I could not agree more Cheryl, you are totally right.

Unfortunately for me the claw toe is something that was unavoidable and scar tissue is scar tissue no matter how much exercise you are doing post op.

However I would say to everyone who is confronting this surgery - if anyone is reading this - that my key piece of advice is to get active as soon as you possibly can. As soon as they say you can put weight on the leg, get out of that bed no matter how tired you feel, and walk, with a frame, with two people holding your arms, whatever works. You will have spent a load of time sedated and in bed (I was asleep for 3 days post op) and you will feel seriously weak and probbaly still quite disorientated, but do what you can even if it is just walking a few feet, your leg can take it.

If you want to get walking you will be using a zimmer frame or crutches or sticks or holding onto a ballustrade, so a strong upper body is important - try to go into the operation as strong as possible in your upper body. I know this is obviously easier said than done given how much other stuff you will have going on, and none of us is going to be heading down to Gold's Gym in the days before the op (!) but if you go in to the op feeling as strong as possible, the recovery will be easier.