Heel fracture how long before walking? - Foot Problems Message Board

patw27 · 06-18-2008, 04:37 PM

Hi everyone,
I am now 15 weeks after fracturing heel, I did not have surgery and had cast removed 3 weeks ago.Dr. at fracture clinic told me partial weight bearing with tolerance and he will see me in 6 weeks.

I am going for 3rd. PT tomorrow and that is going well but can anyone answer some questions for me please?.I have been using walking aid inside and wheelchair outside until last week when I started to introduce elbow crutches.

I felt much better after last PT and decided to put on a training shoe as up until then I was wearing a velcro strap sandal, it was fine while I was in wheelchair but the next day my foot didn't feel as good as it had been and is still painful. I am wondering if it is painful because of any of the following reasons or if it is just the nature of the beast:
1. Was it wearing the trainer
2. Is it the use of the unfamiliar crutches
3. Is it the new red flexiband
4. Am I doing things too soon and putting too much weight on foot
5. Is this normal to have good days then regress
6. Will I ever be able to walk without aids

Any advice would greatly set my mind at rest

Thank you

tchair · 06-22-2008, 01:55 AM

patw27,

Answer: All of the above.

Our feet are so complicated: many bones, even more joints between them, and countless tendons. Together they have to support, propel and balance your weight. The progression of recovery is linear. We don't get to just jump up and go but get various parts working in sequence. When walking is accomplished turning is still a challenge, when that's better stairs are still a hurdle. As I recall it always felt like maybe it was 'too soon' for everything. Your foot is getting used to working but still in a limited manner. So just a change in shoes at this point does but new demands on it. Don't worry about overdoing it (ei: the theraband). It helps a lot with your range of motion that you don't get by simple walking but will need for getting in and out of cars, walking in crowds and the like. Regarding regression, Heelies have a saying: "Two steps forward, one step back". followed by "If you don't have setbacks, you aren't pushing enough." You are at the point where we all hope it would be easier, especially when the docs have said "You can start 'walking' now." Well, they are only kidding. They should really say: "You can start learing how to walk again now." Walking aids are like training wheels, at first necessity, soon collecting dust in the basement. Don't worry.

In response to your other post,

The ankle is the last hold out, weak, wobbly and wants to stop you. Don't let it. The only way to get it back in use is to use it. Staying off of it means your leg muscles, circulation and balance will diminish rather than improve. Some of us used light weight braces called 'air casts' to help get the ankle acclimated. This is an injury where you should give your doc a lot of updates, questions and bring up any problems, you should expect, attention, answers and solutions. Don't hesitate to call, email or visit.

FYI, I had a great therapist. Sometimes he would say: "I don't know, that's a question for a doctor." Then, before my next session he would call and get the answer. Try it.

TC

patw27 · 06-23-2008, 06:09 PM

Thanks tchair,
I was a little depressed last week until my PT told me that my ROM had improved enormously in a week and to keep using the theraband and she saw no point in seeing me until I see Dr. in 2 weeks. If he says I can weight bear then PT will up exercise regime.

It was also the first time I was able to walk the stairs ( slowly and holding on to 2 side rails with partial weight only on foot) and I was really pleased with myself.

Since then my foot has been painful across the arch and outer ankle and I feel depressed again, will this ever end?I will not give in and i am still working hard with theraband and it is so good to get advice from people like you who know what it is like.

Thanks again

tchair · 06-24-2008, 02:49 AM

patw27,

Doing stairs at all at 15 weeks is better than most. Having various foot parts hurt when you put them to use is standard. There are more ups and downs to come (no pun intended). Breaking the heel puts a lot of outward pressure on the outside of the foot and yanks on the Peroneal tendon. It will be bruised. Still swollen and probably have some scar tissue binding things together. The arch is made up of several bones that also took a beating, then they sat around and got loose. Now they have to get reseated and start working smoothly. Don't be surprised if it takes weeks to get better and new pains pop up as each foot part is asked to again do it's job. The best way to keep your spirits up is to look back each week to what you couldn't do in the previous week. And remember that a lot of others have been through it and although we didn't enjoy it one bit ( and none deny becoming depressed) we survived.

TC

patw27 · 06-24-2008, 03:47 AM

tchair,
Thanks again for your encouragement. I woke this morning to find that I could hardly walk on crutches but I took 2 painkillers and stretched with my flexiband and it got much better quickly, swelling also gone down quite a lot today so, as you say , it is probably every time that I use foot a lot more or in different ways that it hurts.

If it wasn't for people like you it would be more depressing, keep up the good work

Bye for now