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Still unable to use ankle 7 weeks after surgery

Posted , 4 users are following.

ann30953
ann30953

Hello all. I had brostrom procedure and microfracture of talus 7 weeks ago. I have tried to start physical therapy and to walk with a walker. It doesn't hurt at the time, but a few hours later or the next morning it hurts. 

Did any of you have the same problem at this stage of  recovery? Did you keep walking and doing physical therapy anyway? Did  you improve or get worse?

Thank you so much. I'm getting so frustrated with this that I'm thinking of making some dramatic changes like moving temporarily into an assisted living facility so I don't have to cope with this on my own anymore. 

 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • kristina73093
    kristina73093 ann30953

    Posted

    I'm 19 weeks post op with a host of issues. I can't even do physio.

    • kristina73093
      kristina73093 ann30953

      Posted

      I had 2 tendon grafts, a 3rd atfl reconstruction, and an internal brace installed. Oh, nevermind this was my 3rd surgery and my surgeon broke my lateral malleolus as well.
    • ann30953
      ann30953 kristina73093

      Posted

      I am so sad to hear how difficult it has been for you. I hope you have supportive family and friends around to make it bearable. 
  • mars44904
    mars44904 ann30953

    Posted

    My surgeon in Los Angeles said I could do whatever I wanted to do after 12 weeks, so long as it didn’t hurt. He said that I am feeling pain I should stop. He Is the chairman of the foot and ankle clinic at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, and was chairman of the foot and ankle clinic at USC Keck Hospital. I travelled around the United States looking for the guy with the best reputation for complicated injuries and several doctors highly recommended him.  Don’t do anything if it hurts. You will know when you are ready 
    • ann30953
      ann30953 mars44904

      Posted

      Were you ultimately able to walk unassisted and without pain?
  • hyperalgesia
    hyperalgesia ann30953

    Posted

    How is your recovery coming along?

    I am supposed to get the very same procedure next week but am having doubts about it. I don't have obvious instability. Just impingement/pain in the ankle.

    I have a torn ATFL and fibular avulsion fracture.

    • ann30953
      ann30953 hyperalgesia

      Posted

      It's been 3 1/2 months. I can walk in regular shoes with a walker slowly putting less weight on affected ankle. I can limp around my apartment without the walker. I did a lot of exercise Saturday on stationary bike in addition to regular physical therapy exercises and had more pain that usual on Sunday. Still take naproxen sodium every day.

      My physical therapist thinks much of the difficulty is due to two months being immobile and my tendons shortening and joints stiffening. She thinks I should have started physical therapy when it was first prescribed two weeks after surgery. I didn't do it because my ankle felt so fragile and I had so much pain.

      My recovery may not be similar to yours. In addition to the brostrom, I had a microfracture of the talus and repair to one tendon.

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