Recovery and rehabilitation
To manage your own expectations about how quickly you will be ‘back on your feet’, it is important to understand what will happen both immediately after your surgery and in the months that follow. Your recovery and rehabilitation will obviously vary depending on the type of operation you have undergone (arthroscopy, ankle fusion or ankle replacement).
When you leave the operating theatre, you will usually have an intravenous drip in your arm for fluids and any necessary drugs. You may also have a suction drain coming from your ankle – a plastic tube inserted into the area where the operation was carried out to drain away the blood in the joint.
You will be taken to a recovery room where you will remain until you are fully awake and the doctors are happy that your condition is stable. At this point you will be taken back to the ward where you will receive painkillers as the anaesthetic starts to wear off. The drip and drains are usually removed within 24-48 hours.
Your leg will be elevated and if you have undergone a fusion or replacement operation, your ankle will be immobilised in a splint or cast. Depending on your circumstances and what your surgeon has decided is best for you, you may be allowed to get out of bed, sit in a chair or even start therapy fairly soon after your surgery.
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
