Hi all...I wrote 6 weeks ago that I'd just had a cast put on. It was taken off yesterday. The doctor said it will take a week before the pain is gone because it's been kept stiff. Is it really safe to move it around even though it hurts? I find myself preferring to be in the cast with no pain. I do have a walking brace that I'm supposed to take off unless I'm walking. Just wondering if I can snap my bone by moving it around. Guess I don't know how careful I need to be in moving it so soon....Any tips? Thanks. Teri
I am afraid you have to walk through the pain it's the only way of strengthening the bone, it does get better. My cast came off 6 weeks ago but I still have a little pain it takes time.
Hi Terri, I'm afraid Christine is right, but do be careful, follow your physio's advice and don't be afriad to move it, obviously don't push it too hard, but the bone should be fused together by now.
I have to say, I do think that your doctor is being a tad over optimistic by saying you will be pain free after a week. I've never known anyone be pain free a week after taking their casts off. My main tip would be to follow your physio's advice, if they are concerned in any way, they will send you straight back for another x-ray. But it's perfectly normal to feel pain for up to 12 months after having the cast removed. Mine was swelling up like a balloon for the first couple of weeks, and I've only just gone down to one crtuch this past week.
Keep us posted
Denise
How's yours doing Christine?
Hi Christine....Denise and I are wondering how you're doing....What are you using for walking aids? Is it safe for us to stand thru a shower?
Hi Denise....!
How funny when you say my doctor is being optimistic. He probably said that because I was shocked at how much it hurt. Okay, I wasnt thinking clearly...lol
But that's great that you're down to one crutch! Does that mean you no longer use the walking boot?
they never gave me a walking boot Terri, I was gutted because I wanted one....hahaha
Getting there, no crutches now but still limping which is messing up my knee womewhat, probably because of my age, but pain is much less, although I still have swelling. My physio said it could take up to a year for that to totally subside (joy), but every week there is improvement, its now 4 months since my break, it certaily takes time. Hopy you are well and improving.
I have to say that this 6 weeks went a bit faster than I thought it would. But you were always so good about your experience, so I have learned from you...ha
What did people do before websites like this??? :<
Hi Christine,
Still limping after 4 months? oh what joy!
10 weeks post fracture for me, down to one crutch...:-)
Keep us posted
Denise
LOL....I have no idea, I couldnt even go to the loo on my own in the first couple of weeks....haha
another thing to remember is that everyone is different, all the breaks are different, it sounds like ours were pretty nasty breaks.
Glad I could be there for ya....:-D
Glad to hear your pain is getting better. I know my age is a problem too (I'm 54) so I take into account that it takes us longer to heal. But I hadn't considered our knee. I do notice that my hamstring is sure sore, though I can't tell why yet. But that's great that you're 4 months ahead. Keep us posted!
Yes, I remember us complaining about using the loo a few weeks ago. I actually slept in my bed for the first time last night (been sleeping in my recliner). It felt great.
57 here, healing does take longer that's for sure, but there are many diferent types of breaks as well.
My knee started to hurt too, and I have a shoulder impingement that's flared up again with using crutches, and my fingers became so swollen and painful when I was non-weight-bearing. thank the lord that's over with....haha
oh dear, that's not good, but at least you're back in your bed now, hopefully you'll strt sleeping better and that will help the healing process.
Very true...I hadn't thought about the lack of sleep. I just could not get comfortable in bed with that cast on....If I were married, he probably would have divorced me since I wasn't joining him each night...lol.
HI Teri
Terrys chocolate oranges are an excellent way to forget the pain....only lasts a few moments but worth it!
When's your physio appt? Chase that up because you get so much information from them as to what yo should and should not be doing.
My cast came off on the 5th and I had my first physio session yesterday - 12 days later! They told me where I was going wrong with my exercises and gave me some new ones also.
Look at my last post and the download from Leicester NHS "Physiotherapy after ankle fracture" - all the basic exercises there are simple and I started doing them 4 times per day.
Also Noreens comments are a very useful guide re milestones but everyones different and healing varies.
I've gone back to 2 crutches since yesterday and improving my walking and beginning to have greater flexibility in the ankle.
Tosh
65 so a little more knackered. 
I read somewhere that there has been an increase in ankle fractures in - lets say - the more mature woman, due to increases activities taken up by the more mature lady these days. I was told exercise was good for you....hahaha
hmmm chocolate, problem is, I've put so much weight on since I broke my ankle, I'm trying hard not to succumb...:-)
I hadn't been back on here for a while and missed your experiences Tosh, good to see you're on the mend though, sorry you've had to go back to 2 crutches. I had to do that for a while, mainly because of my shoulder pain, plus I was walking a bit weird on one crutch. Back to one now, but it's better to walk correctly on two than walk incorrectly on one.
Denise