How long does it take for nerves to heal after foot surgery? do you feel like normal though after surgery like none of the equipment bothers you? It takes a little getting used to but once you get the hang of it it makes life so much more bearable. So this is been validating for me and good to know what I might be dealing with as I move forward. Skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy occur following an extended period of decreased use, including space flight and limb unloading. (hands free knee crutch). The PT script from my doctor said that I had ORIF, possible arthroscopy, and syndesmosis. Ensure your heel is positioned right at the back of the boot. continue reading , Conclusion: although you should always follow the guidance of your doctor, the normal recommendation in response to this walking boot question is to avoid driving while wearing one if you would have to wear it on your right foot. view details , If you are in a walking boot, then you can stand, but avoid doing any exercises that involve jumping or otherwise moving your feet. Agree, physio and doing the exercises pay off well worth doing. Thats really good to know. The ankle does ache when weather changes this actually is a real thing> Thank you so much! It was a stable spiral fracture that was low enough on the leg to not need surgery. Im currently using crutches and a walker to get around. You will need to wear a cast or a boot for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery and be non-weight bearing. Its grim!! Also, they should not be considered when the second leg is weak because the second leg will be used to propel the knee scooter forward. Patient will be non-weight bearing for approximately 4 weeks with protection in walking boot. No follow up appointment and told I should stop using crutches in 2 week (8 after surgery) no physio given due to Covid so I have had 2 video calls. This is NOT debatable or negotiable as long as you had a normal gait prior to the surgery or injury. I work as a nurse and have been back at work since my 11th week post op. After 2 weeks of having external fixation, I went for my second surgery. The crutch tips make good contact with even and uneven floors, preventing falls and ensuring safety. I plan to get through this and get back on the bike by February/March, but dumping the clipin pedals going for flats! They first refused to see me at the ER due to Covid. Im sorry there are so many going through this same thing but also comforted to know Im not alone and what Im going through is a normal part of this painful, slow healing process. I PILON fractured my right ankle (tibia)into 6 parts, compound out the side. Happened mid Oct. After swelling and removal of fixator they added 2 rods. Im just trying to get a sense if I am doing too much and put too much weight on my foot too soon. It is solid and durable with a high weight carrying capacity of 350 pounds. Thank you so much for this blog 3 months after surgery and can walk a bit but now it all seems slow -and Trying to walk down stairs bending ankle is impossible at the moment !! Heard the iWalk was a life saver. I HAD SURGERY ON FEB 27, 2020 AND I BEEN IN A WALKING BOOT SINCE MARCH 11, 2020. My cast was cut off and I was given a boot and told that I just had to pretty much get on with it. My OT and PT are remarkable. FWIW my cane that I got ended up being not useful for anything but fending off people from crashing into my legs, I never ended up really using it for more than confidence. Dr. told me to do some WB ( had to ask for a percentage, its such a vague instruction!) Slowly, but surely. Its only one week since double ankle fracture & into moonboot. Had staples removed and splinted on Nov.27th. Best of luck and lots of support and encouragement to anyone whos working their way to weight bearing after an injury, and many thanks to everyone whos supported me and cheered me on virtually along the way! I am nwb now & if I go into non walking cast will be nwb. Thanks again! A friend of mine has been told to be non weight bearing after her ankle fracture but she has been bearing weight excessively. I was given a boot but have only managed to put it on 3/1/20 due to swelling and pain in foot. My Doctor said NWB for 6 weeks. After that start PT and weight-bearing. In a high boot since and will be for another four weeks. Speaking of showers, I put a toothbrush and toothpaste in the shower soI can also brush my teeth there while seated. NWB so far in a heavy clunky moon boot. That I found the right balance. I see my surgeon tomorrow and I hope everything looks good. The boot is quite high and whatever I wear on my good foot is lower so I am lopsided the whole time I am walking this means I need my crutches for balance. He said he does not do MRIs on an ankle fracture to check for soft tissue/tendon damage. Wishing you luck as you return to weight bearing! Be prepared that therapy will leave you wondering if you will ever have the same movement as before. Anyhow, my foot and ankle are still swollen and I was wondering if that is normal and how long that is expected to last. But to do rehab during this time. I got lucky and didnt plateau at any weight on the return to weigh bearing, but from what I read, its super common to need to stay longer at a stage or go back a stage for a few days. After ankle surgery and 100 weight bearing, you may experience some discomfort, swelling and bruising. Im trying to stay motivated but it is a little overwhelming. Thanks for your detailed account of your progression back from injury. Sleep with the boot and the plastic drives me nuts on the edges of my foot. Everything is a struggle. I have a scooter, walker and crutches. Your tips definitely encouraged me! 18. My goal was to be able to get my heel to my bottom took maybe 3 months, but I did get there eventually. It has a durable brake system, and the knee platform is well padded for comfort. 7 weeks ago I had right shoulder surgery to repair torn rotator cuff tendons (3), and bicep tendon. I can see that I have come a long way since day one so hang in there. Summer is passing me by and its depressing. Im trying to do exercises to stretch my Achilles tendon but Im not getting any more flex in a weeks time. Fortunately I live in an urban/suburban area and ER was available, and they separate the COVID cases. (And if youre looking for diabetes-specific stuff, its in the last section!) Spent one night in hospital and then went home. 10. The scariest thing once I was able to go outside (on crutches)- and for many months thereafter were manhole covers in the rain, or anything metal on a street the thought of slipping and potentially re-injuring the knee the horror! 3. The ortho doc said (pre-surgery) that I would be at 90% in 3 months. After the surgery, I was released to go back home next day but my first night at home was terrible and the pain was excruciating. However, thanks to #. thats what i tell myself anyway! The knee scooter is also made of steel, making the frame solid and durable. It has a weight capacity of 275 pounds and will be a good fit for a broken ankle, ankle surgery and below-the-knee injury. The boot is so heavy & still getting used to it. The ankle is still very swollen which apparently is normal. Well, I am still not walking correctly and I cant even walk a few steps without my walker. If the progression youve been given is too much, take smaller chunks maybe cut each progression in half, or add X pounds at a time whatever you can build up safely on without causing pain! Given that Im confident I will be full weight bearing I have been working on more than just toe weight today. After 2 years of PT for first the one shoulder, then the leg, and then the other shoulder, I had no patience left. I fell early June of this year, non displaced fibula fracture with torn deltoid ligament and others, stage iv fracture per Ortho, unstable ankle. The crutches ended up causing another injury for me as well I actually had shoulder surgery to release the adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) that had shown up first in one shoulder, than the other. Youre likely going to be in discomfort when doing weight bearing progression thats normal. Apparently my fibula was broken in at least 3 places and my ankle was nowhere near where it is supposed to be. One day I ended up having 205+ grams of carbs for me (quite a bit more than my average). Thank you so much for your detailed post, and to everyone commenting with their stories! it seems like patience is key, and also not to beat yourself up about not being productive or progressing fast enough. 4 users are following. Notes on 6 weeks of non weight bearing on foot, https://patient.info/forums/discuss/6-weeks-of-non-weight-bearing-on-foot-721081. slightly structured ankle brace with hard sides. Weight bearing typically happens over 2, 4 or 6 week period or sooner in some cases. I started with a blister on my right palm, which turned into a squished nerve that made my right hand go numb, and ultimately damaged some tendons in my right wrist, too. ), the tibia, and the fibula from arguing with a dark stairwell and losing (Nov 12/2019, ruined the holidays). I have already I vested over $80-$90 trying to find a wedge and then a full body pillow. Having three orthopedist friends giving me advice besides my doctor, I was recommended to take Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Vitamin B on a daily basis. He said he expects me to start bearing weight by this weekend. Can I walk on my broken foot after 6 weeks? While in there, he did some manual manipulation and was happy with the spacing, so he didnt need to do the longer pin through fib/tib. Glad this post helped some! Limit coffee and alcohol. Can I take walking boot off to shower? Then I looked and saw it dislocated and turned at 180 degrees. Then I had my surgery last week and my god couldnt find a good place to keep my foot. The knee scooter is easy to control and steer due to its optimal 8-inch casters, making them a good option for indoor and outdoor usage. I was toe weight bearing for a week now. This has helped me remember multiple times, especially on weekends or times when Im away from my desk or bed where I would have the meds visible as a reminder. Why didnt I see it? After 3 weeks of non weight bearing I noticed the sole had a huge crack through it & it was coming apart. Oh I forgot to mention that my so called good leg just acts like it wants to hop still after using the walker to get around with while I was NWB for months. This is a complete walker and one of the best available choices. I thought after 3 weeks in the boot that would be it. This site is what I needed to find to help me recover from a walking accident on 23rd January 2021. The surgeon sent physio to me 2 hours after surgery and told me I needed to walk on it straight away. Officialsbillsfootballauthentic is a website that writes about many topics of interest to you, a blog that shares knowledge and insights useful to everyone in many fields. From 4 weeks to the 12-week mark, patients can apply some weight on the toe. Reply [deleted] Additional comment actions Not sure exactly what it was. Hobbled about 1/4 mile to the road, dialed 911 and ambulance to ER. The pain has been so hard to stay on top of and I feel there is more going on than just the broken fibula. Should a broken foot still hurt after 6 weeks? Youll know when the time is right Scarlet. Also first surgery ever, and Im 47. I thought I was just being lazy and cranky. Doctor told me to sleep with no boot on so i can start getting micromovements back in my ankle. Ice, compression socks and elevation kept swelling in check and I still use the compression sock while walking. My entire weight landed on the bottom my right foot shattering and crushing the end of my tibia pushing the fractured pieces up the bone. 5. Info on what this trauma is really like and knowing what to expect is hard to come by. Also gave me range of motion exercises (abc, etc) PT will start up in 4-5 wks. I had two nights in a row in the first week where I woke up 2-3 hours after I went to sleep and needed to eat some carbs. Today is May 9, 4 months later. Short and tall people can use Front Wheeled Walker as it is adjustable to fit different users heights. My meniscus was torn, flipped, and stuck in between two bones. I cant even shower without help! It gets better as you go. I clearly put too much weight through my foot, the pain was excruciating. May 26 (two weeks post-surgery): Follow-up appointment, transition from splint to a walking boot. bedside desk with everything you need until morning or when you have help, especially water and something to relieve yourself. Reading this has made me remember to take each small movement as progress and it truly is. Work at it. Im thankful to find this site because I had no idea what to expect. It took me 4 weeks of progression and back sliding to get to full weight bearing (still in the boot)- and I still will lean on crutches if I feel my leg is tired. Thank you, everyone, for the tips and information. Hey! Discussed options (surgery vs. set and cast), and based on my age and activity/fitness level, opted for surgery. However, most patients report feeling much better after their surgery and are able to return to their normal activities relatively quickly. PS I forgot to thank you Dana, for starting a v informative blog! Thanks to everyone for sharing. I know this is months old, but Im replying for anyone else who may be looking: YES, YES, OH HEAVENS YES. Any help would be super appreciated. Not as serious as an ankle fracture but still really difficult to cope with especially as a single parent. I have plates both sides and 8 pins but I feel after no weight bearing for 6 weeks then boot off and given crutches u will be ok a couple of visits from physio. I usually have to have a cane for part of the day and always by evening when the swelling and pain is worse. It is better to walk better with a crutch than it is to walk badly without. continue reading , Crutches can be used for partial support but you can begin walking on your leg as soon as it is comfortable enough or as per the advice of your doctor. I recently fractured my ankle in 3 places, had surgery just over a week ago. Yikes, how scary! Glad you are feeling better, Dana! take care. And I bought a balance board to encourage and increase stability. He cut off the cast and put me in a walking boot. The listing of different items (e.g. Weeks in hospital with an external fixator holding the bits together then an operation to fit plates and screws internally. How long does it take to go from partial weight bearing to full weight bearing? The walking boot has a thick rocker bottom that causes a limb length discrepancy, which has been linked to ancillary pain in the knee, hip or back. see details , Nerves typically grow about an inch per month, and once the insulating cover is repaired, the nerve will usually begin to heal three or four weeks afterwards. The injury occurs when one or more of the ligaments in the ankle are stretched or torn, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. How do Walkers walk without weight bearing? I walked with the brace on without crutches today on carpeted flooring cause it seems to absorb the impact rather than hard wood and I was able to walk for about 15 minutes. Thank you so much for this post. not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in This is the best crutch alternative suitable for a non-weight-bearing walking aid. After 8 days I had ORIF surgery 12/11/19 and had cast removed after 6 weeks NWB on Christmas Eve. even after the pain its gone 80% that 20% left over can comeback and wear you out at end of the day. My sister is a PT and thinks it is going to take 3-4 months at least. Its good to have an idea of what to expect in the coming months. There are other symptoms too very individual. But tracking the time and pausing when you pause or take a break helps make sure youre accurately tracking toward your hour of walking. Will walking on a sprained ankle make it worse? XXOO. Due to Covid and more insurance issues I wasnt able to get surgery for another 9 days, I went in on May 21st for surgery and ended up staying in the hospital for 5 days. It does make you pretty tired but makes life more bearable. Thanks for this post, as I got very little info before I got cut loose. Im in my 8/9 week of physical therapy. I am at just about 6 weeks post break and I went in today for an X-ray. Thank you for the real scoop on returning to weight bearing. Every bite of food seemed to disappear into the hard work of tearing down broken bone tissue, and building up fresh tissue. ; 4 How long are you non weight bearing? Thank you Dana and all the commenters. It wasnt much, but 20-30 points was an obvious stress response as I did the first few 15 minutes of weight bearing practice. Thank you so much for this. Biggest pain I have is cast and now boot pressing against the top of my foot. I am currently in a NWB cast and go back to the doctor tomorrow to see if the fracture has healed and then hopefully a walking boot. The legs are the ultimate shock absorbers and keeping weight off may require using some assistive device, even with a walking boot, but it doesn't have to be crutches. view details , If the soles of your new boots feel particularly stiff throughout the breaking in process, you can try gently flexing the sole with your hands. I had ORIF surgery two days after the injury and was 100% NWB for 6 weeks. Very painful, but thought maybe a high ankle sprain? Thanks for your post. Good luck! Millennial Medical Motion Ergonomic Crutch is sleek yet strong with a weight capacity of 500 pounds. I just passed the ~6 month mark and feel like Im mostly normal for being able to walk around and run, but I also still have intermittent soreness (especially if I dont run for a week oddly enough, running and impact at this stage actually seem to help keep my ankle stretched and mobile) overnight and stiffness in the mornings at least once a week still. Healing nicely & in a boot now- still no weight bearing. I dont know what to do anymore. We also have an article on non-weight bearing walking with crutches that will give you the best informational guide on using a crutch correctly. I would really like to get back to work for social and physical reasons (so not really work from home, though its a desk job) ASAP but also dont want to deal with snow. This provides comfort for the user and also aids ambulation. I tried to walk on my boot that day without crutches and let me tell you the pain was excruciating. I dont understand exactly what is hurting or whether it will resolve. Was hoping to get back to normal sooner rather than later so it seems like I need to adjust my thinking to longer than I thought. 19. Also, older adults need a little support to help them move around. Can you get a blood clot from wearing a walking boot? It should not be considered for knee and hip injuries/after-surgery care. Thanks for reading! Then put the boot back on. Its good to see & read what the next stage will entail & amazing at how the journey has been so different for many. Thanks for the post! So, if you can, buy your walking boot via retail. Pain (i.e. cast and I was referred to an orthopedic Physicians Assistant 3 days later. Certain conditions require a complete NWB status for a period of time to allow the tissue to begin the healing process. read more , Partial Weight Bearing (PWB) Most of the definitions in the literature define partial weight bearing as being 30% to 50% of a patient's body weight. read more , Using a Walker: Gait with Walker Non Weight-Bearing - YouTube read more , There is only ONE right answer! Putting weight on my leg was scary, and every new weight day was hard as I dealt with the fear and processing of the discomfort, as well as learning how to step and walk and do my crutches in a new way yet again. I took to heart what my ortho said about not progressing fast if you only do 5-10 minute chunks, so after the first day, I tried to always do 10-15 minute chunks at a minimum, with a longer chunk wherever possible as permitted by pain and my energy levels. I had a traumatic injury on ice with dislocated ankle fracture requiring ORIF. Any advice would be appreciated!! Can I take off my walking boot to drive? I rolled my ankle and have a fibular fracture. Hang in there! Being in a boot for 2 months brought my foot alot of problems. Thank you for sharing your experience in a detailed and frank way. I just want to be able to walk around the house in the boot by then :)! respect of any healthcare matters. Trouble with weight bearing. Can you walk on a broken ankle after 4 weeks? Oh and yeah I have noticed the extreme exhaustion and fatigue the first week home after surgery I basically slept the entire time. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use Great feedback all! I had the hard cast on for 12 weeks and finally gave me the boot (pun) but no weight bearing for another 4 weeks. I cant wait to actually be able to walk in my neighborhood again! I kept on with it and today was a big improvement. My situation has been kind of weird as I am also pregnant. I still have a few more weeks until I can walk properly without the boot or crutches and can go back to driving. I like your advice about progressing out of the moon boot too: I will work on it! Our only reservation is that it may not be suitable for rough surfaces. Hi Everyone: I too am pleased to find this blog, information and to read others journeys including progression to wb. Do you have any suggestions ? Swelling stopped around the 5 month mark. What does possible mean? I couldnt find a lot of good information about the transition to weight bearing was really like, so this is my take on information I was looking for and would have appreciated before and during the weight bearing progression process. Both forearm or underarm crutches have a specific goal: to help your ambulation by taking the weight of the injured foot. )yes, by all means venture outside. Both ankles and lower leg remain swollen. Ice packs can help reduce swelling and pain, and elevating your foot can also be helpful in relieving pressure on the ankle joint. Thank you Dana & everyone for your posts. The swelling goes up and down with each day and i get fatigued easily. Live alone and due to COVID I was unable to have many visitors. The world outside of my home sounds so daunting! 13. I am sorry to hear youre dealing with all that..all at once. Have been in hard cast and crutches for 3 weeks. The process wasnt without discomfort physical and emotional. to read all the comments and stories. You told me more in this blog than my surgeon has communicated to me before or after my foot surgery. I feel like I have lost my drive of confidence. Ive had a cast for six weeks. April 28: Went to urgent care, x-rays indicated fractured fibula. Worried about pain when I start walking again though. April 27: Stepped into my pool while skimming (lack of spatial awareness on my part), left leg went to the bottom (~3.5 feet down) while my right foot stayed on the deck. 6. Hi Dana. Am walking in shoe without support (cane/crutches) for short distances and times. Return to driving depends on which ankle is injured Return to driving for ankle fractures treated without surgery is usually around 6-8 weeks after the injury. I beg to differ. Hold each 2-5 sec When it gets easy, increase challenge by doing it on a couch cushion or by switching the recovering foot to be the back foot in your heel to toe stance. Hope everyone has progress to a more normal lifestyle since last post showing is from Feb 2021. I took till around week 12 for me to be able to go down stairs properly and for the limp to go. Me to have been trying to find more info so great to find this. There has been a lot of frustration and more than a couple of meltdowns. 3.5 of surgery , 9 screws and 2 plates later (and negative c19) spent the night home the next day. The brakes happened in April on the 5 so not that long ago. Im on day 3 of transitioning into a boot and wb. I wish I had found it sooner. Dont let that discourage you keep looking back at where you were the day you broke it or the day after surgery for context on how far youve already come! I fractured my right ankle in late December after slipping on ice. I had a pilon fracture to my left ankle when I slipped and fell on my mountain bike (with my 7 year old son!) Many thanks to all input here. the scooter its the best way to get around for the most part, oh big advice do not use and try shoping in San Francisco LOL i learned the hard way that hills are not scooter friendly. In my follow-up, he said 90% in 2 months, but that the last 10% would take a long time. The hour of walking was the equivalent of any new activity where I usually have several hours later delayed sensitivity to insulin out of nowhere, and my blood sugars go whoosh dropping far more than they normally would. Also, it can be easily adjusted to the users height through the push button adjustment. I broke my ankle. You'll spend the first four weeks post-op in a non-weight bearing in boot, followed by four weeks of protected weight-bearing in a boot. Privacy Policy. Thank you Dana for sharing your experience! Cast, walker, boot, then lace shoe. Insert an assistive walking device, like crutches or a knee scooter. Clip-in pedals on my mountain bike, hit some mud and rear wheel slid out and my left foot did not clip out. Im 4 weeks into a trimalleolar fracture of the left ankle. Physio is booked for 21/1/20 but I have been doing leg stretches etc which I found on the internet. The X-rays showed 7 breaks in one bone and 2 in the other. Using the knee scooter almost exclusively and the walker when I have to. I had to spend the first half hour or so working on my weight bearing by myself. Our article on the best crutches for non-weight bearing will give you buying guide and suggest the best to purchase. I have noticed that when my foot swells at the end of the day, my foot becomes a bit stiff however the stiffness is resolved by next morning after a good nights rest. Ive only left my house for dr visits, and TBH Im a little scared but am also going stir crazy. 11. Should I find another doctor an hour away? Apart from looking a bit pale and wrinkled, your foot may also be swollen and a bit stiff. It has been difficult so far. Appreciate everyones comments. How do you climb non-weight bearing stairs? THANK YOU ALL!!! That makes it vital for the patient to have a strong upper body for effective usage. A memorable Christmas for all the wrong reasons! sharp pain) is not normal, and you should take a break or back down to a previous weight (follow your protocol) if you have it. view details , 6 weeks after the operation and another x-ray to check how the bone is healing. You can do this by doing exercises like straight leg raises on you back and quadriceps activation in sitting or laying down. Were all different; just keep at it and listen to your ankle. I didnt have any expectations re progressing to wb. Again Thank You for explaining step by step and it seems like you were quite athletic before and are again since breaking your ankle and it was still a struggle. Am being as optimistic as possible, I can get out on the deck and get some Vit D. And glad Ill be able to go to PT. The cast came off 2 days ago and now Im struggling with a walking boot to get back to FWB. I have a knee scooter and crutches to get around, but am feeling so frustrated not getting any fresh air or exercise. How do you climb non-weight bearing stairs? Im encouraged by your post as I see its going to take a while to walk after not walking for 4 months. Directions from my orthopedist were to start with touching foot to floor and increase weight bearing by 25% of my body weight every 3 days as pain and swelling allowed. Good luck all. Not having fun at all. This is the first broken bone I ever had and have been stumbling along in the dark about what to expect. So there was never any FWB. I got the knee scooter from someone that barely used it for 70$ CAD. I broke my ankle in 3 places at the end of October, paragliding. Nice job taking all those notes. Your post helps me, too. If you have a serious ankle break, you may need surgery. Thanks for writing this post and taking time to document. It is strong, durable, adjustable and easy to use for non-weight bearing. How do I start walking after cast removal? . I thought I was being a drama queen. Thank you so much for this post. If you want a knee scooter capable of moving on all terrain, you may want to consider KneeRover All Terrain Steerable Knee Scooter. 28. I'm completely fine now, but those 6 weeks were there worst. If you havent read about Michael J Fox doing the same thing, it may help give you some perspective. However, on the flip side, the first week of weight bearing progression also caused several lows. 2x weekly PT for now, and next ortho follow-up on June 23rd. Same for day 2 of a weight having distractions or a task to do (e.g. The idea of the walking boot is to take excess weight off your injured foot so you can feel better. Registered number: 10004395 Registered office: Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA. The bones may take longer to heal if you suffer from diabetes or if you smoke. see details , For most foot fractures, you will need to avoid full weight bearing for at least six to eight weeks to allow the fracture to heal. The part under the armpit is also padded with foam, enhancing the users comfort. The one time I tended to forget to proactively take my medication was mid-day, so I added a recurring calendar event to my calendar saying take ibuprofen if you havent 2x a day around 2pm, which would be the latest I would take my second round, even if I woke up later in the day and my first dose was later in the morning. Does anyone have any information about rehab once the casts come off. Wish you the best, Very very pleased to read how other injured people have coped with being immobilized. I remember my BGs being quite good I thought that was due to a very low carb diet during that time, and almost no work stress. A 30 minute drive to the nearest ER. I broke my fibula and ankle on 16 December, surgery on 22 December, NWB with cast and crutches until 24 January. I too am so glad I found this post!! Fully got rid of the crutches at 20 weeks after weaning myself to one crutch a few weeks prior. There goes the biking season. 47. This typically means no weight whatsoever, not even for a second or two whether standing or seated. It is exhausting and has left me in tears and frustrated so often. Taking off the boot to shower I felt so vulnerable with my ankle exposed & was scared, but didnt even think of getting ankle braces!! i mean just to shower and putting walking boot and bandages for the first 12 weeks its an every day nightmare, im going on mi 12th week now and can walk on mi boot for going to the restroom and around the house and work. It is also foldable and weighs 28.2 pounds, making it a good one for travelling. I fractured my right ankle a few weeks ago. What happens at 6 weeks after ankle surgery? its better not to rush the healing process. Rely On Others - Lean on others for support and help while you're non-weight bearing. Im recovering from breaking both malleoli (? Really, there is no easy way. Function improved significantly over time for the patients but was still less than the healthy subjects over 12 weeks of physiotherapy. Maybe my progress would of been better. Ugh. It can be used safely on stairs and uneven surfaces. I MUST WALK IN MY BOOT UNTIL MAY 14. Not sure I can use crutches either so thats a dilemma. I broke my fibula 7 14. Walking aids A physiotherapist will assess your mobility after your surgery, and will teach you to use an appropriate walking aid. My surgeon said that the average amount of time to walk without crutches in the boot was 3-4 days. You gave me hope and a plan to begin working my way back to bearing weight. I am 63 and very active with a full time demanding job. If you don't need surgery, . Sitting at home alone for months is hard. Let us know how your going. My husband was not able to go in with me however. From my experience it will happen but not in a week or a month already see my progresion with the boot and starting a bit without boot and one crutch. I didnt sleep with it on I used my splint instead but I wear it during the day as much as possible. Anyone else experience this? I am encouraged by what I have learned in the blog. Tehanks again for everyoness story,advice & encouragement. Have horrible nerve pain around base of inside incision. Using a knee walker allowed me to remain as independent as possible during that time. Am enjoying the knee scooter as opposed to crutches! I currently have a tibial stress fracture and a torn meniscus. I cant drive and can not get up and down stairs or walk on a slight slope unaided. Moral of the storyWe are all different. (Video) I'M WALKING AGAIN, 6 weeks post knee surgery!!!!!!!!! Ive also come off the stronger pain meds so although Im tired Im so restless at night its so frustrating. its coming up to 4 weeks post surgery and i have recently come out of the cast and into a moon boot, in which the ortho said i can FWB in. Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you. I told my boss that I will be returning to work next week, but now I am having second thoughts. Skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy occur following an extended period of decreased use, including space flight and limb unloading. Being off your feet for weeks can be frustrating, but this period of non-weight bearing activity is a crucial part of the recovery process. Getting knee scooter helped. Furthermore, the handle and the knee rest can be adjusted to suit the users height perfectly, and it is recommended for users within the 56-66 height range. However, as I got rid of one crutch there is definitely a bit of pain and soreness around my outer ankle which I am hopeful that will resolve in the coming days as my foot gets stronger. But finally got my fingers to move 90% full range and still going, now foot and wrist. I do PT twice a week for 1 hr as well as pilates twice a week. So. If you need to do something else to get yourself pumped up and motivated to do your weight bearing, its ok to do that. Ortho feels as I was athletic, recovery should be faster. I am glad I found this post, it has given me some hope. I was told by my ortho that have joint space narrowing and arthritis already forming which was expected so this could be why Im in so much pain. Don't overdo it though be gentle. read more , A walking boot is an orthotic device used to protect the foot or ankle after an injury. Started PT at 10 weeks post fracture and finally at 12 weeks, I am bearing weight with a cane. I was lucky the only few times I had pain was from trying to press down forcefully on the scale when seated, rather than standing on the scale and naturally letting my weight on my leg. The knee walker made the recovery process much more tolerable. Thank you Dana and everyone else who has contributed. I fell and broke my ankle on Feb 7th; had a bad experience as the hospital put my leg in cast and sent me home and told me to come back in 2 weeks time. You may be limping on the injured foot for a few weeks after removal of the cast. (Remember youll be moving your leg or limbs in different ways than theyve been accustomed to). You'll need to use a mobility device like crutches, a knee scooter, or a hands-free crutch to make this phase of your recovery as seamless and successful as possible. I have battled discouragement because my ortho doc acted like this was no big deal. I fell on the 3/29/20. After the cast came off, 2 weeks ago, the consultant told me I would be driving after 2 weeks. Im now 4 weeks post op and NWB. But two of my friends used it and loved it. Another frustration has been understanding and planning recovery. Given boot but unable to bear weight. Thank you. Im now 14 week since my accident and still using crutches, so painful. The crutch comes in pairs and is designed to give the user the best comfort during recovery from injury. I took an ambulance ride down the island and across a ferry to get to the hospital! Also appreciate seeing the comments/anecdotes from other folks, so thought Id add my own story. Your comments about energy levels cheered me up after a day of getting around in a moonboot (in my country, thats what we call the boot with velcro straps). Together we can all make it to a recovery. Hi Michelle, Apparantly the cast was not set properly and I should have been operated on immediately. Have you been WB in the boot? I broke 3 bones as well June 25th. I broke my fibula and ankle about 7 weeks ago. It is a forearm crutch that makes it light in weight yet very strong. I have found no other site with detailed information on recovering from ankle fractures. Since you are not able to bear any weight on the leg, an assistive device, such as a walker or crutches, will be necessary for you to walk. Ive had both hips and a knee replacesthats was childs play compared to this! I look all the time online for information included here to see how others are coping and recovering. Im typically a really active person, have found in the mornings its almost impossible for me to get started and just doing showering and miscellaneous things around the house have me exhausted and needing to take a nap in the afternoon. Im feeling like a huge burden to my husband and cry a lot. I-walker hands-free is a crutch alternative that works like an artificial leg. I dont even know where my bike landed but I ended up in the fetal position in a ton of pain, could NOT walk (my whole ankle/foot was flopping around) so paramedics had to wheel the gurney up the trail to me and slip/slide me down. Im ready to call and schedule PT for the day after cast removal- but it sounds like I should wait and work on it at home. Use the scooter the most until my right ankle feels better Not that Ill be walking any time soon! Or have found anything when you did your searches? Be brave. I am supposed to get a boot tomorrow, and will go from there for PT. Ortho docs are the worst at explaining the process and setting up expectations. Ortho took off the cast a couple weeks early and put me in a boot so i can remove it for showers but Im still NWB for at least another week. Its interesting how different everyones experience is! I have a clean, simple fracture. The whole thing terrifies me- will my foot support me, will it know how to move, and Im also worried about my goodfoot- all it did for the last 6 weeks was push the knee scooter. I broke my ankle in February and was in a cast for weeks then the walking boot for weeks. Its been good (?) What I found helps: set small goals (distance? He pretty much said to wear a brace and come back in like 6 weeks to see bone growth progress? At my appointment he asked if I brought a boot and since I didnt, theyd provide one..and the paperwork I signed stated the price would be $427 (::choking::) if the insurance didnt cover it. Surgery 2 days later. (The only thing I could do is listen to music, because Im used to running with music). I have agonized over my lack of productivity until I was reminded that rest, therapy and recovery are productive as they are leading back to full strength and use. I did my ankle fracture (3 bones) a few days after yours, on Nov 24. I am so grateful you mentioned the fatigue. I still have discomfort and pain. This normally happens maybe once everyfew months (if that) now as an OpenAPS user, so it was obviously associated with this new surge of physical activity and hard work that I was doing for the weight bearing. Had surgery a week later. NWB for 15 weeks and blood clots that hindered my PT. Since you are not able to bear any weight on the leg, an assistive device, such as a walker or crutches, will be necessary for you to walk . My toes all went purple with bruising in all the joints after standing up too long one evening making dinner. I have trouble trusting the three ortho docs that rotate in my small town. ;-/ I work outdoors making Custom design containers and its now winter container season and Christmas decorating. I was then given an ankle support with adjustable velcro straps and was told I didnt have to wear it all the time, but to gradually start putting weight on my ankle again and start walking around! For the first 6 weeks you will do all exercises in non-weight bearing (no weight on your leg). 26. Take the heel and toe of the boot in each hand and slowly flex them upwards. I did maybe 5 minutes today and will aim for 10 minutes tomorrow. The knee pain was worse than the ankle pain. He wrapped my entire leg in soft cast while I waited to have my first surgery in 3 days. As gruesome as the foot was, i still have very little pain and started walking recently with the same progression as most. Have a knee scooter which limits use of crutches to bathroom visits only. ; 3 What to expect after being non weight bearing? I did not go for PT as it was not covered by insurance and I had just paid my high deductible insurance plan for my surgery! I used the scooter for 7 weeks. The surgery took 6 hrs and the surgeons placed screws, plates and bone glue to try and keep the shattered pieces together. He didnt give me any sort of other timeline or goals, just said to take my time, do as much as I can tolerate, and use the crutches as needed. Take it easy for the first 24 to 72 hours. At ER they did x-ray, broke ankle in 3 places, tore ligament and dislocated. Thankfully I was able to work from home no driving when your right leg is 100% nwb. So very worried now that if a slight amount of callus was formed, that it is already broken again or something. I go back to the Dr. the 2nd week of January 2020. It made sense in the early days (say weeks 1-2 after fracture), but was frustrating to me how little I had energy to do even in the 4-6 weeks after my fracture. I fell and broke all three bones in my ankle. Had V & D all night until completely empty. and our Weight bearing typically happens over 2, 4 or 6 week period or sooner in some cases. I am 63 with osteoporosis but never had any fracture before. After 6 weeks disability, I was able to start working from home but I need to take naps and breaks, and keep my leg elevated much of the time. I have had mild discomfort but no pain. Can I walk on my broken foot after 6 weeks? Walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing correctly and may make the injury worse. they will tell me I can start to put some weight on it. Its very frustrating! Weber B fracture, borderline unstable. Ive yet to find an article that says, here is how I was able to sleep lol. , Dana M. Lewis | #OpenAPS (@danamlewis) March 24, 2019. You should then be able to come out of the boot if all ok. I was torn between choosing to delay my weight bearing progression work, but also recognizing that the sooner I got to full weight bearing the sooner I could completely ditch my crutches and be done hurting my hands. It is so nice to share information and know I am not alone in this dreadful journey. How much weight is partial weight bearing? The amount of skin that came off my foot was ridiculous. I am expected to be able to return back to work September 19. but i feel that in 3 weeks i should be past limping and walking better by 4th month. Its so much more complicated than that! Best wishes in your recovery Im pretty sure I wont be mtn biking again anytime soon. I am only two weeks into my injury, I fractured my fibula bone in my ankle after a fall. It was such a nice surprise to see that this post also discussed your experience getting to weight-bearing while having diabetes. My biggest challenge 3 weeks post surgery (plate and 6 screws) has been swelling and blood rushing into my foot and toes whenever I am vertical. When the dust settled I was NWB for 9 weeks. He expects me to be walking with no boot or crutches at the 6 week mark. And no reason not to stay longer at a stage if you need to. Remember to listen to your ankle, its going to hurt and swell up if you do too much! It scares me to even think about taking a step without crutches right now. Then boot and crutches for 3 weeks. Ergobaum Prime 7TH Generation Crutches is one of the best forearm crutches and an excellent walking aid for non-weight bearing. I opted not to have surgery there and try to recover at our cabin. (Shouldnt they be taking some measurements or noting how I stand/walk? I never expected all of this. But at least your post has been very useful! Im NWB and in a cast, which comes off Feb 17. hi everyone! Orthopedic doc told me that at 6 weeks post op I will move to the boot and start WB. I gather its a long process which requires patience and kindness to yourself. He saw my x-rays and literally said Holy shit. Thank you so much for creating this information! Not sure how to wb under these circumstances. , (If anyone finds this post in the future mainly for ankle fracture and weight bearing transition/progression tips, you can ignore this part!). not that straightforward. What happens if you walk too soon after ankle surgery? It is a three-wheel scooter with an extensive and sturdy 12-inch wheel for all floor surfaces. 1 in 3 patients had continued secondary pain 3 months after the device was removed. If youre not WB yet (still using walker with the boot), theres a lot of progression schedules online you can use either X% of weight or a certain amount of pounds, depending on your preference. After a year of pain and limping, I found a new PT. The Ortho there said Id need surgery, but gave no indication that I had a serious injury. My orthopedic surgeon told me I didnt need physio but being a Chiropractor myself, I knew otherwise. That was his recommendation for my specific injury. I fell and did a large fragmentation of my tibula on 26th July. I fell dislocated my ankle and broke it. Swelling is controlled by wearing a compression stocking, and by elevating the foot and icing the ankle. With iWALK3.0 Hands-Free Crutch, you can be completely free from the hassle of using crutches. How can I make my walking boot more comfortable? I thank you. Wow thank you so much for all the information, I broke tib & fib plus protruding bones, had surgery & am I a external fixator, this is week 3, I have another 3 to ex fix removal & if no further fractures on removal will go into a walking cast, if fractures will go into a normal cast. Im sitting for hours and hours each day and its so frustrating. today morning. You will get through this too and one day it will be like a bad dream. Even then, I could only go short distances, and could only navigate up stairs, not down stairs. view details , How to Walk with Crutches Correctly (Non-Weight-Bearing) - YouTube view details , On and off toilet - YouTube view details , The non-weight bearing period can last 4 weeks after surgery. Hang in there cause you will eventually get there. I am not sure what to expect once the boot is put on, so it has been good to hear others experiences. What happens after 6 weeks of non-weight bearing? Had the cast off after 6 long weeks. But Snowboarding? I was only able to toe touch while using walker. 41. Thanks for the tips of weight bearing, wow i am almost there. I also work on a stationary bike which also helps to increase ankle ROM. This is a forearm crutch and one of the best walking aid for non-weight bearing and broken ankles. I ate no grains for about 2 months my calories came from berries and cherries, and organic bone-marrow, along those lines lots of colorful fresh food, a lot of matcha tea. im very thankfull for this article and page that i was able to read others experiences to help me understand and encorage me to stay patient and keep with phisical therapy . Painful but necessary. The unique product is made by Knee Rover, one of the best makers of walking aids. How much weight is partial weight bearing? Do I need to wear my walking boot all the time? I wish I had found this post weeks ago. Any suggestions. 31. I am hopeful that the physical therapy weeks will make me stronger and bring me closer to walking, running and taking the stairs. It is a LONG process for recovery. These include wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and others. continue reading , If you don't need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. I came upon this blog early this morning when the discomfort from my cast wouldnt let me sleep. The only negative thing about it is that family and friends see you are quite capable and will start expecting you to do more. so im confused. I think the exercises are mainly keeping me at an even level of mobility, but not yet advancing to pre-injury status. Its a long hard road. To make things worse, my husband is deployed and wont be home for 6 more months. What happens if you accidentally put weight on your foot after surgery? Im not sure what I would do in your situation its probably influenced by insurance coverage, willingness to drive, etc. I started by sitting in a chair and leaning onto both legs to get used to the feeling of weight on it before really trying to put it down while walking/crutching. Can you go from non weight bearing to full weight bearing? I was going crazy trying to find ways to cope with thus temporary normal (my surgeon estimates 5mo before Ill be able to walk without mobility aides) especially the discomfort and pain I am experiencing in my splint (already had one resplint but still experiencing pressure pain where ankle and foot lie against the hardness of the plaster). Also, the feeling of having my ankle so weak and blocked with numbness on the top of my foot was quite distressing. Other tips for getting used to a walking boot and transitioning to weight bearing: 3yo nephew says Im slow but younger nephew doesnt seem to care how slow we go as long as we go. pic.twitter.com/499HKvzRFe, Dana M. Lewis | #OpenAPS (@danamlewis) March 26, 2019, Cold and rain cancelled our walk after 15 minutes, so squeezed in another 20 minutes with another 4-wheeled walker at the grocery store to help round out my weight bearing hour. As always, YDMV reading this brought me back to 2012, when I had a right-leg tibial plateau (Knee) fracture; 100% non-weight-bearing for something like 4 weeks and then +25% each additional week . Fortunately the hospital is open for business after being shut down for 2 months. Can I walk after 6 weeks ankle fracture? For the first month especially, just getting something to eat or washing up was a major effort. My fear is that the achilles tendon will atrophy or become stiff, so I do a lot of bending squats and lunges, as well as cow/camel yoga to keep it stretched. i was looking forward to it only being 6 weeks to heal and be back to normal, i am 5 weeks post op i just put slight pressure on back of foot when getting on my scooter no pain no swelling. ; 6 Can I rest my foot on the floor when non weight bearing? ankle brace, desk etc.) And 3 weeks after surgery, a tree fell on our house during a storm causing us to have to relocate. I broke my fibula and bilateral malleoli on 11/6/19. Im sorry for the rant bout I think youll get it. Use a Treadmill to restore both weight bearing and walking mechanics Start with only your recovering foot on the tread Put all your weight on your non recovering leg and arms So Im 3 weeks post op will be going to the Otho 15th sept to see if he will put me in a boot the first appointment he took xrays and sees it healing very nicely hoping he will put me in a boot on the 15th .. Im terrified with everyone having a difficult time bearing weight and still in pain please give me some hope, Hi Sandra Non-weight-bearing means that no weight can be placed on the operated leg. The user can use it as a walker for non-weight bearing or a rollator for balancing. At the beginning, it was helpful for keeping track of all the new things I needed to do; in the middle, it was useful for emphasizing the progress I was making; and at the end it felt really good to see the light of the end of the tunnel of a few pages/days left toward being fully weight bearing. Dana I slipped and fell on ice November 1, next morning I had (ORIF) open reduction internal fixation to repair broken Tibia fibula and ankle. Plate & screws. Short walks have me panting like Ive run a marathon but sticking at it. Had a closed reduction done and sent on my way with crutches and splint. Anyway Im now 6 weeks post surgery and using a walking boot. The practice will make it easier for re-learning your posture and gaining confidence in walking without crutches. I am using a high boot ($150) and I was instructed to use a standard walker to gradually progress to weight-bearing. It has a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds. Anyway, fingers crossed that everything continues to improve. I broke my ankle 3 weeks ago so Im not at the weight bearing part yet. Easier said than done! On May 27, the cast came off and was transitioned into a walking boot. Surgery the next day with plate and screws. If you dont make progress with yours, might not hurt to have someone recommend another. With 2 weeks left I need to find ways of being more self sufficient. Feel like recovery is harder as i am overweight so i guess one good thing is a resolve to lose serious weight in the new year. uuuuggghh! Thanks so much for your post! They make my hands sore and even my good leg is getting tired of bearing all the weight . Turns out, being female, over 40 and having type 1 diabetes are all risk factors for that one. Was referred to physio so at least have that assistance. I walked 3 miles with no pain, no limp. Sleep is so important! 36. Good luck with your recovery! Spent the night at the hospital. I have crutches & scooter. This has happened before and normally a few scrapes and bangs and Im back on the bike. I was walking etc several months after my fracture, but I think it was really the 9-10 mo time frame where I moved past the stage of my ankle feeling stiff when I woke up every morning and needing to really stretch it out to get my mobility going..so theres lots of little ups and downs still in the last 5-10%. It is ok to take the boot off at night, when resting at home and to wash. see details , Non-Weight Bearing (NWB): Do not place any weight through the surgical/injured leg. My doctor asked me to start PT asap and to start with 30% WB and to progress to FWB by week 5. I couldnt talk on the phone or talk with Scott while I did it; it required a lot of concentration. I suffered multiple fractures from a 20ft fall. This post is a follow up with more detailed tips and lessons learned of things that were helpful in living with a leg cast, as well as what the return to weight bearing was really like. I cannot use my cane which is what I was hoping to transition to. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek 2022 Officialsbillsfootballauthentic. It can be sore when you walk long distances. continue reading , Other researchers have used percentage of patient body weight, with a common distinction of touch-down weight bearing defined as 0 to 20 percent of body weight and partial weight bearing defined as 20 to 50 percent of body weight [12]. see more , Putting any weight on an operated foot or ankle can damage the repair that's been done. I will continue to read the blog for encouragement and relatable experiences. walk from A to B, or walking while my nephew was on his scooter) helped pass the time and get me to complete my hour or more of weight-bearing work. About 10 days ago, Im FWB and going nowhere fast with the crutches. 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