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Ankle Replacement Surgery

Posted , 196 users are following.

Ultraboxer
Ultraboxer

I would like to estabish contact with anyone who has undergone ankle replacement surgery and reflect a ittle on the aftereffects and the longer term prognoses for recovery and mobility.

Having undergone such an operation about 9 months ago I am currently coming to terms with a less than welcome (and certainly unexpected) imapct upon my life and mobility.

Issues such as lack of mobility, excessive swelling and cronic pain from the ankle itself but also from the toes and lack of sensation and feeling in parts of the foot are those I am facing and would like to know how other poeple have fared, both in the short and longer term.

16 likes, 848 replies

848 Replies

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  • Garyy
    Garyy Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Has anybody looking into Stem Cell Therapy?  I've been doing some research and it looks like a few high end facilities are having great results.  It's a little expensive and insurance doesn't cover it, but the alternative is months of pain and limited movement and the unknown whether anything might go wrong.  Just a thought.

  • jean65697
    jean65697 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    I had my TAR on 11th August this year (2016) just had cast removed yesterday and been given an airboot.

    The inner ankle bone was excruciatingly painful when I started the stretching exercises and have a fair amount of nerve pain down my foot into big toe.

    Foot is numb and semi numb and ok in different places.

    I had a subtular fusion prior to that but I was still bone on bone and in agony and my whole life changed from having a life to having an existence.

    I then had an arthroscopy but it didn't help and 3 years later I'm now at this stage.

    I've got an ice boot from my first op so I'm going to use that ( a bit sort of cryogenics)

    The swelling has reduced considerably and leg has a fair amount of muscle wastage.

    I've read the posts but I'm trying to stay positive as that's all I've got left.

    I was told to look at 1-2 years for full recovery.

    The same surgeon on each op so hoping he knows his way around my ankle by now lol

    • theresa12324
      theresa12324 jean65697

      Posted

      Wow jeanne, you are a true warrior!! Don't be fooled by the stories of no pain. You will have some level of pain. But everyone tolerates pain differently.

      I don't know which prosthetic you went with, STAR or iInBone? That makes a huge difference as well. What you will have is mobility like you've never had before. The technology is amazing. Hang in there. Follow Drs orders. But don't let them tell you that yoy have no pain if you really do!!

      Good luck and God Bless

      Theresa

    • jean65697
      jean65697 theresa12324

      Posted

      Hi Theresa,

      Thank you for your reply, having lived with pain and rattling because of pain killers, I can't remember the last time I was pain free.

      Prior to any operation my whole right foot collapsed and I ended up walking on my arch area as my heel was at a 30 degree angle. All nerves squashed in my sinus tarsi and the arch nerves and tendons stretched beyond their limit so was in agony 24/7.

      My only relief was in a swimming pool which I had to be hoisted in and out of like some whaling ship!!

      I don't know which style I have been given but I will ask on my next visit in 4 weeks time.

      All I know is it feels pain free in the outer ankle area which I had before and now inner ankle painful where it wasn't before lol.

      My other foot/ankle is also on the way out due to over compensating for the right foot, which isn't helped by the air boot putting my legs at different heights.

      I was a Police Officer for 32 years and reaping the benefits of all that walking the beat now!! Am a real 'flat-foot' lol

    • Weezer
      Weezer jean65697

      Posted

      Hi Theresa, I'm sorry your in so much pain. I can relate with your statement about your other foot giving out because of the boot uneveness. That is happening to me as well. I have my ankle replacement soon on left foot, & think that the continued boot use will really make my right ankle worse. I've been in a left boot since June 2nd. I like the pool too, but experienced the hoisting which embarrased me in a public pool. I hope your pain eases up & they go with your ankle healing. I t really sucks to have constant pain. Good luck to you.

    • jean65697
      jean65697 Weezer

      Posted

      Hi Weezer,

      I've decided to even myself up and for £20 have just bought a Darco open toe cast boot, which is like a sandal but will bring me up to the same height as the air boot.

      Worth a try I think?

      Good luck on your up and coming op.

      Just as a by the by my other foot is on its way out too and after the op, the Physios come round and gave me a Zimmer frame wanting to see me use it and kept trying to get me to hop.

      I told them I can't hop because of problems with other foot, they kept on trying to get me to hop but I refused saying it will cause further damage and I wasn't going to do that just so they can tick a box on their statistic form.

      They asked how I was going to get around and I told them I had bought a rollater and I sit on that and push myself around backwards around my house.

      So don't let them bulldoze you into stuff if you know you're not capable.

    • Weezer
      Weezer jean65697

      Posted

      Hi Jean, that's why I couldn't use crutches after my 1st surgery. The hoping hurt my other ankle. From time to time if I use it too much because of uneven weight & even on my knee scooter, it will bruise on the inside of ankle & makes it hard to scoot around. So basically I've got two bad ankles at the same time. 1 in a boot after presurgery for tar & 1 in waiting after my tar heals. I know it will be years to recover, but the Dr. Told me that I had to commit to this long way to help my ankles. I agreed. Sometimes it's very difficult to just stay in bed, than difficult if I get up & do to many things. Oh well, just trying to maintain a good pistive attitude

    • kim30180
      kim30180 jean65697

      Posted

      We purchased a scooter with a basket and it was fantastic! Tom would kneel on the scooter and scoot himself all around with his good leg. Google medical scooters  See attached photo. It was the best thing we did durning his resouperation. It gave him mobility and independence
    • steve_76980
      steve_76980 jean65697

      Posted

      Hi Jean

      I had the replacement 1 year ago and I'm 53, Lambeth officer, it's going really well, still desk bound but to old for front line anyway lol. Don't look like I'm going to be allowed to do Fitness test (MO advice) but I'm going to push for it.

      Good luck with everything

      Steve

    • molly34687
      molly34687 steve_76980

      Posted

      hi Steve,

      are you still happy with your replacement? mind sharing which doctor did it? did you get it on the NHS?

      thanks,

      molly

  • Weezer
    Weezer Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Hi Ultraboxer, I'll be having my replacement Sept 165th. I'll keep you posted of my progress & such. I hope things get better but I have constant pain , toe numbness & lots of or ahead of me . I had presurgery before tar cause I had fallen arches, tendons & ligaments to fix, & a bunion. I have a plate, & screws already. Hope I can lift my left ankle after all these new parts are installed! I have swelling, chronic pain & I'm only light wb still.

    I hope things get better for your ankle. It's scary to go through this kind of stuff & not feel any better. Doesn't seem right does it!

    .

  • Weezer
    Weezer Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Hi Ultraboxer, I'll be having my replacement Sept 16th. I'll keep you posted of my progress & such. I hope things get better but I have constant pain , toe numbness & lots of pt ahead of me . I had presurgery before tar cause I had fallen arches, tendons & ligaments to fix, & a bunion. I have a plate, & screws already. Hope I can lift my left ankle after all these new parts are installed! I have swelling, chronic pain & I'm only light wb still.

    I hope things get better for your ankle. It's scary to go through this kind of stuff & not feel any better. Doesn't seem right does it!

    .

  • leigh2420
    leigh2420 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Tar done in 2001.. just having issues now.. might be going to fused ankle.. it was a good run..
    • yvonne13888
      yvonne13888 leigh2420

      Posted

      I got ankle fusion on June 15th. Walking with walking boot. Thursday Dr appt. Hoping for xrays to see that it has kept up the good healing. And possibly regular shoes, no walking boot. Had fusion on both sides, inner tendon repaired and big toe fused with a plate, 11 pins and a plate. Good luck with yours.
  • mary02640
    mary02640 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    I am following this discussion because a dear friend  requires  knee replacement.  I do hope you receive the help and information you are seeking.
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