my cast came off yesterday from toe fusion surgery and a bone spur removed from the top of my foot. no more crutches! x ray looks fine, but i am experiencing pain in my ankle. they said because i havent had any weight on my foot for 8 weeks. does anyone find it hard to walk in the boot and doesnt it feel heavy on your foot? i posted before- my family left for vacation today and my husband wants me to meet them there next week. he saw me walk in the boot and is still making me feel guilty for not traveling. my dr still says no to going. this would be a flight from chicago to aspen where it is full of snow and ice. i dont know what to do. debbie g

Hi Debbie
After having major ankle surgery and in a fiberglass cast for 7 weeks, I was finally put into a rocker boot... at first my foot wouldn't even go into position to allow me to stand, not that I could if I even wanted to. The pain was off the charts. I found the boot to be terribly uncomfortable as well as heavy, I actually one day put it on the other foot to see how it would work and while it felt wonderful on that foot, the injured ankle didn't take to it at all. I didn't start pressure on the ankle until about the 9th week and in the late 10th week I took steps, I am now at 3 months and able to walk in the boot for short distances. Take your time, foot surgery of any kind takes time to heal, remember your ankle is absorbing up to 5x your body weight with each step so its no wonder its taking protest to having you walk. It will get better with time, believe me... I thought for sure I would never walk normal again and this is the best gift I could have received this year! Now to wear shoes is a whole nother story! hahah
Take care and be patient. About flying, that is up to you.... think about it, are you able? Will it be safe with snow and ice? Is it worth risking damage to your foot? I had to bail on Thanksgiving with family as I couldn't take the trip and I am still getting the attitude but honestly, its my foot and I am not about to have another ankle surgery, this one was enough for me!
Wishing you the best and happy holidays!
Carol

thank you carol. you made me feel better. debbie

Hi Debbie - my dr gave me the rocker boot 2 weeks after my bunionectomy and I still couldn't walk without the crutches (and yes it is extremely heavy). I was totally off balance. Then all of a sudden at 7 1/2 weeks I could walk without the crutches and in the boot. I don't know whether my leg got stronger, I got more balance or my foot was just ready. Then at 8 weeks he told me I could go into sneakers - that took a couple days of adjustment (the first time I actually stood on the foot felt wierd). I actually put the sneaker on - drove to the mall - changed to the boot - walked the mall for 2 hours - put the sneaker back on and drove home!! LOL. Now at 9+ weeks I can keep the sneaker on all day but my foot tells me when it has had enough. I also found I can't walk on uneven ground - only solid asphalt, concrete, wood, etc. I would really be afraid of slipping an falling in ice and snow.

I live in NY and I'm so glad we are not having a white Christmas as much as I like it I want more stability in my foot before the snow flies!

I know it must be disappointing to not make the trip. That's a hard decision to make. Good luck with your healing.

Mary :)

hi my foot is so swollen after the cast and into the boot. the dr told me it would swell more, but it looks like i have some kind of disease. he told me to try to put on sneakers, but that is a joke. i have been soaking in ice water, but to no avail. what else can i do?

Do you have your foot in an ace wrap? I forget how far along you are in recovery. I'm 9 1/2 weeks and my dr told me to keep the ace wrap on the whole time I was in the boot and now that I am in a sneaker I have to wear a compression stocking. I put it on the first thing in the morning right after my shower and keep it on all day - it keeps the swelling down. Also even in the rocker boot keep your foot elevated as much as possible. I know in the beginning if my foot was down more than 20 minutes it would feel like it was going to explode.

This is a very long, slow recovery. Try not to get discouraged (easier said than done). I've only been in a sneaker a week and I know I'm overdoing because of the holidays. My foot lets me know when I have had too much.

Good luck - better days are ahead.

Mary

i am 8 weeks recovery. my dr did not tell me about an ace wrap or a compression stocking. where do you get the stocking? thank you for answering and i am going to put an ace wrap on now. debbie

the best decision for me was not to gon on the trip. i only wish my foot would fit into a sneaker. how long do you think the swelling to go down? debbie

Hi Debbie - the ace wrap you can get at any drug store. The compression stocking I got at a drug store that sells medical supplies. They come in sizes according to the size of your calf. You need to put them on first thing in the morning before your foot starts to swell. I also have the foot of my bed elevated 6" (that is for my husband's legs) and I find it helps mine too. I think the swelling will take a long time to go away depending on how much you are on your feet and how much you are doing. I know I've been overdoing with the holidays, but hopefully I can slow down now.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Mary

Hi Debbie
When I moved into the boot I too purchased compression socks at a pharmacy that also sells medical supplies, the pharamacist there told me to wear them on both legs and it would help with fatigue. I wasn't convinced until I tried it on both and WOW... my good leg didn't feel so tired from having to do all the work. I was also told that you should not put them in the washer as it will remove all the elasticity of the sock. Hopefully you can find them, I will say it helped to decrease my swelling but I am still swollen at 14 weeks post op and my Doc said this could take up to one year to look normal again! Ughhh.
Best of luck to you, hope your feeling better.
All the best to everyone in the New Year.
Carol

I was in the rocker boot about a week before I could walk without crutches, I can't walk normally yet in it, hurts to put pressure on the big toe side. I did have a different surgery than you. I would take your time and make sure to ice and elevate as much as possible. Anti Inflammatories are your friend at this point. Your body will tell you what your limits are. I have found that even with the boot on walking in snow and ice is extremely difficult and I actually had a fall on Christmas day, which was not fun! I know you wish you could be with your family on vacation, but don't push yourself too hard. I would say if your doctor thinks that you can try to put on a tennis shoe ( I don't even remember what wearing two matching shoes is like!) I think that as long as you are careful you may be healed enough to go. Again listen to your body though you don't want to extend your recovery time anymore than necessary. Hope this helps!!!! Good luck with your decision!