Ankle Replacement Surgery

Good luck. Richard

I had a Zenith TAR four years ago which was very sucessful as you can see in this video of me walking at 20 weeks   Google TAR Yogesh Zenith Richard should bring it up for you.  It should provide useful encouragement.  Sadly I am told that unknown to me I have cysts that need to be dealt with and pain developing.

Cheers Richard

I feel compelled to respond to mellowphil and RichardKen's comments re squash and my new ankle.

I first picked up a squash racquet in 1958 almost 60 years ago and have played the game ever since.  It is a VERY important part of my life.  As I have aged & developed orthopoedic issues I have become less competitive and switched from singles to doubles squash many years ago.  Doubles squash is an arcane sport only played in North America on a court 45' by 25' by 4 guys with the ball whizzing around at close to 150mph.  It is less demanding than singles but much faster.  I have explained to my surgeon the start/stop and twisting and turning motions required and he agreed that I could probably play with the Wright inbone prosthetic for the few years I have left (I am now 77).  It would be harder on me to not play than to risk damage to my ankle playing "old man squash".

I am now almost 4 weeks post-op and have yet to experience any serious pain.  I will start weight-bearing in less than 2 weeks and after insuring the ankle is solid will have my knee on the same side replaced.  My other knee was replaced about 3 years ago, again with no pain or swelling and I was playing doubles squash 6 weeks after surgery.  I have worked very hard at doing the rehab BEFORE the surgery on my joint replacements.  I am also a very lucky guy and as you guys (and gals) know-that luck can change at any time at this age.  I do not intend to compromise (too much) on the way I have always lived my life unil I have to.  Thanks for "listening"

Bob Weight

Denver

Dear Bob

Like you I'm not easily held back and have continued working full time following my TAR in 2012 which has included a major roofing job involving flagstone like tiles.

At the same time I was involved in looking after a flock of sheep which is quite physical when it comes to catching and turning them up. All of this rather worried my surgeon but he said that on no account should I run with my new ankle and I am not as the prospect of damaging my ankle was far too important to me!

I'm now having to face serious revision work as I have Osteoporosis and perhap brought on

All I would say to anyone planning on engaging in sport please think of the possible consequences.   I am now facing the possibility down the line of having my leg amputated.   This would be really dire after having got my life back for four years.

TAKE CARE.

Cheers

Richard

Hi RichardKen

I can only agree with you.

I had a TAR and it initially felt very good and I walked normally for a few months. My Fibula did not heal as planned. The plate that was supposed to keep it in place did not do its job. Long story short, it all collapsed after 8 months, breaking a screw and my prosthesis tilted 11 degrees. I am in constant pain when I walk now and it's not getting better. My other ankle is also gone due to walking with a Moonboot on the other leg and it needs a TAR or fusion too...so not in good position for a 54 year old man.

So, please guys... a TAR is not a procedure to make your life normal again so that you can carry on playing squash and doing physical running, excessive walking etc. You cannot go on with your life as usual....maybe for a few years and then you will face the music. Rather accept your situation and live a more restrained lifestyle to protect your mobility. It is something that needs to be appreciated and cherished....wait till you lose it. With a failed TAR, it is a very harsh reality and the possibility of amputation becomes very real as well.

There is no real "revision" for TAR. It means taking out a huge piece of metal from your ankle leaving a substantial cavity. There is one procedure that I was supposed to have had June 2016, but it is very invasive in terms of the time it takes to heal and you have to wear a Taylor spacial frame (not easy) on your leg for up to 9 months. If successful, you can have a fused ankle with little loss of leg length. I just could not have it done due to work related commitments but I am still keeping that option open though. At the end of the day, I will have go for it otherwise I will lose my mobility.

Just my 2 cent worth.

Cheers

Totally agree with you. I'm a very active 75 year old. I had a total hip prosthetics just over a year ago and did everything I used to do except run as my surgeon said NO! I looked at it as another chance as before the surgery I was forced to give up work and being self employed this was very bad news.

I have considered the ankle in the same way as I was only able to walk a very short distance before the surgery.

Having an ankle revision is a VERY different ball game to a hip revision so I do urge everyone to carefully weigh up all the risks before risking damaging the opportunity of decent mobility and with it independence!

Cheers Richard

Cheers Richard

I had a very strict healing regime for the hip, was in a body brace for six weeks and could not bend my leg more than 30 degrees etc. and that I believe is really where the secret lies. Good aftercare and time to heal completely.

Because an ankle bears much more strain than a hip, the healing process should be taken much more seriously and rather keep weight off for longer than expected.

If I can have my TAR over today, I will not put any weight on that ankle for at least 4-5 months and make 100% sure the fibula is healed completely before I even start to think of putting weight on it. Halas...water under the bridge for me.

Cheers

Cheers Richard

Richard and LDT...I hope my post helps you.   I am new to this forum.   I suggested to Dr. Yu yesterday a support group for TAR should exist but he said there are so few folks out here that have had this done, there'd be a scarcity of members.  However, I joined a support group for several years when I had acoustic neuroma(form of benign brain tumor) and found it a great help.  It's a candle in the darkness.  So I hope my words help...also, we are more hopeful each time we see the doctor and he says all looks well and last night when I saw Tom without the cane I was positive for the first time in a long while.  God bless us, every one.   Also, at the airport, I am getting a wheelchair and we will be priority boarding for the first time.  So there are perks!

You should consider yourself lucky indeed. I have the same. You are quite early in your recovery.

Wright Technology sold off their Ankle Replacement manufacturing.

There are so many issues with the prosthetic.

Keep in close contact with an Orthopedic Surgeon. You never know what might pop up.

Read my reply to Ultraboxer, and God Speed.

A brief update on my ankle  (12/7) and knee (2/10) replacements - My ankle continues to heal well, although now that I am walking around the swelling is bothersome, so I am taking it easy.  I have been surprised by the swelling and pain associated with my knee replacement 10 days ago.  I guess I have been lucky up until now and now have to work on it - just like anyone else.  I go to the gym everyday and ride a bike to nowhere with no resistance just to get the juices moving around and try to walk a bit - been using just a cane since 5 days post-op

I am a lucky guy (but that won't keep me from whining about something!)