I had an ankel fusion after a bad climbing accident the acident was in febuary and five surgeries later a fusion on june 17 2004. I just want to know how long it took for the swelling and the pain to go away from every day walking? Did any one use physical therapy? Is there any thing that is the best exercise ever to get strength back?

Thanks for the help.
Brian

Brian, sorry to hear about your accident and that you ended up with an ankle fusion. I can only speak to the subject of fusion from when I had a big toe fused in March '04. It take awhile for the swelling to go down. Face it, your ankle suffered a lot of trauma. I initially had ankle surgery and bunionectomy (right foot) in August '03, dislocated toe and subsequent fusion (also right foot). I am still dealing with swelling and am wearing a support stocking to help with it. The doctor prescribed six months, I am halfway thru.

In regards to pain, it should get gradually better. I find that the changes in weather due effect the fusion site, but they are getting less severe or I am getting use to it. You are not six months out yet, give it time.

Now, if you can get physcial therapy, that is the way to go. There is no single exercise that I know of that can help. PT can determine what exercises you need to regain your strength and give some to do at home. I highly recommend it.

Good Luck -eko

EKO
Thanks for your repliy, I am curently going to physical theapy and some times it feels like it hurts more after words. And it is coasting me alot to do it I just wanted to here that PT helped others.
thanks again,
Brian

Brian,
Like Eko, I had a fusion of my toe, but physical therapy was the best thing I did besides the surgery. My suggestion for the pain after is to take something before you go to therapy, maybe some sort of over the counter anti inflammatory. It helped me survive "pain & torture" as I like to refer to P.T.

Good luck,
JDM