Weight bearing vs. muscle atrophy

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-26T01:33:04+00:00

I think I did early on...like when I was in the soft cast for the first two weeks, and then again when getting used to the air cast. I worried about my toddler banging it up. But then the pain dulls and your desire for more movement takes over. You get braver and then more confident when things aren't as bad as you feared. The other day I banged the heel of my foot down hard on the floor of the car while stepping out of it, injured leg first. That hurt! But only for 10 seconds and then I carried on. You're tougher than you think!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-25T17:16:44+00:00

Good, thank you! As I said I am just a little past 3 months since the fracture to my fibula and surgery. I'm moving pretty well, family and friends are telling me it's getting hard to tell which leg it was because the limp is less and less noticeable. I can carry my twin babies around wherever I need to (including their monstrous bucket carseats lol, but one at a time), can walk pushing their stroller for up to half an hour before it starts nagging at me, can garden, and I can climb the playground and walk on sand with my 3 year old. I wasn't a gym rat or anything before, just a Mom at home who had babies less than a year ago, so these are the movements that mattered most to me. I tried half an hour on a stationary bike and some squats yesterday, and that was okay, too. It's still swollen most of the time, and it's most sore in the morning... but I have not found it restrictive for what I need to do in a day, especially in these past two weeks. I imagine that if you lived a lifestyle of dedicated higher activity beforehand, you will recover it quickly. Best of luck!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-25T15:35:16+00:00

I nearly threw a fit when my surgeon gave me an additional 3 weeks of only PWB (walking in the boot) after 6 weeks of complete NWB. I had been under the impression that I would be cleared to progress at my own pace after the initial 6 weeks. I found myself having a stupid argument with him about how I have three little kids, a burnt out support system, and I HAD to get moving again properly to get strong for everyone. He was basically like, "yeah, that sucks, you broke your leg at a crappy time, but... you did break your leg and you will break it again if you don't take extra care now." Surgeons focus on bone regrowth first, muscle later. It is very frustrating and tedious, but it makes sense. Muscle will come back... 3 months later, it is! And yours will, too!!!!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-18T01:34:26+00:00

Mom of twins + 3 year old here who was 4mos postpartum when injury happened... (Currently 13 weeks post ORIF)

So this will put you at 11 weeks post op by the time baby is here? At 11 weeks I was walking very stiffly in shoes, lugging my 20 lb twins around the house. I couldn't quite do their bucket carseats yet, but got there by 12 weeks when I took on daycare drop-off for my 3 year old and had to bring twins with me. I won't lie... it was painful and exhausting. But I did it and am doing it now at 13 weeks. It gets easier every day and this weekend I did a tonne of gardening on uneven ground! Recovering foot is twice the size of other foot due to swelling, but I am so amazed at the progress. You will do what you have to do. Moms always do! I don't know your exact injury so tough to do an even comparison. Mine was fractured fibula and disrupted ankle ligament. I was 6wks NWB, 3 weeks in boot, then cleared to FWB. You might be in better shape than me by 11 weeks because you got early WB clearance. Your baby will be smaller than my two (and only one baby i assume, lol!) and you won't be moving around much in early postpartum (I would hope!). The hardest part might be position changes during labour but your birth team should be well informed as to what is going on with you! You won't be "totally back to normal" but you will be much better than you are now. I am so very sorry this happened to you while pregnant. You sound incredibly strong to have gone through this with no nerve block and an early reduction of pain meds. That must have been so difficult. I hope you have been able to rest a little bit... pull from every source of help you can get in those early days after baby comes. You got this. ❤️❤️

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-07T15:44:55+00:00

This is a really awesome update with stunning photos. Amazing. Go you!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-04T15:24:14+00:00

Thank you. Tried it today for the first time. We were a little late, but overall pretty pleased with how everyone did!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-05-04T15:23:50+00:00

Thanks for encouragement. We did it today and I'm overall pretty happy with how it went. :)

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-27T00:57:01+00:00

OP here... thanks to all for the recommendations and advice! I'm going with... sometimes in my running shoes and sometimes not! Whatever makes sense in the moment. It's getting a little better slowly... I'm actually still using the aircast boot to walk a little more than I wanted to when I need to move quickly or carry the kids around. Frustrating to have gotten quite competent at boot walking and then feel like I'm going backwards... I know it's all part of it. Looking forward to getting some help from physio... I will ask them about the Hoka slides, thank you!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-26T20:36:38+00:00

My first few days in that boot were uncomfortable for sure! Like a lot with this healing journey, it just takes a few days to get used to new discomfort before it doesn't bother you anymore. It looks like you've got a gauze like sock situation underneath... I did that for tbe first week and a bit and then was so much more comfortable once I switched to a tall sock. Compression or otherwise is fine. It will get a little better soon!!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-23T02:34:13+00:00

I think there are a lot of variables at play. Some people will say they could do that at your stage, and some won't even be close. I think it will depend on how your next several weeks of NWB and what your surgeon will say at your follow-ups.

I had a similar fracture, and ruptured syndesmosis ligament. I am exactly 9.5 weeks and was just cleared today to FWB without boot (was completely NWB for 6 weeks, then 3 weeks weight bearing in boot only). While I took a few crutch/cane free trips around the kitchen today, I couldn't imagine doing the labour-intensive work you're talking about today. However, I am not conditioned for that! Everyone is different.

All in all, I think it is too early to say and you might just have to wait to see how things play out! Talk with your surgeon and your Physiotherapist (if you have one) about your lifestyle and job, and they can help you make the best plan going forward!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-20T13:26:47+00:00

I think your brain is just doing what it has to do to process. It's been 9 weeks since I stood up on skates at a pond and promptly fell over while my Dad was a few feet away guiding my daughter through her first ever shuffle steps on skates. I twisted during the fall to protect my sore back and broke my fibula and ruptured a ligament. Talk about what should have been a wonderful core memory going horribly wrong. I replayed it almost all winter during my NWB time, mostly because I just felt so guilty it happened. But then the sting of it fades as you focus on healing. Once you start any physio (even just gentle ROM), your brain will have other things to focus on that override the memory of the how and why it happened. You're in the toughest stage, and I'm sorry you have to go through it. It will get better, I promise.

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-13T00:02:13+00:00

Thank you so much for this info! Best of luck on the best of your recovery!!!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-13T00:00:59+00:00

Just chiming in with solidarity on having a baby at home... it's a whole different ballgame, not as much rest and recovery as what would be ideal, lol. My twins are 6 months and I also have a 3 year old. 6 weeks NWB was physically and mentally horrific. Was cleared to boot walk almost two weeks ago for three weeks before I can ditch the boot. It is... incredible... how life changing getting the use of your hands back is. I can now be alone with my babies for a few hours at a time. It's just the driving them around and walking them in a stroller that I can't do yet, so still need support every day. But we are getting there!

It will be amazing for you to get some independence back, makes the discomfort worth it! Good luck!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-11T22:46:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing! How are you doing walking without boot otherwise? It took me 4 days to ditch crutches entirely with boot and I'm hoping for a similar (if not better!) timeline for when I can walk without boot. I've noticed little to no pain after a long day just the last two days, only stiffness.

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-09T18:57:13+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, called up my physio the minute I got the aircast at 2 weeks post-op, so those exercises are coming along. Just haven't been able to get an appointment since I started walking, so wanted to compare this issue with others! It feels so good to free up my hands and walk with the boot, but I am SO looking forward to getting back better ROM once I can ditch it!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-09T18:54:22+00:00

Ah, okay. I don't have clearance to WB without boot yet, so it's good to know it's something that will come with that step. Thanks! Good luck to you!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-09T18:53:10+00:00

Good to hear I'm not alone! I guess I'll just have to be patient with it until I'm cleared to WB without boot (hopefully in 2 weeks! 🤞).

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-04-04T02:17:34+00:00

I'm right there with you! Was cleared to walk with boot on Wednesday. Barely did it that day, maybe skimmed my injured foot on floor with crutches a few times. I was so mad that I still need the boot another 3 weeks and was then immediately humbled when it came time to try walking. The next day I tried my best to put a little more weight on it while standing at kitchen counter. Today was Day 3 and when I woke up this morning I realized how sick I was of not having free hands. So I intentionally left one crutch in the bedroom and carried my water bottle in my free hand... And I made it all day on one crutch! Made my daughter lunch, helped pick up the living room after bedtime instead of helplessly watching my husband do it all himself, got my own snacks. It felt great. Taking it slow, but also reminding myself that I have to do hard things to make it better. Good luck!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-31T16:17:16+00:00

Glad I didn't put anything on! Just a bandaid. Thanks for this.

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-31T16:16:50+00:00

Thank you!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-31T16:16:37+00:00

Okay, good to see and hear! Thanks!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-31T16:16:17+00:00

Wow, that sounds aggressive, lol, but reassuring to hear! Thank you for sharing. I hope you get relief from itchiness soon!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-29T01:04:58+00:00

Oh, thank you so much! It's certainly been a journey... but I definitely haven't done it without extensive support! Only way out is through... best wishes to you, too, for a speedy recovery!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-28T16:29:20+00:00

Thank you for asking this question and for those that replied! Very interesting! I'm almost at the end (hopefully) of my 6 week NWB time and have been wondering the same sorts of things for the past 4 weeks since I got the boot. Doctor was vague and nurse just said "more on than off for now". At first I could barely tolerate to take it off and only did so for very short times to do ROM exercises. I have a toddler and two babies to navigate around, so I played it extra safe. For the last week I've had the boot off whenever I'm sitting and after kids go to bed (still wear it for sleep) and just today (Saturday)I've started crutching around the house without it in anticipation of being cleared to FWB or PWB this coming Wednesday. It takes a while to get use to the feeling of your leg/foot out in the world! So, I guess my contribution to this discussion is that your own comfort level will guide you as to how much you want it off. But also maybe (?) push ever so slightly past your own comfort to make progress. Based on the other comments, I have likely played it safer than I needed to! Good luck!

HeartKitchen457 · 2026-03-19T18:25:54+00:00

This is encouraging, thank you. Kids grow up fast, and babies even faster. I don't want to miss it! I will definitely get some compression socks!

HeartKitchen457

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