Connect
← Return to Total Ankle Replacement
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I had my ankle replaced 4 1/2 weeks ago so not sure how this will all turn out and maybe I’m not the right person to ask - but this recovery is definitely not for sissies! I’m 68, also very active and want to get back to walking a lot, yoga and traveling. It’s been very odd to be not weight bearing for a month and I’ve just started putting 25% weight on it and it aches all the time. The incision is healing well and I revisit the ortho doc this week to see if I can start physical therapy. I will be happy to get professional opinions about how to proceed- push myself? Rest more? Lots of questions. Can’t wait to get my life back-been pretty much housebound because my foot really only feels okay while elevated, especially now that I’m putting a little weight on it. Anxious to hear other people’s experiences with recovery from a TAR?
Replies to "I had my ankle replaced 4 1/2 weeks ago so not sure how this will all..."
I had my TAR on April 16, I am 63 years old. You are totally correct in that recovery is definitely not for sissies! I knew it would be rough but not this tough.
I was non-weight bearing for about 8 weeks. Got my stitches out at 3 weeks and got a boot. Was told I could put a little weight on it but that was very painful and scary. Had a lot of nerve pain which I was told was not abnormal. Also was very unbearable to put it down when on walker to go to bathroom etc. Only left house for Dr. appointments. Had to keep foot elevated above heart level.
Was allowed to put shoe on at 7 week surgeon appt. Took about another week to do full weight. Started PT after 7 week surgeon visit. That was the second week of June and still going 3 times a week and doing PT exercises twice a day a home. Still dealing with range of motion, swelling, and some pain. Able to go outside walking a little but still have a long way to go. Doing some water jogging at a relatives house. Staring doing the recumbent bike this week—it appears to help my leg muscles which I totally lost while non weight bearing.
I realize everyone heals differently, but my level of patience is definitely wearing thin even though I have made a lot of progress since the beginning of June.
Wishing you all the best….please keep us updated how you are doing.
Connect
The first thing I would say, is you have to be patient. Everybody is going to heal at a different pace. I am supposed to be at 3/4 of my body weight on my ankle starting tomorrow but I'm barely at half of my body weight. Definitely ice and elevation help.