I starting FWBAT 3 three weeks ago after 10 weeks NWB fibula ORIF surgery on 3/15. Can only bear weight on my heel. Not on front of foot or tip toes no matter how hard I try. Pain causes me to walk on heel, but with pretty bad limp. Can only stand on bad foot for a few seconds before pain causes my good foot to drop or grab the counter to catch my balance. Pain more on top of foot vs bottom. Keep going back to one crutch to support bad foot as I too am feeling too much pressure on heel holding all my weight. Surgery was on angkle, not foot, so I don't understand why all this pain/weakness with the front of foot and toes??? Have a follow up Friday and gonna see if doc thinks a bone scan or CT of foot is appropriate as this doesn't make sense. Keep thinking maybe they missed a stress fracture in foot. Anyone out there have this problem when started to weight bear after ankle sugery??? And if so, did it get better. Do you think maybe I have foot break or stress fracture?
Slowly does it. See a Physio as well asap. I am 9 months post break and 4.5 months post bone graft and plate and screws. C'mon go easy on yourself. I'm not fully weight baring for a more than a few seconds my self.
R.I.C.E. massage area and whole foot. Swelling and colour change normal sorry. I had pain on top of foot for awhile after cast off. Boot might help. Surprised you're trying no crutches. Or even 1. I've got a Walker- all terrain with large wheels and seat. Taken lots of patience . Bones and muscles need building up. Send me private message if you want more.
Good luck with Dr.
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the pain in the heel, and achilles, and being able to stand on good foot for a few seconds is totally normal. im saying this from experience, and i had the same problems with balance, and getting super tired, etc. the reason for the pain the feel of you getting electrocuted is perfectly normal as you had atrophy set in, and will get stronger each day. im just able to walk on my foot in the house and up and down the stairs with my cane. i do get swellin in my foot, and some pain in the incision area, but im not concerned with it. my dr is very happy with all of the progress i have made.
let us know what your dr says
Hi. I also had orif surgery in March and also fwb now. I had terrible pain and swelling in the top of my foot for a while. I used to massage my foot before I started walking. Have you been for physiotherapy, and are you doing stretching exercises, this all helps. If you going to the Doctor as him about it . If th pain is bad use the crutches, on a day it all comes together. Be positive.
Hi,
I had the same problem. I was nwb for 3.5 months and then in a boot for another 2. I've been out of the boot for a month and a half and still experience pain in the front of my foot. At first it was as you described - unbearable to stand on. It does ease up the more you use your foot. I found that massaging it nightly helped- although at first it hurt to touch. My physiotherapist tells me that it is largely because when you don't use your foot for that long all the little bones throughout your foot stiffen up and don't want to work, combined with swelling as well as sometimes as a result of surgery tendons may have shifted position. Hang in there!!
Will go more easy on self. Have plate & screws too. Should have phsio this week, took them a week and a half from the date of my evaluation, but got message yesterday they finally got approval from my insurance, %^$#!! So frustrating but should start this week. Hoping this helps. Also, did get professional massage yesterday cause of muscle cramping in entire leg and it seemed to calm them down. Going back next week for sure. And bought bigger size shoes for comfort, if there is such a thing!! Been alternating with boot, but hope bigger shoes will help keep me in them longer. Need to stop comparing to others who are up and about in 8 - 10 weeks. I'm 56, so have to accept longer recovery I guess. Thanks Tituscanby!!
Reassuring as have all of the above. Scary feelings. I had bad atrophy, especially in calf. Will report back after doc appt on Friday. Thanks much!!
Snap HAHa! I'm almost 56. I put moonboot on today . first time in 6 weeks at least..need stability. I wear shoes with prescription orthotics. Have to peel my foot out of shoe. Gets so tight with swelling. I didn't buy bigger shoe. Just new shoes . Wider shoe might help you n ew balance have wide shoes.
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Been doing stretching & ROM since 6 weeks PO. ROM good. Went for physio eval. a week and half ago. Finally got message yesterday they got approval from insurance. Why so long,it is what it is. So will be starting this week, hoping that helps wilth all other issues. Start positive every morning, then so bummed at night. Gotta get outta my house (and head) and around people more. If he clears me on Friday that all is healing well, I'm def. heading out with boot, crutch, walker, what ever it takes to go see friends/family. Being alone gets me down and thinking crazy thoughts. I appreciate your reply & encouragement.
Thanks for your story. Gives hope on the easing up. Hard since I've been calling my own shots (with doc approval) as there was a delay in getting in to physio. Find myself constantly wondering if I'm doing something wrong. Start this week with phsio and that should help with more direction, confidence. This site has beeb so consoling, has helped tremendousley.
I got stuck in house for 3 months at one stage. I went nuts. Don't reccomend at all. Live in middle floor or 3_storied house.
Great your insurance through. Here we have ACC. Accident compensation. They sure #£%@* you around. My husband recovering from a broken scaphoid, done over 8 months ago. We both had surgery and had to stay in hospital cause we couldn't look after each other!
Were not even 1 person between us still.
Keep on keeping on!
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After searching all weekend on internet, that's exactly what I got. Great reviews. They happened to have a store 1/2 mile away. Had to get 1.5 size bigger and they are defintely wider in front to accomodate swelling. Rounded front instead of pointed. I find out tomorrow if works. I use boot with walker (wheels & seat) as well when feel exhaused & need stability when doing my 200 steps. So many things, overwhelming for sure.
On 2nd floor here. Know the 'going nuts' feeling. Wow!! You've been through a lot, on such a long road. Hope things getting better for you and your husband real soon!!
More ups than downs. Just have to keep bashing head against a brick wall to get people in The insurance or ACC to listen. My goodness they're not Drs. Office workers.
They do my head in more than anyone else. Make you beg.
Oh well, its fantastic we have this site! Yey!
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Hi
Have you got any type of shoes on when you try to walk or are you barefoot?
I was told to FWB barefoot but find it better wearing flat shoes or in my case velcro fastening sandals. I am using a walker at moment until the muscles in my leg gets stronger. The walking makes my ankle swell a bit but ice packs & elevated rest takes it back down.
Good luck with your recovery what seems hard today may be easier for you to do next week. Just take it steady & you will get there. Patience is the lesson with a broken ankle unfortunately.
Angela, I was about to post something very similar! So, thanks. I'm about the same stage as you, and can walk without crutches but only with a bad limp. This is due to not being able to put all my weight on the front of my foot. It hurts on the top of my foot and sometimes front of my ankle. My physio asked if it was because I'm just too nervous, but it's really not! My foot and lower leg is still swollen and tight and range of movement not great. While I'm sorry you seem to have the same pain, I'm kinda glad it means maybe it's normal and will slowly improve!
Hi , Pysio is really important to get your ROM back. also massage on the scar tissue. But be patient and you will see suddenly it all comes together.
Thanks Daphne, I have a half-hour physio session 3 times a week, but probably should do more exercises at home. Most of the physio is just massage and manipulation and I sometimes wonder how much good it does (as opposed to just the slow improvement that time affords). Only occassionally the physio gets me doing exercises like the balance board, squats and alternate tip-toes (ouch!).
There is so much you can do on your own at home every day. When you go to the physiotherapists again ask them to give you exercises to do at home. I have only been to physio 3 times and it is more for evaluation. I was given a sheet of paper with different exercises on to do every day and it really is nessasary to do them in order to regain your full ROM back. Also be careful how you walk without crutches , my knee started getting sore and the physiotherapists showed me that I was walking wrong and putting a lot of pressure on the knee. Took a few days of concentrating on how I walk and a few strengthening exercises and now I am doing well. Good luck with your recovery.
Exactly Helen, same thing. Front part of ankle expected but top of foot a surprise. After reading these encouraging posts, I think back to two weeks ago when I couldn't stand on bad foot AT ALL without entire leg shaking and collapsing, freaked me right out. Not nervous, leg was just too weak beyond control. Now a few seconds (maybe 5) is better then none and not so much shaking or knee pain. So I'm gonna consider that improvement, sometimes don't realize improvement it's soooooo slow each day. Probably should keep a log of little milestone accomplishments but not good at that kinda stuff. Some for now I'm gonna to take everyone's advice and accept it's normal, think/hope my doc will confirm the same on Friday!!