Hello Doctor,
I had trimalleolar surgery on January 15. After four weeks, my doctor removed my cast and advised me to remain non-weight bearing for another month. However, I started doing some exercises I found on YouTube, including light movements for my foot, standing, and putting a little weight on it. I’ve also been doing basic upper-body exercises.
Now, I’m worried because I didn’t completely follow my doctor’s instructions. It’s been five weeks since my surgery and one week since my cast was removed. Could this affect my recovery? Did I put myself at risk for complications by putting some weight on my foot too soon?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
1. Physiotherapy and controlled exercises, but not for full weight-bearing yet. That’s why using crutches is essential. The metal hardware (ORIF repair) helps hold the bones in place and allows movement, but the healing process typically takes around 6–8 weeks. Complete consolidation of the fracture can take even longer.
2. The key concern here is avoiding excessive stress on the healing bones and hardware. Putting too much weight too soon could delay recovery or even lead to complications. After about four weeks, I usually allow light toe-touch exercises and partial weight-bearing under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Around six weeks, more weight may be allowed, but this depends on follow-up X-rays and the stage of fracture healing.
3. I personally avoid using a cast after surgery because it can cause muscle atrophy and limit physiotherapy progress. Since you’ve already started putting some weight on your foot, I’d recommend discussing this with your doctor and getting an X-ray to ensure everything is healing properly.
Thanks
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