Total Ankle Replacement Recovery Must-Haves

If you are preparing for surgery, you might want to consider the following items for your shopping list:

The following items are things I could NOT have lived without after the big day (just me, keep in mind we're all different).  My list is in no particular order with the exception of number one, and ten, and ten comes before one:

#1.  Knee Walker **
 Or some may call it a knee scooter, or knee roller.  This is the single most important apparatus to have if you are recovering from ankle surgery.  It alllows you to have independence. Heck, it's just fun to have anyway, even if you're fine.  Do not try to recover without this.  You will be amazed by what you can accomplish with a knee walker, especially if you have a basket on it. You can fix yourself a sandwich and a drink, stick it in your basket, and wheel back to your comfy spot.  You'll be zipping from here to there, and everywhere.  Number one on your list, for sure (except for #10).  Unless, of course, you would prefer to not do anything at all, which is perfectly understandable, and acceptable.  If you're like me, you might view your surgery recovery as a vacation. That's fine too. "What?  You expect me to pick up those dirty clothes when all I have is a new ankle and a knee walker?  What?".

**  I've heard from several people that they were not happy with theirs.  Be sure to test out the models, don't just order one online or rent one without trying it out first.  They are all different, some do the job better than others.  I loved mine, but I had always wished that it had a better turning radius.  Mine was given to me by my brother who is a podiatrist...I remain thankful for that, and he will never hear a complaint from me. Ever. 

#2. Crutches 
Need I say more?  I think not.

#3. Pillows
 Lots of pillows. Pillows for when you elevate, which is extremely often following ankle replacement surgery. "Toes above the nose!"  Some patients purchase special foam wedges, or go to Lowe's and have them cut wedges for them, which is great! Some patients go to medical supply stores for "special" pillows and wedges. That is okay too. I, however, went to a certain known superstore and purchased a bunch of two dollar pillows.  My feet were going to be on them for weeks on end, I didn't want them to be good pillows. They worked great!  To this day, I still put them on the kitchen floor so I can rest my foot on them while having dinner and/or playing cards.  You can not have enough cheap pillows.  As I write, I have my foot on a cheap pillow.  Cheap pillows rule.

#4 Heavy Duty Task Chair with Arms and Wheels
I say heavy duty, because you want one that is not going to slip out from under you when you lift yourself  up from it.  My heavy duty task chair saved my life in the bathroom.  I wheeled myself to the tub, toilet, shower,  everywhere in the bathroom. I sat in it while I put my face on, brushed my teeth, you name it. 

#5 Shower/Bath Cast Cover
This item was wonderful to have because I never had to worry about getting water on my cast when I bathed.  I suppose I could have used a regular ole garbage bag, but with that I would not have been able to submerge my leg in the tub.  The cast cover creates a seal that renders it impossible to get your cast wet.  You can even go swimmimg with it, not that the thought even crossed my mind after surgery.

#6  Cast Socks
I was given about six of these when my second cast was put on.  They are soft and open at both ends and slip over your cast.  I never slept without one on my cast because it prevented injuries to my good leg.  Casts are very abrasive and without the sock over mine, I would scrape myself on it.  It also protected our leather furniture.  If I laid on the couch without the sock, it scratched the leather.  Not good.  I also wouldn't put my shower/tub cast cover on without having the sock on first, because the cast can tear the rubber.  I still use my cast socks, under my aircast, when I'm not wearing my compression sock, which is most of the time.  They really come in handy.

#7  Baby Wipes
I spent most of the first two weeks post-op in bed, and when the thought of getting up and facing the ordeal of getting into the tub overwhelmed me, I used these to freshen up.  I often wiped my casted toes with them since I couldn't get that area wet.  When a bath or shower seems like it is out of the question, turn the baby wipes, they will suffice when necessary. 

#8 Grabber

I call it "the claw."  I could NOT have lived without this, especially with young children to pick up after.  I would scoot around on my knee walker and pick things up off the floor with this.  I think it cost about $20 at Walgreens...more than worth it, best 20 bucks I've ever spent.  I still use it often, I even used it today.  When you're learning to walk again, it's difficult to bend over sometimes.  Well, grab the claw.  After my surgery I always had it with me, next to my bed, in case I dropped the remote or something.  (God forbid I couldn't access the TV!) PRICELESS.  Very very useful, even when you're well.

#9 Books, Magazines, and a TV

How can you laze the days away without these? That is, when you're not sleeping off the pain meds.  Sometimes I would read a sentence and then be zzzzzzz.  I enjoyed watching movies the most, and was sure to include some comedies, as heavy dramas on top of heavy pain meds brought me down.  Just a thought to consider.

#10 Supportive People

The most important item on the list, no doubt.  If you are able, have a loved one to care for you.  Or, make arrangements for a caretaker, for the first two weeks, the most difficult period of the whole process.  My husband did everything for me....everything.  I could not have done this without him and as I look back today, I realize, again, how amazing he is.


Here are a couple of things that I lived without, and probably shouldn't have:

#1  Over the toilet raised commode 

Private matter, yes, but I'll share anyway.  I had the MOST difficult time getting up and down from the toilet.  I didn't think of it beforehand, but I wish that I had purchased or rented one.  It would have have negated many difficult moments. I actually ripped some of our towel bars out the wall while attempting to get up.  Not good.  Fortunately my husband has already spackled and repaired. 

#2 Walker

I was offered one in the hospital and I turned it down.  Just didn't feel comfortable with it.  Well, I can not count all the times that I said "I wish I took that damn walker!!".  Take it, it will be useful. If anything, it will help with the bathroom problems that I touched on above.  There were so many times that I had wished I had it in place of my crutches.  Crutches are just so unruly sometimes...

#3 Shower/Tub Seat

All along I had planned on having one.  I got into a groove getting into the tub, all was well, so I didn't bother.  Then when I couldn't stand taking baths anymore and all I wanted was a shower, there were times I would have died for a shower,  I regretted not having the seat available.  If I had it do all over again (which you know I hope I don't) I would make sure I had a shower seat.

Reader suggestions:

iPod!

We all learn as we go along.....

There are many things that I wish I had lived without, that I SHOULD have lived without, like chocolate, ice cream, pizza, coca cola, so on and so forth.  There is something about those pain meds that make me want to nest with a bunch of sweets!  Eat healthy, your healing bones will appreciate it.

We are having an amazingly spectacular day here in O'Fallon Missouri, I hope your day is amazing too!

Thanks for reading,
~Suzanne