Post op swelling and pain 8 weeks

Hi Susan. Not that it will make you feel much better, but I'm six months out and still have a lot of swelling and pain. 

Sorry - I hit enter before I was finished. Anyway, one thing that has helped the swelling for me is wearing a compression stocking. You should raise that with your doctor. For me, the swelling is the worst on the inner part of my ankle (i.e., not the fibula which was broken and surgically repaired), and also on the bottom of my foot and toes. The two worst things for me are the continuous burning I get on the inner part of my ankle and the strange (numb) feeling I get in my toes and bottom of my foot. I'm stilling doing my PT, although I'm doing it at home now. My doctor says it could take up to 18 months to recover. So to sum it up, what your experiencing 8 weeks out is likely very normal, but of course you need to see what your doctor says. Good luck in your recovery!

Hi Susan,

I am 11 weeks post op. I had a tendon transfer, reconstruction of my arch using a donor bone.

The first week and a half of wb was extremely painful even with the help of crutches. The worst pain I Hanne experienced since childbirth 26 years ago. The Dr said after walking 15 miles it would get easier. I started out doing a mile a day working to 2 miles. It still swells from my knee down and is painful but much better than in the beginning. In the beginning I couldn't imagine ever being able to put full weight on that foot but I'm finally able to walk (limp) a little ways without any crutches but still use 1 most of the time. One week and a half after the surgery I cried for 2 hours I was so discouraged [and I'm not a crier] but the next day, almost like a light switch, I was able to use 1 crutch.

Make sure you call the Dr if you think something isn't right.

Good luck!

Hello Susan.  I cannot comment as to your symptoms but i presume you are using the RICE Protocols.  REST : ICE : COMPRESSION : ELEVATION 

Go with what your body tells you.   Don't push yourself to walk if it creates too much pain

Go seek professional advice

Good luck

Hi. I'm almost 8 months post surgery and still have swelling 24/7 on my ankle plus sometimes on my lower leg. It is always stiff especially when I first get out of bed, I still walk with a limp, although that is improving slowly. I still experience slight pain on my right side of ankle. I've been back at work almost 5 months on my feet 10-12 hours, my foot is sometimes a slightly different colour to the other one and sometimes feels colder. I elevate, ice, massage etc but stopped physio as basically they said I'm doing all they suggest, and it's a time frame of between 0-12 months to recovery.

Its early days yet for you but try and remain positive, keep doing your exercises and if in doubt contact your gp, especially if you experience blue colour, coldness, numbness etc. I wish you a quick recovery

Hi Susan 

your early days yet!  I'm 6 mos in and couldn't use crutches so wheelchair and walker - compartment Syndrone is unlikely but you should check with your Dr on that, I got diagnosed at 2 mos with RSD/CRYPS, so it delays healing time - swelling does well with elevation, I could not do ice, so I did gentle massage and warm water foot baths.  Just to let you know I only fully weight bearing in last month, we're  all different levels of recovery, be gentle on yourself. It's a process not a race, I'm not walking yet unaided and getting on forearm crutches just now. I'm not your average ankle surgery story so be patient, you'll get there. Wishing you well....

See Dr to check it out,ASAP. Then a physiotherapist to point you in right direction. I am 8 months post break, 4 months post op. I have a large wheeled freedom Walker. Big wheels and a seat! It took me 8 weeks post op until I had my casts off. Couldn't put my foot down at all. Too rounded and swollen.

You are way ahead of what I was. I can't fully weight bare yet, but am getting close. But only for short periods.

Once Dr clears you for anything extra wrong, know that recovery can be a long process. Ligaments and tendons can be stretched and damaged. I use a knee walker when I have to do something in a hurry, and at night around tea time when the swelling is worse.

Get a Physio to give you a plan. Compression bandage works for me when swelling bad. Anti inflammatories too. Check with Dr first.

I am of a similar age and have a plate and 6 screws and had a bone graft.

I walked up and down hall x2-3 very slowly very lightly weight baring. 10%, and then sat back down with foot elevated above heart for a couple of hours unless I had to get up.Physio and Specialist told me to increase weight baring by approx 10% each week. Only a guideline. You may be doing too much with not enough R.I.C.E..

I wore my moonboot 24/7 for 4 weeks after my cast was off. I never felt safe to weight bare without it. Then I progressed to shoes but I have to peel shoe off at times.

My foot still goes purpley red when I have a shower or go swimming. Good luck :+)