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
marian01540 tessa98714
Posted
Hi All,
Just been at the pool and did 10 laps, that's the first time since 17th January when I completed 20. Ankle fusions 26 weeks ago, still not walking properly however, the physio is happy with my progress. I am still not walking straight, too long in moonboot and dodgy ankle. I have very little pain in my foot and ankle, calf is giving me some interesting feelings, and my right hip likes to complain. It really is a very long recovery, however, it does seem to get a lttile better each day.
tessa98714 marian01540
Posted
Hi Marian, I've just been on holiday to Spain and swam for the first time since my op 6 months ago. It was a total joy to swim in the sea and to be able to move without pain! Like you I still have pain when walking, mostly in the ball of the foot and back of ankle, and still use a crutch to walk. But swimming was wonderful, I almost felt 'normal' again! The only trouble at home is getting to the pool, which is a bus ride away but I'm definitely going to try and swim as often as I can from now on to build up some strength and to feel the enjoyment of moving!
barb1953 tessa98714
Posted
Hi Tessa,
I'm only one month after double ankle fusion this coming Wednesday. Did you still have a lot of pain around your ankle after one month? My pain level on some days is as bad as the first week of surgery? It concerns me that I still have this much pain & that I still need to take Oxycodone.
Barb
tessa98714 barb1953
Posted
Hi there, I didn't have any pain a month after the op, but I did feel a real bloidcrudh to the ankle every time I was vertical. My pain only started once the cast was off and I was starting to walk without it. However if you've got pain then you should probably elevate the ankle as much as possible and rest. Perhaps you're trying to do too much? It's a slow recovery and you can't rush things unfortunately! Good luck and I hope the pain gets better.
tessa98714
Posted
barb1953 tessa98714
Posted
Thank you for your reply. That's all I've been doing is elevating going from my bed to a chair. Some days even elevating is painful. I guess I'm really concerned now as I shouldn't be having this much pain. Having my foot down just to brush my teeth is excruciating. Can hardly wait for Tuesday to get my X-rays.
tessa98714 barb1953
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marian01540 tessa98714
Posted
Glad you got to swim in the ocean and felt normal, it really is great. I have now got up to 12 laps was going to try for 14 this week however, have some virus that made me stay at home. Maybe next week. I am off on holidays in September looking forward to walking around a bit and seeing different things. I still get swelling which is a pain, so still need to wear my compression sock, however, small price to pay for no more pain. Finished seeing Physio and still seeing chiropractor once a week now.
laura20268 tessa98714
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tessa98714 laura20268
Posted
Hi Laura! I'm now 8 and a half months post fusion and I still have the same kind of pain as you. It's much less than it was and I've now got special orthotic insoles in my shoes , which help a lot. After about 8 months I noticed a definite improvement but I'm still not totally pain free, so I think your symptoms are pretty normal. The surgeons talk abt pain free in the ankle but they don't seem to take into consideration the time it takes for Muscles and tendons to adjust to the fusion. I'm sure it'll all get better in time, fingers crossed!
laura20268 tessa98714
Posted
margie41357 laura20268
Posted
Hi Laura,
I am 11 months post fusion and still limping and some pain in ankle when I'm on it alot. I did have a second surgery to remove plates and screwsand was happy I did that it was less painfull after that. Some people the hardware will cause pain. I can go up on my toes now after 3 months of PT but my toes still hurt. I think nerve damage maybe, but sloqly improving. It takes soooo long. My surgeon said prob a year and a half. I have a brace to support and protect my ankle with a built in irtidic. Cost $1500 but my plan paid for it. I will wear it for another 3 months or so. Good luck to you it is a really hard process and painful as well!
Take care of yourself it will heal,
Margie
margie41357
Posted
marian01540 margie41357
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Do you still have swelling? I am post fusion January however screws out April, I still get lots of ankle swelling and aching when it rains. Always still in the morning but once I warm up Im ok, still lopsided, trying to work on straightening my body out.
margie41357 marian01540
Posted
Mostly swelling when I'm on it all day or do too much walking. In am swelling is all gone. I am lopsided too lol. I do find it getting better, but ever so slowly. I was Mid Dec surgery and June plate and acrew removal, so we are similar. Swelling in the morning seems strange. Im going to try to back to yoga next week , so I hope rhat stretches and straightens me out.
marian01540 margie41357
Posted
Thanks for that we can compare notes, I am back doing laps in the pool, with different size flippers. lol.
Haven't thought about yoga yet, let me know how you go.
Dllewis laura20268
Posted
I had my first ankle fusion last year and for the whole 16 months before my next one I was in terrible pain when I tried to walk. Then my doctor told me that it had non unioned and I had to have another one in September of 2017. I'm still in terrible pain and it's been 14 weeks now. My doctor says the same thing time will heal but I question this.