What exercises should you do after removing the cast? How to relieve swelling after a fracture and after removing the plaster? Plaster removal and body development

26.04.2024

8975 1

In order for the body to quickly restore its tissues after a fracture, doctors can often recommend ointments along with tablets and injections.

Most often, various ointments are prescribed after a closed bone fracture or during the rehabilitation period, when there is no damage to the skin around the wound.

The role of ointments in a complex of medical procedures

Since after a fracture, the muscles are often atrophied, and the blood supply to the tissues is disrupted, the role of medicinal ointments is simply invaluable.

Ointments are used not only to relieve swelling from the site of injury after a fracture, but also to improve tissue nutrition and deliver necessary medicinal substances through the skin to provide a therapeutic effect.

In addition, the most important role of using medicinal ointments is to relieve pain in a given area of the body.

Therefore, all ointments prescribed for fractures are divided into several groups, according to their main therapeutic feature.

Types of drugs for external use

For injuries, the following types of ointments are used:

painkillers;
to relieve swelling;
healing;
warming;
to relieve inflammation.

Pain relief is the first priority

Pain-relieving ointments, or analgesics as they are sometimes called, are used to prevent the patient from experiencing severe pain at the site of the injury. They help by quickly absorbing into the skin and entering the body's bloodstream.

Popular analgesics:

These products have a very complex composition and, in addition to the warming effect, have an antibacterial effect. They can supply oxygen to the blood and even increase metabolism.

In addition, they contain protein and various amino acids, which are so necessary for the restoration of the body after a fracture. However, such ointments are prescribed after pain and swelling have been relieved.

Advantages and disadvantages of such means:

pros: snake and bee venom not only help to warm up this area of the body, but also promote tissue regeneration.
Minuses: Do not apply to damaged skin; should not be used by children or people who are allergic to the composition. High price, small volume.

Ointments with a warming effect

Warming ointments can also be used during the rehabilitation period. They not only warm up the fracture site, since this area often suffers from a lack of blood supply, but also stimulates the functioning of blood vessels.

They allow you to stimulate bone and muscle tissue to activate recovery using the body’s internal reserves.

Such ointments must be applied very carefully, as they have a very strong effect.

This effective duet is most often used:

– speeds up metabolism and relieves pain due to a distraction mechanism. Pros: works quickly and well.
Cons: not for children under 18 years of age, cannot be applied to damaged skin, causes severe hyperemia, has a lot of side effects. It's quite expensive.
. Pros: This ointment is analgesic and warming. Has a quick effect Cons: garlic smell, not allowed during pregnancy and lactation, use for no more than 10 days. If the skin is sensitive - itching, urticaria, swelling. Use with caution for people with diabetes and when taking antibiotics and other drugs.

There are double-action ointments, such as Ichthyol. It not only warms and warms the tissues, improves blood flow, but also helps relieve swelling.

Its advantages include the fact that it is inexpensive and effective. Cons: not allowed for use by children under 6 years old, characteristic odor.

Avoid contact with mucous membranes.

Relieve inflammation with external means

Sometimes combined agents are needed that not only anesthetize the area, but also relieve inflammation when used locally, such as:

Methyl salicylate.

It's worth knowing before using!

Tips for use:

For the most part, ointments cope well with pain after fractures and not only relieve pain and relieve swelling, but also help restore damaged bones and tissues.

After the cast is removed, life, it would seem, should return to its usual course - business, worries, running around. But that was not the case. Not only did the leg after the cast look like a pale thin stick sprinkled with flour with suspicious bruises here and there, but also when walking and in the evening it swells, begins to ache, and ache. What is this new misfortune?

Don't panic, an injury is an injury, nothing can be done. Besides, I didn’t know or see any air, soap, or physical activity. Therefore, it will be very useful for a start care for a freed limb - wash and scrub lightly with a scrub, apply nourishing cream, massage.

Physical activity after plaster removal

The second step to resuming former motor activity is strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations. And the doctor, as a rule, prescribes it as part of the rehabilitation course without fail. physical therapy .

Therapeutic exercise in this case is intended to restore the former mobility of the damaged bone and develop an overgrown callus. Your task is not to pay attention to the pain and inconvenience, but gradually, patiently and persistently, bring it back to life.

Leg exercises after casting

What to do after removing the cast? First of all - rotational, as well as flexion-extension. Joints that have been deprived of movement have lost their former properties, and simple exercises will help restore them. At any time when you are sitting, rotate your feet in different directions, bend and straighten them, collect your fingers, press your fingers on the half-deflated ball.

Exercise machines are very suitable for therapeutic exercises. “treadmill”, “elliptical”, “step”, exercise bike , that is, all those exercise machines that are available in modern fitness clubs. If you can’t sign up for a fitness club, you can just walk a lot, go up and down stairs, and jump off steps. Great if you can use it jump rope : It is advisable to jump for 10-15 minutes every day.

Foot massage

In addition, it will be necessary restore proper blood circulation in your leg . Due to intense stress, the leg naturally swells and hurts out of habit after a cast. Help will come here daily massage and intensive rubbing . After the load, the legs should rest in an elevated position, that is, above the level of the head. And before each new heavy load, it is better to bandage your leg with an elastic bandage in order to distribute the load and thereby avoid negative sensations.

Remember that movement is life! All our minor health troubles, and sometimes big problems that visit us, are largely due to fluid stagnation and insufficient load and work of muscles, joints and bones. The main rule here is to move as much as possible. And don’t spare any effort, time or yourself. Be prepared for the fact that sometimes your leg will ache after a cast, for example, during weather changes. But gradually the swelling will go away, the leg will straighten out, the main thing is to be patient and persistent.

An arm fracture is a fairly serious injury diagnosed on one or more bones of the limb.

Considering how important hands are for a person, when faced with such problems, it is necessary to provide all the conditions for the correct fusion of damaged bones and normalization of the functioning of the limbs, because without this it is impossible to fully perform work and develop.

The rehabilitation stage after a broken arm is represented by the development of the limb by performing special exercises and attending treatment procedures.

As a rule, when a fracture of the upper limb is diagnosed, treatment without applying a cast is simply impossible. This is necessary to ensure normal healing of broken bone structures and prevent loss of hand functionality.

After removing the cast from the arm, many patients experience loss of sensation, muscle atrophy, lack of blood supply and swelling. Only diligent rehabilitation will help improve the condition.

All people who have poor feeling in their limb after removing the cast are wondering how long they need to exercise their arm after a fracture and when they can return to full activity.

The rehabilitation period involves following all the instructions of the attending physician, but often it is recommended to visit a medical institution to undergo all procedures.

Additional exercises performed at home will help improve the condition of the hand and quickly restore its functionality. We are talking about the following:

Regular palm clenching. By squeezing the palm of your hand on the injured limb, you can determine the degree of strength loss. It must be taken into account that the arm after the fracture is quite weak, so it should not be used to move fragile things.
Using plasticine. For developing a hand at home, ordinary plasticine is perfect, a small piece of which should be kneaded with the injured hand until the material heats up. After this, you need to take a short break and repeat the steps several more times. To obtain lasting results, the exercise should be repeated several times a day for a duration of treatment of at least a month.
Stretch your arms forward. It is recommended to perform this exercise in a sitting position. The result of the efforts will be improved blood circulation in the damaged limb. After extending your arm, you need to make several turns with clenched palms. Haste and jerking in this case should be excluded, because the damaged limb is still weak enough for serious loads.
Using a Tennis Ball. Throwing a regular tennis ball at a wall and trying to catch it is a fairly effective method of working out the arm after fractures. In this case, it is also extremely important to avoid overworking the limb.

It was noted that supplementing the main treatment with these exercises helps to quickly eliminate swelling and return the normal functioning of the hand.

No specialist can predict how long the rehabilitation and development of the arm after a fracture will take. As a rule, the attending physician can only give approximate terms, which are determined by the severity of the fracture, the degree of damage to the nerve endings and the patient’s responsible attitude towards following all recommendations.

Often, after removal of the cast, patients are recommended to attend special massage procedures and exercise therapy. As for special exercises, they can be performed either with a specialist or independently. When choosing the latter option, you need to be prepared for the fact that the results will not be as fast and rehabilitation may take longer.

Attending physicians, when selecting a set of exercises for patients who have suffered such serious injuries to the upper extremities, give preference to the following:

Reproduction of shoulder lifts, as in surprises. After this, it is recommended to swing your hand freely for a few seconds.
Reproduce circular exercises, involving the shoulder and elbow joints. First, the movements should be performed in a clockwise direction, and then in the opposite direction.
Raising your hands up. To begin with, you can raise your arms up, spreading them to the sides. After this, you can perform the same number of exercises with raising your arms forward and stretching them.
With the injured hand, you should try to reach the hair and reproduce the stroking movements. After several repetitions of the exercises, be sure to take a short break.
After stretching your arms in front of you, you need to make a few claps.

Get well soon!

Swelling occurs due to injury or tissue damage. Often it appears after a bruise or fracture, or removal of a cast. In order to speed up bone regeneration, it is necessary to promptly remove swelling. How to relieve swelling after a fracture? Doctors prescribe physical therapy and medications after a fracture. There are other ways to relieve swelling.

What follows a fracture

After injury to the limbs, blood flow is disrupted. Due to the large accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space, edema occurs. Along with this, there is increased fatigue and muscle stiffness. With the passage of time everything passes. Blood flow is restored.

In some cases, the swelling after removing a cast on a leg or arm is significant in size. In this situation, the doctor prescribes medications. For example, an ointment to relieve swelling after a fracture.

Causes of swelling

poor joint development;
decreased blood flow due to muscle atrophy as a result of plaster application;
decreased speed of lymph movement;
damage to the lymphatic duct;
improper use of bandages and plaster casts.

Clinical manifestations of edema

The swelling is visible visually: the skin is swollen, the leg or arm is heavy. A person feels a feeling of heaviness in the legs, especially in the area of edema. In the swollen area, when you press on it, a dent appears. It doesn't straighten out right away.

How to relieve swelling after a fracture

Preparations and means for relieving swelling:

gels;
ointments;
droppers;
injections;
decongestants;
diuretics.

It is also necessary to limit the mobility of the swollen limb for a certain time. To do this you will need an elastic bandage. Swelling of the arm after a fracture can be relieved with physical therapy. The most effective procedure is electrophoresis in addition to medications. In addition, the following applies:

electrophoresis;
muscle stimulation;
ultraviolet radiation.

Swelling after a fracture is removed at home using discs (magnetic, ebonite). They need to massage the fracture area for 2 minutes. The massage is performed twice during the day. Relieves swelling after a fracture.

Massage and physical therapy

Swelling after a broken arm can be relieved by massage, as well as therapeutic exercises designed specifically for damaged limbs. To do this, you need the help of an experienced exercise therapy specialist. The intensity of the exercises should be prescribed depending on the fitness of the muscles.

During therapeutic or massage procedures, the patient feels discomfort. If pain occurs due to an exercise, then you need to finish it and start doing the next one. Swelling after the cast is removed goes away quickly with these procedures.

How to relieve swelling after an ankle fracture? You need to use folk remedies. But before this, you should definitely consult a doctor. Swelling due to a broken arm is treated with folk remedies. Lotions and compresses are only an addition to conventional treatment.

Medications

One of the frequently used and effective means for relieving swelling is a drug produced in the form of an ointment.

Swelling after a fracture of the radius is perfectly relieved by Arnica ointment. It can be bought at a pharmacy.
Ketoprofen ointment helps a lot after a fracture. Its principle of action is aimed at creating a warming effect, improving blood flow and lymph outflow. You need to apply the ointment twice a day, gently rubbing it into the affected area, achieving complete absorption.

Folk recipes

We use clay. A flat cake is created from it. Clay is applied to the fracture zone. The procedure is useful after severe damage or sprained joints. After a broken ankle, fir oil will help. It successfully relieves swelling. Especially on your hands.

Compresses and baths

Swelling after an ankle fracture is relieved with compresses and baths. Arnica is effective in this regard. It is not difficult to prepare a medicinal bath. You need to take a liter of water, place 3 tablespoons of raw materials in it, and leave for 50 minutes. After this, the infusion must be strained.

If your arm in a cast swells, after removing the cast, you should use this compress before going to bed for 20 minutes.

Removal of swelling after a fracture can occur through the use of calendula. An infusion of this plant is used internally and is prepared quickly. Add 1 tablespoon of calendula flowers to the water. Leave the solution for one hour.

In addition, swelling during a fracture is relieved by plants:

chamomile;
St. John's wort;
valerian;
sagebrush;
aloe juice

Simple 9% vinegar perfectly relieves puffiness. The napkin is moistened with vinegar. It is applied to the affected area as a compress.

Infusion recipes

Wash the unpeeled oats. Fill it with cold water in a volume of 1 liter. The infusion should sit for half an hour. The infusion should be consumed during the day, 50 ml.
Unpeeled oats with the addition of lingonberry leaves. Making an infusion is not easy. But it has one advantage: it is effective against edema. Oats and lingonberry leaves are mixed together. Brew the infusion with the lid closed in 3 liters of water. You need to cook until the oats in the water are softened. Corn silk is added to the resulting mixture. After adding, it is necessary to cook the composition for another 10 minutes. Pour water into another container and add lingonberry leaves there. You can add rose hips. The second composition should be cooked for 10 minutes. We combine two decoctions with each other. Mix everything well. The medicine should be taken 4 times a day for a week. The tincture can only be stored in a cool place and for no more than 5 days.

Measures to prevent swelling

While in a plaster cast

The position of the leg is horizontal, the limb should be placed on an elevation
It is forbidden to lean on your hand while moving or in a standing position.
Do not remove the plaster for a predetermined time.
It is necessary to wear an elastic bandage after removing the cast.

After removing the plaster cast

When moving, it is forbidden to lean on the sore leg until it heals.
After removing the plaster, it is necessary to remove stagnation in the damaged area using massage procedures in order to enrich the muscles with nutritional substances
Avoidance of stress after limb recovery
Start doing a set of exercises specially designed for such cases

Prevention of swelling after limb injury

There are no special preventive measures.

Edema is a normal physiological process that occurs in tissues that are injured.

After severe injury to the limbs, swelling may not go away quickly. But you need to try to remove it. To do this, you need to rely on your doctor’s prescriptions.

After an ankle fracture, swelling lasts for about 2 weeks.

after removing the plaster, you need to make sure that your fingers are warm;
after removing the cast, it is necessary to move your toes, if possible, move around more, but do not lean on the sore leg;
if a plaster cast causes discomfort, for example a feeling of excessive compression, or rubs the skin, you should immediately inform your doctor about this;
in the first days after removing the cast, you should move with the help of crutches, but do it yourself: this will help prevent muscle atrophy;
after 6 days, you can begin to work out the diseased limb: first you begin to move your fingers, then bend and straighten your knees;
gradually the patient should begin to sit down and lower his lower limbs;
if a person does everything correctly, then the swelling subsides after a few days, gradually decreasing in size.

Conclusion

With normal treatment of a fracture, swelling subsides after a few days. If swelling persists after a fracture of the femur for a long period of time, you should notify your doctor, as complications during the course of the disease are possible. In any case, you need to move more. This will help develop the sore leg.

What to do after removing the cast

The person understands that after removing the cast, he still cannot jump up and run. If a person has a fractured ankle, the cast is removed, what to do next? This question is often asked to doctors. traumatologist.

The function of the ankle joint is restored gradually after such an injury. And if you try to speed up this process, you can seriously harm yourself.

Of course, the ideal option is physiotherapeutic procedures combined with therapeutic exercises under the supervision of a doctor. But not everyone has this opportunity. Sometimes it’s difficult to even get to the clinic and find the right specialist.

Then we act according to the principle: “Help yourself,” especially since it is not so difficult!

The simplest thing you can do is warm foot baths with a salt solution (done 2-3 times a day). Dissolve 1 tablespoon of sea salt in 1 liter of warm water and soak the injured leg. The joint should warm up well.

You can do light gymnastics right in the water - bend and straighten your foot, don’t just do circular movements! There shouldn't be any effort either, but a little pain can be tolerated. After all, after 5-6 weeks of immobility, it is difficult for the joint to immediately perform the entire range of movements.

Swelling in the ankle

After a cast, swelling almost always occurs at the site of injury. After all, the plaster puts pressure on soft tissues and compresses blood vessels. And when the pressure stops, the blood rushes in with renewed vigor, and the leg swells. This is especially true for older people with circulatory problems.

The best thing to do here is in the morning, without getting out of bed and without putting your legs down, immediately bandage the joint with an elastic bandage or put on a special compression stocking (stockings, tights - especially in the presence of venous insufficiency). Only then can you get up and start walking.

It is advisable to live in this mode for 2-3 weeks, until blood circulation normalizes and swelling disappears.

Nutrition

You say, “What does nutrition have to do with it?” But the fact is that there are products that accelerate the healing of bone and cartilage tissue. These include foods rich in calcium - everyone knows that this is cottage cheese, sour cream, and all dairy products.

But not everyone knows that during and after fractures it is very useful to eat strong broths and jellied meat.

It is advisable to take vitamins containing calcium and vitamin D.

Walking

And, of course, the best way to develop the ankle is walking. Gradually, step by step, start walking. Increase the load every day, and remember, the main thing is gradualness. When the ankle fracture has healed and the cast has been removed, developing the joint should be your main focus.

Massage

Massage can be different - tonic and soothing, but in our case you need to do a very light massage of the ankle, not even a massage, but circular movements, stroking.

Watch how a professional does it, you can do the same:

214 comments

Samira

Thank you so much for your answer!!) I heard and read about Dikul. My dad fell off his bike when he was young and broke his spine. It was according to Dikul’s system that they restored him. Now he is walking, alive and well!)
Thank you for giving me hope!

Samira

Good afternoon She broke her left ankle and landed unsuccessfully with a parachute. The cast was applied on June 12, 2017, and should be removed on July 3, 2017. I read the comments, but, unfortunately, I did not find the answer to this question.
I often do sports for myself: training in the gym, frequent jogging. I read from you that the bone heals completely within a year. Please tell me, how long will it take for me to be able to engage in physical activity? Do you really have to wait a whole year?! I love sports very much, I jogged regularly... And I have absolutely no idea how to live without it now. How soon will I be able to jog at least at low speed?
I am 24 years old.
Thank you!

Samira, everything will be okay. At this age, fractures heal quickly. It’s clear that in a month it won’t be possible to do any more jogging. But after 7–8 months, depending on the condition of the leg, it may be possible to begin to gradually get into shape. Look online for stories of great athletes (for example, Yu. Vlasov, V. Dikul). The same V. Dikul received severe injuries and nothing happened, he got up and again did the “hard work”. The same professional football players also end up with fractures. There are sports doctors for recovery, and traumatologists (if there are experienced ones) will also help you recover. Don't worry - everything will be fine!
Good luck.
Good afternoon. June 03, fracture of the fifth metatarsal without displacement. Three weeks in a cast. Starting from the fifth day, I began to slowly lean on my leg. I didn't feel any pain. The first day after removing the cast, a non-rigid orthosis with silicone inserts and an orthopedic insole were placed on the leg. By evening the temperature rose to 37.5. Is it possible that the temperature rose after walking without crutches?
- Perhaps Anna. You can’t walk for a long time and step on your foot completely.
  Everything is gradual with control of the result. That is, for example, walk lightly on your leg for about 20 minutes. If the next day there is no negative reaction, then you can increase the duration of movement by 10 minutes and slightly increase the load on the leg. If the reaction is not very good, as in your case, return to a gentle regimen for day two. Then try again. Well, and so on until a complete return to the BEFORE turning point regime.
  Nastya
  I have a closed ankle fracture, they put a cast on me, I had a follow-up scan on June 14th, I’ve been walking with the cast for 2 weeks now, I’m walking on crutches, but I started stepping on my toes, is this dangerous? And sometimes the bone hurts.
  - Nastya, you need to PROCEED (that is, very carefully) on the entire foot, and not just on the toe. If on the toe, then an increased load is obtained. Error!
    Evgenia Alekseeva
    Yes, of course, I'm very worried. Thank you for your answer. The opinion of a specialist was very important to me.
    Evgenia Alekseeva
    Hello! On May 23, my 11-year-old son suffered a fracture of the outer malleolus on his left leg. He has a trip to Ireland planned for a language camp on July 2. Do you think his leg will recover by this time, and will he be able to get around without the help of adults? My son's chronic diseases include hypothyroidism and excess weight. Best regards, Evgenia
    - Evgenia, a child at this age will not be able to control his behavior, which must be extremely careful. Especially with these health problems.
      You probably understand this.
      Lyudmila
      Good afternoon. I am 55 years old. After breaking both ankles without displacement, the leg remained in a cast for 2 months and 12 days. The plaster was removed today and the doctor told me to wear the orthosis all the time, only take it off at night. Can I wear a brace all day?
      - Lyudmila, in principle, if there is no movement (walking) during the day, then you don’t have to wear the orthosis. That is, during the day, wear only if you need to go somewhere. You can carefully “hobble” “to the kitchen” (in the sense of walking without an orthosis, but without putting full weight on the leg). That is, within the confines of the apartment, you can train your leg by carefully stepping on it and listening to the sensations. If it hurts, then put on an orthosis; if not, then walk slowly. For the next 2 - 3 weeks, go outside only in an orthosis (after all, age).
        Svetlana
        Good afternoon I twisted my leg on the stairs and received a closed fracture of the outer malleolus of my left leg without displacement. They put a cellocast plaster on, and the doctor said I could walk without crutches. I've read a lot of articles and they say you can't go everywhere. Now the question is what to do, there is no way to not walk at all. Is it possible to walk in cellocast while stepping on your foot?
        Svetlana, of course, right now you can’t walk in the same mode as before applying the plaster. You need to enter the walking mode GRADUALLY.
        That is, right now you can step on your foot quite a bit (this mode is called START). It’s better to lean on a support (perhaps with someone’s arm or a stick for a while). The point is not to put too much strain on your leg right now. Every other day, if there is no pain, you can very slowly increase the load. If everything is painless, then within a month you will be able to walk tolerably. So divide the full load by 30 days and so you will understand how to increase from, say, a third of the load to full at the end of the month. The most important thing is gradualism.
        Not walking at all is not good, since recovery in this case will take a very long time.
        Valentina
        I am 50 years old. I have a non-displaced ankle fracture. X-rays showed that the bones were very transparent. They told me to remove the plaster myself in a month. Now 2 weeks have passed. Is it possible to start stepping on my leg in a cast?
        You can, just not ATTACK, but START. That is, you do not transfer all the weight to your leg in a cast, but at first only a little. If it doesn’t hurt, then after 2–3 days you can slightly increase the load. But only a little. If it doesn’t hurt again, then after another 2–3 days you can increase it.
        The load should be short-term at first so as not to tire the leg.
        Valentina
        Thanks a lot
        Hello. At the end of January, she suffered a closed comminuted fracture of the distal end of the tibia and s/3 of the fibula. Tibial osteosynthesis was performed using a locked rod. Now they recommended walking with a 50% load, but on two crutches. The leg does not hurt, the joints bend/extend. It's been almost 10 weeks since the surgery. When approximately can I stop using crutches? Now I have started walking more, my leg swells in the evening, but in the morning everything is back to normal. I don't use any ointments. Is it possible to continue loading the leg further? You can feel the end of the rod in your knee and feel a slight warmth when you touch it. It should be? Thank you.
        After a couple of weeks, try using one crutch with an elbow support instead of crutches, or maybe a cane if your body weight is moderate. If you are overweight, you should not increase the load so quickly.
        Amneshka
        Hello, on February 27, a non-displaced fracture of the outer malleolus was diagnosed, the traumatologist ordered that by the day the cast was removed, the leg should be able to walk 50% of its body weight, on March 28, the cast was removed, but then a problem arose
        1) I can’t swing my leg over in a cast to wash myself in the bathroom
        2) when walking, sometimes I can’t correctly calculate the forces, but my leg doesn’t hurt, should I control this or just continue to work on it?
        Keep developing.
        Hello, on January 27, surgery was performed on the ankle joint with the installation of a metal structure inside (to be removed after a year), and plastic surgery of the ligaments was performed. The plaster was removed on March 2, laser, magnet, and physical therapy were prescribed; When doing the exercises there is a feeling of pain, I start a little. Please tell me the exercise should be done through pain? When will it be possible to lean on my leg? Thank you
        Anna, Exercises must be performed through pain, but without fanaticism. Controlling the pain. More pain means less stress, less pain means more stress. Until the pain stably stops, just start (that is, without full load).
        Valeria
        Good afternoon 14.01. broke her leg - closed fracture of the ankles of the right leg with displacement of fragments, damage to the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis with subluxation of the foot outward. 23.01. They performed an operation - open reduction of a fractured ankle and lower leg and metal osteosynthesis. The doctor said that 14.03. it is necessary to begin to step on the leg in the cast “as if it were healthy,” while remaining on crutches. Tell me, is the load on the sore leg too much? Thanks in advance for your answer.
        Valeria, the doctor said “staying on crutches.” This means that the load must be controlled. Naturally, the doctor’s phrase “as if healthy” does not mean full load right away. No. Everything should be gradual. Accustom your leg to loads again, starting with the minimum. This is called “stepping on” your foot. That is, day by day, load from light to full load, for example, moving to full load in a month. This is in the absence of pain.
        If it hurts, then reduce the load a little, but don’t stop starting – your leg should get used to it anyway.
        Valeria
        Thank you very much for the clarification!
        Victoria
        Hello.
        25.01. The ankle was broken on the outside, without displacement. The plaster was removed on 21.02.
        The attending physician, who is also a surgeon, said that during the week you can only load the leg by 10%, but after reading here, you recommend gradually increasing the load. Those. Can I try to start walking during this week? I do massage and other exercises myself at home, can you recommend anything, the doctor didn’t recommend anything(
        Victoria, the doctor was right when he said – load 10% during the week. And that doesn't mean walking.
        GETTING STARTED... just GETTING STARTED...
        next week you can increase the load by 15% - proceed according to how you feel a little more..
        still on the trail. week at 20% - try to start a little more...
        well, etc.
        Read about gymnastics
        Natalie
        Hello! 4.01 sprained my ankle! It was advancing little by little, I thought it was a dislocation or sprain. On January 05, an x-ray showed a non-displaced ankle fracture. A splint was applied. Crutches make your arms hurt and your leg becomes tense when suspended. Is it possible to immediately step on the plaster slowly, after 7 hours? He's probably frozen already...
        Irina
        Hello! I am 47 years old, an ankle fracture without displacement of the big bone occurred on December 15th. There was no severe pain, an x-ray and a cast were done right away. I went to the magnet, I drink calcium and mumiyo. Now the broken leg doesn’t hurt and I step on it a little. Question: when can the cast be removed? I'm leaving on vacation on January 11, 2017. The decision was made to go even in a cast and on crutches. It's a long flight ahead. What are your recommendations? Thanks in advance for your answer.
        In principle, on the 10th the plaster can be removed. While on vacation, use an elastic bandage while walking. It is advisable not to walk too much. The bandage can be removed at rest.
        Irina
        Thank you, can I apply troxevasin to my leg during the flight? Or maybe I should take aspirin for cardio?
        Both troxevasin and aspirin are superfluous. The body should not be overloaded with external influences.
        Irina
        Thanks for the quick replies.
        Victoria
        Doctor, Thank you very much!! Happy New Year!!! Good health to you!!
        I’m really looking forward to January 10, it will be 18 days since I’ve been in a cast, I want to ask the doctor for a repeat x-ray. So I want to remove the plaster as soon as possible, I want everything to grow together correctly. I ruined all my holidays...
        Victoria
        Tell me, sometimes I strain my leg, there is a sharp pain... well, this is how it turns out... one night there were cramps in the calf muscle of this leg, I’m afraid there was no displacement... What do you think?
        Doctor, how long does it take to walk in a cast, roughly?
        Victoria, first of all.
        1. The pain will continue for a couple of weeks.
        2. To eliminate possible night cramps, drink at least a third of a glass of clean water immediately before bed. You can have half a glass if you can stand the night without the toilet. Cramps are not associated with displacement.
        3. The standard period of stay in a cast is 3-4 weeks. Not more.
        Victoria
        Good evening, doctor! On December 23, 2016, I slipped and broke my right fibula;
        diagnosis: (S-82.4) Closed fracture of the upper third of the fibula with satisfactory condition. They applied a U splint from the fingers to the middle of the thigh, the plaster became loose... Today is 9 days from the date of the fracture, the ankle began to hurt (there was a large lump on it at the time the plaster was applied, swelling...), the fracture site hurts. The surgeon at the clinic doesn’t know what to do with my cast... On January 10, 2017, I made an appointment with a Traumatologist-Orthopedist (operating) for a consultation.
        Please tell me how long it takes for such fractures to heal, and whether displacement can occur due to the fact that the plaster goes in different directions...at night, because my leg is numb, I turn it first on one side or the other, and always move my fingers , so it is possible?
        I walk on crutches, take care of my leg, drink gelatin on an empty stomach, eat cottage cheese every day, sesame seeds, cod liver, jellied meat, drink fish oil and folic acid, vitamins C, venarus 2 times a day.
        Victoria, as a temporary option, until the 10th, you can strengthen the cast with an elastic bandage directly on top of the cast.
        Moving your fingers is, in principle, not fatal.
        I wonder if the lump went down or stayed that way. There will be swelling until the blood vessels return to normal.
        Daria
        Thank you very much for your detailed answer! Happy New Year!)))
        Daria
        Hello! On November 16, I hit the outside of my foot hard, I thought it was a bruise, because... the pain was tolerable, there was a bruise at the site of the blow, and swelling later appeared. But a week later there was no improvement and I still decided to go to the hospital. The result: a displaced fracture of the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones. The bone had to be set and a cast was put on. I spent a month with him and came to see a doctor. I still had a little pain when I pressed lightly on the fracture site. The doctor, without even asking me anything, decided to remove the plaster. I tell him that I need to take another picture, what if it didn’t work out? He says, like, let’s take off the plaster right now and do it. As a result, the picture showed that everything was normal, but the bone callus had not completely formed. The doctor says that there is no point in reapplying the plaster, but I can’t step on my leg for another week.
        I have these questions:
        1. Why was it necessary to remove the plaster without taking a picture, because even with the plaster you could see whether everything had fused together or not?
        2. Will the fact that the leg is no longer fixed affect further fusion of the bone?
        3. Why does my leg still swell after the cast is removed if I stay in an upright position for a long time?
        4. When can I step on my foot and how long does it take for me to develop my foot and begin to walk normally?
        Daria, answers in order.
        1. A month is enough to walk in a cast, which is why the doctor did not consult with you.
        2. Will not affect.
        3. Because the circulatory system has been disrupted and now it takes time to restore it. Do a soft, gentle self-massage of your legs. Every day and even several times a day for 3–5 minutes. Using gentle movements, “disperse” the blood in places of swelling. Just without fanaticism! Soft.
        4. You can attack right now. If you are afraid, you can bandage it with an elastic bandage before walking and immediately remove it after walking.
        Naturally, start advancing (or approaching) lightly. If there are no unpleasant sensations, then after a week or two, slightly increase the walking time. Restoration of functions occurs gradually - from six months to a year. So, focus on getting back to your previous routine.
        Daria
        I have more questions. A week passed after the cast was removed, I began to slowly step on my leg and walk a little. But I can’t step on my foot completely, because... It hurts at the site of the fracture and it still hurts to press on this place, it even seems to me that it hurts more than before I started walking. Is this how it should be? Or does this mean that the bone has not fully healed?
        Daria, the bone will heal “to the end” only in a year.
        If the pain is severe, you need to reduce the load and do not forget to do self-massage.
        Victoria
        Anna, please help! Broke my ankle. But this became known only a week after the injury. At the emergency hospital, after taking the picture, the doctor said: ligament rupture. And he told me to put on the retainer. I moved around with him for a week, even going outside a short distance away. The pain began to increase. And a week later, a picture at the clinic showed a fracture. Now in a cast, they said for 3 weeks. Tell me: isn’t it dangerous that I walked with a fracture? How do you generally ‘handle’ a leg in a cast? Is it possible to remove the cast, let my leg rest, and then put it back on? Do I need to fix it with an elastic bandage (the doctor at the clinic said: whichever is more convenient for you)? And at night there is pain below the bone, is this normal?
        Thank you. I learned more on your website than from two traumatologists)
        Victoria, first of all.
        Whether it’s dangerous or not, it’s too late to think about it at the moment.
        – you can remove the plaster when you are not going ANYWHERE. For ANY movement in the next 3-4 weeks, wear it.
        The same applies to the use of a bandage - whenever you move in the near future, it is better to bandage it.
        Removing the bandage and plaster while lying and sitting allows the circulatory system to recover,
        as well as the musculoskeletal system, which is fed by the circulatory system. That is, recovery is faster.
        – yes, it can hurt and you have to go through it.
        Good afternoon, Anna! On November 25, I was put in a plaster, I had a broken ankle, on December 7, the traumatologist removed the plaster and sent it for an x-ray, after the x-ray, they put the same plaster on me again, only they secured it with a bandage, I am very worried about my leg, that it is not completely fixed.
        Yulia, so as not to worry, you can additionally use an elastic bandage directly on top of the plaster. Only use a bandage if you intend to walk. Do not use in a lying or sitting position - what is enough.
        Hello, I slipped on 10/31/16. The foot slipped under the fence. The result was that a piece of the ankle broke off. No offset. I still wear plaster to this day. The doctor says to wear it for 3 months. Then rehabilitation, physio, massage. How long does it take for such a fracture to heal? Help, maybe it would be better if the cast was removed and I could walk a little?
        Yulia, with such a statement of the question there was no need to go to the doctor. How can a bone heal without plaster?
        No, it can grow together, but it won’t work. Do you need this?
        How long? This issue has already been discussed somewhere here. Let me remind you that complete fusion occurs within a year.
        Remove the plaster? No problem. Tell your doctor that you don't care how it heals. Give the doctor a receipt that claims
        You won’t have anything to do with him, that you’ve been warned of the consequences and that’s all.
        It's not the doctor who needs this.
        Katerina
        07/27/16 I broke the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones, an open fracture, the 2nd one was displaced. They applied a splint, bandaged it every day, the displacement was less than 3 mm, so they did not reduce it. On 08/22/16 they removed the splint and walked with an elastic bandage, but the doctor did not allow me to step on it. What to do next? Our town is small and the doctor is ancient... maybe the displacement will affect my future life, I’m 30 and would still like to wear heels?
        Katerina, the displacement still needed to be corrected. I won’t lie, it (the displacement) can make itself felt. Especially when wearing heels. Unfortunately.
        Katerina
        That is, you need to break it and set it? Is it still too early to develop, the swelling has not gone down?
        In a good way, so that there are no consequences, yes, it needs to be corrected. Then we can hope that there will definitely be no consequences. At least the problem will be closed.
        Otherwise, leaving everything as it is, the situation is 50/50. That is, maybe you will be able to cope with the new reality, or maybe you will live with constant pain. No one can give an accurate forecast.
        This is fair.
        There will still be swelling until the body restores the problem area. And I make baths with grass and sea salt. Maybe I'm wrong, and I should do it with soda? And I wanted to ask another question. Is displacement possible after being in a cast for such a long time? But about the doctor there, on the periphery, you are right. I did everything I could under those conditions. And thank you for clearly explaining.
        Natalya, you should have attacked immediately, but gradually increasing the load.
        A long stay in plaster simply stabilizes the relationship between the fragments and themselves at the time of fusion. Stabilization does not allow for displacement. Didn't you have a control x-ray? Everything will be visible there.
        Make baths with soda. In this situation it is better.
        Natalia
        Hello. I am 46 years old. On April 30, 2016, at the dacha, I fell down the stairs, resulting in a triple ankle fracture with displacement and subluxation. The district doctor did everything he could. He adjusted it, put on a cast, and said that there was a slight displacement left, but it would not affect walking. Sent to Moscow. To doctors at your place of residence.
        Our traumatologist, who I saw, said that surgery was not required and that they were afraid to remove my cast and touch my leg. They told me to endure it for 12 weeks.
        On July 19, the plaster was removed and she was ordered to take baths with soda at night. Physiotherapy doesn't make sense, she said. Another traumatologist, while I was on vacation, gave me a referral for physical therapy. Two sessions left.
        We are not talking about any gymnastics or massage. The ancient granny cannot explain to me why my joint is jerking like an abscess, she just says drink Nise.
        I have no idea what to do next.
        Today, 01.08. The first time I came to the physical therapy office with a cane. The pain seems to have broken me for the second time, I’m afraid to go to bed. During the day I wear a semi-rigid orthosis and take it off at night.
        What should I do? I asked to see another doctor, but he didn’t take me. For some reason everyone is afraid of this fracture. Tell me, maybe I’m panicking in vain? But the leg is mine.
        Hello, Natalia.
        Based on experience, the district doctor currently has more practice than the traumatologist from your clinic. Although this may not be the case in your particular case.
        You are panicking for good reason. In my opinion, you should get an appointment with an independent traumatologist who will carefully (!) work with you.
        Staying in a cast for such a long time should not give the “twitching” effect that you write about. Pain is possible. But simple, “no frills.” The causes of pain are multiple - long-term inactivity and sudden stress, disruption of nerve endings, poor circulation at the fracture site. Soda baths combat all this.
        You can do it differently. Wait a couple more weeks (now it doesn’t matter). Do gymnastics. Slowly. And, if after a couple of weeks everything remains unchanged, then you should definitely “butt” with a traumatologist (preferably a surgeon).
        Pauline
        Hello! I had a non-displaced fracture of the foot bone! 3 weeks in a cast! Tomorrow I have to remove the plaster. Tell me, how long after removing the cast can I go back to work? 12-hour workday on your feet for the entire shift!?
        Polina, it is very difficult to answer your question with a 12-hour working day ON YOUR FEET. Work in such a strict regime should be started gradually. You just can't stand it right away. The leg will swell and hurt.
        That's why:
        1. If possible, you should go to work for 3 – 5 – 7 hours consecutively until you get used to it.
        2. as a last resort - an hour of work - a 20-30 minute break with the need to lie down so that the leg is comfortable.
        3. Be sure to do rehabilitation - massage, baths with soothing herbs (the pharmacy will tell you what can be used - what they have), ointments to restore blood circulation (again at the pharmacy).
        You will gradually return to your previous rhythm.
        Catherine
        Hello. I have a fracture with displacement of the metatarsal bone (little toe). 5 weeks with a splint. Removed. They told me not to step on my feet. How then to develop?
        Kate!
        Advance, attack and attack again. Only gradually.
        Let me give you an example from surgical practice.
        The gallstone was removed. Laparoscopy. General anesthesia. The duration of the operation is 2 hours (a large stone that had to be crushed inside using a special container - this is so as not to switch to abdominal surgery).
        Wake up from anesthesia for about an hour and twenty in the intensive care unit.
        Transfer to the ward.
        2 hours after returning from intensive care, the patient slowly gets up and makes the first walk along the corridor - 20 meters there and 20 meters back. Slowly. Holding the seam.
        For tomorrow, 3 trips along the corridor and so on.
        A week later, discharge.
        Same with your option.
        Anastasia
        Hello. A 4-year-old child severely sprained her leg. A non-displaced fracture in the growth plate (ankle) was diagnosed. After two weeks, the splint was removed, and for another two weeks the splint was bandaged with an elastic bandage. Now he walks without a bandage. The lameness is very bothersome (he says it doesn’t hurt). Two weeks have passed since the elastic bandage was removed, and the lameness does not go away.