re: Anyone ever had surgery for chronic ankle instability?

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DaBeerz

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Best of luck on your recovery

I have sprained both of my ankles many many times playing basketball over the years. I've got scar tissue all over the place in both of them and have been told many times to stop playing things like basketball or soccer, and i'm just 36, and have been told this by doctors over the last 5 or 6 years. Running in grass is scary to me. I'm constantly worried about rolling my ankle b/c they are so unstable.

My left ankle started bothering me a good bit after slightly rolling it about 2 years ago, being an idiot trying to show my kid i can still do a windmill (on a 8 foot rim), but i did it. Didn't really hurt when i landed but i could tell something felt funny. Over the next few weeks and then months it was just a nagging pain. every so often i'd do something and i'd get a very sharp pain and then i could barely walk, would be limping for 2-3 days. Last time it happened all i did was bent over to feed the dogs and i felt it, and was limping for the next 2 days.

What was happening was my ligament is supposed to be in some groove on the outside of my ankle, and it was popping out of that groove. The pain was it popping out and rubbing on nerves. The ligament had little tears all over it and was stretched out from years of spraining it and not letting it recover properly, so that's why it was popping out so easily.

The surgery was this past December. What they did was firstly, scrap all the scar tissue out. They couldn't see the extent of the damage on the ligament in the MRI b/c of all the scar tissue, so they weren't sure if they were going to have to replace the ligament or just repair it until they got in. They ended up repairing it, which they just wrapped the ligament in some kind of mesh, with anchors on each end of it to prevent it from stretching like it was so easily doing. Recovery was a bitch. The first 2 weeks were brutal. It was a lot more painful than i expected. Didn't start putting weight on it to walk until mid February, and it was painful walking for weeks. Probably didn't start being able to walk without pain and stiffness until April-May. Wasn't able to run without pain until July. I have a good friend who's a PT so i went to that 3 times a week, and the doctor said my recovery went great, but i did not expect the utter uselessness i would be for weeks after it, or the pain, or how long it would take for me to get back to normal.

Here i am 10 months after it and i woudln't even think about going play a basketball game still. the thought of planting my foot and changing direction quickly is scary to me.

Lesson in all of this, when you're 16-25, and you sprain your ankle, get in a boot and stay off the court for a month, or you'll have 90 year old ankles when your 30.

Quote..."Lesson in all of this, when you're 16-25, and you sprain your ankle, get in a boot and stay off the court for a month, or you'll have 90 year old ankles when your 30."
A bunch of wisdom in this statement!! I'm 57 and have been playing recreation sports (flag football, basketball, golf etc..) since I was 18. Both ankles are shot and the back is easily tweeked. No more golf basketball or for sure flag football (shut that down at 40).
5 years ago I picked up tennis and it's been the best sport to keep me active and still somewhat competing. I highly suggest it to anyone like myself who can't let go of playing pick-up games!
The ankles are sore and stiff afterwards....but no more sprains!!

My two pennies worth!

Well, most ankle sprains don't require non weight bearing. However, if you are going to be walking on it you definitely need an ankle brace to protect it and prevent reinjury.

Ideally any "strengthening" should occur once the ligaments have healed, assuming the injury wasn't too bad and they do heal.

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Well, most ankle sprains don't require non weight bearing. However, if you are going to be walking on it you definitely need an ankle brace to protect it and prevent reinjury.

Ideally any "strengthening" should occur once the ligaments have healed, assuming the injury wasn't too bad and they do heal.

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Thanks Well there was 2 audible pops and the most painful area is top outside portion of my foot. So I guess I will wear a brace and take a week off from physical activity. Is it common for the ankles to not have severe swelling after a very large number of sprains? It is kinda like my ankle I have sprained so many times it doesn't swell very much and is permanently slightly swollen.

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This is the chronic ankle instability the thread is referencing. There is a good chance the ligaments are permanently damaged/torn

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frick. I am guessing surgery is the only option.

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I typically keep patients non weight bearing for 4-6 weeks afterwards, and then they begin relatively aggressive PT.

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I had the surgery about 6 years ago, in a cast non weight bearing for 6 weeks, then a walking boot for four weeks. It took about 6 months to get back to normal. No issues since then, I also took up yoga to help with balance and stretching.

I had ankle surgery 4 months ago for bone spurs. The worst part is the numbness after it. Still have large areas that are numb including toes and foot pad. Very weird feeling. They are telling me it could last a year.

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