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Ankle Surgery - Your thoughts?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Sukh11
Sukh11

Hello, I have Two completely torn ligaments in my ankle:

?- Been 8 months since surgery. (Lateral Ligament Reconstruction)

?- Still in pain when I walk short distances (even few mins!).

- Told it'll take at least a year.

?- Also still have swelling.

- ?Have this weird tingling feeling on top of my foot and in my toes.

?*What can I do to speed up my recovery other than physio? 

*Can I be on my feet WITHOUT any pain in 1 year or will it take few years?  

ANY suggestions are welcome. Looking forward to your responses!

Thanks for reading smile  

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • brenda92532
    brenda92532 Sukh11

    Posted

    Hi Sukh

    I am now 12 months post op and I am still having problems with my left foot.

    i have been for a nerve conduction test, eventually.  The results have come back and there is nerve damage to the ankle and foot. I was told there was nothing they could do for this but I will try anything.

    I am a member of the ramblers and enjoy walking and dancing.  Like you my foot feels heavy and cold and there is a tingling sensation and shooting pains.

    I will let you know if I get any satisfaction and I wish you luck on finding a solution.

    All the best Brenda C

    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 brenda92532

      Posted

      Hi Brenda,

      ​Thank you for responding! I appreciate your feedback.

      ​From reading your post, seems to be the same issue. I also have shooting pains that spike up and then eventually leave.

      Was your surgery for torn ligaments?

      ​My physio stated it could take 2 years, everyone heals differently.

      Good luck on your recovery. 

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 Sukh11

      Posted

      Hi Sukh

      The orthopaedic surgeon told me he thought the nerve damage was from an old injury.  55years ago I was knocked down by a motorcycle.  I had multiple inguries but one of them was my left fibula and tibula were broken. He thinks the problem comes from the tibula nerve.

      When I went for the results of the nerve conduction test it was a member of his team that told me there was nothing they could do for nerve damage.

      Im going to see my doctor on Monday and I intend asking if I can see the orthopaedic surgeon again. I'm not giving up thank you for showing your concern Brenda C

    • natalie15504
      natalie15504 Sukh11

      Posted

      Praying for your recovery. I was in accident year ago. I still have nerve damage. And from my recent surgery I get tingling , shooting pains that comes and goes from the nerve. It does take time and sometimes it can be permanent. I still have swelling. I'm told the pain will get better in time but if you are 8 months out and still in pain from surgery I'd talk to your doctor.

    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 brenda92532

      Posted

      Hi Brenda,

      ?Sorry to hear that. Glad your not giving up, nobody should!

      ?Hope your nerve damage heals, I am still experiencing nerve issues in my ankle and it'll be 10 months on March.

      Good luck!

    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 natalie15504

      Posted

      Hi Natalie,

      ?Thanks for responding and sharing your story.

      ?Sorry to hear about your recent accident, hope you recover! Yes, when I got to my surgeon, he simply states "I dont know why your experiencing nerve issues, I did surgery on your ankle". It's not the best thing to hear. I do still have swelling and pain. I will be approaching 10 months in March.

      ?Swimming, Physio and Gym do help with pain. Try any of those activities and let me know how you feel when your ready.

      ?Wish you all the best.

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 Sukh11

      Posted

      Hi Sukh 

      ive just been to the hospital for my 12-13 months check on my hip.  The x-ray showed the hip was fine, but when I asked about my foot and told what I have tried I was asked if I'd had much physio.  When looking at some of my posts on this forum, I noticed Dorothy had been in the same situation and she had some use back in the foot and her surgeon was amazed.

      Apparently she was advised to wear a foot brace 24/7 for 2 months and then she had very intense physio. She advised me to do the same and to ask my doctor about this.

      It depends on the area you live in, she lives in the London area and attended the RNOH at Stanmore. I live in the South Yorkshire region.

      I have found some very useful advice on this forum. It was here I was told to ask for a nerve conduction test.

      Good luck to you on your recovery. 

      Brenda C

    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 brenda92532

      Posted

      Hi Brenda,

      ?Glad you did your check up. Will you be doing intense physio and wearing a foot brace then?

      ?I was travelling to UK and found the weather very cold and my ankle was very sore. Now I am visiting India, and since I have been here, my ankle feels much better. I seriously have had ZERO pain here. I have been walking around like I never even had surgery.

      ?I don't understand if it's just the weather here or the air that's causing my ankle no pain? Wish it would stay like this forever.

    • brenda92532
      brenda92532 Sukh11

      Posted

      Hi Sukh11

      Glad you are pain free in India, it must be the heat.  I'll have to give it a try,or wait until it gets warmer in England.

      ive booked an appointment to see a specialised physio.  I explained my situation and I'm going on the 15th march to see him and I was told he will tell me if there is anything they can do.

       I will let you know the outcome and wish me luck.

      Brenda 

  • melissa91009
    melissa91009 Sukh11

    Posted

    Hi. I'm 34 and I had the same plus a talar dome lesion in 2015. 18 months later I still had a lot of pain and swelling and very reduced ROM so surgeon did another arthroscopy last November for synovitis and scar tissue (after a 10/10 steroid injection into ankle - the steroid pain that lasted weeks) Now I have numbness in big and second toes and still have alot of pain and swelling. I honestly don't know about yours. It's very frustrating and I have very restricted range of motion and limp all the time. I think it's very individual. I'd advise to gently use it but if you get pain increased and swelling to rest it because it doesn't help recovery if you over work it. But keep it moving other wise it might develop scar tissue and stiffen up. I had to be in my cam boot too long due to a hip surgery on the opposite hip a few months later hence I needed my ankle cleaned out 18 months post op. It's horribly painful surgery and I hope you improve soon! Melissa

    • melissa91009
      melissa91009

      Posted

      Oh by the way, do you ice it? I found a simple ankle brace (metal supports both sides of your ankle but allows movement up and down) helped my pain. 😊

    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 melissa91009

      Posted

      Hi Melissa,

      ?Thanks for sharing your story with me! How frequent is your pain? What did your doctor advise in terms of recovery time?

      ?It's been 10 months now and still experiencing pain. Still have swelling.

      ?I was travelling to UK and found the weather very cold and my ankle was very sore. Now I am visiting India, and since I have been here, my ankle feels much better. I seriously have had ZERO pain here. I have been walking around like I never even had surgery.

      ?I don't understand if it's just the weather here or the air that's causing my ankle no pain? Wish it would stay like this forever. 

  • henpen1980
    henpen1980 Sukh11

    Posted

    sorry to hear about your injury.  Have you asked your doctor about water therapy?
    • Sukh11
      Sukh11 henpen1980

      Posted

      Hi Henpen1980,

      ?Thanks for posting! No I haven't, what is water therapy and what does it do?

  • henpen1980
    henpen1980 Sukh11

    Posted

    Hello, Water therapy can help strength and improve range of motion without gravity.  Water walking is a great class to start with.  You would need access to a swimming pool.  You could take a class or go to an open swim.  Do you still have a physical therapist or doctor who could explain more and make a recommendation i.e. place to go e.g. YMCA, health club, PT.
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