u/Low-Temporary4439 — reddlx

Apologies if this is too long.

This may be a stupid question. It's called pandiculation, that involuntary whole body stretch our body does every morning when we wake up.

Does a cast prevent that type of stretch in the casted body part? Does it injure the bone further if done while in a cast? Or does a cast prevent ANY movement at all?

I ask because I'm currently in a removable Airlift brace for 3 occult, non-displaced stress fractures, left foot: cuboid, later cuneiform and 3rd metatarsal base.

My podiatrist didn't want to cast me because:

-I'm bedridden many years from a chronic illness: he fears I'll get a blood clot.

-I already have severe osteopenia and muscle atrophy from being bedbound, a longstanding mineral deficiency (low phosphorus) and being post-menopausal: he fears a cast will worsen my bone density.

My Airlift brace still allows movement of my foot, so the involuntary muscle twitching and stretching that my body is doing is causing pain and movement of my fractures. It doesn't happen often, maybe 1-3x a day. I also sometimes bump my foot into things accidentally.

I'm afraid I won't heal. I can only tolerate the brace a few hours at a time because it causes red pressure marks on my navicular tuberosity.

I'm wanting to try ultrasonic bone stimulation but insurance won't cover it until after 3 months. But I'm anxious to heal asap due to my osteopenia and muscle atrophy.

It's been so far 5 weeks since my injury, misdiagnosed as a sprain originally because x-ray looked normal, MRI 3 weeks later showed the fractures.

Being chronically bedbound (before the injury) I was still able to bear weight on my legs and feet, just not stand or walk. I did bed exercises and transferred into my wheelchair, so I daily and frequently used both my feet and legs to push off the bed. Now I'm only able to bear weight on my right one.

Dr. says casting is still an option but he mentioned the risks again.

Any thoughts or personal experiences?