Rehabilitation after ankle fusion
Posted , 56 users are following.
I had an ankle fusion 14 weeks ago and after 12 weeks in plaster, progressed to an aircast boot. The surgeon told me to walk around the house without the boot from 14 weeks, so I've just started doing that, but am finding I have lots of pain in the foot - below the toe and along the left side of my foot when I attempt to walk and roll through the foot. Am walking with crutches now without the boot, and trying to roll through the foot as much as possible, hoping that the muscles will relax. The hospital told me very little about what to expect at this point and haven't referred me for physio so I'm feeling a bit lost. Is this foot pain normal? (I don't have pain in the actual ankle, it's just everywhere else, including my opposite hip and knee too!).
3 likes, 150 replies
laura20268 tessa98714
Posted
I had a double ankle fusion of my right foot and am 5 weeks out of my boot. This is my second foot surgery in two years. I am still having a terrible time with walking and having pain while doing so. I still have quite a bit if swelling. If resting the pain is very minimal if exist at all. Walking seems to be my only issue. My foot was repositioned as well because I have prolapses arches so now in my right foot I feel like I am walking on the right side of my foot only and it feels so odd and painful. I am told this is all normal and my progress is on point. I feel like after 5 week post boot almost 4 months post surgery walking should be getting easier and less painful. I have searched all over looking for stories and progress of others during this same type of recovery to see if how I am feeling is normal and when I can expect some relief. My physical therapist and doctor just say it will take time but my frustrations grow daily. I never healed after my last surgery and was in pain until this one so I can't even try and compare my progress. Please I need some feedback from people who have been through this and understand?!?
tessa98714 laura20268
Posted
Hi Laura, I'm now 23 weeks post fusion and still have pain in my foot and at the back of my ankle when I walk. I'm still walking very slowly and with one crutch. I'm also walking more on the outside of my foot so have been referred for orthotic insoles to correct this. Like you I've been really frustrated ever since I came out of plaster and the boot at how slow my progress has been, and have also been told it all takes a long time to settle down and that I need to be patient! The nurses keep telling me it can take between 12 to 18 months to feel completely happy with having had the surgery. I'm trying to stay positive but it's hard. I can feel some glimmers of hope as every week there is a slight improvement but it's very slow. Keep going and be patient is all i can say!! Good luck!
laura20268 tessa98714
Posted
Tessa- thank you so much for the message. Its nice to know what I am feeling is not crazy and my progress is where it should be. It does get very discouraging but having people who understand is very helpful. I should probably use my crutch more and not be so stubborn to help with easing the pain when walking but I felt I shouldn't. Please keep me updated on your progress. I see my doctor again in another 3 weeks.
tessa98714 laura20268
Posted
Good luck when you see the doctor. I'll keep you posted abt my progress. I'm off on a beach holiday next week, booked back when I thought I'd be fully recovered by 6 months post op. That was obviously very over optimistic, but I'm hoping that swimming in the sea will help, despite the fact that having a crutch on the beach is not going to be very stylish!!
margie41357 tessa98714
Posted
Im in the same boat Tessa,
29 weeks out with 2 surgeries and still with one. Rutch and sometimes came but walk very slow as well, my calf and achilles very tight and my foot balloons up after all the excercises I have to do for my Physio. It is a slow and ago izing road so hang in there. I sure know my patience had run out but I too see little improvements.
Keep your chin up!😊
Margie
kevin2712 laura20268
Posted
###CANTGETMUCHWORse
laura20268 kevin2712
Posted
Kevin I am really sorry to hear what you are going through! I can't imagine how tough that is. I will pray your healing continues please keep me updated on your progress. Hang in there and good luck!
mars44904 kevin2712
Posted
linda28371 mars44904
Posted
linda28371 laura20268
Posted
christine76972 linda28371
Posted
linda,its a long time since you posted. was the pain at the top of your foot from one side to the other of your ankle bone? How long did it take to feel better? My pain in that area....i believe called the cruciate ligament is what is holding me back its really painful on weight bearing.
helen61086 tessa98714
Posted
This is a great site. it has helped me enormously with expectations. I live in the US and something tells me this is a Brit site so my understanding can be vastly different. I want to mention that I ordered from Amazon a shoe height leveling devise called "Evenup" . Stupid looking but so what when it guards against hip problems and stress fractures of you have osteoporosis. I am 12 weeks out so early days for walking in regular footwear, enormous amount pf swelling and I have just bought a Mens size 8 wide trainers. the pain is on the outside of the foot and my PT guy says the outer ankle bone moves outwards normally to accommodate motion which not feasible after fusion. I fractured my tibia and chipped the talus and lost bone. I have a titanium plate, 11 screws and a bone graft. I'm 79 and I don't think age is a factor , do exercises for thigh and knee muscles. Expect pain but not searing pain and just hang in there. Plenty of things to do, I booked airlines, hotels, tried an on-line class in organic chemistry, at least one third thru it. Couldn't do stairs except on my bottom, can now tho' yea. Looking forward to getting thru' this. I have had three ops so far. All the best to anyone going through this.
A transplanted Brit who lives in Alaska
coljc tessa98714
Posted
Is the pain so bad you can't walk at all .. 4months after failed TAR going for fusion and the thought it will be as bad as this for that long I'd prefer get it done with completely.
bernadette99896 coljc
Posted
I had my triple fusion and tendon repair April 3rd. Couldn't walk for 5 months. It was so painful and i kept falling off my knee scooter. After 5 months i walked in the boot. Then at 7 months i got into a really good running shoe. Even after all this time, walking up and down stairs or uneven surface is hard. I can walk and drive though, I am so thankful that it is over. Would never go through that again. My doctor said at least a year and a half before it will be all better! For now i am happy to just be walking again.
geraint87484 bernadette99896
Posted
I feel your pain. I had a full ankle fusion in Oct 2017 but the subtalar broke within a few months and i woke up one morning with gunk coming out of a pin hole in my ankle. So had the metalwork removed in April and spent 13 days in on an antibiotic drip. I went home in plaster until July when i had another operation to put it back together again. Im still only just walking with the aid of a stick and whilst im not in so much pain, i still feel like this has a long way to go
coljc geraint87484
Posted
Ok so is it 6 months since op and you can get around ok now .. did pain go down a lot after 3months with fusion or.. ??