Total Ankle Replacement

RobYorks

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie hoping for a bit of advice from anyone that has had ankle replacement surgery.

I had my right ankle replaced in May 2011 due to OA following a fall about 7 years ago which resulted in grade 4 lesions over time. I came out of plaster at 3 weeks and ditched the air cast boot at 6 weeks folloing which I was pretty much full weight bearing and no crutches. Xrays showed the prosthesis is correctly aligned and secure. Range of movement is recovering although dorsaflexion isn't quite where I'd like it to be.

I'm now at 14 weeks post surgery but still have significant pain on the outer right edge of my ankle (tibia side). Is this normal or should I be pian free ? What's the real world experience of the procedure.

Thanks.

Rob.

frogmorton

Hi Rob

Good to meet you

No such experience myself, but we have got people on here who have had very similar procedures. They may not be on at the moment so you will have to be patient with us

Love

Toni xx

prefabkid47

Hi Rob
Just logged on and found your post,welcome to the forum.

I had a total ankle replacement (left ankle) due to RA and OA.This I had done on the 2nd June this year,so only a few weeks behind you.I have made numerous postings under the threads of 'Ron's got a new ankle','Ron's got a new ankle - part 2' and 'Ron's got a new ankle - update'!!

Left hospital with a 'back slab',this was replaced by plaster cast (after 2 weeks) and then with a leg brace after a total of 6 weeks in plaster.I was allowed to discard the brace after a further 4 weeks (after having a second post op X-ray,the first when they removed the back slab).The surgeon was pleased with the x-rays,everything was as it should be!

I am partially weight bearing using crutches when out walking but often use just the one.Indoors often move around the house without crutches except when going up and down stairs.When I discarded the brace I was allowed to drive (manual car),but only short distances.This I'm increasing bit by bit.

The surgeon advised me to build up leg strength and mobility slowly and that my ankle will tell me if I'm over doing things!Still get appreciable swelling of the ankle (this I was told to expect to occur for several months or longer),this I find can be quickly reduced by elevating the leg.I still get some discomfort and aching in the joint and this I'm told again can continue for several months.

I get the impression from the surgeon and reading internet articles that the key is patience and not to expect too much too soon.

Hope this is of interest and we can keep in touch to compare how we progress.

Regards
Ron

julie47

Hi rob

I can't help you with your question

Just want to say I hope things improve for you soon
Take care
Juliepf x

RobYorks

Hi Ron,

Great to hear from a fellow pioneer - these ops are like hen's teeth in S Yorks going on my experience. where did you have yours done ?

The consultant told me I'd get swelling for up to 12 months and, touch wood, it's been pretty manageable. I ditched the crutches after week 6 but only starting proper walks at week 10/11 with 10 minutes each day. Obviously, I was walking around the house and garden but nothing too strenuous. The last 2-3 weeks has been better, although it just means I do more until I get the same level of discomfort. Interestingly, I've also found it easier without a stick and just to manage the distance.

All the best with your progress - we can compare notes as we go.

Rob.

RobYorks

Just to complete the picture, I had the ankle joint resurfaced in 2007 which was partially successful for a time, however, the tibiar/mall ear pain originated then. Seems that progressive arthroscopies and the TAR have just made it slightly worse each time.

prefabkid47

Hi Rob
Had my operation carried out at the 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital,Margate,Kent'.Cannot fault the facilities the operating theatres and ward had only been open a few months and everything was clean and bang up to date.Fortunately the surgeon specialised in foot and ankle surgery and had an excellent reputation in this field.
Interesting your comment about ankle replacements being as common as hen's teeth.Just about everyone I spoke to commented that they had heard of hip and knee replacements but not ankle.
Have heard that arthoscopies can give temporary relief but that inevitably a replacement or fusion is the only final solution.
There is another member on the forum who had a replacement ankle 8 years ago and to date no problems.
Ron

RobYorks

Hi Ron,

I meant they are very rare here. None of the GPs at my practice or the 2 OH doctors have seen one. My physio has seen a couple but that was several years ago and she can't remember the timescales for the discomfort to settle. My consultant is the "go to" guy for TAR in S Yorks and does the lecture circuit. Hope you don't mind me asking but you seem to be on a gentler regime than me given that there is only about 4 weeks between our respective ops. Am I being worked to death do you reckon I'm hoping mine will at least last until I retire in 8 years time.

All the best,

Rob.

RobYorks

Hi Toni and Julie and thanked for the welcome. Sorry for the delay but I was grilling Ron ahead of my physio appointment today.

dreamdaisy

Hi Rob, I haven't replied yet as I have had nothing replaced, but I have had some major ops on my left knee and I found that the physio after (though well-meaning) was too gruelling. I did the exercises, yes, but in my way and on my terms - I was after all, the one with a very-deep-nearly-11-inch-long scar! I found that I gained more benefit from them if I stopped feeling I could do more, rather than flogging on to achieve the required amount. I don't know if my input is relevant to you, but YOU are the one dealing with the reality, the docs are only looking at the theory. Good luck with the appointment, I hope you hear some good news - please let us know! DD

barbara12

Hi Rob
Sorry I cant help, but I just want to say a very warm welcome to this lovely forum, has you are finding out, the people on here are really supportive.
You take care

prefabkid47

RobYorks wrote:

Hi Ron,

I meant they are very rare here. None of the GPs at my practice or the 2 OH doctors have seen one. My physio has seen a couple but that was several years ago and she can't remember the timescales for the discomfort to settle. My consultant is the "go to" guy for TAR in S Yorks and does the lecture circuit. Hope you don't mind me asking but you seem to be on a gentler regime than me given that there is only about 4 weeks between our respective ops. Am I being worked to death do you reckon I'm hoping mine will at least last until I retire in 8 years time.

All the best,

Rob.

Hi again Rob
Hope I can catch you before your physio appointment.At least we appear to have surgeons with good reputations in their field (googled mine and he appears several times and is reported to be 'currently the leading orthopaedic surgeon in east Kent').
Having said that how our surgeons differ in their attitude to physio... :eek: When I asked mine about having physiotherapy he instantly replied 'the best physio is to walk,but don't overdo it,your ankle will tell when'
I'v taken his advice and find that I am progressively doing more and more without really being aware of it.
Best of luck
Ron

RobYorks

I had an early session today (08:30) my fizz measured the range of movement, which is a fairly reasonable 20 degrees or so of plantaflexion (toe down) but still needs work on dorsaflexion (toe up). I also need to work on gait as my foot is rolling inwards. Consultant advised that pain and swelling are still to be expected and to keep giving it some welly :eek: So all in all, it's down to me being impatient. I also got told off for arguing with her all the time

dreamdaisy

These things do take time. The surgeons leave us with the impression that we will be fixed and in their eyes we are - they have done their bit, problem solved. They disregard the work that follows after by physios and us. Calm yourself down young Rob! Things will ease/heal/improve with time, don't undo everyone's good work by being too impatient, the time will pass, it always does. Oh, and don't argue with the physio: they know their stuff, and usually better than we do - that last comment of yours did make me giggle tho! DD

RobYorks

Hi Daisy and thanks for the sensible words of advice. I should know better but I'm just keen to get back to normal after what was a daft injury in the first place. My physio and I have known each other for the last 3-4 years and each gives as good as each other, although every now and then she doesn't catch me cheating on exercises.

Ron, I just re-read one of your posts and was impressed you'd done a mile at 9-10 weeks. I sauntered around Barnsley General a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd done well. I also did the Trans-Pennine Real Ale Trail last week, but that's train based and quite a different story (see Oz Clarke & James May).

Thanks again for the encouragement - it'll all fall on deaf ears and I'll be trying to do too much again by this time tomorrow !

Rob
(Aged 52 1/4)

tiggernut

Hi Rob,
I have a total Ankle replacement in 2002.
I was in a removeable cast and weight bearing through crutches the the day after my op.I was lucky I had no pain at all. I had the cast removed and at 6 weeks then just a back slab for about another 2.I was driving after about 6 weeks.
I do have pain now in my sub talar joint and am waiting for nan injection to hopefully ease that.
I hope you improve soon, everybody reacts differently to operations, no two will be the same.
Good luck,
Anita.

prefabkid47

Hi Rob
Only just picked up your last post,have been busy making up for all the time when just sat there looking at the same 4 walls.Drove to pub yesterday to meet some friends for lunch,it's so nice to have this freedom again even if it's only a few miles.
Today have been out for another walk,about one and a half miles this time (albeit with support of crutch which I don't use indoors) but will not be tempted to overstretch myself!!!Bit of an ache and some swelling at the end of it but no real pain.There is no way I could have achieved this before the op,could only manage a short distance and even that was painful.
The Real Ale Trail sounds a great incentive to get out,being a real ale enthusiast myself,determined to make our Winter Ale Festival this year (nothing under 5.5% ABV!)...............
Haven't got to see the consultant until mid December.
Hope everything continues ok for you!
Regards
Ron

dorcas

Hi Rob

I haven't had your op but have had wrist replacement, wrist fusion and recently a finger joint replacement. and soon to add knee replacement to the list.

From what I've read in your post ( and Ron's ) I think you're both doing really well! With ankle replacement being such a rare op you'll both be the experts in residence and I'm sure others will benefit from your experiences in future.

As others have said, be a patient patient. I've been told it takes a year before new joints settle and you can assess the final range of movement.

Keep up with your exercises but don't overdo it.

Iris xxx