Post ankle surgery must haves

[Blu2Seine]

Hi,

I’m getting ankle ligament repair surgery done and I wanted advice on any must-haves or any recommendations post surgery. I’ll have to lie down for 2 weeks with my foot elevated.

Atm I know I’ll get a leg rest pillow, I have plenty of books, a standing tray (for laptop and meals), a waterproof foot shower cover and I’ll be ordering plenty of ready meals for my other half to reheat in the oven.

Has anyone had the surgery and have any recommendations?

Someone I know broke her ankle and needed surgery to fix it, during recovery she swore by a "knee scooter" - have a google.

Knee scooters can be a bit precarious. Just watch Humza Yousaf falling off his on YouTube.

I scooted around downstairs on a wheeled office chair. Shoved myself along backwards by pushing on my zimmer frame. A bit like rowing.

Also found it helpful to have a cassette toilet in the room for early morning wee.

Wet wipes are very handy. Flask of hot water, soap, small basin or pail for freshening up as bathroom seemed miles away. Mini fridge for snacks. Wheeled storage tub for bits and pieces under bed. I could roll into my side and reach down for it.

I "only" had a broken ankle but found these handy.
Beanbag to elevate foot.
3 bags of cheap frozen peas to rotate if you need to reduce swelling.
Bumbag to wear around the house to carry phone, small water bottle, snack etc.
Wheelie office chair for kitchen to prepare own snacks and lunch.
Small wheelie trolley to move food around kitchen.
Write all your meds and times taken down so you don't get in a muddle 😳.

I had surgery on my foot a few years ago, some good suggestions above. I found a fabric bag with long handles very useful for carrying things when I was allowed up on my crutches. If you hang it round your neck it leaves your hands free for the crutches.

a fabric bag with long handles very useful for carrying things when I was allowed up on my crutches. If you hang it round your neck it leaves your hands free for the crutches.
I shoved everything I needed in my bra to achieve the same result. A bag is far more sensible.

You will accumulate more stuff (medication, lip balm, books; devices, drinks, supplements etc etc) next to your armchair than you anticipate. A good sized side table, cupboard or bookcase is good to keep everything on.

Crossbody bags are handy if you’ll be using two crutches or sticks.

I haven’t had foot surgery but am thinking flannels for a sink wash if you don’t feel up to the shower but want to feel clean.

What are you going to be able to wear? Do you need something lose to pull on.
Will you feel cold if you can’t move? Blanket handy?

I adapted the walker to transport stuff about. The towel was to stop the basket from swinging about too much (it also was softer on hands). I used a flask for coffee and tubs with clip on lids for food.

Stool for sit down showers.

Spare boot lining if you are having a boot. Or, even better, a spare boot so you can have an indoor and outdoor one. Wearing an outdoor boot in bed (even when wiped down with anti bac wipes) feels grim.

A bed tent to keep the duvet off your foot at night.

Once you are on crutches a backpack for carrying things around out of the way of crutches. Put in it a thermos of tea and a packed lunch so once you are settled you don't have to get up. A pool noodle chopped up and put on the crutch handles to protect your hands worked well but don't use gaffer tape to fix it, it gets really sticky. Good luck

Definitely agree with the shower stool I found that very helpful once I could shower

If on crutches, fingerless cycling gloves. I had some gloves from poundland that stopped my hands feeling too sore.
Basically, just at the point you're finally up and moving nicely on your feet, your hands start to get sore and achy from using crutches.

Thanks all! These are all v useful!

If you're going to be in plaster then book in with your hairdressers for a wash and blow dry. It's less faff than trying to do it over the sink ...and it's a trip out for a few hours.
If you're in a boot then have a look on Facebook marketplace for cheap disability aids. I had a seat that operated on battery power to raise and lower me into the bath.
I also slept downstairs for a couple of months on a single bed in my dining room. DH also brought down a small chest of drawers to keep some basic bits of clothing in and toiletries on top.

I found going without knickers made things a hell of a lot easier, combined with wearing skirts and dresses instead of trousers. It's no fun when you're taking ages to get up from the sofa to the loo then balancing on your weight bearing leg while trying to pull your knickers down.

Finally do all the physio they recommend.

(I broke my tibia, fibula and dislocated my ankle and was using a zimmer for weeks).