I would love to tell you a little story

I would love to tell you a litle story about my ankle, about me and how pilates has been and continues to be the absolute key thing that prepared me for ankle surgery, prepared me for post op recovery, and is preparing me, taking me into this next ‘chapter’ of my life – this chapter which brings me my almost 54th birthday, grey blending my hair, HRT and menopause, 4 teenagers who are all taller than me, wisdom, clarity and an excitement about ‘leaning in’, not running away kicking and screaming!!!

Some of you, and certainly my clients, my pilates classes and anyone who follows us on social media will know that I had major ankle surgery in May.

Originally planned for April then it was cancelled the day before (don’t even get me started!) – surgery which included ‘debriding’ or cutting away/ removing the damaged and dead tissue in my ankle joint and replacing it with a bone graft mix taken from my tibia (shin bone) on the same leg then covering it with membrane – I likened it to cleaning out a pot hole in a road and filling it with nice new tarmac! It is a relatively pioneering/ new surgery which my surgeon considered a few years ago. I suggested he ‘practice’ on a few more patients first!! Ironically the original injury was sustained 3 days before we opened the chapel back in June of 2018 –  I was coming downstairs at home first thing in the morning – a few things on my mind, admittedly! Thought I was at the bottom, but no, 4 steps to go – managed, in a split second, to rupture a ligament, damage the cartilage and fracture the ankle joint. I don’t appear to do things by halves – I mean, if you’re going to do something, may as well go for it, right?! Surgery six years ago, in 2019, sorted the ligament but we (the ‘we’ being the surgeon and myself) always knew that the microfractures he did into the talus (that sounds friendlier than the reality of ‘drilling’ little holes into the damaged area to ‘encourage’ the tissues to heal!) was a stop gap, a pause until further surgery would be required. He suggested strongly that I may require an ankle fusion – I shall not repeat what I told him but safe to say, he clearly understood that my answer was a no – thank you.

Fast forward to 2025 – symptom wise, my ankle was significantly limiting my day to day function – it limited my ability to walk any distance, so dog walks, netball and running were no longer enjoyable, my ankle locked frequently, which was worsening in terms of what needed to happen to ‘unlock’ it – I was required to manhandle the joint to unlock/release it. My movement was limited and the swelling around the joint was becoming more problematic. Surgery was listed and the waiting list was around 12 -18 months. Time to try and ‘prepare’ for the post op period which I knew was going to be challenging – non weight bearing for at least 6 weeks along with the double whammy of potential pain from the surgery site and a bone graft from the tibia, close to the problem area. Cue pilates – already a huge part of my life, personally and professionally – a form of exercise that I had been able to continue over the years in spite of my ankle (netball and running on the other hand, had to take a back seat).

Pilates, not what you would think of as a pre and post op strategy for ankle surgery, right?? Think of pilates as more abs and core work? It is and it isn’t – it is a whole body approach which focuses on strength, control, flexibility and alignment – and it is not just done lying down on a mat! A lot of the work we do in class is in standing – a functional approach – and as you will often hear me say – we are ‘future proofing’ our bodies. Pilates is for every body. Every age.

Pilates is not just for now – pilates is for then.

And I am heading into the next chapter with zero intention of slowing down, putting up with or content to ‘just settle for…’ Nope, No thank you!

Six years ago, I was not as strong as I am now.

Six years ago, I was not as healthy as I am now.

Six years ago, I found non weight bearing/ hopping around for 6 weeks extraordinarily difficult.

And this time?

When I came home the evening of surgery, I hopped up the stairs no bother (possibly, probably also fuelled by oramorph, but that is another story!!) – six years ago, I needed to go up and downstairs by shuffling on my bottom for a few days and would avoid at all costs having to go up or downstairs unless bed time or essential!

This time, with more strength and carrying far less weight, everything was easier – core stronger, arms stronger, glutes stronger, mind stronger, everything stronger.

And? So what?

So, for me, in those first few weeks, it enabled me to focus on what I could do, not what I couldn’t – it also enabled me, a few days post op – to have a bath.

A bath. Pilates prepared me for this moment.

A bath for me – is my way of destressing, a way of calming my mind and body, a way to tune back into myself, it’s where I chill, it’s where I think, it’s where I have business ideas and where I can find the pause button. So, with my right leg balanced on the edge of the bed and a nervous Mark on ‘standby’ either to help me get in or out – I lowered myself in – with ease! My core was tested when I tried to shave my left, unaffected leg – those familiar with the ‘teaser’ move in pilates can imagine the challenge of a slippy bath, along with not letting my right (heavier in a boot) leg go anywhere near the water!

Success. Confidence. Contentment.

Back teaching pilates at 8 weeks post op.

Walking on the beach and enjoying a holiday in Scotland – in trainers a week later (there was a time I thought the rest of my life would be spent in crocs to be honest) – and things continue to improve.

I am now 5 months post op and have no regrets about having the surgery. Quite the opposite in fact, I wish I’d done it earlier. My ankle has not locked, my ankle has had none of my pre op pain, my movement is almost full and the swelling is reducing. A weight bearing X-ray taken a couple of weeks ago in clinic shows the bone graft is integrating well and the consultant won’t see me again until I am one year post op. No running yet and no netball until one year post op (the membrane over the top of the graft is the most vulnerable area and will only strengthen over time) – maybe this is a sign for me to try walking netball?? Open to suggestions although not sure the dopamine would be quite the same!!

So, my lovelies, all this waffle, for what reason?? I guess there are a at least a couple of reasons and of course, your choice to take it or cast it aside – no problem whatever!!

Reason 1 – we only get one shot at this thing called life, do we not want it to look, feel and be the best we can possibly imagine? I certainly do.

Reason 2 – we only get one body, we have to live in it, let us give it the strength, space, control it needs to live the best it can – future proofing in a way that AI will never, ever be able to replicate!! I am now friends with my body compared to decades of not liking the place I lived.

I will be forever grateful that I found pilates and all the additional benefits it brings, physically, emotionally and mentally.

Join us for a class at the chapel – I can ‘almost’ guarantee you will know if we are for you, if pilates is for you, after one class. Trust your gut. Trust yourself. Trust us.

Bye for now

Vicky Smith, physio, craniosacral therapist, pilates instructor, founder and director of Tayloredfit Physio

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