Is the leg swollen, blood pooling when learning to walk during the cast time?

Question
Hello doctor,
I have a broken foot, I am in a cast, now 20 days. Now every time I walk on crutches for 2-3 minutes, my legs swell up and the blood rushes to purple all over my feet. So the doctor asked me if my legs were swollen and blood pooled when I learned to walk during the cast time? Thank you doctor.
Nguyen Dang Toan (HCMC)
Answer
Answered by Master, Doctor Le Quang Minh - Department of General Surgery, Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Hi friends,
With the question “Is the leg swollen, blood pooling when learning to walk during the cast time? , the doctor would like to answer as follows:
Foot fractures usually heal after 3-6 weeks depending on the type of fracture. In your case, you are in a cast for 20 days, which means that the healing process is still going on. Usually at this stage, you are only allowed to bear part of the load when walking with crutches and gradually increase over time depending on the degree of bone healing. How much weight-bearing will be evaluated and advised by your doctor specifically, so you should have regular check-ups so that your doctor can properly assess your recovery.
In the early stages of strength training, the phenomenon of blood pooling in the legs and swollen feet is acceptable, this phenomenon will decrease over time. You can break up your load-bearing sessions and post-exercise leg elevation to improve this problem.
If you still have questions about swollen legs, blood pooling when learning to walk during the cast, you can go to the hospital of Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!