Ankle Replacement Surgery

I had a TAR in September, 2013.  The surgeon was supposed to do a subtalar fusion at the same time (which he "forgot" to do) and six weeks after surgery, the replacement was recalled.  Seems the manufacturer (Zimmer) failed to clean off the implant's polishing material.  There were only 100 implanted worldwide so no class action suit or anything.  I have had nothing but pain for 3 years.  I finally found a new surgeon who has taken a very conservative approach, but finally did the subtalar fusion in February.  Still in a lot of pain so I'm going in for arthroscopic surgery in September.  If this doesn't get rid of the pain, I don't know what I will do.

Hello. I am a 57 year old woman who had BOTH ankles replaced November 2015. I had severe bone-on-bone osteoarthritis and I put off surgery until I could no longer tolerate the pain. I am happy with my results as I can walk again!

Directly after surgery, I was placed in casts for three weeks then the "Storm Trooper" boots after that. I spent one night in the hospital. I had nerve blocks that fell out as soon as I got into the car to go home. I was instructed to get up once an hour in order to prevent blood clots. Yes it was very painful at first. In fact, I asked for refills of the Oxycodone twice. 

My ankles don't hurt anymore bus my back spasms. I think i's because I am not walking the same as I did before. My right ankle still swells a little. My surgeon told me to expect that for at least two years.

I have numbness on the tops of my feet and toes. For a time, the bottoms of my feet were super sensitive but that seems to have gone away.My right lower leg just started hurting above the ankle. It is very sensitive to touch and just today hurt when walking. 

I am very happy I had the surgery and would have it again (both at the same time). 

I had my TAR June 17th, left ankle. No problems in surgery, doctor came out afterward and told my wife everything went "textbook". Cast came off and stitches removed on schedule July 5th. I've been off the Oxy's since that time. At that time I was given this monster black boot with a metal plate and hard rubber soles. Sound familiar? I can place 50% weight-bearing. I'm allowed to take it off for 2 hours/day which I've broken up into 3 forty minute sessions in which I work on ROM exercises. I've learned quite a bit reading responses here, thanks for sharing your experiences. 

My concerns, I cannot sleep with this thing on. It's not scheduled to be removed for 3 more weeks, Aug 1st. Is the plantar fasciitis night splint a good alternative if my surgeon allows it? It looks like it would keep the ankle secure while lying in bed.

Also, my ankle feels best after my shower. Probably the warm water. Does anyone use a heating pad for comfort? I would only use it on a warm or medium setting.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Hello everyone

Thank you all for sharing your experiences of ankle replacement surgery. It has helped me come to a decision regarding this.

I live in the UK and am 68 years old. I am a league tennis player and my business is boarding dogs, who have to be walked twice daily (at least)!

35 odd years ago, I had a serious skiiing ankle with an open fracture of the right tibia and fibula just above the boot, just above the ankle.  I had a plate put in, in Austria.  The London surgeons were very impressed with the handiwork of the Austrian surgeon. However, they cut into the ankle area to put the plate in.  I was told that I wouldn't walk properly again, never mind play sport. I have played top class sport all my life and in my younger years I think that I tore every ligament and tendon in that right ankle. I refused to be defeated and after coming out of plaster, I swam every day for about 6 months (6 months on crutches and six months with a stick). It was while I was hurrying back to work after my lunchtime swim (I was late!) that I suddenly stopped and literally SCREAMED, 'I am RUNNING! I am RUNNING!' and burst into tears. I think the London public thought I was demented.

After that year and a half out, I went back to playing serious hockey and I was FINE. Until now. I am telling you all this, because it was that accident, the orthopaedic surgeon here in Bath UK thinks, which was responsible for my current ankle problem. For several years now I have lived with (intermittent, worse after playing tennis or long walks) serious pain.  I have been living on painkillers, capaicin cream and lanzoprazole (for protecting the lining of my stomach from the 400mg/3xday Ibuprofen).  It got so bad that the surgeon performed an arthroscopy in November 2014.  He told me as I came round from the anaesthetic that he didn't think they had been able to help much. 'See how it goes and maybe we will have to think about a fusion of the ankle'.  I totally rejected that as an option. 'I play tennis!', I said. 'No fusion'.

It is now end July 2016.  It hasn't gone well. I have had an MRI scan and am continuing on the painkillers and anti-inflammatories. I also take gabapentin - a strong nerve pain analgesic which, I swear, is the most help for the pain in my ankle, which is constant now.  My GP doesn't agree, so again I was referred back to the orthopaedic surgeon (who specialises in ankles).

My MRI is showing bone on bone which is why my ankle is so painful. He gave me three options: 1) ankle fusion (NOT an option for me), 2) ankle replacement, which he told me is only 90% successful at present (whereas hip and knee replacements are 98-99% successful) or 3) continue on the painkillers until I literally can't walk.  I chose number 3.  

He referred me for orthotics to stabilise the ankle as I am walking with a limp and the knee and the hip are being affected.  Going up stairs is extremley difficult, even with the orthotics, because my right quadriceps muscles have reduced in size.  My core is also weak, so my balance is affected.

SO, I thought I would have the ankle replacement surgery.  I decided to research it and came across this site. THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed. After reading right through every comment, I HAVE DECIDED I WILL NOT HAVE THE SURGERY. I am actually quite horrified by some of your stories - more pain and swelling after the op; not being mobile for months on end (how will I play tennis,or walk dogs?); and acceptance of less mobility and less ability to play impact sports.  NOT for me!

I am hoping that in a few years time (when I really can't walk!), the technique of ankle replacement surgery will have improved.

In the meantime, I have joined a gym and I swim every day and do thigh strengthening exercises and core strenghtening exercises every day there. Pilates is next. I walk the dogs every day and I have a mini-trampoline at home, which I am trying to use more (against doctors' wishes - but it is a soft, low-impact type of exercise, good for strengthening the core - balance - and using almost every muscle in the body). And, I am still playing league tennis, although I suffer the next day! I will not be defeated!

I am sorry, if this is a very long post to read.  I just hope that some of the ideas and facts in it resonate with somebody and help them to make a decision whether to go through surgery or not. As one contributer said, every case is different, and you are the best person to decide whether it is suitable for your case, your level of pain. As long as you do your research, as many on here have said, you will decide. Research is the key. No-one else can decide, or influence you. Believe in yourself.

Good luck to you all!

Sandi

I see you posted your initial enquiry over a year ago, Ultraboxer, so it should be coming up to two years ago that you had the surgery.  I do hope things have improved since that posting and that your life and mobility have improved considerably? Let us know how you are now, won't you?

I had my star replacement June 15, 2016. I still have pain but its nothing like I had before the surgery. I was in a cat wreck my foot went through the bottom of The car and was laying up the inside of my leg it was cut so bad. 2004 I had it fussed , because i had bone againat bone , still had pain a lot. Then in November I started having miserableconstant pain I was ready for amputation it was so bad. I am still having some pain but nothing like before surgery. I'm still no weight for another couple of weeks.started PT two weeks ago. My ankle is moving it fills like it bends in half. But when I look at my ankle is is moving but not like normal it has been so long since it moved it amazes me how it moves. It has been 24 years since my ankl has really bent. I'm so glad I had the ankle replacement.