Ankle Fusion confirmed by surgeon

If you put weight on the fused foot before the right time you may waste the operation.   How will you get a wheelchair down the stairs?   I had a foot scooter which was fine round my bungalow and then an electric wheelchair for outings in the garden but in your position I am not sure what I would do.  Keeping fit is a problem but I am l0 years older than you and I had got a fair bit of strength back about six months after the operation .  I am going through the whole thing in June with the other foot so you can see I thought it was all worth it.   

I had an ankle fusion on march 1st.  The hardest part is staying sane.  I have watched a lot of tv and basically have been a prisoner in my house.  But when it's over the pain is remarkably better and that is worth all the trouble.  I have drank lots of milk and I think it makes a real difference.

The question is how are you going to get up the stairs once you have had the operation and then how will you get down again. I had a wheelchair to get around the house, and used crutches to get outside. I live in a house so it was easier to get around. My friends took me out in their cars with the wheelchair in the boot. I read lots of book, stocked up on them before the op. Put everything at bench level in the kitchen. I have put some weight on and so far haven't been able to shift it. Have started walking again, hopefully that will shift it. It is a long slow process, I am still improving 16 months later.

 

I think with this operation there could be as many different replies as surgeries. My triple fusion was 4th October last year. I am 6 months on and still in pain, still using a crutch but I have heard from others who were pain and support free after four months. A wheelchair is a good idea, the thing that got to me the most was the complete dependency on my husband. Our bungalow is too small to use the wheelchair inside and because I have arthritis in my hands I couldn't take all my weight on crutches. I'm due to go on holiday next month and my Consultant has agreed to wait until after that to find out what's going on. I'm 64 and have other health issues as well which could be the reason my progress is slow. I can remember the pain I was in before the operation and even though it must sound as though I'm full of doom and gloom, the pain now is unpleasant but bearable, prior to the op it was a nightmare. I wish I could say it's an easy operation but it's one which takes several months at the very least to fully recover from, but, I have pain not agony.

I had a fusion operation and got up and down stairs on my backside.   Down was easy and up was all arms with the help is my good leg.  Get a transfer chair not a wheel chair.  Much lighter and easier to load into a car. I would also suggest a booster for the toilet as most are low and a long way down and up when have one non weight bearing leg.  Also w had a shower chair that I used when showering..  all helped me be mobile until I could put weight on my leg (16 weeks)

good luck and and hope this helps

I am 3 months post-op from my Fusion, screws to, they cut a lot of arthritis out, built me an arch. Now that I've been trying to put weight on it, it is more painful but overall I'm 3 months in and I'm mobile. I too went down the stairs on the back side up the stairs on the back side I did have a shower chair would highly recommend it I used a knee scooter over a wheelchair only used wheelchairs when I went out in the stores then the knee scooter was just too much to bear weight on my knee around a big store. I have to say my doctor didn't tell me the rehab was this big or I probably wouldn't have done it but I know overall in the end I will be happy I start physical therapy after I get out of the boot I was 8 weeks cast 4 weeks boot. Good luck at least we had time to prepare our homes etc.

Thank you all for the superb advice. I have started gentle work outs with weights now and am working on my core muscles as I see a long and certain boring recovery   I want to get as fit as possible before the surgery.

I am going to get a wheelchair as I'll go nuts not getting around.  

My limp has gotten more pronounced of late and I use at least one crutch. 

I have had four surgeries on my other foot and to be honest it all worked except for a little twinge here and there.

Any advice on fitness in a wheelchair most welcome. Post op I plan to get a taxi (or friend) to drive me to Plymouth Hoe to wheel myself around the very flat promenade for a few hours.

ANY advice welcome.

Thank you

David 

 

I would be worried if you weren't nervous. The vast majority of these ops are successful, I'm hoping my problems are down to the metalwork but if it's bad news I don't want it until after my holiday! Confidence in your surgeon is essential, I trust mine completely and whatever she says goes. You won't be in a wheelchair to long if I were you I'd get one and customise it, stamp your personality on it. Just plan for bouts of boredom and frustration at the apparent lack of progress, and you will be fine.

I go up and down the stairs on my butt...