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Ankle Fusion

Posted , 20 users are following.

jim86105
jim86105

i am told I require a fusion of my right ankle, the damage was caused by a fall from a ladder. I have had a peroneal tendon and liagment reconstruction, the deltoid liagment is detached from the bone also but this will be fixed when the fusion is being done 

my question is how long will it be before  I can use the ankle. Can anyone let me have an opinion on having a fusion and your experience

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • john76554
    john76554 jim86105

    Posted

    Did you ever have a PRP injection?  Otho wants to try this in 2 weeks.  I had dislocated fx right ankle about 20 yrs ago now arthritis has settled in.   Has TKR left knee 9 weeks ago prostate procedure TURP 5 weeks ago.  Ankle is a constant source of pain cortisone shots do nothing.  also considering arthroscopic procedure if PRP does not provide some relief. 
  • Griffltd
    Griffltd jim86105

    Posted

    Hi jim,

    .I am also awaiting an ankle fusion on the 18th July at the RNOH in Stanmore, it is being performed by Dr Andy Goldburg, who is a really nice guy.

    He tells me I cannot have a replacement as my bones are so worn having suffered a motorcycle accident some 30years ago, and

    Having got to the age of 55 it is now

    Bent inwards, I am hoping I can get some advise on how to maintain some calf muscle

    Through excersie,and looking for the

    Advantages and disadvantages relating to the proceedure

    Regards

  • andrew52113
    andrew52113 jim86105

    Posted

    Thanks guys, it's been really useful reading your experiences.

    I've had a keyhole operation to my right ankle to remove abnormal bone growth which was preventing vertical flexing of my right ankle, which worked, but it also discovered that I have "no cartilage" in the joint, which can now flex but is very painful.

    Hearing that you can still get a fairly normal gait is encouraging, but the long recovery time is daunting, should have realised.

    One stupid question... Once recovered are you free of pain?

    If that is the case, then even the choice between a life with a very painful limp or life with a pain free limp ia an easy one to make..!

    My sturgeon ,(correct spelling...He is a large cold fish,...Not really he's very nice) discouraged the replacement joint, he said it wasn't for me.. I guess that was because I'm carrying quiet a bit of excess weight.

    As I say it looks like it's fusion for me, but I will investigate further before deciding

    Thanks Again

    Andrew

  • StuartSt
    StuartSt jim86105

    Posted

    Can anyone recommed a specialist in the UK South East for either TAR or Fusion please?
  • lors23
    lors23 jim86105

    Posted

    Hey All

    I have been reading your disgussion on tar or ankle fusion and am not sure what would be best for me. I have just turned 44 and have Ostioarthritis in most of my joints. I had 2 hip replaced and my left knee all last year. I still have to get right knee replaced when l feel ready but while recovering from my tkr l started getting a pain in the ankle in the same leg l had both joints replaced. I had put the pain down to my knee getting replaced in august but its slowly got worse its now at the point l can hardly put weight on it and am using my sticks again.

    Have had xrays done and its been confirmed that its OA in my ankle now too and l will need an op. I have still to see doctor about what operation to have he did mention the fusion before l had it confirmed it was OA. Now reading your thread l am not sure if a tar sounds better. Anybody think a tar would be a better option. I work in an office at a computer so no manual work. I am scared about this as it seem the recovery and wearing a cast for so long sounds bad compaired to my hips and knee where l was able to walk a couple of weeks after op without a cast 😕

    My life have been taken over with my OA.

    Laura

    • StuartSt
      StuartSt lors23

      Posted

      Hi lors23, I am the same age and similar situation as you and just wondered if you had made any decisions?
    • andrew52113
      andrew52113 StuartSt

      Posted

      If it helps Stuart,

      I've decided to go for fusion, despite the advice from a physio that it is detrimental to other joints..

      The thing is, if I don't do anything then I'm still going to damage my other joints anyway, because of my limp and my favouring my damaged ankle...but after the fusion, at least my ankle should be pain free..

      Andrew.D.

  • supek99
    supek99 jim86105

    Posted

    I'd like to chime in... looking to give advise and looking to get advise.  I'm a 50 yr old healthy male average lifestyle and as active as anybody is with big family, demanding office job and community involved person can be.  I had my left ankle fused 31 yrs ago and besides not being able to run and always needing to ware comfortable shoes I got a solid 30+ years of a good life!   Not bad at all.  Wish I didn't have the problem, but better than being in pain and no life at all.  

    ....however, now after 30+ years my other joints in that foot are destroyed.  Last 2 yrs has been filled with cotizonze shots and lots of Tylenol.  As of late, really really sore.  I'm now faced with a subtalar and navicular fusion I'm less than 30 days.  Surgery is scheduled for 26th of September. 

    I and concerned about recovery time.  When can I get back to my desk job? And how long will it be after I say "glad I did that".  I'm anticipating 3 weeks out of work and not until Jan before 100% weight bearing and early. Summer of 2108 before I'm back to most of my life style.  Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?  Hope this also helps anybody else too?  Thanks for listening. 

    • paul_87869
      paul_87869 supek99

      Posted

      I was 18 weeks in casts and a boot with no weight bearing.  It is now 21 weeks and I still have swelling and pain.  I can weight bear 100% but for short times and then have to elevate and ice.  I do physiotherapy three times a week and it helps.   All I can tell you is do not rush your recovery, be patient it will take time and a lot of work to get back to where you can function  normally.
  • supek99
    supek99 jim86105

    Posted

    I'd like to chime in... looking to give advise and looking to get advise.  I'm a 50 yr old healthy male average lifestyle and as active as anybody is with big family, demanding office job and community involved.  I had my left ankle fused 31 yrs ago and besides not being able to run and always needing to wear comfortable shoes, I got a solid 30+ years of a good life!   Not bad at all.  Wish I didn't have the problem, but better than being in pain and no life at all.  

    ....however, now after 30+ years my other joints in that foot are destroyed.  Last 2 yrs has been filled with cotizonze shots and lots of Tylenol.  As of late, really really sore and not able to get around.  I'm now faced with a subtalar and navicular fusion in less than 30 days.  Surgery is scheduled for 26th of September. 

    I and concerned about recovery time.  When can I get back to my desk job? And how long will it be after I say "glad I did that".  I'm anticipating 3 weeks out of work and not until Jan before 100% weight bearing and early. Summer of 2108 before I'm back to most of my life style.  Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?  Hope this also helps anybody else too?  Thanks for listening.  Also... TRA, glad I never opted to do so,  I've heard because it is weight bearing and because I'm still fairly young, fusion was better. Looking back, I would agrees.  Fusion gave me solid 30+ years ...until now.   Hope subtalar and navicular fusion give me another 30.  

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