HOW LONG WILL I BE HOSPITALIZED? 3 days is the norm, I was in a lot of pain and was kept for 4 days.
WILL I NEED A WHEELCHAIR? Depends how comfortable you are with using crutches. Some people feel more comfortable with a wheelchair or a walker especially earlier on when you are on more pain meds and feeling a bit 'fuzzy.' I think we've all taken a tumble on crutches so if you'd be more comfortable and stable with a wheelchair, I'd say go for it.
HOW PAINFUL IS IT POST-OP? Not to scare you, but the first 2 weeks for me were excruciating, then it just turned off like a light switch. Be prepared for the worst and hopefully you'll be one of the ones with minimal pain.
WHAT DOES THE PAIN FROM THE BONE GRAFT FEEL LIKE? My overall pain was just in my ankle, kind of like a truck drove over it and stayed parked on it. Pain was horrendous, although my knee felt great. No pain, just stiffness.
WILL I BE ABLE TO DRIVE AFTER, SAY, 1 WEEK? Absolutely not especially since it's your right foot. You won't start to feel normal and not 'foggy' for a few weeks after the surgery, even if your not on pain meds. Plus you will have pain just from the vibration from the car and just having your foot down for more than 5 minutes after 1 week.
WILL I BE ON CRUTCHES IN SEPT? 5 months after surgery? Probably no crutches by then but I wouldn't plan on walking normally or without a limp by then. Usually it is 12 weeks non weight bearing and then gradually back to full weight bearing. Things will be stiff when you first start to walk.
WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO RUN AGAIN? Minimal activity isn't recommended until at least 6 months out and my OS as well as Abby's (who is running now) said not until 9 months or so. Honestly, you can run or do activities as soon as you want, but all you would be doing is compromising this surgery, risking another (or worse) and reducing effectiveness of this surgery. As my OS said, OATS could last me 10 years, 20+ years or 5 years ... all depends on how I treat my ankle from this point on and given the recovery for this is so important as the plugs incorporate into your talus, I am not sure why anyone would want to rush back to normal activities. No activity is important enough to make me go through this or another ankle surgery again.
HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE IS IT IF I SKIP PT FOR 1 OR TWO WEEKS 8 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY Movement is important after this surgery to help healing as bloodflow to the area will not only help move the fluids that have collected (reduced swelling = reduced pain) but will also help avoid any nerve issues such as RSD which are a concern after any surgery. If you can, I would at least go to PT the first time to see what you should do and then do it on your own, but at least knowing what you can/can't do would help you get through those first few weeks.
I hope this helps ... there are a lot of conversations about OATS on here .. go to "Advanced Search" above and put in the terms "OATS", "OCD" and search the foot forums and you'll see probably more detail than you'd like, but you'll be better prepared.
Kim
I was different from the other gals, my knee/donor site hurt worse than my ankle. At 5 months I was walking slowly, no crutches, had stiffness and aches but was rapidly improving. You'll be able to stand in the wedding but maybe not boogey all night on the dance floor! Probably no high heel shoes either so I would warn your friend! I wore cute Crocs sandals at my friend's wedding and it was like walking on marshmallows. Skipping some PT is fine, you can do exercises on your own, but definitely go back! I would say that my true running days are over. I used to run 4-5 miles a day, on hard surfaces, up hills, on rocks, but no more. You have to learn to be happy that you can walk pain-free. I 'run' some but it's only on a flat, soft surface and no more than 2 miles; once or twice a week. It's just not worth ruining my foot to do more. So that's my 2 cents. I'm 14 months out from surgery and feel WAY better! Write with any questions
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