Flying after ankle op

[vodkancoke]

Hi all,

I posted this recently:

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1106144.html

My ankle still swells from time to time and I am due to go on holiday next Monday. The flight is 10 hours. I have 2 wounds down either side of my ankle which are still quite tender. I just wanted to know, would it be advisable to purchase flight socks? I have never worn them but I believe they are very tight. I am concerned that because they are so tight they may make my ankle swell more. I wear a Tubigrip on my ankle from time to time, do you think I could just get away with that?

Any help would be appreciated

Thank you :)

[vodkancoke]

Ooh must also say, moving around the aircraft will be pretty difficult as I am still on 2 crutches....they are weight bearing ones but I don't know how easy that would be on a plane! lol

Thanks again

[Sqad]

Well, a 10 hour flight would make normal ankles swell.

Your operation was at the beginning of February so the venous drainage would be well established and not impaired thus negating the incrsed risk of a DVT.

If it were me......i would take 100mgms of aspirin before the flight, try and make sure that nobody kicks you (if possible) and i wouldn't bother with flight socks.

If you feel safer with flight socks then fine.

[vodkancoke]

Thanks so much sqad...I didn't want the flight socks and just wondered if I could go without them. Thanks for your help :)

[Sharrazan1]

Hi,
A good friend of mine had a very similar problem. Chose not to wear the flight socks on the way out to Florida - leg and ankle took a good few days to feel "back to normal" saw doctor out there who advised she obtain the socks for the return journey. Return journey was much better. Sorry to confuse you even more, but just thought I would add my friends results.. Why not discuss this aspect of your travel with your Doctor.Oh and incidentally she also took 1 aspirin per day for 3 days before the flight and 3 days after the return flight. :)

[boxtops]

Your ankles can't swell in flight socks, that's the whole point of them - they keep the blood flow moving because they are restricting at different points of the sock. They are indeed quite tight, though.

[vodkancoke]

Hi all, thanks for your replies. I went to my Doc today who said that because of my wounds and the fact they are still painful means flight socks are going to be a nightmare to get on. She told me to take asprin and just make sure I rotate my ankle as much as I can. I might get some and see if I can put them on before I leave...if not I will just have to go without.

Thanks again for all your help :)