Rehabilitating a foot

[GanChan]

I am recovering from surgery for a broken foot. The bone is just about healed up, so I am walking in my regular shoe, with crutches, and adding increments of weight "to tolerance" (meaning, if something suddenly hurts, stop doing it). This process may take 2 or 3 weeks. Therapy once a week for several weeks, which I am just beginning now. Then a long slow process of regaining natural gait and stamina through regular walking, etc.

Have any of you had to rehab a foot after a long period of immobilization? Any advice based on your own situation? I know you're not doctors...well maybe some of you are...just interested in hearing other people's experiences.

[Jazper]

Originally Posted by GanChan

I am recovering from surgery for a broken foot. The bone is just about healed up, so I am walking in my regular shoe, with crutches, and adding increments of weight "to tolerance" (meaning, if something suddenly hurts, stop doing it). This process may take 2 or 3 weeks. Therapy once a week for several weeks, which I am just beginning now. Then a long slow process of regaining natural gait and stamina through regular walking, etc.

Have any of you had to rehab a foot after a long period of immobilization? Any advice based on your own situation? I know you're not doctors...well maybe some of you are...just interested in hearing other people's experiences.

No, I haven't had to rehabilitate a foot, but I've had to do so to an elbow after a compound fracture. I took Calcium tablet and calcium absorbsion tablets to speed the healing, applied arnica cream to the area for the swelling and did exactly what you're doing effectively. (all of these are available at health food/natural food stores)

The bone healed properly in about 3 weeks, the rest was gravy. Movement returned after about 7 weeks

[eastside504]

not foot, but ACL (anterior crucial ligament) and MCL (medial crucial ligament) repair. Months of physical therapy to regain strenght in my leg, calf and foot muscle. Stretching was the most painful part of therapy. My reconstructed knee is not as flexible and it ache after physical activity such as running or playing basketball. Physical therapy is your best bet for the fastest recovery. Calicum pills wont do anything if your on a balance diet, but it wont hurt anything either. Just take your time with the therapy and healing process.

[hciman77]

I had a achilles tendon rupture that had me plastered up for 7 weeks. After it healed I got course of physiotherapy, this was invaluable. Not only did I get some supervised exercises but they also give me some independent exercises I could do to strengthen the immobilised leg.

The best thing is to get a proper program of exercises and keep to them. I was a bit lax and it took my leg longer to recover as a result.

[screwdriver]

Just follow the surgeon's or ortho's advice.

the foot is the primary weight bearing part of the body . as much as you want to keep weight off it - later on it is vital to also put the weight for strengthening of the healing bones.

Just take the NBA player grant hill for example - he had to have surgery - then play - then another surgery coz the first did not do well , im not sure how many he had but the last one they really try to let heal a lot with a lot of rehab and he is playing really well right now.

[raisin]

I. along with a lot of people, broke my fifth metacarpal (outside long bone in foot). This is purportly the most painful bone to break.

You will favor this foot for many months, and still be aware of the after affects for a long time. Good Luck!

[GanChan]

Thanks for the responses. for me the biggest problem is getting the achilles tendon stretched back to its normal length again, after 3 months of disuse. I can't really push off on the foot to make a correct step without it, because you have to be able to plant the foot flat on the heel to do that. I will try applying heat before exercising, to see if it loosens up a little better.

[fr4c]

good luck with that.