going on a four hour flight in two months. Had my surgery in November. Ankle still swells especially if sit for a period of time.
any advice or tips anyone can give?
I would get there very early to allow the extra time you will need to get around the airport, go through security with a cast, crutches, wheelchair etc., consider bringing a pillow on board (if they will let you) and a bag of ice that you can refill in the airport at a restaurant there. Per my doctor's recommendation, I also take a full aspirin (not baby aspirin...the full aspirin is 4x strength) for two days before each flight and two days after. Then I switch to a baby aspirin for the days in between. It's good to try to put your leg up as much as you can during the flight if possible. I also have my cast split on the sides and wrapped with an ace bandage so it can expand as needed (because swelling can happen in flight) and I drink a lot of water before, during and after the flight. It would be helpful to get a bulkhead seat near bathrooms if possible as well. I'd also check with your doctor and particular airline for more information. Hope this helps.
Flight socks are an essential and take a crutch with you for walking about when you are on holiday. Make sure you know if there is a wheelchair hire firm in the resort as a 'just incase'. Happy holidays.
Don't go until beginning of July, so hoping I have more improvement before then. Already purchased two folding walking sticks and inflatable footrest to use on plane and while sunbathing. I have icepacks that will take to pop into hotel freezer. Also have purchased pool shoes to use in bathroom and shower as these are supposly non slip.
Flight socks have used these for last few years as a precaution.
I will look into wheelchair hire just in case.
thanks Patti. Grateful for your suggestions. I have always taken aspirin on the day of flying but will take these two days before.
You have great ideas and sound very prepared! You should be really a lot better by July!
Hope so Patti came on leaps and bounds at 4 month mark but now progress seems to have slowed down.
Which month are you at now Gill? It's hard to remember from post to post sometimes where everyone is on the timeline. I keep reading online about the 4th month being a good one, but then I hear it takes at least a year to feel back to normal and sometimes more than a few years, so I was figuring something must be happening between month 4-12 which slows things down. What have you experienced happening? Maybe pool exercises could possibly help now? Can you ride an exercise bike at the point where you are now?
I also got those shower slip on shoes. Are they good? Can't wait to have a shower and try them out! There were a ton of choices for those online on Amazon. I've got to look up what a folding walking stick looks like. Never heard about all these devices until this ankle accident!
Had operation to ankle 16th November. At the four month mark in my case leg and ankle started to feel stronger. No pain when full weight bearing, so this allowed to start walking, climbing stairs and generally pottering around the home. This is all done very cautiously, nothing down natautally without having to think things through. I can bend ankle joint a little pointing toes downwards put upwards just no movement, it's so tight. Having four plates fitted going to take a long time to get some movement back,
i use exercise bike daily as leg very wasted so continue to try and build muscles back. Had thin legs to start with, so leg just looks like matchstick.
Swimming can't be done as could not get scar to heal and had to keep scar dry. This looks as though finally starting to heal, found out after searching the dressing used are waterproof so could have taken showers much earlier rather than trying to get in and out of bath keeping bad leg raised. As for non slip shoes haven't tried them yet as purchased for holidays.
Folding walking sticks are like tent poles, fold right down so can be popped into handbag if not needed. At moment, outside still prefer crutches, inside use walking stick but most of the time no aides whatsoever.
I never dreamed breaking ankle would cause so many problems, thought you broke a bone, time in plaster and hey presto back to normal.
Probably ok by now, especially if you're now weight-bearing, but I would ask your doctor. He might want to give you a prescription for self-injections of this prescription (they come in a pack). You inject them into your stomach (it's nearly painless) to prevent a thrombosis in that leg. I broke my ankle while skiing in Italy in February and to get back to the states for the operation had to have those, including injecting myself in the lavoratory on the plane! I finally start weight-bearing this Saturday and am very excited about it!
Patti says it all......socks would be good and getting up and moving around n the hour if you can. Drink tons of water and ask for as much help as you can. They have golf carts for wheeling people around at the airport, you have to ask for it when you buy your ticket, it's worth it.....your going have a fantastic time!!! Glad your doing better, I'm n the slow train but in runners now over two weeks, walker and wheelchair too.....but there is progress, small but steady. Take good care Gill.....
Thanks, had those injections when first came out of hospital and yes painless to give.
By the time I go on holiday it will be six months post op, roughly another two months yet.
My main concern is swelling whilst on the plane but will ask my doctor if there ant prescription he can give me before I fly.
Only a few more days now Ron! Please let us know how it goes and any advice they give you re. the PWB. Good luck!
Thanks, as still have another two months before I go, I am hoping won't need any special assistance. I've yet to check how much distance I can actually walk. Will have to put myself to the test.
Slow train is the best. I haven't pushed too quickly, we all know our own bodies and pain barriers. My motto has been there always tomorrow. No point in risking to have setbacks.
I am thinking of testing myself by returning back to work, I know can't return to previous duties but can do the paperwork side. I think this will help to have something other than my ankle to think about, then mobility may come more natural.
Thanks, Patti, what is your current progression point??
I'm happy that you are going on holiday in July, and I think you should be OK to travel by then, I so wish I was going in your place 😀 I had noticed lots of progress within 4 months, but since experience little or no progress. My pt told me that I will notice small improvements well into the summer months, so fingers and everything else crossed. I keep promising myself to go swimming, i would like to experiment myself to decide if i would benefit or not.
Holiday was booked last summer before ankle break. At one point thought would have had to cancel, especially when couldn't get my head round how to walk. After my operation and the reality of such a break, the holiday was my incentive. To be able to climb stairs was a must as no lift in hotel. Climbing stairs I now find is easy, the coming down not as much so. Wish I could say the same for walking.
I am finding now, little improvements, so hoping splashing around in swimming pool with do me some good. When I say splashing I really mean splashing. I can clear the pool in no time, have my own style of stroke and can only manage half a width of pool. After reading everyone saying how swimming is good for ankles only wish I had learnt to swim. Failing that there be the sunbathing with foot elevated in the hot sun🌞
Sure is not the quick recovery we imagined! Totally agree Gill! How do those folding walking sticks work, so you know they won't fold down on you and collapse accidentally while you are walking? I think I would be afraid of that.