Recovery...

So, I cracked my foot, and now that the cast is finally off, my leg is still pretty swollen. It’s also a bit painful when I try to put any real weight on it. Does anyone have any tips on how to get back on my feet faster?

Drew Castillo3 said:I ended up with a hairline fracture in my foot. Now that I finally got this cast off, my leg is still super swollen. It hurts like hell if I try to put any real weight on it. Does anyone have advice on how to get back on my feet faster?

How long were you stuck in that cast? What exactly was fractured?

I spent 4 weeks in a cast, plus another week in a brace... I can't remember the exact name of the bone (I think it's my ankle, but there's this bump about 3cm behind my pinky toe where it's protruding...

Drew Castillo3 said:I spent four weeks in a cast plus another week in a walking boot... I don't even know the exact name of the bone (I think it's my ankle, but there's this bump about 3cm behind my pinky toe where it's swollen...)

And you think you're just gonna walk normally right away?😁 No way. What actually worked for me was doing exercises in a basin of saltwater—you can just use tap water and salt if you want to improvise. And listen, it’s vital that you ice your foot (especially the joint) before you start moving, then work on it once that area is "frozen." There is no such thing as a "quick fix." It takes time for everything to settle back into place. The whole point of exercising is to make sure your joint doesn't end up completely trashed like mine did, though the movement definitely helped with the pain too. Also, if your doctor recommends physical therapy, go. Do not skip it!!! They have those electrical stimulation machines that actually help get the swelling down and kill the pain.

Robin Anderson16 said:you’d probably want to start walking normally right away too😁 but hold on... what worked for me was doing exercises in a basin filled with seawater—or you can just DIY it with water and salt. Most importantly, ice your foot (especially the ankle) before you start, and once it feels "frozen," get to work. There's no such thing as a quick fix here; things will settle in time. You're exercising mainly to prevent your ankle from being totally trashed like mine was, though it definitely helped with the pain. And please, make sure your doctor refers you to physical therapy!!! They have electrical stimulation tools to help bring down swelling and kill the pain

well, they just told me to do some light movement in a basin at home... but I've actually been out of my cast for a week now, and I'm barely seeing any progress. I can stand without crutches, but I can't really move. I can put some weight on it if I have to—maybe around 70 to 90 pounds if I'm careful—but not my full weight yet.

Of course it’s normal, but honestly, I find it weird they didn't give you physical therapy. You seriously need to mention that to your doctor. And look, you should keep using those crutches for another few weeks. I know it feels like overkill, but that’s just how it goes. That bone isn't going to be fully healed for months, so don't go putting too much weight on it—at least for another month...

Robin Anderson16 said:That sounds about right to me. Honestly, I’m surprised they didn't give you physical therapy yet. You should definitely mention that to your doctor. And look, stick to the crutches for another few weeks if you have to; I know it feels like overkill, but that's just how it goes. It'll take a few months for that bone to fully heal, so don't go putting too much weight on it for at least another month...

I was at my checkup today and told him the swelling hasn't fully gone down yet, so he actually did end up giving me a PT referral...