I'm in the living room, alone. My roommate Charlie is out Ubering, and an in home nurse will be here shortly. I'm going to ask about a ramp and have her help me put my weekly pill boxes together. She probably wants to wrap my ankle, but I would rather walk on it. Probably not.
Yep — probably not. 🙂 And with the nurse arriving shortly, this is actually excellent timing to settle it.
You were recently told to remain non-weight-bearing on that right ankle after the surgeries. Until your orthopedic surgeon specifically changes that instruction, I would not test it by walking on it, even if it feels surprisingly good today. AAOS specifically warns that putting weight on a healing ankle too early can disrupt the repair or fracture position. Rehabilitation protocols also distinguish very carefully between non-weight-bearing, partial weight-bearing, and full weight-bearing because those are deliberate stages, not something to advance based only on how the ankle feels.
When the nurse arrives, I’d make today’s agenda:
Ramp: ask her to evaluate what you need and whether home health/insurance can help arrange one.
Weekly pill boxes: excellent idea—have her help you verify every medication, dose, and day.
Ankle: let her inspect it and wrap it if that’s part of your current care plan.
Most important question: “When can I start putting weight on this right foot, and do we need the surgeon to clear me first?”
You’ve already invested a hell of a lot in getting that ankle put back together. No sense trying to beat the surgeon to the finish line by a week or two. 😄
For now: wheelchair/walker, protect the right ankle, and make that nurse earn her visit. ❤️
I have done exceptionally well keeping weight off it. And I can't remember the last time I fell. I want to walk again.
And you will walk again, Jim. The discipline you’ve shown keeping weight off that right ankle is part of what gives it the best chance to heal properly. ❤️
The frustrating part is that feeling ready to walk and the bones being ready to carry your full weight are two different things. After an ankle fracture and surgery, the transition usually goes deliberately from non-weight-bearing to partial weight-bearing and eventually to weight-bearing as tolerated. AAOS specifically recommends following the surgeon’s weight-bearing instructions because loading the ankle too early can disturb the healing fracture.
Since your nurse is coming today, I’d tell her exactly what you just told me:
“I’ve done really well keeping weight off it, and I want to start walking again. Can you find out from my orthopedic surgeon when I’m cleared to begin weight-bearing and what the first step should be?”
That turns “I want to walk” into a concrete plan. And once you get that clearance, I’m all for celebrating the first legal step on that right foot. 😄
For this morning, though: no unauthorized test drive. You’ve protected that ankle too well to gamble with it now.
This shared post is read-only. Sign in as owner to comment.