Removal of external fixator - scared

I just had my cast removed after having ankle surgery June 13th I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks after my cast was removed my ankle was extremely Steph And I was barely able to even move it I was place in an air cast ankle brace I was not placed in a Boot and told to wait there as tolerated which was very Painful so painful I decided to go on Amazon and buy a boot when the boat came I tried it on and the trick is that you have to put your foot in a 90? angle now you've been non weight bearing for 5 months that's going to be painful even for me it was pretty painful more painful with a boo than the ankle brace so I'm returning my boot today and sticking with a brace I think your biggest obstacle in wearing the blue will be putting it in that 90? angle that it needs to be and also the bottom of my heel is about the only pain I have at the moment while I walk because your heel in the bottom of your foot get so used to U not walking on it it hurts any pressure you put it's been 3 days since I've been walking and I'm still using both of my crutches good luck to you I feel your pain

I did not have the same injury as you but I was also a woman of a certain age, perhaps older.  At 4 weeks I got out of my toe to knee high NWB cast and was put into a boot that also was from my toes and came up to my knee with my foot at a right angle to my leg.  I was to wear the boot day and night and the problem I had with it was that it hurt so much I couldn't sleep and found the trouble was with me because I pulled the boot straps too tight.  Since I was able to remove the boot while seated in a recliner I did some exercises.  I did point and flex, ankle circles, left and right movement, and sole of foot turned in and out.  After the discovery with the too tight straps all was fine and after another 4 weeks I was able to go into an orthopedic foot/ankle brace and with a walker start to bear some weight on that foot for another 4 weeks.  Best of luck to you in your recovery. 

Hi, I do understand the fear of whats to come. I think that even when not necessarily a good siutation i.e. external fixator or cast we can get sort of used to it and as you have had the external fixator for such a long time the change is going to be very different for you. Knowing what I now know though going through my broken ankle I think it is a good thing for you as it means you are progressing in the right direction.

I know it is easy to say (people said it to me all the time) but this is a positive thing and a good step to recovery.

With regards movement of the ankle I can guess that your achilles tendon is going to be stiff and the joint too after little moment. But these you can work on to get the movement back. I wasn't sure when I started physio as could only move my ankle about 1/2cm but I have tried to do the stretching as much a possible and now am at about nearly 2inches I think, still more to do. The stretching isn't very comfortable but I think that if you keep at it it will get there. I try and think of it along the lines of these are not bones so they are not fixed they are muscles and tendons so they are designed to be stretched and moved. It may take a bit of time but the more stretching the move movement you get.

With regards pain, I think being honest and hopefully not (unkind) you are going to have some and I was advised to start the pain meds as soon as I started the physio and to be honest I have had extremely painful sessions....really really painful but for me the difference has been that when my leg is released by the physio or me doing a stretch the pain goes which makes the difference. Any this is (in a strange way) what I would call good pain....

Also, not sure of your options around physio but it sounds like you will need some. My physio is very good and considering I have trust issues (my poor suffering wife can confirm that ;-( she is perfect in every way and very tolerant!)  the physio is very good and I trust what she does/says even if I then worry about it afterwards I know she is doing her best to help me recover.

On the physio side, she has recently got me into a swimming pool and as someone else said on another post it is recommended and I definitely second that. I have only had one session and it was very good and did make it easier.

Also as you say its a long road ahead and lets be honest it is but at least its the road to recovery :-) you are going i  the right direction!!

Use that fear, conquer it, there are lots of fantastic people on here who will help and boost you up and provide reassurance and thoughts that can help!

I have found it hugely helpful when I was in a deep dark pit not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel!!

Considering what you have been though I think you sound like you are doing really well and the next stage while still may be tough has got to be better, it could be like an element of freedom without the fixator!

Anyway enough ramble from me!

I wish you the best and will be thinking of you during your recovery, and hoping/praying for full recovery!