10 Tips to Survive Ankle Surgery
Painful ankles affect mobility but surgery can be life changing. As I’m 17 weeks since ankle fusion surgery (and a medical doctor) I bring tips which I hope will help you.
Ankle surgery is not like a hip replacement. With the ankle you must not put weight on it for at least 6 weeks. And I found that harder than I had imagined.
So you come home from hospital suddenly forced to survive on one leg – surprisingly difficult and even dangerous! Imagine climbing on the toilet, or doing stairs on your hands and knees. Also, the pain drives you to elevate the ankle as often as possible, in other words lying on your back!
1. Pre-op checklist:
Get the home ready with personal help laid on. I couldn’t imagine surviving without my wife. You can’t drive – not even an automatic, so supplies must be brought in.
Hire or borrow a wheelchair, a shower stool and an over the cast plastic showering boot like this from LimbO. Put a stool by the front door for doing your coat, shoe and crutches before going out.
Get as fit and full of good nutrition as you can. You have a physical challenge ahead for months. If you’re overweight, do all you can to lose it. Take vitamin C, 1 gram daily and magnesium supplements.
Pain management: I was dreading the post-operative pain. Ask your anaesthetist for a below knee nerve block, which numbs the foot and ankle for the next 2 or 3 days – brilliant!
Mobility. We found a kneeling trolley far better than a wheelchair. But beware – I had awful falls and outside surfaces must be flat and smooth! Click here for more details on the Orthomate Knee Scooter.
Practice balancing on crutches before you go in and before you leave the hospital. This video helps…
Post op survival
2. The bowels! A hospital diet can be low in fibre. Add to that post-op dehydration and opiate painkillers – it’s a recipe for constipation. So maximise the fibre and fluids before and after the op and begin laxatives early.
3. Living in a plaster cast: it’s heavy, rough and scratches your partner in bed! I had to have mine changed about 5 times in the first 2 months. You don’t know whether the pain is from the wound recovery or a dangerous pressure sore under the plaster. Read more here for Cast Warning Signs.
4. Get out of the house. The first two weeks felt like survival mode, but then things improved. Six or 12 weeks living on one leg feels like a long time, but things improve. Try Tweet Of The Day on BBC iPlayer to take you outside. As a Christian, the twice-daily prayers via 24-7 Prayer hit the spot to get my focus off me and onto the Friend with endless love and resources.
6. Invite friends in for coffee. It’s better than thinking, “Poor me, no one is visiting.” I got the ones who would also pray for me because Jesus heals and helps. Try not to grumble to anyone you live with. Being the carer can be hard.
7. Do some daily exercises on the floor or where you sit. I knelt in front of my static bike and wound the pedals by hand till it got my heart rate up! Lying on your back and cycling in the air will reduce your chances of a DVT. Get down to the gym and do mat exercises and upper body strength.
8. Eat well, but eat less. It’s tempting to drown one’s sorrows in food and alcohol … a recipe for depressing weight gain.
9. Have modest goals. Crawling on hands and knees is humbling, but after you have painted a low windowsill or de-cluttered a drawer, try keeping a book of small achievements.
10. It’s worth it. My mood plummeted at times as courage tanks ran low from pain and frustration. But keep the end purpose in sight…