Swelling after ankle surgery

Hi Christy,

It takes long for the swelling to go down.

Give yourself a month and you will feel the difference.

Patience is the key in this business and I am not good with it 

Molly

 

Hi Helen,

In UK they don't remove the metal plate and screws.

It sounds like you are doing really well :-)

6 months is the average time for walking pretty well

but they don't tell you that.

Molly

Hi Molly,

Thanks for encouragment.

I am in Australia. Not every one choose to remove the hardware. It is an elective surgery here. But I have great difficulty to accept any foreign objects inside my body for the rest of my life. It feel odd. I would like to get back to running and hiking. It would hurt if I wear hiking boots. Therefore I choose to remove them.

I have seen some medical report or research paper about the hardware removal from ORIF conducted in UK.

By the way, I miscalculated the time. I am now at the end of 5th months post surgery. I had 11 sessions of PT so far. I still can't walk for long distance nor stand for long time. I think I am on the slow line of the recovery. I am not sure what have I not done right.

Anyway, it is great to be in the forum to share the recovery journey with people who are on the same boat. I

thank you for start the topic and get it going.

Wish you speedy recovery!

?Helen

Hi Helen,

Based on what you say, I don't think you are doing badly at all.

Walking for a short time on 3km per hour speed is pretty good to me.

But I understand your impatience.  I also find my progress is sooooo slow!

How often do you see your PT?  Are the exercises painful?

You got a good number of sessions already.

When I will start on the 5th of May I will be pretty much mobile.

Also, here our national health cuts down on everything and it will be every 2 weeks.  I had once befor PT for my shoulder.  Didn't do much and gave it up.  So, I don't have great expectations.

I looked up this research on removal of hardware.

It is not clear cut.  I asked the GP but wouldn't explain.

Probably she doesn't know.  Docs consider too much

talking waste of their time.  I envy  people who have good

health care. I think Canadians have a good deal.

Don't know about you in Australia.

But what we get is not too bad and is free.

We only hope there won't be more cuts.

I don't mind having a metal bit and 3 - 4 screws

as long as it doesn't interfere with my walking.

I would hate to have another surgery later on...

Take care Helen 

Molly

I didn't have a boot either.  It was so good 

being able to have a both.  My skin was dried

and flaky. Still the colour of the bad leg is different.

 

Dear Molly,

Don't worry about the colour. My surgeon told me that the colour will stay different for up to 12 months or longer. My injury foot only have slightly swollen now. But the colour still different from the good foot, though it became more and more like each othe now.

My PT told me to use cream massage the foot everyday. The skin on my bad foot is very smooth and the scars are getting lighter. My skin always heals very quick in any cutting anyway.

I have PT session every 1 - 2 weeks. I don't feel they have done much. Maybe she is not a very good one. The session should be 30 minutes each, I often only get 20-25 minutes. I am going to change to a different one after removal of the hardware.

In Australia, the PT and elective surgery are not covered by public Medicare. But I injured at work place, therefore everything is covered by the insurance which is lucky in the unfortunate situation.

Helen

Helen,

How is pain after hardware removal. I hope it went well for you. Can you get up and walk yet?

Hi Margie,

My hardware removal surgery has not been done yet. It will be carried out on 22 June. I will give you the update when the time comes.

Regards,

Xufang

Hi Susan,

It sounds like you are doing really well.

I had my surgery a month before you had yours and my foot still swells.

It can be painful when I overdo it but it is better after a rest.

You are right, it is like learning how to walk again.

I am also fed up asking my husband to do things for me.

He can't find what I asked, brings me wrong things etc 

It is surely frustrating for both of us!

I will be 60 this May.  Looking forward to have my freedom pass!

Are you in UK too?

Remember the worse part is behind us.

Enjoy your weekend and let us know how you are doing,

Molly

It will be 6 months for me on May 13. I've made good progress this past week, although had a bad day yesterday, but I'm sure I overdid it. Each day I'm adding more to do that I haven't done for six months. It really feels good!

Janness

Hi Janness

Glad to hear you're doing so well! Gives me hope since I am only almost 11 weeks post-op. Are you able to drive and when did you start?

Yes I started driving regularly about a month ago. Maybe more than a month. I think once you can start doing things besides going to pt it progresses quicker. But I've resigned myself to not being 100% till 12 months. Dr didn't inform me but this forum & my PT.

If I know the truth I can handle it! Takes a lot of patience.

Great! I live in the US and my surgeon did not refer me for PT. Pretty much turned me loose at 10 weeks so I've been looking at YouTube videos for guidance on ankle exercises. I think that UK residents have more comprehensive healthcare than we do.😊

I will be 5 months this on May 16, I can walk with a cane for about 5 mins 100 steps is my max so far. It is sloooow and very tiring. I keep at it every day, and yes I overdid it one day too and was so sore the next day I couldn't do much. I really hope 6 months is the magic number of when I can walk unaided and pretty good. It just seems like it takes forever. I'm going to PT next week even though my doc said just walking was enough. I want to see if they can give more tips and excersises for me. I have excellent coverage with my plan, I called and they said I have $4000 of coverage. I hear most only get 10 visits covered, so I'm lucky. Glad to hear your great progress!

Margie

Hi Helen,

I am really glad you made good progress.

Yes, I agree, 6 months is about the right time and a year for full recovery.

I went for 1st time to the PT.

She said my progress was good and, better than I thought it appears.

She gave me a few exercises to practise and I will see her in a month.

Fortunately she was nice and encouraging.  So, now I feel much better.

Do you mean you can walk without any crutches now?

Molly

I am sticking to 1 crutch only now.

Hi Molly,

I am glad to hear that.

I was able to walk without crutch after three months post surgery. But no very confident, not for long distance then. I wasn't able to go out without crutch or my husband holding my hand at that time.

I began to go out without crutch by myself after four months of post OP. But I the walking speed wasn't good - less than 3km per hour then and up to 1km in one go. I would suffered a lot of pain after the walk.

Now, after five months, I can walk pretty well - up to 2km with the speed of more than 3.5 km per hour and unaided. By end of this week, I didn't even feel pain after the walk. My steps are almost as good as normal. It is hard to tell I had injury, if you don't know.

You will get there. It will surprise you how fast you making the progress once you reach the 6th months.

Take care!

Helen

Hi Margie,

Two weeks ago, I was not much better than yours. But these two weeks, particularly last week, I had made huge progress.

My walking steps are very steady. I don't have to put up my foot every time I sit down since yesterday. I don't feel pain after a long day like I used. I haven't been icing my foot for two days. Sometimes, I even feel I am able to run again, but I don't dare, of course.

I have scheduled to get my hardware removed at the end if June. Otherwise I could be up for running in few months.

Believe in magic. It will come, once the magic time up.

Cheers,

Helen

Helen,

It is amazing how well you are doing.  I am so glad for you!

Maybe because you are a sports person.

We live on a hill and can't really go out for a walk.

I went once up and down the road which is flat but it was so slow

that I didn't do it again.  I will give it another go today when my

daughter comes to visit.  At least  I will have someone to chat with.

Next week it will be 4 months exactly from the

surgery.  I am waiting for the magic time of 5 and 6th mont!!

Enjoy your weekend  and keep walking !

Molly 

Thanks Molly!

I love hiking. I used to be able to hiking upto 35km a day. I eon't be able to hike within a year. But I went to kayaking and camping during the Easter holiday for 4 days. It surprised me that how comfortable I felt when I kayaking. I think that it because my feet was in comfortable positions many hours a day. I didn't use crutches. It has not been a problem walking on the uneven camping ground, I was very careful though.

I think you are right that I recovered relatively quick as I was sporty. However, since the foot becomes better each day, the emotional trauma has began to kick in. I felt more depress than a few months ago. I used to release my pressure by running during the week or hiking on weekend. Now I can't do any of them which make me increasingly unhappy. I am going to take whole year off the work next year......

I think there is long road a head for the recovery.

I love this blog. By reading everyone's post make feel like home.

Thank for creating this topic.

Helen

Hi Helen,

So sorry you feel low in spirits.  I can entirely understand as I am quite depressed myself.  It is hard facing the day I find.  I don't know why I have to get up for.  I am not sporty but enjoy traveling and exploring new places I visit.  I used to pack my bag every now and then get on Eurostar and go to Europe.  Well, I was in Antwerp, a very pretty town in Belgium in January when I fell down on an icy road and broke my ankle.  Now, I can't even make any plans.

I had a bath today but ever so carefully not to fall down again.  I put my hair into some rolls but feel sad and get annoyed with myself for having become so miserable.  I enjoy reading but you can't be reading all day.

I can understand your decision to take a year off work.  

You are fortunate you enjoy sports because the endorphines will kick in when you are active and help you feel better as they say.

How nice must have been kayaking in Easter time.  Well done for daring it!  

Yes, it is great we can drop in our little ankle group and get it off our chest.

Thanks for posting too.

Hope you are having a good day.

Molly

 

Girls

When I found that my total ankle replacement of four years ago was failing at the end of last year I thought it best to cut out long walks.Then I became concerned after watching the scales started to register an increasing weight that I really had to work on getting back my reducing fitness!

My remedy was to buy a one years sub,to the local swimming pool ad it was not many weeks before I was managing over half a mile every other day. It was a great feeling to feel much fitter

Oops! As I was saying before my finger slipped on the phone it was a great feeling to feel much fitter but out of the blue my hip on the other side failed and I was forced to stop!

So girls how about gracing your local swimming pool?

Cheers Richard

Hi Molly,

To tell you the truth. When I was on the six weeks NWB, I had exactly same feeling - why I bother to get up in the morning? I can't do anything at all. I am useless......

?I bought the full set of Harry Potter to read and dreaming of I have the magic to heal the ankle overnight. It kept me in a much better sprit at that time.

Now, physically, I am much better. But by thinking of some of my dream shatter for ever because of the injury. It hurt a lot.

What can we do? As my husband said, your body has never had warranty. When if broken, you repair it, but you won't get a new one. Just have to accept that.

I am turning 54 today. Although I still can't go for running or hiking, but I am no longer in much pain. I walked more than 5kms today. I think I shou celebrate it.

Cheers,

Helen

Thank Richar!

That is a great idea. I work for a school where I am to access the pool for free. But I often too busy at work, don't have the time. I am not a good swimmer either.

I should try give myself sometime to go to the pool.

Helen

Dear Helen

Poor excuse if I may so! I had last been swimming some twenty years ago and it was only very occasionally and I've only ever learnt to do the breaststroke. You have youth on your side compared to me!

Cheers Richard

Hello helen

Happy birthday🎉

Nwb sucks but i have found so is weight bearing as you want to do more than we can😆 i dont think were ever happy with what we can do...I too like harry potter and lets hope his magic heals us all

Maria xxx

Hello Molly

How are you doing??

Ive realised now i can weight bear their is a hill at my childs school i can get up it but not down it....so still relying on people to help with the kids ...this made me think of you living on a hill....hope your well

Maria👣

Thank you Maria!

According to many people's experience, you only be able to truly FWB, two months the doctor told. In an other word, when doctor said you can walk or you can do FWB, it means, you are allowed to do so, not you can do.

Hangon there, the time will come.

Helen

Yes, going down is more difficult than going up. I was only able to go down stairs recently, but was able to go up stairs many weeks ago.

My PT taught a exercise - standing face to a wall, start with the toes touch the wall, bend the knee, push to the wall. In the beginning, you will have difficulty let the knee to touch the wall. Slowly, you will get better. Then, you move you foot backward gradually, and do the same thing. Once your toes 5cm away from the wall and your knee is still able to touch the wall, you should not have much difficulty to go down.

You may be right Richard. I too, only able to do the breastroke and slow - 1km per hour. But my difficulty is more about the time. I am working full time.

Cheers,

Helen

Dear Helen

Yes you are right of course, all these things have to be squeezed in somehow with a busy life and not easy if you are in discomfort..

Cheers Richard

Helen, I was a little confused about WB because the doctor told me at 2months post op that I could walk "as tolerated." I was hoping PT person could help define that a bit better but my approval (CALIFORNIA) for PT just came in and 1st appt. is May 24. So, I guess I'll fumble around a bit and see what I'm capable of. 

Seems that so much of this is hit and miss. I try to be positive. Hubby is happy I am up to camping in our RV again even though he has to help lift me in. He thinks it's no big deal. Happy to help. But I am so frustrated in my own head. 

This whole process is quite exhausting. If it weren't for some really awkward moments that brought us to tears laughing, I'd go nuts. 

I look forward to the day I'm at a year and walking well so I can encourage a newbie and assure them they'll get thru this. 

Wishing you well,

Karen

Karen,

I totally understand what you are talking about. 40 day after my operation, I went to the hospital to check. After Xray, the cast was taken off. Doctor told me that my bones were joined well. I was free to go FWB, normal shoes. I was so happy and thought I am ready to walk out of hospital, as long as my hubby bring me the other shoe which had not been wearing for six weeks.

However, very soon I realized that either I misunderstood what the doctor means, or he had no idea what he was talking about, or he was a liar.

Anyway, I have done some research on these and also had chatted with my PT. 

In short, when doctor told you that you are allowed FWB, it ONLY means your bones are joined well which allows you to put full load on it without further damage. However this is not enough to make you walk again. Your muscle strength on lower part of the injured foot, the level of endurance of pain, the flexibility of the ankle join, the readiness in your mind ( how much you can trust your injured foot) etc are all play roles to determine if and when you can walk again.

I hope that make sense.

With anyone who is over 50, it usually take about two months to be able to really walk after doctor told you that you can. It was about 6.5 weeks in my case. I began my PT session on the second days of FWB allowed. I had started going to gym even when my cast was still on - to trainning other part of the body than the foot.

Helen

Helen,

Thank you for the information. Finally, something that makes sense. 😀

Trusting oneself to give walking a try for fear of pain or re-injury is a big hurdle. Probably my biggest hurdle. I'm kind of a big baby. 😀

We are camping and stuck in our RV today because it's pouring rain outside. Might be a good day to walk around trailer and see what I can do.

I'll have to put my big girl brace pants on for that. 😀

Wishing you well,

Karen

Hahaha! That's supposed to be "brave" not "brace."

Dear Karen do take care if you are,trying walking on slippery ground.....not good!

Cheers Richard

Hello Maria,

Well done for going up the hill.  I went out in the garden which is down the hill and then couldn't come up    I was frustrated and eventually made it back.  Thinking back, the days I couldn't even cover my leg because it was so sensitive and painful, I think I came a long way but I often feel drained as the recovery is so slow.  We are nearly there but still it is going to be hardgoing.  

How do your kids respond to their mum's being a war veteran? 

Hug from S London,

Molly

 

Yes. Being very careful. I'm kind of "grounded" and unable to leave our RV. It's absolutely pouring so the hubby is very watchful over me. Lol!

I think he's exhausted from helping me although he would never admit it. He's a good man, that one.

Dear Karen

Sounds as if you in good hands, just keep letting him know what a great job he is doing....us blokes need a lot of reminding that we are appreciated <BG>

Cheers Richard

Will do! 😀

Happy Birthday! That is reason to celebrate🚶???😎

Margie

Thank you Margie!

Hello Helen

I was at physio yesterday and i now have that same exercise added to my list of daily activities😂 the one you said about getting your knee to touch the wall (painfull/tiring😧 I also got rid of my big airboot too🎉 but its funny how i had mixed emotions when he said it could go i truly never saw me missing it but i think this is me being nervous about loosing the saftey it brought with it.... hope your ok Maria xxx

Hi Maria,

Glad you are having PT now. I know it is not easy to do those exercises. It could painful. But it is important to follow you PT's instructions. We also have to learn to trust our injured foot again. It needs time. But you will get there.

I am doing well physically. But getting increasingly depressed, I don't know why. Maybe I have lost the ability of my normal ways to release the stress- doing high impact sport. Just feel very sad and self pity. I guess this the sign of post trauma depression.

Hi Maria,

I'm just going to start next week without the boot. Does it hurt more to walk without it. How did a shoe feel on your foot for the first time?

Margie

Hello Margie

I have very bad ROM so my foot feels alien in my trainer physio said take out the laces then put the shoe on and boy it worked...(i really didnt see it going on otherwise) my walking has gone backwards and slower today its not been 24 hours yet since i got rid of the boot🎉..but my foot is very swollen ive iced it twice so its coming down nicley..i remember when i had my external fixator off n woke up with the boot on i went backwards n was slower ( at 1 point i remember wanting the external fixator back😦i hated the airboot) till i had time to learn to adapt so hopefully this is the same...👼look wise having the boot off i look kinda normal its nice to be feeling like were getting somewhere👣

Hope your having a nice day Maria xxx

Hi Helen

Yes we all feel bad for ourselfs😢 days seem to change so quick 1 day im up then down again...it really is just about getting up n carrying on....i would like to just go in my shop near me but using 2 crutches its a no go....i know people will do this for me but i would really like to be able to pop to the shop when i like😊 i know it will soon happen....you sound like you were very active before you injury that must be a struggle for you now...i didnt do many sports but walked most places...

Take care Maria xxx

Thanks Maria!

Coming to this blog to read all the posts does make me feel better. Compare to you and many people here, I am in a better state. My foot is doing pretty well - can walk around unaid. But I am still very much depressed. I guess that because I can't release the stress from work as I used to do - go for run which made me very unhappy. I don't drive, but catch public transport. I often seeing train coming and leaving the station. I just a short distance from it , but unable to run to catch it - have to miss it. It is very frustrating and make you depressed. I am apply to take a unpaid leave for whole year next year. Hope my employer will grant me the leave.