Jun 01 2008
How long do you wear the nylon after surgery?
I was wondering how long everyone has worn the nylon after surgery. I am almost three weeks post op and Doc told me to wear it for another month, which would be until a total of 6 weeks post op. Any input would be great?
[...] Steve Adams wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI was wondering how long everyone has worn the nylon after surgery. I am almost three weeks post op and Doc told me to wear it for another month, which would be until a total of 6 weeks post op. Any input would be great? [...]
OK - what do you mean by “the nylon”? I had a fiberglass type splint, then a fiberglass cast. To my knowledge I did not have nylon. Can you expand on this?
After surgery i was put directly into a boot and had a stocking/nylon that compressed my leg and is used to prevent blood clotting. It goes all the way up to my thigh. My Dr. did not use a splint or hard cast, he just dressed it and I have been in the walking boot ever since. Obviously I am not walking yet, but eventually I will use the same boot.
I had a compression sock on for my first two casts (took me through 4.5 weeks of post op). When I went into my last cast, they didn’t put the compression sock on because the swelling had gone down enough. My Dr. also told me that not having the compression sock would help with the swelling/rush of blood to my toes when I stood up-right. Not sure if it really helped, or if it was a placebo.
I wear one on long drives or when I have to be on my feet for a while. It really seems to reduce fatigue, and is very fashionable with shorts (black sock). My brother works with guys who run ultra marathons and they wear them when competing. I think they are going to become my new hiking liner sock. My Dad had a hip replaced and wears them all the time now. Oh well, all I’m saying is that I think there are a lot of advantages to them, even if not recovering from an injury. They keep the blood from pooling and the swelling down. I hope this helps a bit.
A friend of mine, who had this injury actually recommended getting soccer socks to wear with my boot when I get it (today). Her physical therapist recommended it. They have slight compression and are cheaper! Not only did it help with her swelling, it also was more comfortable than a regular sock when worn with the boot. I’m stopping on the way home from getting my boot to get mine!
I had a splint for two weeks after surgery (half plaster and all compression bandage). At two weeks, they tried to put my foot to the “neutral position” and into another cast. I couldn’t quite make it, so I had to go back in a week and get another cast. That time they got me to “neutral” (90 degrees) and put another cast on for a week. At the second post op appointment (four weeks post op) They let me wear the boot and the doc told me to go ahead and start walking and ween myself off of the crutches. About a week after that I was completely off of the crutches and had started physical therapy.
From what I’ve seen, each doctor and injury dictates the treatment. Seems that my doc was a little more aggressive in the treatment. I went to Campbell Orthopedic Clinic in Memphis, TN. Their claim to fame is that their founder wrote the book on orthopedics….literally.
Good luck.