Just hours after the surgery, Walsh saw a physical therapist to ensure that he could safely carry his weight on crutches while outfitted with a boot for the next six weeks.



Keeping weight off the foot for a while is crucial to the healing process as circulation at the ankle isn't as strong as it is in other joints, the surgeon explained.



By three months, patients can return to regular shoes, but it takes roughly a year before the ankle feels normal again.



For patients, the hardest part of recovery is managing their expectations.



"This is not a normal joint, and you have to work really hard with physical therapy to get range of motion back," Raikin said. "We can't replace the soft tissue around that area, and if it's been stiff from arthritis for a long time, patients aren't going to get as much motion as they may hope for."



Most patients - 85 percent - report that the new joint is still serving them well 12 years after surgery. Raikin has one patient whose replacement is 16 years out and still functioning. But as with hips and knees, people who get an ankle replacement in their 60s likely will live long enough to need another one.



And as with so many other aspects of health care, prevention in the form of weight management and regular, low-impact exercise will maximize a new joint's useful life.



Four weeks after surgery, Walsh - freshly outfitted with a boot - said he is dreaming about his first steps on a golf course and playing the sport he hasn't been able to enjoy since 1994.