Anyone out there have ankle replacement?
I've got some questions about rehab, recovery time and how it effected knees or hips.
I've been told by 2 Orthos that I need TAR. I additionally have bad knees and would like to continue exercising as I have always done.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dahhling
If I were in your situation and wanted to continue to exercise I'd do as much swimming as I could and gradually test out the ankle after you have had the operation. Swimming is the ideal exercise for arthritis sufferers giving you a jarless exercise workout working all your joints and muscles in an almost weightless environment. Here in Australia most cities have heated pools where you can swim all year round and if you buy a season ticket you can swim every day for only a fraction of the cost of buying of an entry ticket each day. I have seen many arthritis sufferers at the local heated pool every morning doing their morning workout.
Replacement joints are attempts to imitate nature and while it is getting better modern medicine still has a long way to go to rival Mother Nature so any exercise on an artificial joint needs to be of gradually increasing intensity listening to your body and any aches and pains you get. You would need to get very clear advice as to what sort of exercising to do after getting artificial joints especially an ankle.
There is also the possibilty of a leg length discrepancy after an ankle replacement so orthotics from a person skilled in sports medicine could reduce the likelihood of injuries. I used to have very painful hips and the last few months I have been having less pain and I wandered why. Then I remembered that I had put an insert in my right shoe to lift the leg a little because it was shorter than my left leg. A little thing like that can make quite a difference.
Another possibilty is a ski machine. I have a ski machine I once bought (a NordicTrak) which I have never used (along with the ,000 treadmill, the 00 Total Gymn the 0 weight bench, the ab machine etc etc) and it gives you a total body workout like you wouldn't believe and it is jarless which is ideal for someone with arthritis. Five minutes on a NordicTrak for someone not in shape and you are breathing very heavily and your heart rate is close to its maximum with every joint getting a workout. Cross country skiers are the fittest athletes in the world and using a ski machine or swimming would keep you very fit and gently use your joints in a way least likely to cause problems while keeping your body supple without causing the sort of injuries you tend to get with repeated sudden impact on joints that exercise such as running produces.
Walking is another possibility.