After two months of hobbling around on crutches, I finally had my cast removed last week. The doctor gave me this huge removable walking boot which I am supposed to wear for another six weeks. Walking in the book took a little getting used to. I could actually get around faster in the crutches and walking on anything but flat ground is slow going. That aside, I wouldn’t go back to the crutches for anything. I only have to use the crutches at night after I take the boot off to go to bed.
This boot increased my quality of life tremendously. While on crutches I could neither carry anything around nor could I take a shower. Taking my first shower in two months was pretty much awesome, as I got to remove the thick layer of crusty dead skin that had formed underneath my cast.
From the picture you can tell that my right foot is still very swollen, even though it’s been two months since I broke my legs and six weeks since my surgery. Before the surgery, they had shaved my leg and it has mostly grown back by now. But since my leg was in a cast for six weeks, a lot of the hair was ingrown. I cannot describe the ecstasy I got from scratching my foot and leg.
That white fuzz on my foot is just some of the cast padding that got stuck to it. The rest is crusty skin. My not being able to wash my leg for two months, the dead skin just kept piling up. Please keep in mind that I took a shower right after these pictures were taken.
Here you can see the incision where they put in the screws and plate. There were no stitches to take out. I guess they must have glued the incision back together or something. You can see more of the nasty crusty skin as well. There was tape over the wound when the cast was removed. That’s why the area around the wound looks so clean while everything else looks to dirty.
Hi there,
I just wondered how you are getting on with your broken leg? I broke mine 3 weeks ago and will get the cast removed in another 3. I am curious to know how quickly you’re recovering - ie how long did it take the swelling to go down, when were you able to walk, have you been able to do any sport?
I am a bit worried because I have some numbness on the top part of my foot (ie where you’d tie shoelaces) and hope theres no nerve damage. The docs think it’s just due to the swelling. Did you experience anything like this?
Cheers buddy,
Dion
I am glad that you got the cast off, mine was also very numb when swollen, and I was also afraid, but when the swelling went down, and got some excercise, flexing, the feeling came back.
Lewis
Maybe if you used our Crutch Pals, the crutches would be more tolerable!
I hope you are on your way to a speedy recovery.
Gary Moody
www.crutchpals.com
I got my cast off yesterday. I had a broken foot and a cast on for 7 weeks. The pain in my leg is brutal - the dry skin - feels like a windburn, sunburn, sandpaper burn - coupled with the blood rushing to the spot….and actually walking on the broken foot again….I am back to square one!!! I hope that all will heal quickly but for now I’m just frustrated!!!
I was told i could walk without crutches on my space boot today but after hobling around the house i have a cankle… i hope your advice is sound… exercise and movement. cheers
Hey,
After reading your blog and the progressive stages you went through I am well happy, im not alone! I have been thinking I was the only person in the world that has broken their fibula, dislocated my ankle and had to have surgery, so thanks!
Thank goodness I am due to get my cast off next week tues! Cant wait! Although what I am now wondering is what next? I have done loads of research and they all are inconclusive in a way that they do not really stipulate the likely recovery periods/ treatments. Did you have to wear a boot or something for a while? Please do let me know as I cant wait until tues!
Thanks.
Oh my God - this is so strange! Reading your blog and everyone else’s replies made me see there are other people out there going through what I’ve been and still am going through!
I broke my right fibula on 18th April and dislocated my ankle and tore some tendons and ligaments. Pretty heavy duty stuff and how did I manage that? I fell down three steps! Yes three!
I too had surgery and had nine screw with a plate put in - so funny that the blogger also had screw and a plat as well as injury to the right leg. My leg is identical to yours except I had a green fibre glass - pink was out of stock.
I’ve now had the cast removed and have a soft bandage on my ankle - the first time I could wash it was wonderful. And as MeMe says, the dry skin is basically a bitch - it feels like sandpaper.
I’ve just seen that the comments are all dated 2007!!! Now I feel silly - I thought it was now as in 2008. So may be you guys can console me about the walking bit because you all went though it a year ago.
Cheers,
-D.
I broke my leg July 6, 2008. Had 3 neon pink casts since. Did the breakage, dislocating etc like everyone else here. Got a walking boot last week after 63 days. I start therapy tomorrow and I am scared to death. I am also afraid to walk on it. It is still swollen and hard to bend. Feel better when secure in the boot. Anyone else afraid to walk on it?? How did you handle that?? I am not usually like this. It is almost like I forgot how to walk after all this time. I use a walker because I am a clutz with the crutches. Glad to find this site even if it started in 2007. In a warped way, it is nice to know there are others out there with the same problems as me!! Hope you are ALL HEALED and living life to its fullest……… and on 2 legs!!!
=:)
to xxx free watch free amateur watch xxx
It is so funny to find these postings. I dislocated and broke my ankle March 1st 2008 on a faulty sidewalk in the middle of the night. I was by myself. Had to hop to my car to get out of the cold and call an ambulance.I knew the something was broke because my knee was forward but the foot was pointing to the extreme right. Was admitted to the hospital(obviously)and it was hell from there. Once there i was given something to numb the keg while they set the bone. That did not help the pain at all!!..lol I live in Ny and would not be surprised if California heard my cry of pain and anguish (what a wuss..lol). Had surgery 2 days later introducing a plate and six screws. After, I was released from the hospital 10 days later. I stayed in there a bit longer than ususal because 1. I had good insurance(they milked the company) 2. My other leg was starting to lose feeling. and 3. they were giving me therapy..I too ws to clumbsy with the crutches so i was given a walker to go along with my fiber glass cast. This was the worst experience I have had to endure to date. Depending on my fiance and others to do things for me.I am a very independent person and cant stand to have to rely on anyone so you can imagine how upset I was that I had to go through this. Going to the bathroom was an issue, cleaning myself was an issue..just the worst..
8 weeks later..The cast is off. Now comes learning how to walk again. Was afraid also of letting the foot touch the ground.I had a great therapy facility who helped me get back on my feet..Also i had so much determination to walk that within 4 weeks of therapy I was walking with out a cane. Some pain of course. Still had pain for weeks after and thought there might be a problem. i went for a second opinion and found out that i needed a second surgery which is what i just went through in September and am back in a cast until halloween. Therpay all over again..wish me luck..
I do feel better knowing that other people have went through basically what I’m going through twice. It soes make you appreciate life, the people around you who care and just having your health period..
Wow for weeks i have been lookin around the net to find a site where people have gone thru the same experiences as me.On Sept.10th , 2008 i slipped on the side walk n fell on my right ankle.I was waitin for transport to get home after classes.I thought it was jus a slip get up n go on , nut i could not get up n i was scared it was late i was all alone and i did not know wat to do.Somehow two guys passing by saw me and stopped they picked me up and took me into a fast food joint where i phoned foe help.I was given a slab that nite and my worst fears were confirmed i had broken my Tibia i think thats the word on my right ankle the lil small bone that sticks out on the outer part of your ankle.
Its been 7 weeks now and I am still in a cast i am told it would be removed on the 10th of November.Jus like everyone else i had similar situations, there is a lot of dead skin around my toes,i jus want peel it off some times.The fibre glass cas is gettin a bit dirty i wish i could wash it off.I am on crutches the pain is more o less gone unless i have a tough day but i cant step around the house on crutches n sometimes on my own while holdin on to furniture.
I jus wan to know what happens next wen it comes off i hav to get bac to wok and classes can tafford to lose the job or miss a year at university.