Broken Ankle Sleeping in boot

Foot care
1

Hi: I broke my ankle on 11/10, surgery on 11/19, cast off 12/7

I got the knee high boot to wear, I'm still non-weight bearing. He wants me to sleep in it but sleep is impossible. How vitally important is the boot to the bone healing? i wear the boot all day. I go back for x-rays the 21st. thanks!

2

Hello, I am sorry to hear about your situation and hopefully it will not take long for you to recover.

It is possible to sleep with the boot; but is, indeed, annoying. The reason he needs you to wear the boot while sleeping is to prevent any strong force (while sleep moving) from altering the healing position of the affected area. You need to understand that even the smallest movement could change the position arranged by the bones.

 

3

thanks so much for your reply. I was afraid this was the case! I will attempt it again. 

4

Hi Judi

im in a boot cast 2 weeks post op. My splint came off last week. Pros of boot cast are you can air your foot. Cons, it's damn uncomfortable hitting each ankle with pressure, nothing is a good position. The cast has to keep the foot from moving around so the bones will set and heal. It has to be on 24/7 until you can weight bear again. I'm in the same boat, in my chair pretty much steady except for bed propped up on pillows. 

Question, are you getting feeling and sharp pains coming back into your foot?  Everyday is a challenge but I focus one day at a time. Wishing you well, 

best Jannie 

5

thanks Jannie. Every once in awhile I'll feel a sharp pain but it is very infrequent. My doctor did ok me to take the boot off to do the flexing exercises and the alphabet. Otherwise with no weight bearing, no pain yet.  Are you resting on your broken foot occasionally? I could see that causing pain. wishing you well also. This is such a slow, frustrating process.  thanks, Judi

6

I sometimes sleep with my boot in the daytime as its easier and quicker and wear a large plastic bag over it. I take it off at night time but i kept it on the first night as i was wanted to get some sleep which i hadn't in ages due to the pain i was suffering for 2 weeks before i realised my ankle was broken. Hina

7

Hello,

i dislocated my outside ankle and broke 2 bones as well. My poor little foot is like it's frozen, can't move it at all. I feel for you all and for me I'm 65 and know I'm in for a very long rehab. Right now I'll be happy to be able to have my foot down. It's taught me more than living one day at a time but I know each of heal different so good luck and speedy healing.....

8

thanks for your reply jannie if feel very useless as i can't do any jobs around the help and have 3 young children i want to help out more but i don't how much i can do without making things worse  for my foot and also i can't rely on my huband he will get sick of me asking for every little thing and i've got to manage when he's not there sometimes.

9

Oh Hina that's gotta be so hard with three little ones. I know there are limits to asking but you have no choice. Do you have neighbours, friends, family or home support that can help you? In my small town the neighbours are helping me but otherwise I don't know how a person is supposed to do it!  People think it's just put the cast on and go but we know this is not so - I'm  sending speedy healing and hope some help comes to make it possible,

take good care 

10

I hope things go smoothly although this is the worst thing I've been through thankfully I think it could have been worse, breaking my arm on the way down falling. It's no consolation but it helps me cope with what is. 

Take good care 

11

2 weeks! You must have a high tolerance. I'm gonna try the recliner tonight

12

I'm so sorry. I know I am fortunate that mine wasn't worse. I hope your rehab goes smoothly

13

You poor woman. I was just thinking I'm glad I only have a dog. I don't know how people with small kids cope. I do use my walker on wheels like a knee scooter but it is still tiring. My mother in law walks my dog. I hope you have someone who can step up. Sometimes people don't realize you need help until you ask

14

Thank you for your kind comments i've no broken any bones in my life this is so new to me and very hard to get used to.

15

thanks today my husband lost patience with me its only been 2 days since i was fitted with my shield boot, i don't know how i'm going to manage with his temper i hate relying on other people too help me. i know i have lost my independence my husband has to do more work than before and he hatesit  i can't ask my children to help too much as they are still to young i'm worried how i'm ging to cope.

16

To be honest i haven't told anyone yet if it tell my mum  she will only worry and big sister looks after her daily since she is cannot walk very easily i will tell my school friend mums soon. I 'm scared my family will feel obliged to help me and make me feel like it was my own fault just like my husband and lose pateince with me.

17

Nina, do you have some kind of public heAlth or your Doctior you can tell him you need help. With 3 kids and an over whelmed husband you need to ask for help. We have community services in my town and they set you up with help (free) if you can't afford it.  Keep asking and try and keep calm even though everything seems crazy right now. Your going get thru this!! 

18

Take any help you can, I'm sure you would do it for them if they needed it, like you do right now. This is a time when its okay to ask for help....

19

I agree with Jannie. People want to help and you need it. You can pay everyone back when you have 2 feet again. Wouldn't you be upset if your sister didn't reach out to you?

20

I didn't sleep in mine after surgery. The plates and junk held mine together. I had two plates, 9 screws