Ankle Fusion To BOTH ankles

[Nicole F]

I'm 32 years old. Last year I was in a car accident resulting in screws & plates to both ankles and one of my wrist/arm. I've dealt with extreme pain. I started walking again at the end of last year but it is continuing to get more painful with time. I recently went to a new dr who specializes in ankle & foot. He recommends ankle fusion on BOTH ankles. I've read so many horror stories until now I'm extremely nervous & don't know if it's the right thing to do. He says with one done I wouldn't walk with a limp but with both I would have a limp. Has anyone else had to have BOTH ankles fused? I feel like I finally got back on my feet and I have to start all over again. Pretty devastated to say the least. He says my bones are grinding into one another and I have no cartilage left. He also says I have a severe arthritis post traumatic. This dr also says it is to be done one at a time & outpatient. That makes me uncomfortable because I was first told these operations give at least a 2 day stay due to pain control. I'm a nurse, and have been unable to work since the accident. Are ankle fusion patients able to return to work normal jobs? Please advise. Thank you.

[Nicole F]

He also says he has to take out all of the old hardware as well.

[brian gregan]

All very scary Nicole 

I had no real problems with pain at all and had an excellent result after putting it off for years

Standing or walking for long periods does not cause me any problems 

On 8 July 2014 02:44, Nicole F <ntimid...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm 32 years old. Last year I was in a car accident resulting in screws & plates to both ankles and one of my wrist/arm. I've dealt with extreme pain. I started walking again at the end of last year but it is continuing to get more painful with time. I recently went to a new dr who specializes in ankle & foot. He recommends ankle fusion on BOTH ankles. I've read so many horror stories until now I'm extremely nervous & don't know if it's the right thing to do. He says with one done I wouldn't walk with a limp but with both I would have a limp. Has anyone else had to have BOTH ankles fused? I feel like I finally got back on my feet and I have to start all over again. Pretty devastated to say the least. He says my bones are grinding into one another and I have no cartilage left. He also says I have a severe arthritis post traumatic. This dr also says it is to be done one at a time & outpatient. That makes me uncomfortable because I was first told these operations give at least a 2 day stay due to pain control. I'm a nurse, and have been unable to work since the accident. Are ankle fusion patients able to return to work normal jobs?  Please advise. Thank you.

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[brian gregan]

It is great for you to be talking to a Dr who specialises in ankles 

On 8 July 2014 02:45, Nicole F <ntimid...@gmail.com> wrote:

He also says he has to take out all of the old hardware as well.

[Nicole F]

Do you have both ankles fused? How long on between each one did you wait, if so? Thank you so much!

[ferstang]

Hello, I have both my ankles fused. 2 different doctors though. The first one was the most knowledgeable but he moved away. He put a metal Rod through the bottom of my foot into my Tibia. He also fused my heel, this has worked great. The other side they fused my ankle 4 years later and then a year and half later fused my heel. The heel did not fuse this past November. Still having issues. I would say get 2 opinions, that way you can compare and see which doctor is more knowledgable and the one that feels right to you. While recovering, a Knee Walker works great, I was 6 weeks no weight bearing for each fusion. MBT Shoes are Rocker shoes that allow me to walk close to normal as it gets. It is harder to walk in flat shoes or barefoot. There is another shoe at the Walking Company that also has some rocker ones. Sketchers are not so good in the Rocker shoes. Good luck and when they fuse it right, It is awesome. I hardly have any pain in the left side at all.

Thanks

Jen

[john]

Hello Nicole

I am at present recovering from my second ankle fusion (3 weeks post op). My ankles had degenerated to the point that my left ankle was positioned at approx 110 degrees and the right ankle was about 105 degrees, this was caused by a sports injury fall in 1996. This ended up with me being prevented from walking without crutches before my first ankle arthrodisis (fusion)  operation in July last year. The ankle fusion operation technique I had done was to have the cartilage removed from my ankle that sits between the talus and the tibia and fibular. Then charnley clamps were positioned between my talus and my tib and fib for approx 6 weeks with a plaster covering everything up to below the knee, this allowed for the ankle to be fused to my tib and fib (taking advantage of the bones natural ability to join to bones together that are bleeding). The clamps were removed and another plaster was put on for a further 7 weeks. Once the plaster was removed and after a positive result from the xray consultation I was able to stand on the foot and walk with crutches straight away, within about 8 weeks I was able to return to work part time (this was a desk job)  and after a extensive range of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy I have now got my left ankle supporting my body with the help of crutches while I am recovering the ankle fusion operation on my right ankle which was done in the same way, if you get this technique done be prepared to be immobile for  a number of weeks. Some surgeons do not use this technique and screw the ankle joints instead. I had screws in my talus bones after the accident for a number of years and had alot of problems with them so had to get them removed. So I preferred the technique that I have described above. I will say that it sounds quite barbaric but at no point did I feel any of the level of pain I felt in the last 18 years prior to my operation. Another benefit of having it done this way was that before I had these operations I had one leg which was approx one inch shorter than the other. The surgeon was able to take bone off the longer side and it seems like my legs are the same lengths meaning that I will be able to buy shoes without having to get a sole raise on my shoe.      

best regards 

john 

[Nicole F]

I had my fusion done on 8-14-14 to the right ankle. The pain lasted for a few days but has been pretty bearable since. I had a rod put in through the heel up. I have stitches like crazy, but no cast. He also says there is no need to wait months to begin baring weight. He is going to have me start baring weight in about another week or so. I told him I was scared to start that so soon but he insists that it's ok. I accidentally lost balance and caught myself with that foot and it did not feel good. He said to make ice my best friend. Also the fibula was cut off but is not connected to anything. Is this normal? It's just sitting there cut off in the xray. I go Tuesday (2 1/2 weeks post op) to get the stitches taken out on the sides of the leg and then another week for the ones in the heel. I am starting to get around on a knee walker but haven't really been anywhere but to the Dr once in the last 2 weeks. Anyways, that's where I'm at as of now. My other ankle still has to be done, but I am going to wait until this one is good and stable first!

[Nikki Wohler]

Please look at this website for how bones heal. I am worried about weight being put on too soon. I think many people have problems because they put weight on it before the bones are strong enough. (my doctor made me weight 8 weeks and all is perfect)

http://www.hughston.com/hha/a.fracture.htm