How long do you have to stay off a broken foot?

How long does recovery take? A broken foot or toe may take 4–6 weeks to heal fully. However, in some cases, healing time can be as long as 10–12 weeks. Recovering individuals should follow the RICE method and any specific instructions from their doctor.

How long should you not walk on a broken foot?

Can you walk on a broken foot? For most foot fractures, you will need to avoid full weight bearing for at least six to eight weeks to allow the fracture to heal. During this time, your foot will be placed in a boot or cast and you will need to use crutches or a walker to get around.

Is it OK to walk on a broken foot?

Typically you can walk on a broken foot, however, doing so will aggravate the situation. It's best to give your foot a rest, and keep weight off it, so that bones can take the time they need to heal. It is always best to get an injury like a fracture checked out to ensure proper treatment.

Should I take time off work for broken foot?

Recovery times depend on the severity of the fracture

Broken bones heal differently in different situations. A simple, stable fracture may only require six to eight weeks of immobilization and reduced use for a worker to heal the bone and get their cast taken off.

Can you walk on a broken foot after 4 weeks?

You can walk on your injured foot as much as your pain allows. You should gradually stop using the supportive shoe over three to five weeks, as your pain settles.

Broken Foot Recovery

Can I drive with a walking boot?

This device cannot be worn while driving, even if the boot is on the left (non-driving) foot. This is the law, folks! Also, this device cannot be worn in the shower because water can damage your equipment.

Can you walk with a broken foot in a boot?

Walking: You may walk on the foot as comfort allows but you may find it easier to walk on your heel in the early stages. The boot you have been given is for your comfort only and is not needed to aid fracture healing but will help to settle your symptoms.

How long should you be off work with a fracture?

In general, most fractures in adults take approximately 6 weeks to heal. Similar fractures in children may take only 4 or 5 weeks to heal. Some slow healing fractures may take 3 months or even longer to heal.

Can you drive with a broken foot?

Tips. Driving is not possible when the foot is immobilized with a bandage or with plaster. Many foot fractures require a long time off work until they are cured, during which time driving is not allowed.

Can I return to work on crutches?

Traditional assistive devices such as canes and crutches will not allow workers in industries like healthcare, industry and labor to perform their duties as well as if they were uninjured. If you are a doctor in a hospital, navigating the different floors and corridors can take over twice as long on crutches.

Do you sleep with a walking boot?

Although you should follow your doctor's advice in any situation, the normal practice is to wear the boot while sleeping. However, loosening the straps that secure the boot will increase wearing comfort and allow you to sleep better.

How many hours a day should you wear a walking boot?

DO wear your sock and boot any time you are on your feet. DO spend about 2 to -3 hours each day with your ankle elevated above the level of your heart.

How far can you walk in a walking boot?

How far can you walk in a walking boot? For some injuries, no weight-bearing is allowed with the walking boot (at least at the start of the rehab). But if your injury isn't too bad, you may be allowed to walk as much as you want with the walking boot.

When do you stop wearing a walking boot?

Orthopedic boots protect broken bones and other injuries of the lower leg, ankle, or foot. They prevent more damage and help the area heal. Your doctor may have you use a boot for 1 to 6 weeks.

Can you walk in a walking boot without crutches?

The short answer is no: You don't need crutches with a walking boot. While you shouldn't generally put weight on a walking boot, other mobility aids can be used instead of crutches to prevent this from occurring. These include wheelchairs, canes, walkers, and others.

Will walking on a fractured foot make it worse?

This fracture gets worse with time if you keep walking on it, so non-weight bearing is very important. People with this fracture are more likely to develop problems healing that require an operation.

Can wearing a walking boot cause pain?

A study published in the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons titled Associated Joint Pain With Controlled Ankle Movement Walker Boot Wear showed that many patients experienced pain in the knee, hip, and/or back from the added weight and limb length discrepancy from the CAM boot.

How does a boot work for a broken foot?

Walking Boots for Foot & Ankle Fractures and Injuries

Medical walking boots aid in the beginning of the rehabilitation process by stabilizing and protecting the area while it heals. As the foot or leg begins to heal, a walking boot slowly allows weight to be put onto the foot.

How do you transition from a walking boot?

The first is to curl your toes as tightly as possible, and then to stretch them out as far as possible, holding each position for a few seconds. Another option is to point your toes out like a ballerina, rotate the foot ten times clockwise, and then ten times anticlockwise.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken foot?

Rest: Rest is key. Staying off your injury will help you heal faster. You will likely wear a cast to help keep the foot and ankle immobilized. Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation.

How long will I be off work with a broken ankle?

It takes about six to twelve weeks for a broken ankle to heal, but it make take longer to regain full movement of the lower leg and foot. How soon you can return to work depends on how badly you fractured the ankle and the type of work you do, but you will probably be off for at least four to six weeks.

Can a bone heal in 2 weeks?

How Long Does a Fracture Take to Heal? Most fractures heal in 6-8 weeks, but this varies tremendously from bone to bone and in each person based on many of the factors discussed above. Hand and wrist fractures often heal in 4-6 weeks whereas a tibia fracture may take 20 weeks or more.

Is a walking boot better than a cast?

Less skin damage – skin underneath a cast can become raw and painful. The open-air design and lightweight material helps to prevent skin damage when wearing a walking boot. No loud saws used – walking boots can be removed without the use of loud saws. This is helpful for children who may be afraid of the saws.

When should I stop using crutches?

There is only ONE right answer! And that is when you can walk with a NORMAL gait. This is NOT debatable or negotiable as long as you had a normal gait prior to the surgery or injury. In order to speed up healing and recovery, normal movement is essential.

What happens if you put weight on a broken foot?

Weight should not be placed on the foot for any period of time, not even for a minute. It is important to follow this advice or you may delay your recovery, interfere with the healing process, and cause more trauma to your foot. This restriction may last from weeks to months depending on your injury.