It gets better but it takes a while.
Very painful so biggest risk is opiate addiction.
I went cold turkey after 1st week post op.
Sucks and hurt like hell - but better than alternative.
Resist any suggestions or pressure by Docs to fuse ankle into club and get multiple opinions.
Docs are very pessimistic on outcomes. I was told not to expect to walk again but walking normally has not been a problem. Can even run surprisingly well if necessary, but don't want to do further damage so heavy running or twisting is not recommended
Sorry to say, but recovery and rehab is long - 18+ months.
After a year or so, flying not a problem, but climbing up on the aircraft can be problematic.
Good luck and best wishes for a full recovery.
Thank you, sir, for you words of encouragement. I noticed docs are generally pessimistic about recovery time, if they even entertain the thought that recovery is a possibility. Maybe it like this: set expections low and then doc looks like a hero when you heal faster than doc originally said, positive reinforcement to keep up the rehab, perhaps.