Posted , 7 users are following.
Broke my fibula August 3, 2016. Had orif surgery august 17th, 2016. I have no had any pain besides the stiffness in my knee when I wake up just was wondering how long after surgery do u have to keep ur leg elevated. I have had my leg elevated for 6 days and it's driving me crazy and I have to do school shopping for my children was wondering was it a good idea or will it bring pain and agony if I do so.
0 likes, 13 replies
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jan30278 netta44450
Posted
I was told at least 4-5 days postoperative and all times when not up moving around. It will help keep the swelling down. However- everyone I'd different- I am 4 weeks post op and my foot is still painful when it is 'down'. I can have it down for about 30 minutes and it starts throbbing and hurts especially around the inner ankle wound. but again- everyone is different and I sure hope you are able to get around earlier! Best of luck - hard to believe it it time for school to start back! I am older so I may just heal slower- am having a lot of numbness and some burning nerve pains but 21 more days till the cast comes off !!!!!!!!
netta44450 jan30278
Posted
Thanks for your response and Good luck I wish I had 21 days left I'm just starting off. Even though I have a splint on my foot my toes look and feel normal I feel a little pressure when my foot is down but no pain even though I haven't had it down long just long enough to use the restroom. See my doctor Friday to check on the stitches hopefully he'll tell me it's ok to at least go out one day and get all my shopping and errands done. I'm 28 so I'm hopeful my youth will be an advantage.
helen2009 netta44450
Posted
Yes, agree with first poster. Everyone's different. I didn't really elevate at all. But if it hurts when down for a while, keep ti up! In any case, you can't do any damage I believe by not elevating it for a couple of hours. But, I'm impressed that you can contemplate shopping for your kids just a few days after surgery!
jan30278 netta44450
Posted
Haha- I am a tad more than twice your age so you better heal faster. Never had a broken bone in my life and i had a bazarre accident stepping out of the car
. Not ever a great story. .... bimalleolar fracture. The inner ankle is the one that is bothersome. I broke it on 7/24/16 and was very fortunate to have surgery 3 days - the block lasted 4 days so I was very fortunate. Have not needed a lot of pain meds- just cannot be up for long....
I am assuming that you are weight bearing? I am impressed you plan to go shopping and I for sure hope the MD agrees it is ok. Motivation and attitude go a long way- "I can do it" attitude will help you heal much faster. I have found the walker to be easier around the house (except when my hands were bruised the first few weeks).
The scooter is better now- took me awhile to get accustomed to that as my knee got a terrible bruise- when they put the cast on 2 weeks ago- the orth tech put foam under my shin area to provide extra cushioning so that has helped to. It is great for around the house as I can do some chores.
Anyway- glad you are doing so well and hope your recovery continues to be fast and pretty pain free. I know the kids will take great care of you and help keep your mind occupied. Take care and keep us up to date on your progress. It is really encouraging to me to feel that other folks are going thru this too.
dawn83397 netta44450
Posted
Hi Netta,
It's took me 2 weeks to finally not aways have it elevated, actually happened right after they took it from the splint cast to a boot. At that point it no longer felt like a vise grip. It was so bad that it prevented me from buying a knee scooter. Now I am past that point. But it sounds like everyone is different. Don't try to do too much so early on. It sounds like a lot to try to go thru.
jan30278 dawn83397
Posted
Thx for your post- I am 4 weeks s/p surgery and stil have to keep it elevated- still feels like a "Vice grip"- sounds like you had a boot instead of the cast- i started w/ the splint then got a cast- so there is hope--- I had it down 35 min this morning.... slow steady progress. 20 more days until I get a boot!!! Hopefully happy day. I have just really started using the scooter in the house this week when my hubby went to work. Had been out on a few errands w/ it in the past but the discomfort always seems worse after I use it for an hour or so. There is light at the end of the tunnel for all of us for sure! thx for sharing.
Tituscanby1 netta44450
Posted
Get a knee scooter with a basket, and a place to clip on crutches if need be. Will be great for getting out. Take it slowly to start.
I snapped the same bone 10+ months ago. Had surgery 5 months ago. Knee Scooter my toy of choice.
Yes it does get you down. I thought it was bad enuf breaking leg, then my husband had a work related accident 3 weeks after and broke a hard to heal bone in his hand. Arrggghh. Both our breaks didn't heal, and we required surgery. Same Shi* different say here.
Get you kids stuff online. I did . Was fun getting parcels!
I will message you name of scooter.
Get an adults colouring book, listen to music, takecup a craft.
Welcome to the Club you never asked to join!🌞
It Will get better. I can walk and am 75? of what I was before, and improving every day. Mine was worst case scenario. Yours sounds like textbook. Unfortunately feeling down is par the course. I had 7 months of it. Can laff about it now!👏😀😁😂👏🌻🌼🌻
#(*+*)#
carol36366 netta44450
Posted
You've got 6 to 8 weeks non weight bearing. Someone else will need to do the shopping. I was 10 weeks non weight bearing and used a knee scooter to get around. I also had no pain when sitting with the leg elevated. However too long on the scooter was painful and difficult. It's a long difficult process both physically and emotionally.
My best to you and your recovery
michelle84806 netta44450
Posted
netta44450
Posted
Tomorrow is my first appointment after surgery exactly 9 days after surgery what should I expected? Not to sure if the stitches are being removed or if they are just checking to make sure I have no infection. In a splint as of right now, after the stitches are removed will I be in a cast or walking boot? I prefer a walking boot for the simple fact u can take it off and let ur leg get some air. Brought a scooter and wheelchair to help get around the house. No swelling in the toes and no pain(crosses fingers and knocks on wood lol) no weight bearing but can wiggle toes. I know I have a long way to fully recovering I'm just ready to do something, anything for that matter. Has had foot elevated the entire 9 days since surgery and ice it about 4 to 5 times a day. Very anxious and nervous to see what my foot looks like as this first time breaking any bones and first time having stitches so I'm completely new to this experience so any input and advise is greatly appreciate. Never knew this many people experience this nightmare. Great to have people to talk because when this first happen I thought I had to be the only one glad to see I was wrong. I believe have plate and 6 screws on left ankle. Use no pain medication only had to use the pain meds the day I came home from surgery every day since then has been painless just vice grip feel after having my leg after a while has not tried to keep it down longer than 20 minutes.
jan30278 netta44450
Posted
Actually, I am just having nerve pain (I am pretty sure) and a lot of numbness, but hoping it subsides. Like you, I did not need much in way of pain med, but am on tylenol with an occas. pain pill.
So- to answer your question- seems that the surgeons do things differently. I went back 15 days post op and had stitches removed and then the splint/ bandage was taken off and they put a cast on- so now i have that for 5 weeks (19 more days to go!!) and then was told that I would have a boot on for another 6 weeks with partial wt bearing- to be increased over time until it is full wt bearing.....
But from this forum- seems like some folks just have boots. Perhaps because of my age (58)-- the longer the better? Never had a broken bone in my life and now I had 2 :-(. And on my right ankle, so no driving...
Really happy to hear you are doing well- please do keep us posted on your visit and what you end up with. My foot was bruised, a tad swelled and the stitches hurt just a little coming out but very tolerable. Kind of make me nauseated to look at it- actually, i almost passed out. .... I am a wimp when it is my own blood or injury...
dawn83397 netta44450
Posted
carol36366 netta44450
Posted
Netta,
You will probably have stitches removed and be put in a cast for some time followed by a boot. You probably will be non weight bearing for 6 to 10 weeks. It is a long difficult process both physically and emotionally
Good luck in your recovery. You've done everything right so far. When you are weight bearing you will continue to have swelling and discomfort when the leg is down. Dedicate yourself to PT and RICE.