An Awful Snow Storm Because of camping and the Coronavirus my one year check up on my InBone2 Total Ankle Replacement was delayed several months. I made the appointment long in advance for when I knew I would be back in Colorado. This presented no problems except that it was now December and I had to drive in an awful snowstorm. I-70 was snow packed and icy with a good foot and more alongside the […]
Category: Ankle Replacement Surgery
Wandering Around the Tropics with my New Ankle
It all went swimmingly; one way to characterize the cruise which for whatever reason seems apt. The first days traversing the Caribbean from Florida to Colombia were rough. The first big show was cancelled for the safety of the dancers. The Emerald Princess is a big stable ship, the entertainment first rate, so it was disappointing missing out on a big production show. I though, had no problem walking the rocking, rolling and lurching decks […]
Surgery on My Ankle Two Months Later
It’s been two months now since surgery on my ankle at the beginning of October and I couldn’t be happier. Sure my ankle is still stiff and there’s continued numbness around my toes. But, the pain from the end stage ankle arthritis I was suffering has ceased completely. I continue to get physical therapy and religiously do my exercises at home, adding more as my ankle replacement improves. I saw Dr. Clanton at The Steadman […]
Transitioning to Shoes After TAR Surgery
It’s been a somewhat challenging couple of weeks. Now that I’m over six weeks out from my TAR surgery, I’ve been able to achieve the next phase of recovery. I’m now out of the walking boot and into hiking boots pretty much full time. Transition Protocol I’ve been following the protocol given to me by Dr. Clanton at The Steadman Clinic that has a two week procedure for moving fully into a shoe. It hasn’t […]
Beginning Ankle Replacement Physical Therapy
My Two Week Follow-up With Yolanda driving, we arrive at The Steadman Clinic for my follow up appointment two weeks after my ankle replacement surgery. I crutch, to coin a verb, down the hallway lined with photos, jerseys and thank you’s from many of the famous professional athletes The Steadman Clinic has fixed over the years. Injured skiers are there in spades. Football, basketball, hockey and soccer players from around the world have been returned […]
Two Weeks Flat on my Back Following TAR Surgery
I settled in quickly at our friend Thelma’s house near Vail for the first two weeks after my TAR surgery. It is a beautiful fall and the view from my upstairs bedroom is a panorama of yellows, greens and golds. A Daily Routine Develops A routine develops of somewhat uncomfortable, intermittent, (thank God for the urinal) sleep, waking earlier than I would like, draping myself with the nerve block pumps and hobbling cautiously to the […]
Ankle Replacement Recovery; Necessities to Ease Your Time .
Our dear friend Thelma graciously invited Yolanda and me to spend the first couple weeks of my ankle replacement recovery at her lovely home in the Vail area. My other options, either at our cabin or our condo in the foothills outside Denver, involved difficult situations like uneven ground, carrying firewood, outdoor plumbing or several flights of stairs. Thankfully, Thelma’s got a stairlift eliminating any need to climb stairs on crutches. I’m tentative and apprehensive […]
A Night in the Hospital After A Morning of Ankle Replacement Surgery
My total ankle replacement surgery with the Wright Inbone 2 ankle required only a short 2 1/2 hours. I wouldn’t have known because I was out cold. All I remember was them putting a mask over my nose and mouth, telling me to breathe and then waking up with a massive splint on my leg. Yolanda is by my side and tells me everything had gone well. Being very thirsty, a nurse brings me water […]
Ankle Replacement Final Prep and Almost Getting My Surgery Nixed
Pre-op Preparations After returning home from winterizing our cabin in western Colorado and getting a chance to photograph some Fall Color, it was time to begin the final prep for my ankle replacement surgery. I had received specific instructions from the Vail Hospital and Dr. Clanton’s office. Their goal is for a successful surgery with the least possibility of complications and especially infection. Other than any prescribed medications, I was to quit taking all anti-inflammatory […]