Most people are able to return to normal everyday activities such as dressing themselves and grooming within the first 2 weeks after successful ankle replacement surgery.

Standing and walking will be restricted for approximately 6-8 weeks (or until cleared by your surgeon) until you start your rehabilitation therapy. Your doctor will advise you on specific limitations, including the amount of walking you can do on the ankle that was operated on. Your doctor will also let you know when you can begin ambulating more freely, and when you can return to other activities. Contact sports may be restricted in the long term.

It will be dependent on which leg was operated on and you must be off all pain medication before you consider returning to driving. Consult with your surgeon on their individual recommendation.

The decision to return to work is individualized and is influenced by your job, your employer, and your post-operative course. In most circumstances, patients can return to office work in about 2-3 weeks if accommodations are made for transportation, parking, office access, rest, and foot elevation. Patients that perform physical work may return to work once they recover endurance for standing and walking, generally at least 3-4 months after surgery.