially. I started physical therapy within a couple days of having the cast off and they took measurements of movement and it was shocking how little I could move it. I honestly don't think it was related to the surgery as much as not moving it for 6 weeks. I had zero muscle in my foot or leg, so I could barely lift my leg.
In just a few weeks of PT though, I'm able to move it quite a bit. I suspect your movement is a good thing. By not being in a cast, your muscles haven't had a chance to atrophy as much and you can keep things moving while your healing. All that metal is keeping your ankle where it's supposed to be and it's strong. A bit of movement is a GOOD thing!
Llamalah vanessa76023
Edited
Hi,
I also went into a boot less than two weeks after my ORIF surgery. I fractured on a monday night, had surgery on the tuesday afternoon, and was in a slab cast for a week and a bit, until the next thursday - this was the only day of the week that the outpatients orthopaedic clinic operated at the hospital - so all up I was in the cast for 9 days before I moved into a boot. Then I was non- weight bearing until the thursday of week 5, so a total of 5.5 weeks.
Once I was moved into the boot I was permitted to do the same as you have said - gentle movement back and forth exercises, take the boot off when it was up and elevated. The plate was holding the bones in place so there was no risk to the fracture moving. The boot was to protect the ankle when moving around, so always put the boot on when moving. I slept with in on for a while, but my heal started to really hurt in it so I made a pillow wedge fort and kept my foot in that to keep it secure instead.
I put the boot on while my leg was up and only ever placed my ankle into it. I found using foam pieces better for securing ankle then the air cushions. Moving your ankle as much as possible is good. Don't keep it in one position, if the doctors required that they would have put you in a cast. The more you can keep moving it, the better it's going to be when you start weight bearing, but at the same time, don't push yourself. If it hurts - stop.
When you do get cleared to weight bear, it will be unpleasant at first, all the nerves in the foot haven't had proper sensory input for so long that it hurts. I would sit and rub my feet on the floor and this helped a lot. Also walking laps in a pool if you can so that your weight is supported while the muscles are getting used to what is going on again.
I am now 18 months post injury and full strength, return to all activities including ice hockey.