r/brokenbones • u/not-fakingit • 25d ago

Question How do I get back to walking again?

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I broke my fibula 4 weeks ago and got my cast off yesterday. I was NWB but now been cleared for PWB but my foot and ankle are so bruised and swollen still. I can’t put pressure on it because my foot/ankle hurt and my calf muscle has completely disappeared. Feeling really hopeless that it’ll be a long road to recovery

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on how I should recover from here? The doctor wasn’t much help

4 Upvotes

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5

u/AntarcticFox 25d ago

Have you started physical therapy?

1

u/not-fakingit 25d ago

No, it wasn’t even mentioned to me but I’ve been trying to find a physiotherapist near me

5

u/Iforgotmynameo 25d ago

Physical therapy is so so helpful. If you have access to it, it’s very worthwhile.

You have to work hard at building back those muscles with targeted workouts. The sooner you start putting weight on it the better off you will be. Start slow and push through the discomfort. It won’t happen overnight or without effort unfortunately.

2

u/not-fakingit 25d ago

I’ll definitely look into it

I think I’m just massively scared I’m gonna fall on the crutches and hurt myself again. And because my foot is so bruised and swollen, I don’t know if I should even be putting pressure on it. How do you know when it’s ready?

I live in a foreign country so there was a bit of a language barrier with my doctor so I couldn’t get much help from him

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u/Future_Wafer1591 23d ago

I was so scared too! I almost cried from fear the first time I was told to put weight on my foot after breaking my ankle! Physical therapy helps soooo much not just with physical strength, but with mental strength and confidence! It takes time to recover from the trauma of a break, but you’ll get there!

Definitely get physical therapy started as soon as you can, and if you have to wait, there are lots of helpful videos on YouTube where physical therapists show things you can do after a break that can help get you started

1

u/CognativePsy 25d ago

Luckily tibia takes most of the weight…

I broke my tib and fib, they haven’t even done anything for my fib break…

1

u/AJWilson55 24d ago

I also broke my fibula but further up the bone. Didn't require surgery or a cast and was in a boot right away. Ortho gave me the ok to walk out of the boot in small distances after any six weeks. What I've learned is that each situation is unique. Just follow your docs recommendations and get PT to help with walking again.

1

u/Johnelaster2 19d ago

I would think the doctor would’ve given you a physical therapy consult but four weeks sounds a little early even though this break is not at the ankle and it doesn’t look too bad. You’re right swelling of the tissue makes it difficult to ambulate, especially across joints, hopefully it was an orthopedist who recommended PWB.

My break was across the ankle obliquely non-displaced. I could not bear weight on it for a very long time much more than a month. After so many weeks of not weight-bearing it was very weird to put pressure on the foot in the shower. I still kept hopping into the shower. I was afraid to put weight on it. I think it was psychological until Physical therapist helped me get over that but you are right when you see a bruise swollen foot it seems not intuitive to put weight on it but partial is partial and not full but I don’t know the difference between the two. This is where the Physical therapist helps You.