Posted , 13 users are following.
Hello all, I would like any input from those of you who, have had a total ankle replacement. My STAR is coming up on Sept. 16th. Any info on your journey & recovery would be greatly appreciated please, please, please! Thank
Nervous pre-op lady in waiting
0 likes, 134 replies
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elwood Weezer
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Weezer elwood
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Hi elwood,
that is wonderful to hear that you figured it out & stoped the pain so quickly!
Off to pt in a bit. 3xs a week. Got the scar itchies this am! Need my long ruler!
Have a good healing day with progress
Weezer
elwood Weezer
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allan49487 Weezer
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Hi Elwood, Weezer and Mary. I have not seen anyone else in this forum other than you 3. I hope your recoveries are progressing well. I'm a relative newbe. I had the Wright Infinity with Prophecy protocol done 2 weeks ago. I find the different doctor's instructions interesting. My doctor stressed that I am not to weight bear for 8 weeks. I'm in a hard cast for 4 of those and then a boot as long as the 4 week appointment goes well. How are you all doing? I'm curious about the pain you had around 2.5 weeks and beyond. I cannot say the pain in excuciating, but, it does get pretty uncomfortable. I'm using Norco sparingly because I don't like having to take it. How long did you guys and gals find you needed to take narcotics?
Anyway, I don't know really what to expect as far as this thread even being active. If I hear from you great, if I don't, best of luck to you all. Tim how is the 2nd ankle coming?
Parkside allan49487
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Good morning. Had TAR on 12/13/16. Four weeks post op. Pain is manageable but is important to stay in front of it. Take the meds as prescribed. Don't wait until it hurts to take them. Two weeks in a cast plus five weeks non weight bearing in a boot and on a scooter. The most important thing in this recovery is patience. I'm 66 and patiently waiting to walk my dogs pain free. Proper mental attitude is the most effective med. good luck to all
allan49487 Parkside
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Hi and thank you for responding. I almost seems like the other members of this particular forum have maybe recovered and no longer participating. Which is good! You're 8 days ahead of me. I'm trying to take as little as possible because I don't like feeling the way I do with that stuff. However, it does take most of the pain away.
So, it sounds like you're still taking some pain meds. Are you taking it every 4-6 hours still or only as needed? We're pretty close in age. I'm 62. And, I find the best relief is keeping my foot elevated so the swelling is kept to a minimum.
In close, it sound like we have the same prosthetic, Wright Infinity with Prophecy Preoperative Protocol. Which I find facinating.
Good luck and stay in touch.
Allan
allan49487 Parkside
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Parkside allan49487
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No osteotomy but Achilles' tendon incisions to increase flexibility. Gentle PT at home and I'm amazed that there is no arthritis pain. Just stiff muscles.
allan49487 Parkside
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Thanks, it's so great to not have that arthritic pain anymore. The muscles and soft tissue will take a lot of time to heal/rehab. I had the tendon lengthening done too. Thank goodness for what these guys can do! Best with recoop.
Weezer allan49487
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Hi allan49487
Good luck with your tar recovery. I had my 2 surgeries June 2 & Sept. 16, 2016. Most pain I experience is from the healing process. Pt is 3xs a week. I had doc give me pain meds for bad pain days. Getting Rom for tendons & ligaments is tough. Ankle tar recovering isn't to painful. Mostly stiff. I'll be checking in if you need to vent & hear of others experiences.
Good health & better healing days
Weezer
tim32886 allan49487
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Hi well it has been since oct 25 since my second ankle replacement and I am still non weight bearing so not sure how ankle is. Seems fine not much pain. Getting a little tired of not being able to do the things I like to do. I did go deer hunting In nov. But had to be in my knee scooter so that wasn't great but I did get one so it all worked out. See doctor at end of month he said proably won't need pt seeing I know now what I need to do. I have a feeling he thinks they pt therapists are the ones messed up first replacement who knows
allan49487 Weezer
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Hi Weezer, thanks for the response. I wish you all the best with your recovery. Sounds like it's been a long haul. ~Allan
allan49487 tim32886
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Hi Tim,
October 25th! Wow, it has been a really long road for you. In this forum and others like it, plus youtube, I've heard a lot of different ways people are recovering from TAR. One doc said, after 6-8 weeks with weight bearing, he has his patients swim for something like 6 weeks before he allows them to go to PT. I thought about what you just wrote before my surgery. How do we know if a physical therapist knows how to work with someone with a TAR?
I ended up buying an all terrain knee rover for exactly the same reason you just described. I'm not a hunter, but, the pneumatic tires allow me to go places I would be unable to go with a traditional scooter. I live in a suburb of Detroit and saw a big buck crossing the road a few weeks ago when I was out with my wife. We see lots of deer but rarely bucks.
I hope you are back to weight bearing soon.
~Allan
tim32886 allan49487
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Hey Allen yeah it's been almost a year since my first replacement.the scooter is the only way to go I am so glad I have one so is my grandson lol. Well I see doc in a couple weeks so I will find out then what is going to happen
Parkside Weezer
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Weezer Parkside
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Hi Parkside, haven't been too active here in awhile. My tar was Sept. 16, 2016. I'm still in pt. Mostly for my ankle tendons, ligaments, Bunuion, & arch reconstruction. I must say most of my pain is now during pt & after walking & such. I thought the hardest part was not bearing weight, but learning to beat weight, get all parts stronger is my struggle. My 2 surgeries will take a year to get better. Keeping positive & being patient with this slow process is the most important. I did ask my doc for pain med during difficult pt days. I hope your recovery goes well
I'll be checking I'm more often. Just cranky with healing pain made me stop for a bit. Gooduck
Weezer
Karcher Parkside
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Hi Parkside, I had TAR with Infinty on 12/14/16. I had any easy time post op- not much pain. I started partial weight bearing at 6 weeks (1/23/17).
The pain when I started weight bearing wasn't bad for the first couple of days, but seven days in it is excruciating. I can barely put any weight on it. Since we had surgery at the same time, with the same device, I'd like to know where you are in your recovery and how you are doing. Thanks!