@suziet Hi Suz, It's always a good idea to ask a surgeon how long after surgery they would authorize physical therapy. Your dermatologist may have told you to ask too. You will need a physician to authorize PT with a script so it can possibly be covered by health insurance. I can tell you healing a broken ankle is a very long recovery and I had months of keeping my foot elevated to avoid fluid build up. That was more painful than spine surgery and for a much longer time. I have to be patient again now because I chose to have the hardware plates removed from my ankle, so I've just had surgery a month ago. It's better this time, because I can walk, but I have some fluid and swelling. That causes other foot pain because there just isn't enough space in a foot to add fluid without causing issues. I think you may know when you are well enough for therapy. Right now, it would probably just be forcing the fluid to move around. Incisions also need to stay dry for about 6 weeks according to my surgeon, so there is no soaking in tubs or swimming pools that would re-open the wound. You're welcome and I wish you good healing. I guess we are in this together.