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Total Ankle Replacement: Advice on beginning weight bearing?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: May 1 5:43pm | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
@flachon3 You have been through a lot and ankle injuries are extremely painful. My ankle fracture and related surgeries hurt more than spine surgery and for a much longer period of time. I am still learning how to improve.
I had 3 surgeries. First there was an external cage screwed into the front of the tibia and sides of the heel bone. It was a compound fracture and the wound was cleaned and closed, but bones were not fixed. I had this for a couple weeks to let swelling ease. Surgery 2 removed external cage and fixed fracture with plates and screws. Surgery 3 removed all hardware after a year and a half.
My ankle would collapse as I was stepping off my toes and pinch in the front with pain. Recently, I figured out how to loosen the scar tissue that caused this because of increased pressure on the joint. I have it moving better and I am slowly trying to build strength and endurance gently and without causing pain. What would happen is my ankle would give out and I would spend a week staying off of it. It is like living with a sprain all the time. I now have the tension more equal between the stronger side of the leg and the injured side and that is making a big difference. My ankle is not collapsing now. I hope to be able to hike this summer.
My cousin is a radiologist and when I showed him my x ray , he said I was lucky I can walk after that injury. It sounds like you have been through a lot too prior to fusion. My mom went through surgery lengthening Achilles and moving ligaments and avoided an ankle fusion. She doesn’t walk now and uses a wheelchair.
Walking will be different for you now. There are some shoes that are not totally flat and rock. That might be question to ask if that could help. Pay attention to your knees because you can get wear and tear there because of the ankle. A physical therapist can help direct that. Alignment issues and abnormal movement can cause knees to wear out which you want to prevent. Pelvis alignment affects this too.
Jennifer
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Thanks Jennifer. U r right about it being a rough road prior to my fusion. This is my 10th surgeon that I’ve been to. 10 is my lucky #! This surgeon is amazing. Everything he’s said is true and I’m so impressed with MAYO! Got the cast off Thursday and started PT on Friday. Was in lots of pain Friday night, but I actually walked with the walker!! Yay! I’ve had my knee replaced as well as both hips prior to this ankle fusion. So at least those joints can’t bite me! This has been the most painful surgery of all! 7.5 weeks in bed with my toes above my nose, having every bad reaction imaginable to every pain med & having to go to the ER due to all that was no fun. Then the ER doc said it was super infected and I could loose my foot…NOT! Went back to MAYO on following Monday and they said it’s not infected, it’s just an ‘angry foot’ whaaaat?!! From all the trauma from the surgery, the foot turns bright red and hot. No infection at all. They reassured me that it would be ok…they were right. BUT that’s all behind me. The pain has eased up and I’m now rocking it in PT today will be my 3rd PT visit & it feels darn good . It’s stronger than I thought it would be. Walking is odd, just doesn’t feel the same, if that makes any sense. They worked on my scars, 6 of them to break down the scar tissue. Now that was very painful, but after it did feel a lot of relief on the incisions. U sounds like u have been thru the mill. Back surgery on top if all of that!! Wowza!! Doc says that I may not need an orthotic for the left (surgical) foot. I have very flat feet (thanks Dad) & that contributes to all this. I’m moving the ankle now and walking with a walker. Feels weird but I’m plugging thru. This has been the toughest surgery that I’ve ever endured. I was an equestrian back in the day and I hope to get back in the saddle again one day. That’s my dream. Doc says it can happen! Can’t quit dreaming! Thanks for ur advise and info on the shoes. Ur an Angel. Hang in there!
Later, Flā