A couple of days ago, I crossed my legs, and heard a pop on the back of my cast. I checked it, and at the very top on the back of my cast, it's cracked in two or three places (I imagine it had already cracked before I noticed it). It's only one layer of the fiberglass that high, and the white stuff covering it, so it's not very thick or sturdy. It's starting to crack more now, and poke through the white stuff. Should I be concerned? It's at the very top, so it's not near any incisions or anything, and it's not irritating my leg (i was worried it would start poking my leg). I'm getting the cast off Friday, so I'm thinking it is okay as long as it doesn't get worse or spread. But should I be concerned about it for any reason?
Call the doc. Probably ok.
Question... Am entering week 6. Do I still have to sleep with the foot way up on the wedge and pillows? Ugh. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
I still sleep with one pillow, but that's because I sleep on my side and it's not comfortable unless I use the pillow between my casted foot and the other foot. I haven't slept with it propped on multiple pillows since about week 3. Every so often I wake up with a twinge of pain or it feels a little swollen and I'll roll onto my back and prop it on the one pillow for a while, and it feels better pretty quickly. I guess just try it and see? I was sooo tired of sleeping on my back, I decided to give it a shot, and it was fine for me. I am still not sleeping great, but being able to sleep on my side has helped some, I'm not waking quite as often.
Thanks so much. I figured that was going to be the answer. But I just don't want to jeopardize my chances of having this foot heal. I go to the doctor next Wednesday, January 23 and I will have an x-ray and a CAT scan and have something else put on. I am not sure if it will be another hard fiberglass cast or a walking boot. The time can't go fast enough. But thank you for your help. What was the date of your surgery? Remember I had very extensive surgery. Just like dancer.
I hear you, I am so stubborn and hate feeling useless, but am not willing to do anything to make this last longer than it has to. Or take a chance on it failing. My surgery was Dec. 4, I had calcaneal osteotomy, lateral column lengthening, achilles lengethening and FDL tendon transfer.
May want to say something to the doc. I cracked one and he had me come in. He just wrapped another layer around the bottom as I was set to have it come off in a week or so
Pesher, I'm 5 weeks post op and cut down from 2 pillows to only one at mite. Like NC girl, helped me get more comfortable in bed and I'm sleeping better. I wake up when the foot slips off the pillow, from pain, but as soon as I elevate again, I'm able to go back to sleep fairly quickly. Try and see how you do.
If it doesn't wake you up when it's not elevated you're probably not doing it any harm. Remember how it is the first week or so when it throbs so bad if it slips off? That'll wake you up in a hurry. So if you aren't waking up...what are you supposed to do? Set your alarm clock to make sure it's up? Not me!
I had my surgery on Nov 12. Calcaneal osteotomy, FDL transfer, Achilles lengthening.... 8 weeks post op. I am still in the boot and walking with one crutch. I noticed a HUGE change in everything last week...sounds weird but the more weight/"walking" I am doing, my swelling is getting alot better. The top of my foot and my toes aren't as puffy... My PT therapist says that this is from breaking up the scar tissue and movement makes your foot less stiff. With all of this relief, sleeping has become much better. I prop my foot up and ice before I go to sleep (this started happening about 10 days ago)...i am usually fine until about 4:00am and then I need an Aleve and to do some ROM exercises to relieve the stiffness. The "throbbing" feeling is gone when I sleep and when I wake up, I am so happy to see a foot that is starting to look like a normal foot.
Baby steps, but with every day that passes, it gets easier.
