After a 6-week stretch, today I go in for new x-rays and again take these to Dr. Lopez for her analysis. She announces, “The Bone growth looks good. It’s time to drop the crutch!”
It’s time for the next step, full-weight bearing (FWB), meaning continuing to learn to walk unaided by a crutch.
Dr, Lopez explains that my fracture is healing well, but there is still a lot more Bone Growth needed in the lower part of the bone, just above the ankle region, where it was shattered.
I’ve learned a significant medical fact concerning bone growth: One should not expect to see much significant healing on an x-ray until 20 or 30 weeks after the fracture, which is about the time frame for me at this point. That's because the hard lamellar bone doesn't really become calcified until this point. What your operating surgeon (OS) is therefore looking for on an x-ray is cloudy fuzz around the break, which indicates Woven Bone is being laid down.
Bone growth is a fascinating process. Woven bone is laid down between the broken bits and the ends are in fact joined together. Usually this process actually starts at 3 to 4 weeks after the break.
Full bone growth, that is full lamellar re-growth, generally takes a full year or more to complete.
As my exercise program continues, I look forward to regaining some muscle, as through 7 months of relative inactivity my right calf shrunk to about half the size of my left. It’s now about two-thirds the size of my left leg.
So the good news is I’m “walking” without crutches --well hobbling-- but I expect progress.
next chapter
It’s time for the next step, full-weight bearing (FWB), meaning continuing to learn to walk unaided by a crutch.
Dr, Lopez explains that my fracture is healing well, but there is still a lot more Bone Growth needed in the lower part of the bone, just above the ankle region, where it was shattered.
I’ve learned a significant medical fact concerning bone growth: One should not expect to see much significant healing on an x-ray until 20 or 30 weeks after the fracture, which is about the time frame for me at this point. That's because the hard lamellar bone doesn't really become calcified until this point. What your operating surgeon (OS) is therefore looking for on an x-ray is cloudy fuzz around the break, which indicates Woven Bone is being laid down.
Bone growth is a fascinating process. Woven bone is laid down between the broken bits and the ends are in fact joined together. Usually this process actually starts at 3 to 4 weeks after the break.
Full bone growth, that is full lamellar re-growth, generally takes a full year or more to complete.
As my exercise program continues, I look forward to regaining some muscle, as through 7 months of relative inactivity my right calf shrunk to about half the size of my left. It’s now about two-thirds the size of my left leg.
So the good news is I’m “walking” without crutches --well hobbling-- but I expect progress.
next chapter
