Re: 23 year old weighting options about recommended ankle fusion- advice needed

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hi Sam,

 

I was pretty young when I had the fusion, not young like you, but young enough I still have a pretty active life ahead of me.  It was probably the best thing for me or else wear a brace for the rest of my life. It DOES limit you.  Like you can move your foot up and down but not side to side. So it's hard for me to walk up and down slopes. I no longer jog.  But it's okay.  My doctor recommended the fusion over reconstruction.

 

Best of luck!

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

In a message dated 1/29/2014 10:06:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, sam.g...@gmail.com writes:

Hi all,

I'm 23 years old and crushed my ankle August 23, 2013 in a pier jumping accident.   I have a plate and 8 pins holding together my bone but have lost the majority of my cartilage.  I started physical therapy a few weeks ago (mid January 2014) and the process has not been going very well.  The short of it is that when I crushed the bone there were pieces that were too small to piece back in, so I have a gap at the end of my tibia that is catching on the bone below it because there is no cartilage to act as a buffer.  Every step is like walking on rice krispies accompanied with pain.  My doctor (and my second opinion doctor) highly recommends that I get the fusion as soon as by bones are healed enough to support the operation to prevent the pain and other complications down the road (knee, hip, and back issues).  I'm nervous about the fusion because I'm so young.  It's difficult to pull the trigger and say "I'm not going to use this body part for the rest of my life."  Is there anyone out there who has had the surgery while young and has advice on whether or not I should wait? What are the effects 30-40 years down the road?  Please help, I really need advice on what direction to go in. 

Thank you,

[Eric Barkema]

Hi Sam,

            Sorry about your accident.  I had a bad motor cycle accident 21 years ago.  I was 19 years old when it happened.  My leg was damaged so bad I had skin grafts and bone grafts.  I lost all the muscle that controls my ankle.  I tried for two years to keep my ankle and it just wasn't working, so I had my ankle fused.  It was good to get done as my foot was dropping and I kept tripping over it.  I won't lie to you, it does change your life.  You really can't run, and standing for a long time is really difficult.  Normal shoes may or may not work for you.  I have found that MBT shoes are the best.  It is not an easy choice, but I really didn't have one if I wanted to walk again.  Hang in there kid and give me a shout if you have any other questions.

Eric B

[Samantha Grasman]

Thank you very much Erica! I don't have the option for running or jumping or even hiking as my ankle is because of the fragmented bone (some pieces were just too small to put back during reconstruction) and the missing cartilage. I was very active before and was even training for a fitness competition when I had the accident. Do you think that hiking/backpacking will be an option if all goes well? I know that every case is different, but most of my concerns stem from not hearing a case like mine where someone had a fusion within a year of their accident. I'm also concerned because the end of my tibia still has gaps so I'm not sure how that effects the healing process during the fusion. We're still waiting till the tibia is more healed for the surgery so I have a few months to think about it and ask my dr questions. I'm just scared because I'm so young and I was incredibly active and don't have family where I live so it's not like I can take a parent or aunt/ uncle to the appointment to ask all of the questions that I haven't thought about. Are there any questions or concerns (besides the ones I've already told you abou) that I should bring up to my doctor?

[Samantha Grasman]

Sorry Eric, I just noticed auto correct called you Erica.

[Jeanie Bartholomew]

I want to share my ankle story with all of you as well.  I was in a severe car accident when I was 23.  The ankle was pretty bad.  The doctors then debated on fusing it but they opted to uses screws and plates.  My husband was nearly killed but we both survived and on the upside, we have our injuries to deal with.  My ankle did quite well for many years.  I rode my horse like crazy, skied, biked and so many things.  I kinda used the heck out of it while I could and I don't know if I had spared it by limiting my activities if it would be any better. So that was in 1983.  I waited for the ankle replacement technology to improve thinking that would be best.  Finally a friend who worked for the top Orthopedic in L.A. told me I should get a second opinion.  So I did, and was glad I did so.  It was now 25 years later and my ankle was getting worse to the point I really had to limit my activities.  Soon as I met with the Dr., finally in 2008, I immediately went for the transfibular procedure.  I felt relief right away.  I walked fine as I was worried about limping as would anyone, male or female.  What happens is that all the energy transfers down the body to the ankle where it  is further  dispersed into smaller bones in normal functioning ankles.  But now since the joint if fused that energy by passes that joint to some degree and the other joints and muscles compensate for it.  And that works quite well for a while.  What begins to happen over time, depending on how quickly your body wants to become arthritic, is that the other bones don't or can't take the beating that the tibia and talus can absorb.  Which is what has now happened to me.  Doc said I would be ok for about 10 years and then I would need another surgery.  It has been only 5 years now. When the pain began again it took a year for it to be very uncomfortable.  I am going in for a second fusion, one that will affect the lateral movement of the ankle, Feb 27, 2014. It won't be soon enough.  The continuing degeneration of the ankle will continue.  Next the cartilage in the other surrounding joints will begin to diminish. There is reconstructive cartilage repair that may work.  I am now 55.  I can't believe 33 years.  I have slowed down in many ways but cycling is the best now.  What you learn to do is continue doing what you love, but in moderation.  Avoid being depressed about it.  You are alive and through the pain of it, when it occurs, your journey in life will take you another direction you may not have imagined before.  Now I work a home office so things are convenient.  People envy that actually.  I have the luxury of keeping off my feet when I need to.  With the surgery coming up in a few weeks, I am happier that ever that in about a week into recovery, I can be back at work in my home office managing my hrs. as I need to.

So that is what I can tell you.  Oh ya.  I did have to get rid of all my great looking high heels. But Now I have great looking flat shoes... I love Zappos!

So make lateral changes you can live with that won't send you into being a victim or depression.

I can be a struggle so be sure to take care of your self and do plenty of things you enjoy.

 

Jeanie

[Tammy Duliba]

[RaychelZ]

I know this was in feb, did you end up going through with it? I am 24, I had my fusion at 22, along with 11 surgeries on my ankle that included an external fixator for 6 months (ugh) but after my fusion... I've continued to have complications because the fusion didn't heal straight. I had to go to a third doctor where they had to cut out more bone from the tibia and kind of re-fuse it... With cadaver bone, plates and screws etc. I am now needing the metal removed as my body is rejecting it. My story is a little different mainly because my body just doesn't like foreign things in it (shocked I never had an infection with the external fixator) but besides my infection issues.... The fusion helped so much. No heels, and u can tell I walk a little different.... But the pain slowed aLOT. I've realized there will probably always be pain if you're not a normal easy 2 surgeries kind of person... But there so many things that can make it much BETTER! If you haven't done it yet... Make sure the position is well and toes are up enough, because my toes were pointed down too far... And still kind of are... So my knee is extending backwards and causing bone chipping on the back of my kneecap. Physical therapy is so important. I realized that too late!! Best wishes, rachel

[Andrew MIlne]

Hi,

i had the surgery whilst i was young.

i originally broke my ankle badly in 1995, after 9 months recovery i was limping about in pain etc. I had another op to try and clean out bone fragments (mildly successful) 

Then in February 1999 i had an ankle fusion. its now 15 years on and im doing okay. there are a variety of issues with a fusion and dealing with the adjusted life but im glad i made the decision. im on my feet EVERY day and it doe present challenges. i can do most things and my life is on the whole pain free.

If you have any specific questions then id be happy to provide any info i can. i dont believe there is any information you will find of fusions carried out 40 years ago at least i couldnt find any.

Take care,

Andrew

[cathym...@gmail.com]

Andrew, I would love to hear more as I do not know anyone who has had a fusion that long

[Tammy Duliba]

Wow, sounds like you have gone through similar stuff as I have.  I did have the surgery June 23rd and today I am in my 4th cast.  I have not had much pain really so that part is good.  My employer has also allowed to work from home so that takes up a lot of my time and I can keep my leg elevated for the majority of the time.

I think that I worried alot for nothing cause so far....not so bad.  If I only get 5 years out of this one, I will take it.  Haven't had any high heels for years anyway s flats work just fine.  I will have to go to Zaptos and check that out.  I hope that I can work at home for quite awhile because not having to deal with the traffic is wonderful.  I hope that when I do start to walk I don't have a limp but hey, I am just glad I did this and I am looking forward to getting to do more things with the grandchildren.

Thanks for responding and sharing your story.  I hope that things are going well for you!  Tammy

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