mjjenner
06-18-2008, 08:03 PM
I had my cast placed two days ago (12 days post-op) and I am going nuts. It throbs. It hurts. It is driving me nuts. I do better if it is propped up on four pillows but when I am on the couch or at a desk with my leg up on another chair or whatever, it gets sore soon after. I just want to chop it off. Anyone else have cast issues? This is worse than how I felt post-surgery!
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janewhite1
06-19-2008, 12:32 AM
It may just be too tight. Call your doc and ask. If it's fitted properly, you'll just have to keep your toes above your nose a while longer.
emmie54
06-19-2008, 12:37 AM
I could not put my foot level for at least a month after surgery. It has to be above your heart to reduce swelling. If I had to work at my desk I had to have it ON the desk while I was slumped down in my chair. You have to be rather acrobatic :=) to perform this little feat but that is the absolute ONLY way I could work at my desk for a couple of months after surgery. My surgeon's nurse told me upfront to keep it above my nose a minimum of one month without exception so I was prepared but still had a little skepticism until I found out for myself that she was right!
You can get away with a little "cheating" while in the splint because there is some "give" and also you are on stronger pain meds immediately post op so you don't feel the pain as much. There is no give in a cast so it forces you to behave properly!
You can get away with a little "cheating" while in the splint because there is some "give" and also you are on stronger pain meds immediately post op so you don't feel the pain as much. There is no give in a cast so it forces you to behave properly!
mjjenner
06-19-2008, 01:32 AM
I keep wondering if it could be too tight - I guess I could call them tomorrow. How do I know? Taking pain meds is the only way I can get some sleep. Did you really keep it elevated nearly 24/7?
emmie54
06-19-2008, 10:31 AM
For the first month to six weeks, yes. I gradually began putting it down more and more toward the end of that time frame but still could only tolerate short periods of being down up to two months. But I know everyone is different but since the nurse threw out the one month comment I figured that I was falling into the normal range. It is very possible that the cast is too tight, though. It does happen. I would think the key would be if you do have it elevated above your heart and it still feels too tight then it's too tight. If you can get relief by doing that then it's probably not. It has to be somewhat tight to keep the foot from moving. By the way, I also propped it on several pillows at night so that it was still above my heart. I did this for a couple of months then went to one pillow.
mjjenner
06-19-2008, 11:37 AM
Well, I kept it up on 4 pillows all night and slept 90% of the night on my back and I still have pain across the top of the ankle/foot. Guess I will call them today. I am about to go insane - it just hurts when I am doing nothing. My toes still have feeling and dont seem swollen, it just hurts nearly constantly across the top of the ankle.
emmie54
06-19-2008, 05:53 PM
In that case I would definitely call. Let us know how you are doing.
mjjenner
06-20-2008, 12:54 AM
I am going back in tomorrow for her to check and change the cast. what it feels like is that it is asleep and needs to be shaken out, like when your hand falls asleep. There is the usual "soreness" where the cast is up against the incisions, but this pain is different. If it is "falling asleep" that must be a circulation issue, I suppose. anyway, they will change it tomorrow and hopefully it will be better. Thanks! I will let y'all know.
mjjenner
06-20-2008, 06:49 PM
I had the cast removed. They said there was a small indentation that was most likely rubbing on a nerve on the top of my foot, so I have a new one. So far, so good. There is a larger part of my toes uncovered and I stubbed my big toe today -- which did not feel good at all - but I will live with this unless it happens again.
Thanks everyone.
Thanks everyone.