On June 28th I had surgery on my right ankle, the procedure is known as lateral column lengthening. This involved a bone on the outside of my foot being broken and a graft from my hip added using a metal plate and pins. I was non weight-bearing for 6 weeks and had my cast removed on the 11th August and replaced with an air cast boot. The problem i am having is that i was very small before i had the operation which has left me with no muscle left on my right calf and a very stiff ankle. I go to university in 4 weeks and i still cannot walk unaided and am worried i will not be able to, I have not received any physio and am not scheduled too, but i have been looking for exercises i can do online to gain some mobility, but no matter how hard i try i can only move my ankle up and down slightly, it does not move side to side or in a circle at all and i cant get it flat on the floor either. Does anyone know of anything i can do to help get my muscle back and stop my ankle from being so stiff so i can walk unaided when i move to university in a month?!
Sorry to hear. Why can't you use a Walker or crutches?
My physio gave me these exercises
*Put a towel or Jersey under foot just before the toes and grab the ends with both hands so you can gently pull you foot towards you, and let it go back. It will take awhile to see progress, but it needs to be done. Next same towel, and turn the inside piece of your foot up slightly like you're looking for chewing gum stuck on your foot.
Do these little and often. Then when you are more flexible, move it to the left and right, and try a light gentle rotation. . I know others will share their Stories.🌞
I am using crutches at the moment, but id like to be able to walk with out them or at least just one when i move mext month.
Thanks for the exercises, i shall give them a go
Following my Ankle surgery (due to displaced fractures) I was given Physio straight away..... The most helpful exercise that I did was with a rubber band (provided by the physio) where it looped over the foot and end of my bed and from a laying down position flexed against the elasticity. If you have crutches they are underarm variety, then you can hook your foot over the loop whilst holding the other end in your hands and try to pull away using your calf/foot muscles... this is a similar exercise to the one described above... also try, from a sitting position, to roll a ball (tennis ball size) under the arch of the effected foot. This allows the tendons and muscles to simulate walking on uneven ground.... Alternatively, go and see your GP and ask for a self referral form to Physio. All that said, before doing any of these things, I suggest you speak with your surgeon to find out if there is a reason that you have not been referred to pysio.
Good Luck on your recovery and also at Uni!