Ankle My total ankle replacement story

[Larryr]

Forgot to show you my new ankle and stitches just prior to their removal.

 

[robyn9690]

Wow, that is great news!!! How did your incision look? I'm at exactly 4 weeks today and my doctor isn't back in the office until next week, so my appointment is for Thursday, Oct. 24th. I'm hoping I'll get the same news and can start bearing weight on my foot. Looking forward to your next report!

 

[Larryr]

Here are three pictures of my Infinity device and the stitches prior to their removal yesterday. I hope these pictures come through ok.

 

[Jaycey]

@Larryr Ankle looks great! You will notice I cropped all your personal information out of the x-ray and resized the images a bit. Our system doesn't like large images.

Looks like you are doing really well!

 

[Larryr]

Hi all,
Have a question about the exercises following a TAR. My surgeon told me to do three types of exercises ( first two are in bare feet or with only socks on) for the next four weeks( I am four weeks post TAR): first one is to stand next to something that you can put both hands on it to steady yourself and squat down to bend the ankle and go down as far as you can without overdoing it, stopping when you feel the pain is getting to much; second type is to use a strap around your foot holding the foot in place and use your foot to mimic writing the alphabet from A to Z; and thirdly to go for short walks in your walking boot. He wanted me to do these exercises three to five times per day.
He told me to keep the walking boot on throughout the day except when doing the first two sets of exercises and to take off the walking boot when going to bed.
I would be interested in what types of exercises you have been told to do as part of your rehabilitation.

 

[Jaycey]

@Larryr I'm going to tag 2 of our members who have had TAR to give you input on their exercise routines. Sounds like you have a lot of exercise to get through in a day!

@robyn9690 @NewlyHip

 

[Larryr]

Well, after doing my exercises yesterday I was in a lot of pain in my Achilles’ tendon. Limped around the house having to use a Cain.
Today the Achilles felt better, so I went on line and researched ankle exercises. I still do the toe alphabet, and after that I sit on a chair and put my foot flat on the floor then slide my foot away from my body and then back towards my body to the point that I feel tightness of my Achilles and hold for about 10 seconds. I repeat this four times. Next, instead of standing up and bending down I sit on the floor and use the strap around my foot and gently pull it towards my body until I feel tension and then go slightly beyond that point and hold it for ten seconds. The tension is very tight but not the excessive pain I was doing yesterday. I did this set twice today.
Follow the sets of exercises I feel like I have achieved some stretching of my ankle but am not in the pain I was yesterday! I finish by gently rubbing my ankle area in a massage like action. Tonight I feel much better than last night and will continue this for another week. If all goes well I will go back to the ankle videos and go onto a different set of exercises. Hopefully this will work for me.

 

[KCDewie]

Larry, sorry I can't help you with exercises since I was on crutches, in a cast with no weight bearing for 6 weeks. If you look at my page you can see what I go through now. The Bosu ball really seems to help get the blood flow to the ankle and it feels great! I am now to a point where I can pretend I am skiiing on one foot and go, "inside edge, outside edge" by bending my ankle in and out.

Yesterday was interesting though. I went 10 pin bowling, 2 frames, haven't bowled in years. Everything was fine. Then drove to dinner and my ankle was killing me!! I was worried. Then in the middle of the night I got up and realized that my shin was killing me! So basically, it seems like I put some stress on the ankle bending it forward and causing shin splints. That just tells me that's another area I need to work on and balance out with the rest of my leg. At least it wasn't the ankle proper causing the issue!!

 

[Links16]

I can see my turn coming, but feel soooooo scared. Already have 1/2 knee replacement on the same leg!!!!!

 

[Larryr]

Hi Links,
You will be glad you did it once you decide to go ahead. The surgery was about 2 1/2 hours and not much pain even after the nerve block wears off. I did have to use my knee scooter to get around the house for four weeks before my surgeon cut off the hard cast and put me into a walking boot for two additional weeks. The walking boot allowed me to move around putting weight on my new ankle. Now six weeks out and I am walking around in socks but wear sneakers to go out. Tomorrow I will drive my car again and continue to do my exercises to gain flexibility in my ankle. The only pain I get is the surrounding ligaments and Achilles’ tendon when stretching or walking around. No pain at all from the ankle replacement inside my ankle.
Good luck to you.

 

[Larryr]

Update Nov 7; 7 weeks post TAR: Walking around with a small ankle brace when I leave the house, otherwise I walk around my home in bare feet. My walking pace is very slow due to the stiffness of my ankle. I am trying to walk without a limp, so that slows me down. Slight pain around the front my outer ankle due to the ligaments being so tight, however I do not feel any pain within my ankle from the Infinity device. I do two sets of stretching exercises per day.
I am driving my car now and that is great. I see my surgeon next Wednesday, Nov 13 and will see if he recommends I go to a physical therapist.
So far I feel very satisfied with my progress I will report back after my appointment next week.

 

[Larryr]

Hi all,
During the last few days my calf muscle has swelled up after walking around and also sitting at tables. After a few hours of laying in bed it starts to go down. Has anyone experienced this swelling? It May be just part of the recovery process. I also have some pain in my Achilles tendon .

 

[robyn9690]

Hi Larry,

No, I've not experienced that type of swelling at all. I would definitely call your doctor and mention that this is happening. I do have very little pain in my Achilles tendon, but it's very tight. The therapist is working to get mine stretched and more flexible. Most of my discomfort is in the incision site area. Hang in there and keep us posted!

 

[Larryr]

Update: Nov 13. Saw my surgeon today and he took three xrays, (see attachment). Said the Infinity device is totally healed and asked me to walk around and flex my ankle. He set me up for 12 PT visits over the next four weeks. He said the swelling of my calf was normal and can happen while sitting for long periods as I did a night out. He also said the tightness in the front of my ankle is due to scar tissue and it will loosen up over time. He said I was doing very well for just eight weeks post TAR.

 

[Jaycey]

@Larryr thanks for sharing your x-rays. Wow - that implant is amazing!

Please let us know how your PT goes.

 

[robyn9690]

Larry, Wow, looks just like my implant! I'm glad the doctor has given you the go ahead for the PT sessions. Those have certainly helped me. I went yesterday for another PT appointment and he's advised me to start walking around more. I sit a lot for my job so I guess my ankle is stiffening back up during these inactive times. So, I'm making a more conscious effort to get up and walk around during the day. I see my surgeon next Thursday so I'll see if he's content with my progress. I know it just takes time. I'm 8 weeks post surgery day today.

 

[Larryr]

Update, Nov 14: Had my first PT session. After a discussion the therapist applied a sonic device all around my ankle, followed by a wonderful massage of my ankle, Achilles and calf muscle . Wow, that was great. Then I went through seven different exercises to bend, rotate and stretch my ankle. Most felt very good with just minor discomfort. Sent me home with a red band to do stretching and rotation exercises.
I felt so good afterwards that I intend to go through all 12 PT sessions.

 

[Larryr]

Update Nov 18: Had my second PT yesterday with a different therapist and came away in much more pain. My ankle, in particular my Achilles was hurting a lot and still hurts today. I don’t consider myself a wimp and take pain well, LOL. Has anyone had a PT session with painful results? When I go back tomorrow I assume I need to tell the therapist so an adjustment can be made?

 

[Jaycey]

Please do speak up at your next PT session. You may have discomfort as you start moving your ankle more. But pain is a sign you might be taking it too far. Discuss this with your PT and agree on a way forward.

Does icing and elevating ease this pain?

 

[robyn9690]

Larry,

I agree with Jaycey, you need to speak up to your therapist. I've never experienced a lot of pain during the sessions. He always asks how I'm feeling when he's pressing my foot upwards (my hardest exercise). He also has recommended to keep icing my ankle at night for about 15 minutes. Please let us know how it's going.