Ankle Reconstruction

[wkid_one]

Just wondering if anyone has had this done - and if so what the 'realistic' recovery is like. You obviously get the doctors conservative approach - but I am more interested in what the actual time frames are likely to be. I know with my shoulder they were miles overly cautious....

Just curious as to when I am likely to be able to partake in sport again.

Cheers

[Ghost Lemur]

What happened W1?

I'm no expert, but I would expect that there is a large variable involved with the exact nature of the injury as to how well it will heal and recovery time.

Personally I would take the experts advice to time frame and then call it as I saw it as time went on.

[bluninja]

Guess it depends what damage is done......and what you mean by reconstruction....

I had my tibia removed from it's attachment to my foot and the fibula bone...and my fibula snapped in 2.....so foot hanging by flesh and tendons.
Had it screwed back together end of Jan, played my first rugby match start September without any physio or aftercare.

HTH

[wkid_one]

I am missing the vast majority of ligament down the outside of my ankle. Kinda had more Grade III sprains than I care to remember - factor of playing basketball for too many years I think. Worst one split the two bones in my lower leg and actually fully rotated the ankle out of place. Doctors comment - 'Dan, this is usually where we can see the ligaments in the MRI - you have NONE' - pointing to a great big open spot on the MRI.

Provided there are enough bits left they will reconnect them - if not - they will reroute a tendon to act as a ligament.

Doctors prognosis:

- 2 weeks on my arse with my foot up
- 4 weeks further in a short leg cast (crutches) - minimal weight bearing
- another 6 weeks in an Air Splint - weight bearing.
- start rehab!

[riffer]

Not too sure how much of a help this is wkid but I'll put in my $0.02

I had a ACL reconstruction with cartilage repair and partial medial reconstruction on my knee about 10 years ago, using a "borrowed" tendon from my knee (Russell Tregonning, Bowen Hospital) after I completely blew it out doing sports.

Healing time was about six weeks until I could run on it, but the real problem for me was not trusting the ligaments afterwards.

I played rugby socially for a while after that but made sure I had it strapped a lot but I never threw myself into it as much as I had previously.

Just remember the reconstruction is not quite as good as the original, however it is good. My real problem was a mental one, my reconstructed knee is probably stronger than my non-reconstructed one.

Good luck with the op.

[Eddieb]

the real problem for me was not trusting the ligaments afterwards.

My real problem was a mental one, my reconstructed knee is probably stronger than my non-reconstructed one.

I shattered my left heel bone and fractured my ankle about 5 years ago, 4 weeks in hospital, 1 week in a wheelchair and about 7 months on crutches while undergoing physio and retraining all my nerves so I could walk again. The nerves had all shifted and were giving incorrect messages as to what was going on plus it took a long time before I was allowed to bear weight on it. I now have a permanent plate and 9 2" bolts holding the 16 pieces of my heel together.

As with Celticno6 my biggest problem is also mental (cue smartarse jokes) 5 years on if I jump off something, even just a few steps I always make sure I land on my right foot

[Mongoose]

As I said in another thread things tend to come back and haunt you, injury wise. Take full notice of what the *experts* say and once you are out and about re-evalueate it for yourself, some people take longer to mend than others. A lot of depends on such things as fitness, other medical problems etc etc.
Also as some one else hinted at in another thread, find out as much as you can about your particular Op and be informed when making decisions

[KATWYN]

I Have a plate + screws running up the outside of ankle and up
that skinny bone on the outside (injury was dislocation of ankle & break)
It took a good 2 years to come right-

3-4 months of Physio was a pathetic attempt to stop it stiffening up....but
in saying that I did a dumb thing by ignoring the doctors advice and got on a jet ski which threw me off, soon after I was out of plaster

Ended up having accupuncture for about 3 months (which worked,really
gets into the injury itself)

10 years down the track. Pain in winter (anti inflams help) but
I noticed it is REALLY EASY to re-injure that leg all the time.

As someone said, listen to Docs advice, I don't know how much of the suffering I have now is due to doing too much to soon! but have an inkling
it is my legs payback time - don't know how Bluninja got away with it!

[riffer]

Pain in winter (anti inflams help)

Yeah, me too. I have a theory that the bone contracts at a different rate to the titanium screws in my leg. It's like you can feel the bolts in your leg

[wkid_one]

Ahhh FECK it - Tuesday is the day....no walking for 2 weeks - shite......oh well.

I come back to a new work car on the 9th - which I can't drive.

[Hitcher]

Just curious as to when I am likely to be able to partake in sport again.

There are lots of sports that can be done sitting down...

[Hitcher]

I had a ACL reconstruction with cartilage repair and partial medial reconstruction on my knee about 10 years ago, using a "borrowed" tendon from my knee (Russell Tregonning, Bowen Hospital) after I completely blew it out doing sports.

Me too! And at about the same time. I did mine skiing -- slush moguls on Turoa. The crack was like a rifle shot. It took about 9 months to get it properly strong and totally confident on it. It has been skiing again since. No hyperextension in that knee joint any more, but who needs it? Two titanium screws at $750 each...

[Zed]

Ahhh FECK it - Tuesday is the day....no walking for 2 weeks - shite......oh well.

I come back to a new work car on the 9th - which I can't drive.

I hope that the operation is a great success and wish you a speedy recovery man!


Zed

[Two Smoker]

My mum broke her fibula, and dislocated he ankle in a skydiving accident, she did it in May (14th) and has only come off crutches last week..... She is walking on it now, but still has to sort of hobble around on it.... Still has minor pain, and has a 10 hole plate in it.....

Should be back to normal in another 2 months i reakon.....

Good luck for the op Dan and ill run your new car and bike in till i get my new toy hehehe

[riffer]

Wkid, you're bloody fit and young, I can't see you having a real problem with healing.

I would anticipate within the two weeks you'll be standing on the foot, and four weeks after that you'll be pretty damn mobile.

I recall Russell Tregonning had me moving my knee two hours after waking up. I told him I couldn't move the knee and he told me it moved fine two hours ago in the operating room!

Good luck for Tuesday man. I found the main thing that held me back from exercise after my reconstruction op was my psychological barrier - thinking I would hurt myself too much.

Does this mean we won't be seeing you on Saturday, or will you just be on crutches?