Cast off early… Woo Hoo!!
I’m now just over 4 weeks post-op. A few days ago, my foot started swelling more than “normal” when it wasn’t elevated. This was a problem because, well, a hard cast just isn’t flexible. By the end of the day, my foot looked like it had 5 very plump Lil Smokies hanging off the end. I checked for a fever (none) and any other signs of infection. Monday morning came, and I followed my wife’s orders and called the doc. Thankfully, they had an opening.
The nurse looked at my foot (still in the cast) and said those words I had been longing to hear… “Let’s get that cast off and take a look.” She left for a moment and came back with a giant vacuum cleaner which had a 3 inch table saw blade on the end.
I said, “Before we get started, please explain to me how that is NOT going to cut me.”
She said, “I’ll do better than that. I’ll show you.”
Then she turned the machine on and held the spinning blade against her hand. No cut. No problem. 3 minutes later, the cast was off.
Thankfully, everything is fine. I just have some unexplained swelling. No bruising, no red lines, and the incision looks good. My doc gave me a wedge and told me to wear my boot (which was waiting at home), but NO weight bearing just yet. That will start in two weeks.
So I went home and excitedly tried to put my foot in the boot along with the wedge. I had no idea how hard that was going to be. I put the wedge in and then put my foot in the boot.
OUCH!!!
I had not anticipated the pain/tension of trying to flex my foot that far. So I doubled the wedge, and by the end of the day, my foot was comfortably sitting in the boot. I don’t know how sleeping will go tonight. The big question is “Boot on, or boot off?” We’ll see.
Right now I’m just excited that I can:
1. Take a normal shower
2. Work out again (see #1)
3. Take off the boot and relax my foot
It’s been a very good day.
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I found it to be most important to be not sitting too high up when putting on the boot.
Also starting at the bottom slowly close velcro over the foot, then leg and then do the same with the straps.
You’ll get to be a pro in no time.
Loved the lil smokies reference! Congrats on another milestone.
I am green with envy! counting down the days for my boot..does it hurt to walk?
I am envious as well, I have 6 days left in my second and hopefully last cast. I really hope I get a boot as my leg is feeling very grimey after close to 6 weeks. What I do not understand is how some get a boot after a month others 5 weeks and me I hope after 6. I suppose the severity of the rupture. Good luck to all
I got the cast off 2 weeks early (according to my ortho), so I’m not “allowed” to put any weight on it until the 18th. I did have an unfortunate mishap yesterday. It was rainy, and I was very careful coming back to work after lunch. I checked my crutches to make sure the feet were dry.
Still, about 50ft in the door, my left crutch went out and my instincts took over. I put weight on my ATR leg and “OUCH!!!!!!” It hurt like the dickens. (I cleaned that up for you all.) I was rather scared, so I immediately checked for movement and iced it down for 20 minutes. All seems to be well today.
Ugh! I hope that never happens again. I plan on using a walker when/if the snow and ice come.