Total Fusion - What can you do

[Colin Smith]

Hi all

I had a ST Fusion (I Think thats the one) 10 years ago to my right ankle following a break 20 yrs previous to that. I also underwent a left knee replacement the same year.  Following the fusion I am able to extend my ankle 5 degrees. (Less than 1" at toes)  My foot is now increasing in pain quite severely, and my mobility is very limited.  My all round physical condition is poor. Hips. back, both legs,shoulders and neck.  I put this down to general imbalance when moving around, wear and tear and being over weight.  It is a constant battle with med's not really working anymore.  My surgeon is not particularly sympathetic, I think its his way of saying "That's your lot". I don't think they truly understand the mental and physical pain we go through. He has mentioned the only option is total fusion. I am not sure if the benefits I will gain as far as less pain in my foot will out weigh the further limitations (If any) I will suffer. I am concerned that I may not be able to drive after total fusion. Just wondering how any total fusion people get on, and did you go from partial to total fusion, and what are your thoughts and limitations.

Thanks

[jjfc...@gmail.com]

Hi Colin,

Sorry you are suffering so. I’m having my share of trials and tribulations with my own body so I understand. I just wanted to comment on your question about driving. I’ve paid close attention to what muscle and joint actions are required to drive a car since my ankle fusion. I’m a PT so that goes with the territory and my brain automatically goes into break-it-down mode when some part of my body is limited. I’ve noticed that almost none of the the action of pressing on the accelerator and brake come from the ankle joints themselves. I think there might be little forefoot action on the accelerator but the rest of the motion involved comes from the knee and hip extending the entire leg so the foot can depress the pedals.  Theoretically, you should be able to drive with a totally fused ankle unless your knee and hip problems are so bad that they interfere with the necessary movements. 

I have stopped driving lately because of some serious back problems I developed following my ankle fusion and a second surgery to fix other issues that popped up.  The last time I drove I had had a doctor’s appt followed by xrays and a trip to the pharmacy, all at different locations. I was in a lot of pain and spasm driving home and had to brake suddenly on the highway when the car in front of me slowed way down. I was briefly unable to move my foot to the brake after the attempt caused a huge jolt of pain and spasm in my right hip and leg. I managed to do it, but it really scared the crap out of me! I went on to have an MRI and have an appointment with a neurosurgeon on 7/15. Think all those years of playing hard on a less than optimal ankle joint trashed my back.

Good luck to you. Have you gone for a second opinion with anyone else? It’s never a bad idea even if you still end up with your original surgeon.

Best,

Julie

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 5, 2020, at 7:28 PM, Colin Smith <thraps...@gmail.com> wrote:



Hi all

I had a ST Fusion (I Think thats the one) 10 years ago to my right ankle following a break 20 yrs previous to that. I also underwent a left knee replacement the same year.  Following the fusion I am able to extend my ankle 5 degrees. (Less than 1" at toes)  My foot is now increasing in pain quite severely, and my mobility is very limited.  My all round physical condition is poor. Hips. back, both legs,shoulders and neck.  I put this down to general imbalance when moving around, wear and tear and being over weight.  It is a constant battle with med's not really working anymore.  My surgeon is not particularly sympathetic, I think its his way of saying "That's your lot". I don't think they truly understand the mental and physical pain we go through. He has mentioned the only option is total fusion. I am not sure if the benefits I will gain as far as less pain in my foot will out weigh the further limitations (If any) I will suffer. I am concerned that I may not be able to drive after total fusion. Just wondering how any total fusion people get on, and did you go from partial to total fusion, and what are your thoughts and limitations.

Thanks

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[zap...@aol.com]

Hi Colin,

 I had right ankle fusion 8 1/2 mo. ago.  I have no trouble driving, sometimes I have to reposition my foot that's all.

I too, have problems with knees, shoulders, etc.  I went back to therapy 2 weeks ago with a new therapist.  I was contemplating

cutting off my ankle and foot.  The pain was ridiculous and so was the swelling.  This therapist has me doing things like:  drawing out

the alphabet with my foot and picking up marbles with my toes ( at first I couldn't pick up one, now it's easy) and placing them in a

bowl.  She does very soft massage, starting

on my calf and working down to my foot, always massaging upward away from my ankle.  She massages so softly that it seemed

there would be no benefit.  Now most of the time I have little or no swelling, very little pain and my walking and balance are very

improved.  I tell her she is a witch!  She told me the work with my toes and the end of my foot is retraining my brain to compensate

for the ankle.  I didn't believe it but it gets better.   Good luck, Sue

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ankle-fusion-support/17E887D4-5A33-4088-95C3-EEFE558B0098%40gmail.com

.

[Susan Doran]

I need the name of your physical therapist 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 6, 2020, at 11:58 AM, zapnzoe via Ankle Fusion Support <ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ankle-fusion-support/1364622866.2524145.1594051124232%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Colin Smith]

Thanks for replying, its good to know others are going through the same!  I live in the UK so have the Great 'National Health Service' which is all free. Unfortunately the wheels move very slowly and our access to physio's is some what limited. 35 years now without going for a run, it still sucks.  Been through the mountain bike phase and now unable to to that.  Even gym work is now out of bounds! I'm guessing I'm stuck with the hand that i've been dealt.  Its hard to comprehend that if I have both legs cut off I could probably still run a marathon, even if I still suffered pain.  I think the worst is being a couch potato and just watching life pass by. 

[zap...@aol.com]

Susan, My therapist's name is Alison Carr  her e-mail address is : aliso...@bellsouth.net  .

She is amazing.  Sue

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ankle-fusion-support/EDF0C850-176C-4D68-93B4-FDDC3372339D%40gmail.com.