My surgery is 20 yrs. old. I was diagnosed with Arthritis in that ankle last year. I believe that that is a common diagnosis for any joint pain. The pain came & went... I refused all treatment and am now restoring bilary flow, which affects synovial fluid, through Liver Flushing and other measures. I am feeling quite bouncy!
You can tell your husband that he can expect that his ankle will be as reliable an indicator of barometric pressure as is your local weatherman...