I broke my fibula nearly three weeks ago, need help on swelling?

Question:

I broke my fibula nearly three weeks ago, didn't require surgery and not too much pain. the problem is swelling all the time is this normal?, if the leg is rested then it goes down, but once i walk on my sticks ( non bearing) it swells up!!. will this afftect healing time, should i be worried. Cast is lightweight to my knee and is due of in 3 weeks. what can i expect then

Answers:
Hi im a orthopaedic plaster technician so i deal with fractures and casts all day.Ist off all you need to rest because as soon as you start to walk your leg and toes will start to sweal this is why you need to rest with you leg elevated above you heart.The swelling is normal so dont be alarmed,you just need to rest more,and no it wont affect your healing time at all.Once the cast is off your leg will feel very strange and light,skinny due to muscle wastage but that will return once you start to weight bear again.You will have to still use crutches for a while as you will only be partial weight bearing for a while then after that you will be able to fully weight bear this is down to your consultant when he thinks,also the consultant will probably x-ray you leg again to see if your fracture has healed correctly and in the right position.Good Luck.

Other Answers:
Never put ice on a break... Other answers may say so..

This is quite normal it is Lymphatic fluid, try to keep your leg raised above your heart (back of a sofa) when resting, but do keep mobile.. Anti-inflammatory drugs might help

I broke my lower leg 4 years ago (can't remember if it was tib or fib) and was in a cast/on crutches 3 months. My leg swelled every day while I was at work but once I got home and elevated it, the swelling went down. My leg healed fine and today I have no lingering effects from the break. Be sure to take an aspirin every day to reduce the chance of blood clots.

Ice packs and elevating the broken area above heart level.

you should ice the area and elevate it above heart level. Anytime you have your leg belove heart level it is going to swell up because of the blood flow into the leg. If it keeps doing it you should have your doctor look at it to make sure there isn't something else going on. Plus, if you have bad pain in your calf you should get to the doctor right away because you could have a blood clot.

Should be alright. It will take a bit of time though.
Try keeping it elevated when you are not walking about, and gently start excercising the foot and ankle.Start by wriggling your toes, the excercise will pump the lymph towards the heart and decrease the swelling.

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I broke my fibula nearly three weeks ago, need help on swelling?

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