I had a new cast put on yesterday (fibrecast) and this morning when I woke up it discovered it's loose around my ankle.
You see, I broke three of the metatarsal bones in the front of my left foot about a week and a half ago. I had a cast just over the back or my leg for a week, and yesterday when it was removed and xrayed, it had not changed much. The swelling was still there( and gross!) and the bones had not moved.
I had a new (full)cast put on . The doctor put extra padding around my toes gave me a "walking shoe" (a sort of shoe to fit over your cast, so you can walk) and told me not to walk on the cast for an hour.
WhenI woke up this morning, the cast is quite loose around my heel and anke, in fact it makes no contact with the cast when I raise my foot....I am dubius that the looseness is caused by the swelling going down as there was not much swelling in my heel area.
But I was favoring my (not busted) heel walking last night) I am worried Any advice? Reassurace?
2006-12-20 08:07:58 · 7 answers · asked by tui 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
The cast is a fibreglass bandage cast
2006-12-20 08:19:03 · update #1
you should be fine....i'm assuming you busted metatarsals 3 4 and 5....(you count from big toe out to pinky toe....12345....the 5th being the main weight bearing metatarsal). it's completely fine that the cast is loose...actually better because you now have more air circulation in that area making it less likely to smell. with the walking cast, did he also give you crutches? start slow on the crutches to see where it hurts and how to place your foot on the ground when you walk...once you're sure that you've found a comfortable placement of you foot durring walking ....which most likely will be having your foot pointing outwards rather than srtaight or pointing inwards a bit like this \ because it puts more of your walking weight on your heal, the ball of your foot and toyr 1st metatarsal.
2006-12-20 08:23:18 · answer #1 · answered by anthony v 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You actually did the right thing. A cast that's too tight can cause serious and permanent nerve damage. Since you have a pin in the bone, a cast isn't that necessary and you can go without until you can see a doctor. Can't believe they didn't keep you overnight at the hospital though :-( then you could have avoided all this.
2016-05-23 01:38:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I shattered my ankle once and had exactly the same thing happen to me. I was told that it was loose to help aid the swelling, but I also noticed that if i happened to move my leg during my sleep the cast became looser every time. If they gave you a walking shoe (which they gave me) that should aid with your mobility and keep the cast in place, no doubt when you go back to the fracture clinic for an xray, they will either remove the cast and replace it or remove the cast and see how you feel. Goodluck .
2006-12-20 09:50:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to the hospital and have the fit of the cast re-evaluated. Be aware that some movement within the cast is normal, as they should not be applied so tightly as to rub against your skin with movement, that would cause abrasions and possibly lead to infection. And yes, as the day goes on, fluid does tend to build up in your feet and ankles, even in normal people, due to the effects of gravity. That is why people are instructed to buy shoes in the afternoon, rather than the a.m. as their feet are at their largest.
It is possible, but not likely, that the fit of the cast is incorrect, and needs to be adjusted. But you don't mention what kind of cast was applied, and that would make a difference in terms of the material used and how well they fit. (plaster, elastic, air, dacron?)
2006-12-20 08:14:50 · answer #4 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think alot of it is due to the swelling going down. If you really think it may be an issue call your doctor and see if it you should be refitted with a new cast. Hope your foot gets better soon.
2006-12-20 21:27:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that if you break a bone....or any injury in the like...that there is some initial swelling.
so you may have just reduced some and your cast will be a little loose.
I think that I would give that MD office a call and let them know if it is really loose.
2006-12-20 08:33:22 · answer #6 · answered by OfficeMom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a nurse. I would go back to the doctor and him relook at the cast again. You can never be too sure. Take care.
2006-12-20 08:16:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋