What it's like 25 months post fusion

[JV]

I'm 62.

My left ankle was fused 12/22/08 and I had been a member of this group
during the lead up to surgery and then six months in recovery after
the surgery.

All I can say is...Fantastic. At the time the recovery seemed
unending, but looking back, I was walking without assistance three
months post op.

Now, 25 months later, I am pain free, although the ankle feels stiff
in the morning (funny because it's permanenently stiff!.

I have gotten hooked on the 10k a day walking program and am on
schedule to have walked 1.5 million steps between 10/1/10 and
2/28/11. Half of those steps are of course on my surgically repaired
ankle!

The only "bads" - I can't run anymore, which is ok because it was
ankle injuries from running that wrecked the ankle in the first place;
and stairs. Going up stars is fine, but descending is problematic.

Anyway, for those of you contemplating the surgery, it can change the
quality of your life. It did mine. No regrets!!

[Rebecca Chevalley]

Well, JV, I totally agree with everything you said!

I am now 1 year and 4 months post-op and I can do everything I couldn't for 3 years previously AND more including a very occasional sporadic run in Sketchers Shape-ups!!! Not recommended though, as pain for two days afterwards!! lol!

Anyway, now I can walk up to 3ks a day if I like - tend not to because that causes probs for the rest of my limbs due to Juvenile Chronic Arthritis. But the point is, I could if I chose to ;-)

This surgery has allowed me to do a 3 week European tour in which I walked an eighth of Pompeii city, climbed to the top of Vesuvious and down and walked kilometres and kilometres in Rome and Venice!

I also recently went roller-skating.... fantastic! And I didn't even fall over, lol!

In short, this fusion has given me back my mobility, for which I am eternally grateful!

What's more, I recently went on a first date in 2 years and the guy had no idea that I'd had an ankle fusion which just goes to show how normal my walking gait is with normal shoes!

Love to all you other fusees, old and recent - but a special hello to Brian, Marie and Royjean.

Beccy Chevalley
xxx

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ankle-fusion-sup...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ankle-fusion-support?hl=en.

--
Rebecca Chevalley
0421 875 473

[Brian Gregan]

 qui est magnifique

Well done Beccy

But what is your excuse for disappearing for so long

If you think that your disappearance  was not noticed you are wrong!

And don’t respond in French – I am a mono lingual Aussie and that bit above is all I can manage

Except La plume et sur la table

Did you take your daughter to Pompeii as a reward for looking after you when you were laid and pretending how you had “everything under control” _ie too proud to ask for help  - just as well your Mum came out for a while

Did you have any trouble going up Vesuvious .

I have a bit of trouble going up steep hills – but there are ways .

I have forgotten how to run – I will have a go and see what happens   

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mailto:ankle-fusion-support%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ankle-fusion-support?hl=en.

[Rebecca Chevalley]

Oh, Brian, you haven't changed a bit!!!

Thanks - it's nice that you missed me ;-) I disappeared because I was busy living my life... had lots of dramas with Alice's dad after we got back from Europe so that was tough but have had a very exciting start to 2011! I've accepted a place on a Grad Dip Ed course to become a fully qualified French teacher in 2 years time; my best Aussie friends have just returned back; bought myself a new car and am seeing a man :-)

Well, the Europe trip was simply because we deserved it and I had the means financially and physically!

Vesuvious was hard work but not because of the ankle fusion! No more problems coming down than going up, in fact it was a relief - much easier!

You should try roller-skating too while you're at it - good fun ;-) Not so sure I would recommend running - you did take note that I had pain for 48 hours afterwards?

Look after yourself, Brian

Beccy
x

[Aunty Kay]

Hi JV - I absolutely agree! I, too, am surprised that, as stiff as my
ankle is at first in the morning when I wake up, the stiffness goes
away with some rolling and flexing of it (as much as it can) and then
I can go without problems or pain. Going up hill, like Brian said, is
a little challenging, but I just turn my foot a little sideways as I'm
going up.
I am having some back problems, a result of back surgery last fall,
but seeing how well the ankle has done gives me hope that my back,
too, will recover.
I will say that getting back in shape with regular exercise is
important after the surgery, especially for those of us who are a
little older. (Brian and I being the most senior of citizens.) A 10K
walking program--- WOW! Congrats!
To all the other regulars on this site - How is your progress?
Happy New Year to all!
- Kay

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hi there,

 

You're certainly one of the "success" stories!!! Good for you.  It's been a little over 3 years for me and I still have weird pain. Matter of fact, my foot has started hurting again.....not so much the ankle but the side of my foot.  I'm walking more on the outside of my foot, shoes hurt too. I need to make an appointment and get x-rays and see what is going on.

 

Again, nice hearing you are doing so well.

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hello Beccy, I can NOT imagine roller skating. ha ha Good for you!!  I can't even run anymore. But that's okay, got a beautiful looking ankle. 

 

Another success story for sure.  Nice to hear from you.  Take care!

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[Marie Evans]

Hello everyone!

Hello, Beccy! *big hug!*

I haven't been back in a long time. Glad to be here again!

So happy to hear about your very successful surgery results, all of you who have reported that wonderful news!

As Brian knows, my surgery has completely failed. I have to go back for more. I was just starting to walk pain free beautifully - but one day last March I got on hubby's elliptical. I only very carefully used it for 3 minutes - my ankle began to hurt that night and has ever since, only getting worse. Now I'm limping as badly as I was a year before surgery in June 2009. And it's beginning to hurt and crunch in exactly the same places it did pre surgery - it's only a matter of time before I can't walk at all without extreme pain.

The doctor is partially to blame, I think - and he's in the best group in the area! I believe he omitted something during the surgery that I've become aware of in recent months. My PT said there's not much he can do to help. He also said to get another opinion.

---

From: Brian Gregan <bgr...@optusnet.com.au>
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sun, January 23, 2011 1:36:59 AM

[Brian Gregan]

Marie

Be positive about your visit to the quack this week

Things are going to get better

TH

 

Best wishes
Brian Gregan
0418 489 814
02 99493306

[Marie Evans]

Kay,

I had back surgery in 2003, and am 100%!!!! My Dr. was happily surprised, as about  (80%) of back surgeries fail! I couldn't walk at all by the time I had surgery - my problem was all the way from the lower back to the tip of my little toe. ouch And I was always in agony - even laying down!  I'm fused in the lower back with big pins and screws - what did you have done specifically?

I hope the same for you!

---

From: Aunty Kay <misty...@insightbb.com>
To: Ankle Fusion Support <ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sun, January 23, 2011 7:24:16 AM

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ankle-fusion-support+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Marie Evans]

Ten hugs to you Brian!!! You have been such a great friend since I met you here! Much love for all of your listening and your classic Brian humor. ;)

I will be positive because you said to, Brian. *giggle* I know it works better to be that way.

Love,
Marie

---

From: Brian Gregan <bgr...@optusnet.com.au>
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Sun, January 23, 2011 2:18:21 PM

[Kay Sherrard]

Oh, Marie – big hugs to you.  Please keep us posted.   -K

 

[Kay Sherrard]

 

 

Hi Marie – no fusions for my back.  There is just too much arthritis, and the other joints couldn’t compensate with the joint movement that would be needed. 

They think my back problem just might be a very angry sciatic nerve at the surgery site.  I had, at L5-S1, a diskectomy, a laminectomy, 2 laminotomies (in the surrounding ones,) some forominotomies (sp?), some bone spurs removed, and a general cleaning out of the spinal column.  Everything was great for the 1^st 5 weeks.  Then I did too much at Thgiving and Christmas, followed by 2 cataract surgeries (both VERY successful), and my mom passed away after a lengthy illness.  Just got back from the memorial service in FL.  Flew down. I have had to be sitting a lot, which, apparently, back surgery recoveries do not do well with.  I can’t stand or walk very well.  I’m calling my internist tomorrow to see if I can get a shot, or something. 

But my ankle is doing VERY well.   

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

 

Kay,

I had back surgery in 2003, and am 100%!!!! My Dr. was happily surprised, as about  (80%) of back surgeries fail! I couldn't walk at all by the time I had surgery - my problem was all the way from the lower back to the tip of my little toe. ouch And I was always in agony - even laying down!  I'm fused in the lower back with big pins and screws - what did you have done specifically?

I hope the same for you!

 

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ankle-fusion-sup...@googlegroups.com.

[Marie Evans]

Wow, Kay! What a horribly stressful time you've had in the last few months. *hugs*

I hope you recover soon! I wish you my deepest sympathy for your mom's passing away. :(

Good luck with your internist! :D

---

From: misty...@insightbb.com
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: What it's like 25 months post fusion
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:55:45 -0500

[Marie Evans]

Thanks Kay! Will do!

---

From: Kay Sherrard <misty...@insightbb.com>
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sun, January 23, 2011 5:55:45 PM
Subject: RE: What it's like 25 months post fusion

[Royj...@aol.com]

My condolences too Kay on the passing of your Mama. 

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hi Marie,

 

Sorry I'm late in replying to this. You all know about my ankle fusion surgery. How I have more pain now than I did before. And again I will say it might be this way since before my surgery I had NO pain and surgery was not because of an accident or injury per se like most of you. So maybe having something foreign stuck in your bone can cause all kinds of weird pain I'm associating with pain but all it is, is normal. But anyway, my doctor told me I could go back to doing anything I wanted, but I have to say since the ankle is not moving fluid anymore, I did stop using certain pieces of equipment for that exact reason you are now experiencing. 

 

I really need to schedule an appointment because I am now walking more on the outside of my foot than before. And it hurts too when I wear shoes. So looks like both of us need to see the doctor again.

 

Best of luck Marie.

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[davis2177]

Hey all. I hope everyone is well. Unfortunately my story has not been
as successful as others. I had sub-talor ankle fusion done in October
of 2009 and after a bought of delayed union and stress fractures in
the head of the tibia things started moving in a positive direction.
But the last two months have been miserable. The pain in my ankle is
almost the same as it was before the fusion and last night I thought I
felt the entire joint side when I stood up after sitting on the
couch. The real kicker is in July of last year we had to change
insurance companies and the new one will not cover pre-existing
injuries for a year. So I am stuck and cannot see my doctor until at
least July of this year. I am so happy to hear all the success
stories out there and I am still optimistic that we can lick this
thing.

Jeff

On Jan 27, 7:13 am, Royjea...@aol.com wrote:
> Hi Marie,
>
> Sorry I'm late in replying to this. You all know about my ankle fusion  
> surgery. How I have more pain now than I did before. And again I will say it  
> might be this way since before my surgery I had NO pain and surgery was not  
> because of an accident or injury per se like most of you. So maybe having  
> something foreign stuck in your bone can cause all kinds of weird pain I'm  
> associating with pain but all it is, is normal. But anyway, my doctor told me
> I  could go back to doing anything I wanted, but I have to say since the
> ankle is  not moving fluid anymore, I did stop using certain pieces of
> equipment for that  exact reason you are now experiencing.  
>
> I really need to schedule an appointment because I am now walking more on  
> the outside of my foot than before. And it hurts too when I wear shoes. So
> looks  like both of us need to see the doctor again.
>
> Best of luck Marie.
>
> Hugs,
> ~Royjean~
>
> In a message dated 1/23/2011 2:11:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
>

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hi Jeff,

 

Me too, I'm excited for those that have had such successful surgeries. I have no insurance and didn't when I had surgery so that's part of my reason for not making an appointment with my surgeon.  I just hope whatever is going on with my ankle is just normal aging.

 

Take care now.

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[Kay Sherrard]

Hi Jeff - Glad to hear from you, but so sorry that things are not going
well. We'll keep saying our prayers for your recovery!!! - K

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

[Marie Evans]

Thanks Vicki~

Good luck to you, also! I've been thinking of you on and off as my problem got more pronounced. I hope things turn out better for both of us this time!

As for why I haven't come back here, I was really too lazy to complain. lol

*hugs*
Marie

---

From: "Royj...@aol.com" <Royj...@aol.com>
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 8:13:08 AM

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

[Marie Evans]

Aw heck, Jeff! Sorry to hear this - I've thought of you too, and wondered if your patchy recovery would hold fast.

Better luck this time! Marie

---

From: davis2177 <davi...@charter.net>
To: Ankle Fusion Support <ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 10:37:46 AM

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ankle-fusion-support+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Royj...@aol.com]

Marie, I don't stop by often enough either because I have nothing too good to say about my surgery. Don't want to scare off prospective ankle surgical patients. :o)

 

Take care now!!

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[davis2177]

RJ,
I stop by here often just read, but haven't really commented much for
the same reasons you have.

Jeff

On Jan 28, 8:55 am, Royjea...@aol.com wrote:
> Marie, I don't stop by often enough either because I have nothing too good  
> to say about my surgery. Don't want to scare off prospective ankle surgical
>  patients. :o)
>
> Take care now!!
>
> Hugs,
> ~Royjean~
>
> In a message dated 1/28/2011 3:10:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
>

[Royj...@aol.com]

Hi Jeff, I get all the messages via email so I read everything. But who wants to hear us whine?  ha ha

 

Take care now.

 

Hugs,

~Royjean~

[Marie Evans]

Thanks so much, Vicki! You take care, too!!
*hugs*
Marie

---

From: "Royj...@aol.com" <Royj...@aol.com>
To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Fri, January 28, 2011 9:55:16 AM

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.

To unsubscribe from this group, send email to ankle-fusion-sup...@googlegroups.com.

[Donna White]

Hi, thank you. Surgery next Monday and terrified. Reading horror stories on line. Joined the group. Good people. Could you email me Need reassurance really bad. Thanks for the help Donna Dhwh...@yahoo.com

[brian gregan]

Donna

It seems ti me that the websites seem to concentrate on the few people   who have bad result not the majority of people who have good results 

On 3 September 2018 at 11:32, Donna White <hallig...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi, thank you. Surgery next Monday and terrified. Reading horror stories on line. Joined the group. Good people. Could you email me Need reassurance really bad. Thanks for the help  Donna Dhwh...@yahoo.com

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ankle-fusion-support+unsub...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusion-support@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/ankle-fusion-support.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[royj...@aol.com]

Hi Donna,

I've not had a bad time.  Reading some of the other stories makes me feel like I had a great outcome.  My surgery....fusion......was in 2007.  In a hard cast for 8 weeks and shoe boot for 4 before I was allowed to put on a regular shoe which felt so weird. One leg felt shorter than the other.  To this day I still have some numbness due to nerve damage and a little pain but think arthritis has set in now since I am much older.  I can't climb ladders very well and I no longer jog but I NEEDED the surgery.  Best of luck.

Hugs,

Vicki

[Donna White]

Hi everyone. I am 3 months post ankle fusion and bone realignment for foot drop. Had started walking reg shoes with cane. Then all hell broke loose. Nerve pain so bad suicidal. Coming from incision area on top of foot and radiating to arch etc.Doc not sure but is going to remove this nasty pronged piece of metal sitting under incision. I pray this resolves this issue because pain is not liveable. ANKLE is still swollen and stiff but bearable. Thanks donna

[royj...@aol.com]

Oh goodness Donna, that sounds really awful.  I'm so sorry.  Best of luck to whatever the doctor does....let us know if that helps.

Hugs,

Vicki

[halligan1952]

Hi had surgery yesterday to remove hardware on top of foot. Hopefully this is what is causing the horrible nerve pain. Won't know for awhile. Stitches come out next week and need to wear surgical shoe.  Thanks

Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A

-------- Original message --------

From: royjean05 via Ankle Fusion Support <ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com>

Date: 12/14/18 4:13 AM (GMT-07:00)

To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: What it's like 25 months post fusion

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Ankle Fusion Support" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/ankle-fusion-support/RWppwHezpZs/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to ankle-fusion-sup...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com.

[royj...@aol.com]

So what did the hardware do?  I know you say you were having pain but will this affect anything now? I have 3 screws in my ankle and was told I could have them removed if they bothered me, which sometimes they do...but I don't want to go thru surgery again.  Let us know.

Hugs,

Vicki

[Judy]

Thank you! You are an inspiration. I just got my cast off after 3 months and while it is sensitive unless i have my aircast on, i am already relieved not to have the old pain. I have been so sedentafor so long,i hope to be able to overcome myforced laziness and travel and be able to walk.

[Ally Mulcahy]

Hi JV... I know you had your surgery quite some time ago and the fact that you’re pain free is very reassuring! I am officially 5 months post op and 1 month full weight bearing. I was wondering if you remember how long it took you to actually feel completely pain free. I’m on my feet a lot for work so I think that is why I am so sore still but wanted To hear others experiences. Thanks!