How long after ankle surgery can i walk

Putting any weight on an operated foot or ankle can damage the repair that’s been done. Bones need time to heal. Plates or screws that may have been added during surgery need the bones to heal around them. Adding weight too soon can interrupt this important internal healing process.

Weight-Bearing: You will not put weight on the affected leg for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery (non-weight-bearing). Physical Therapy: You will start physical therapy 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.

Ankle Fracture

You’ll spend the first four weeks post-op in a non-weight bearing in boot, followed by four weeks of protected weight-bearing in a boot. Physical therapy begins 2–3 weeks after the procedure. Expect to be wearing regular shoes and driving at about two months after surgery.

6 weeks after the operation and another x-ray to check how the bone is healing. You should then be able to come out of the boot if all ok. Try and wean yourself out of the boot and walk without the crutches, around the house at first. You will want to wear it if you go on a long walk.

Weight bearing status:

2-6 weeks: Non weight bearing with crutches/scooter and CAM Boot . Boot for sleeping. May be permitted to commence gradual, progressive weight bearing in boot. 6 week review – Progressive weight bearing initially in boot then wean as comfortable, then strengthening, reintroduction of exercises.

After 72 hours

Unless you have had toe surgery we suggest that you wiggle your toes for 15 seconds and rest for 15 seconds. Do this for four minutes. This should be done approximately 4 times per day, separated by at least four-hour intervals.

Elevate the foot/ankle above the level of the heart, using several pillows, for at least 14 days after surgery. Do not place pillows directly behind the knee. Elevation for 30 minutes every 2 hours is a good initial recommendation.

Ankle surgery recovery takes time—typically at least six weeks, depending on the type of surgery and the severity of the injury.

In the days and weeks after surgery, you’ll likely be told to avoid putting too much (if any) weight on your foot, avoid unnecessary physical labor, and rest as much as possible. You’ll also, obviously, prefer to avoid any preventable accidents when moving around the house, or navigating up and down stairs.

You can sleep comfortably and safety on your side, as long as a pillow or other support is between your knees. Other sleep positions are not recommended and are potentially dangerous because they can require you to twist your legs and cause dislocation.

If it’s a low-to-medium grade ligament injury or a stable bone fracture, then it’s highly likely that the ankle will be similar to before. With more severe ligaments and unstable fractures, there is always some difference in flexibility and appearance.

After surgery

Additionally, blood clots (such as DVT or thrombophlebitis) are a concern after surgeries, especially with hip or leg surgery. Although it’s important to do gentle movement and not stay in one position for too long, periodic elevation of your legs may help lower the risk of blood clots.

Usual recovery time

For most foot and ankle operations, tenderness and swelling can take 3-4 months to resolve, while for more complicated procedures, the recovery may take a full year (or more).

POST-0P FOOT/ANKLE CARE INSTRUCTIONS. The most important thing you can do for your comfort immediately after surgery is to keep your foot elevated. This helps keep the swelling down and will decrease your pain. Doing this for the first 72 hours after surgery will help you heal faster.

Keeping your foot raised helps decrease pain and swelling. When you elevate your ankle, try to keep it at the level of your heart. Lying on a couch with pillows under your foot is better than sitting in a chair with your foot on a footstool. Try to keep your foot elevated for 2 to 3 hours a day.

Healthguidance.org recommends how to sleep with a sprained ankle is by elevating it slightly to drain fluids and prevent unnecessary swelling, so place a pillow or some blankets under the offending ankle while you sleep.

When compression stockings are recommended after surgery, they should usually be worn as much as possible, day and night, until you’re able to move around freely. Compression stockings are used after surgery to prevent blood clots developing in the leg, which is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Most people do not have problems with the plate and screws. In rare cases, the plate and screws can cause some pain or irritation. When this happens, the hardware may be removed after the fracture is healed, about a year from the original surgery.

It is possible that you can elevate an injury too much. For instance, you can physically raise the injured body part too high. You can also elevate your injury for too much time every day.