Broken leg - 5 wks on - will I ever walk again?

[StarUtopia]

So broke my leg 5 weeks ago. Serious agony for the first 2 weeks and very difficult life wise as I was basically housebound.

Anyway. Three days ago the pain subsided enough for me to attempt to walk on it. I'm now basically hobbling but it's still really painful. Also, the hobbling is causing pain in my knee and the top of my hip.

Saw Dr yesterday who said it should be a lot better by now and was confused by the level of bruising I still have. He wants me back in 3 weeks to re-xray/check etc.

In the meantime, I have two toddlers I now need to run around after! (!)

If you've broken your leg, how long did it take before you were walking normally again not in pain? Right now, I can't see me ever doing normal things again! Feeling a little down.

[hairymuffet]

Bump

[RedBugMug]

not leg, but broken foot. it took 12 weeks to be pain free again.
have you seen a physio?

[Couchpotato3]

Not quite the same, but I broke my ankle a couple of years ago. I well remember feeling that I couldn't imagine ever getting back to normal - everyday life is so difficult with crutches etc. I was back walking after 6 weeks but it took a long time before I could really say I was pain free (sorry). I think the soft tissue damage took longer to heal than the bone and was more painful.
You will get back to normal eventually, but it's going to be a while yet. Can you book your little ones into day care for a couple of days or mornings to give yourself a break?

[Thinkingblonde]

I am not surprised you're still hobbling around!
I broke my ankle and had a cast on for six weeks, was told in no uncertain terms not to put any weight on it as it wouldn't be healed for at least six weeks.
It was x rayed regularly to check progress.
After six weeks the mon load bearing cast was changed for one that enabled me to put foot to floor but not walk.
That was changed for a walking splint boot: a open splint with a support up my calf and velcroed on.
That changed to a shorter splint that velcroed over my own shoe.
It took eight weeks before I was free of splints but still needed crutches for a few weeks.
The first time I put any weight on it was strange, the nerves in the sole of my foot weren't used to weight bearing after so long. It felt like a massive attack of pins and needles for a few days.
You can't rush it, it takes time to heal.

[Thinkingblonde]

The bruising took ages to go,

[StarUtopia]

Thanks everyone. I did have the toddlers in full time nursery for the first four weeks and I had my mum over for a week but the nursery can't help out any more, so they're back to their normal shorter hours from tomorrow.

Dreading it tbh.

The bruising has come back with a vengeance and I'm sat here now with my leg throbbing. It's in an aircast boot which does help but I'm still going up the stairs on my hands and knees and struggling to get around.

Bit surprised that even though it's broken, the hospital didn't X-ray at this last appointment. The doc just said, start walking on it, ice it at night if it swells up and we'll relook at it in another 3 weeks.

Haven't even been offered physio but tempted to just sort some out myself as surely it's better to get it sooner rather than later?

[P1nkP0ppy]

I had a Weber C #, in plaster and non weight bearing for 12 weeks then partial weight bearing for 4 weeks.
It was extremely painful for 8 weeks but gradually improved unles I did too much - basically had to keep it elevated as much as possible.
4 years on it still swells and aches if I overdo it.

Thankfully I didn't have DCs to look after, you need to get more help somehow op and rest it ( I appreciate that's easy for me to say)
💐🍷🍫

[StarUtopia]

To be honest, I can't afford any more childcare. I've not had any income since doing this (self employed) and the ft childcare for two over the last 5 weeks has nearly crippled me! Going to be in debt for quite some time.

[Thinkingblonde]

Could your mum help out again?

[StarUtopia]

Sadly not. Lives 400 miles away.

[shitgibbon]

Took 12 weeks for me.

[BestIsWest]

Too early for physio.

I had a Weber C and a Weber B and a metartarsal at the same time (not on the same leg though). Was in plaster for eight weeks and only then did I start to have physio. Was 5 months before I was walking without a stick. Was running again after about 10 months.

Keep it up as much as you can. I found once I could weight bear it got better much quickly.

[StarUtopia]

Ok gives me some idea of timescales, thank you!

Mum's just given me some £ to put them both in nursery today and tomorrow just to give me a chance to catch some rest.

One day at a time I guess then!