Swelling after ankle surgery

Hello karen

For me as soon as i was told i can weight bear week 14!!!!! That made all the difference for me crutches also come in handy for jobs eg.turning on light and opening curtains😂 and i truly believe 6 months i will be great....it fits in with what others have said😄 i truly love writing and reading on here as i feel less alone...good luck with the RV and well done you🎉 you could of canceled...we just have to do things different for a while....Imagine now looking back this time next year on our injuries..👣 time does fly

Love Maria😻

Karen,

My brother went to Disneyland after ankle surgery. He rented a scooter and you get on all the rides thru handicapped and miss the line ups. One person can go with you. They treated him like gold and he zoomed around the park on that scooter and they all loaded there shopping bags on him. They tied helium balloons to it to find him fast. You should look into this, you would have so much fun being apart of the trip! We cancelled our vacation to U.K. And Paris this year , so I know how you feel

Karen, 

We all have shed tears over our ankle; you are surely not alone feeling down, impatient and frustrated.   What is certain is that you will make progress.  The worse part is probably the fist 2 months after surgery.  Then slowly it gets better.  

If you are to go to Disneyland, treated like a disabled person and given a scooter you will be fine I guess.  

I had the best Eurostar train journey of my life when I had to return from Belgium, after my accident to have my surgery done in UK.  As as I was on a wheelchair, we paid reduced 2nd class ticket but we were put in the 1st class wagon and given free diner, drinks, coffee, magazines etc.  We also had a helper with us in the station and came with us carrying the suitcases until we fetched a taxi.  We had no problem at all.

I would advise you to take some painkillers with you, maybe ice gel pads and keep raising and resting your foot.

Enjoy and have a great time,💁🌻👍🕶🍷

Molly

I should be joining you with your discussion. I feel kind of relieved reading your post. There are times I feel really depressed but I don't want my husband that I am. I broke my ankle almost 3 months ago and I was on a cast for 2 1/2 months. I didn't have surgery. MD took off the cast coz my ankle was getting so stiff. Now I'm wearing a boot with just 20% WB and started therapy last week. The stiffness has improved. I'm worried about limping after rehabilitation. Kind of crazy to ask my husband if he still love me the same if I'm limping. He said he gonna love me more. I'm sure your husband is very supportive. How are you feeling now by the way? I'm an RN so I think of the worst outcome. Hopefully everything turns out okay. Waiting for your response. Araceli

You should progress daily now. You may limp a little at first I did especially if in a walking boot, but with PT and practice it will get better. I use a cane because I do have a bit of a limp, but it is due to pain from my plate which is to be removed.Without surgery your healing will prob be faster.

Good luck!

Hi Margie when did you have your surgery? I've been researching about hardware removal. I read it's better if you have the hardware removed since it may cause problems in the future. Why are they removing your plate. I broke my tib/fib and had plate and screws with surgery. I'm still going to therapy. My doctor told me I would need to wait at least 12 months for removal of hardware.

I had my surgery Dec 16, so 5 months ago. They are taking out my plate and the screws that have it in place because it is right against my ankle bone and limits my movement in my ankle and it hurts when I walk in full stride. I'm scared about another procedure and that it may be too soon to take it out, but my doctor is confident it will be better when it's out. Then my joint can gain more mobility. It has been a long haul!!

I'll let you know how it goes.

I still have my screws & plate 5 1/2 months since surgery. My doc says to leave it in if I don't have any problems. I have a friend who still has her hardware in after 15 years; another who still has it after 5 years. I'm keeping it unless it causes a problem.

I too would like to know how your surgery/recovery goes. I'm in a similar situation, doctor believes I will need my plate removed because a few of the screws are sticking out and causing immense pain, especially when touched. I had my surgery on Jan 3rd but my doctor wants to wait until the 12 to 15 month mark for removal. He said it's standard procedure. :-(

I had my surgery on 1st of Dec. 2016. My hardware willbe removed on 22nd June 2017, less than 7 months. My surgeon reckon that the hardware can be removed after 3 months. That was my choice to wait to the end of end for the reason relates to my job only.

Thanks Margie for your post. I feel better although sometimes depression kicks in. I should be grateful that I could still be able to walk. I should be on a FWB in 2 wks on a boot cast with therapy. How are you doing? I hope you feel better.

Thanks Margie for your response. I'm really getting frustrated coz I can't do anything at home. I'm so bored. Hopefully, I'll be in boot with FWB in 2 wks.Depression still kicks in sometimes but not that bad. I hope you're feeling much better now. Araceli

Didnt mean to send that yet😂 my rom is improving but walking very slow as my rom is stopping me i have both 2 crutches but sometimes use 1 or non at home just plod around and sometimes forget where i left the crutches haha..things are getting better and still try and remember its along journey as some days are frustrating feel normal at home some times then when i do go out i feel how far ive still got to go.. hope your ok Maria😄.

Hi Maria,

Your hydro session sounds really fun and effective.  I wish  we had that down hwere too...  I hope to start swimming lessons in July though, maybe that will help.

I am exactly at the stage you are.  In the house can do quite a bit unaided or forget the crutches  but once outdoors I get  disheartened,

Yesterday my husband took me to a shopping centre with my wheelchair.  It would have been too much to walk all that time with crutches.  I bought some sandals online from hotter but had to give them back.  I didn't find anything I liked there.  Have you bought any sandals or shoes?  

No gardening this summer.  I am busy a couple of months with some work I do from home.  Also my house needs a lt of work and cleaning but keep posptponing it

What about driving?  When coulld we start driving?

Some ''ankle people'' drive but have automatic cars.

Nice talking to you Maria .  Glad to hear you are doing so much better.  Keep in touch when you can.

Molly

Hello luv😊

Sorry my hydro is nhs and think i get 6 sessions so will be my 2nd session this week...i havnt bought any new shoes i can get in my trainers (scetchers) as they stretch and it really helps to take the laces out first other than that i have crocs that i slip on....ive also thought of driving but to be fair i really want to walk well as i broke my left ankle so i know no matter what i will drive again even if it comes down to trading in the car for an automatic....and many people i know choose an automatic over a manual anyway...i also know what you mean about jobs at home i have alot of things to get to the tip its a shame coz i would of normaly done that in a heartbeat...but again im truly gratefull im healing and my life could always be worst....at the moment i get annoyed and frustrated but always try n think oh i havnt done that in a long time...e.g stand up cooking😄

Take care with love Maria xxx

Be careful with sketchers. My doc says they are the worse shoes because the lack support and stabity for the ankle. He wanted me to get a stability trainer, saucony and ask s are the best he said. He is a podiatrist as well as surgeon. I used to love my sketchers too, but now I will avoid them unless just doing minimal walking. I wish I could do sandals in the summer but he said no to that also. I might have to sport trainers and a dress at a wedding lol this summer!

Margie

Asics

I have got adidas pure boost. They are really good. They are hollow on the arch.

I have two pairs now. I can't ware any other shoes, but the pure boost these days.

Hi Maria, 

No hydro in our nhs down here.

I prefer wearing sandals in summer.  I gave back the Hotter ones and bought 2 pairs on line from JL. Hope they will do as I don't have any other flat shoes to wear.

I filled up a huge bag of shoes with heals to give to the charity.

I hope to be driving by August-Septemger.

I don't think I can get used to driving an automatic car.

I am better with housework and cooking.

I sometimes don't use my crutch at home but can't do without it for longer distances.

I can't wait to become independent again too!

Such a warm day down here Maria! 

Big hug 

and take care,

Molly

 

Hi Margie

No ones said nothing about my sketchers so far but i can see his point as sketchers are stretchy....so maybe thats why they lack support its a shame coz they fit the best😆 might have to ask for a pair of asics for my birthday as money is tight😯 or some adidas that Helen spoke about😆 as for now im knackered been to hydro n the heat im done for the day😧

Take care and thanks Maria🏃

Hi luv

Yes i rekon that will be driving time im confidant sept for sure👼 I used 1 crutch yesterday only for a short walk (30 mins) and boy i paid for it...i did some more walking like taking kids to school n back with 2 crutches and in pain last night n still pain when i woke this morning...wasnt looking forward to hydro today and i know i wont do much tommorow now i never do after physio but looking forward to sunday when hopefully i see the benifit👼 such a hot day in manchester too 😥😥

Take care Maria🏃🏃🏃

I might have to try them luv or the asics that Margie mentioned thanks Maria😆

Hi Maria,

I know what you mean.  When I overdo it, I pay for it too. 

After a good rest you will be fine but try not to over do it :-) although is very tempting.  Hope hydro helped and was soothing.

Put your feet up this weekend and let hubby do a bit of running :-)

My husband doesn't want me to even attempt to drive but

sometimes I feel like I will sneak out and try it...

Awfully hot today here in the south too.

I can't wait for the big rainfall but they have been announcing even

higher temperatures!

Have a lovely weekend and remember to put your feet up 

Hug,

Molly