Anybody had an internal fixation done?

[enwar3]

I had one done on my cuboid (bone in the foot) and I've spent 5 weeks off that foot, on crutches and in a cast. I'm supposed to get my cast off at the 6-8 week mark, but today I accidentally stepped on my foot (!!!!). I was told strictly to stay off it because putting weight on it could shift the bone pieces even though they've been screwed in. But I didn't feel any pain or anything out of the normal afterwards, plus I'm ALMOST to the point where I can put weight on the foot. Am I at risk for a displaced bone fragment/should I take it back in to get it checked out?

 

[Crusty]

What does your doctor say about your situation?

 

[rockyct]

I had tubes in my ears a couple of times. Does that count?

 

[AreaCode707]

C1/C2 spinal fusion. They took bone from my hip and wired it into the top of my neck.

You're probably fine but ask your doc.

 

[Balt]

Talk it over with your doctor, and definitely stay off of it until you're told otherwise, even if it feels okay. I had a relative who didn't (she decided to walk on it constantly instead) and she eventually had to get a lot more hardware put in because of her stupidity.

 

[enwar3]

I called the doc and left a message.. he hasn't responded.

 

[CRXican]

My arm is in a cast and scheduled to come off next Wed. (6 weeks). I'm in that, "it feels just about normal" phase. Only my fingers are exposed and I have managed to bend them in such a way to send a quick shooting pain through my wrist.

I get freaked out for a second, the pain goes away and I'm over it. Seeing the xray the week after the break and seeing that the breaks were already "gone" makes me confident that they aren't going anywhere.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Wait for your doc's response but given the postop duration & lack of any subsequent pain, you should be ok.

 

[Gooberlx2]

If it just a momentary accident, I'm sure you're fine.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: enwar3
I had one done on my cuboid (bone in the foot) and I've spent 5 weeks off that foot, on crutches and in a cast. I'm supposed to get my cast off at the 6-8 week mark, but today I accidentally stepped on my foot (!!!!). I was told strictly to stay off it because putting weight on it could shift the bone pieces even though they've been screwed in. But I didn't feel any pain or anything out of the normal afterwards, plus I'm ALMOST to the point where I can put weight on the foot. Am I at risk for a displaced bone fragment/should I take it back in to get it checked out?

Short answer: It isn't worth the lifelong consequences you might face if you walk on it. A step here or there is probably fine, but if you feel anything give/pop/whatever, call your doc.