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Ankle Replacement Surgery

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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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  • peter5292
    peter5292 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Sorry I don't know what type of TAR I had. It was carried out in Scotland this year late January.

    I developed a large 'fracture' blister which meant early removal of the plaster cast after only one week. I wore a 'moon' boot for the next three weeks but was able to remove that. Although I have good movement I am suffering from some joint pain a never ending dull ache. Worse than that though is the really bad nerve pain I have on the top of my foot. This is particularly bad at night when my foot feels as though it is burning.

  • epiphany19
    epiphany19 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Id like to find a very experienced surgeon for my TAR. Ive been told an inbone TAR is the only thing that will hold because of cysts.

    Ive seen 4 doctors, but having done only 30 to 40 TARS, no inbone, leaves me lacking confidence it will be performed correctly.

    I live in the Scottsdale, Phoenix area. Sny recommendations?

    Thanks

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen epiphany19

      Posted

      I cannot help feeling that this comment about cyts is very strange!

      Cysts are caused by osteolysis and the reason for this happening is thought to be due to the creation of the microscopic wear debris of the components of the prosthesis adversely interacting with ones body. Some people I understand are more vulnerable than others and it has the potential with all joints, not just TARS.

      Perhaps it it the greater pressure with the TAR that makes it more of an issue but this is speculation on my part.

      As a result of the above I have to question to correctness of your doctor's statement.

      Cheers, Richard

    • epiphany19
      epiphany19 RichardKen

      Posted

      These subchondral defects (sacs filled with fluid) first showed up in my MRI in 2015; which knocked out the Star TAR, so that an inbone Prophecy is the only one recommended for my ankle.

      I am searching for a well practiced physician with this surgery.

      Thank you.

    • mary46820
      mary46820 epiphany19

      Posted

      I had mine done with Dr Paul Fortin at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan 7 1/2 weeks ago. So far very pleased. I was able to talk to a patient of his from my community prior to having it done.

  • mike_49136
    mike_49136 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    i have the Inbome ankle implant the pain i have with it is threw the roof... swelling daily . two years and I'm looking forward to amputation ASAP. I would rather live without it than to live in hell with it!!

    • epiphany19
      epiphany19 mike_49136

      Posted

      I am so sorry. There have been times I've thought about it.

      I wonder if your surgeon had not had the experience with inbone? For you, it is a moot point.

      Please let me know how you are doing.

      All the best.

      Viki

    • coljc
      coljc mike_49136

      Posted

      my feelings exactly but could you not do fusion first to get rid of pain before asking to go

  • LDT
    LDT Ultraboxer

    Posted

    Hi All

    Have been some time again since I had a look at this thread.

    I hope all is well with the 'TARS' and 'STARS' of this thread?.

    mike_49136 - I hear you where it comes to pain in an ankle....have closet full of T-shirts.. I have had a TAR for about four years now. Looking at your post really scares me a lot as I am sitting here right now with a hairline fracture of my Fibula..high abouve my TAR (foot in the Moon boot) due to misalignment of my TAR. Inevitably it is also a warning signal for me regarding the future of my TAR. I am also in a unfortunate position to have nothing left in my other ankle and I urgently need to get a fusion of that joint so that I can be ready when the times come for my TAR to collapse.

    That said, I honestly feel there is an alternative to amputation if you have a botched TAR. My story is somewhere on this thread on how I almost had my prosthesis removed as it was 'loose', according to a doctor here in South Africa. I refused at the last minute the operation and I have had mixed success with my TAR since then. It looks to be pretty fixed now, but it had moved and thus the alignment issues. It is much better than the pain I had before the TAR and I have a relatively good period now for few years.

    For you, who seems to be in the position where you don't have a prosthesis in your ankle, there is a procedure that was meant to be done on me whereby they fill the gap where the prosthesis came out with donor bone and then fixate the bottom leg - ankle part in a Taylor spacial frame for a prolonged period (9 months - a year). It's messy... I know, but there is a doctor here in South Africa who has done this operation with success in the past. I believe he pioneered it.

    Maybe you can also get someone to look into that procedure. If it's successful (and you still have your whits about you after 9 - 12 months in a frame😉), then you will have a pretty strong ankle fusion with no length problems to you leg etc. It's one hell of a recovery and one has to be very well prepared mentally for it as well, but it gives you a chance to have the continued usage of your leg .

    If you want to find out more, please contact me (or moderators send him my email please) and I will give you the name of the doctor in South Africa etc. In the mean time, I will be hopping along happily...sort of.

    Keep well my friends.

    Leon

    Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.

  • mary46820
    mary46820 Ultraboxer

    Posted

    I had a TAR 7 1/2 weeks ago with a Wright Infinity and have been pretty pleased so far with the results. My ankle has been healing pretty good with little swelling then four days ago I spent more time on my feet and after had more pain with increased swelling (3+ edema) and I have been getting nerve pain and spasms in my ankle in the middle of the night every night since the swelling occurred. This morning the swelling is decreased to 2+ edema but I had the painful spasms approximately two hours after falling asleep last night. Does anyone else experience the painful spasms and what do you take for them if you have them? Otherwise I am doing great. I am 56 years old and had the surgery d/t arthritis. I am a nurse and my surgeon stated that I just wore my ankle out by being on my feet alot. I am planning on going back to work in two months.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen mary46820

      Posted

      I wonder if you have tried to keep your feet above your heart and wrapped in very cold Ace bandages when you are able. to rest. I think you will find that this greatly helps. I also found that using the stretch stockings also helped me.

      Good luck . Richard

    • mary46820
      mary46820 RichardKen

      Posted

      I seem to have lost my message I was typing to you. I have done all of these but the cold Ace bandages. Overall I cant complain and am happy I had it done. I start PT in a week. Thanks for your help.

    • kenneth48428
      kenneth48428 mary46820

      Posted

      I've had both ankles done in the last 21 months (Wright Infinity) with the second five months ago. Better than expected results in both cases, but I'm still a little wabbly when first standing after #2. First one had a long period of spasms that made for weeks of sleep interuptions , but other than that it was/is just a matter of building strength and balance back up. Almost 69 and active as much as i was 15-20 years ago, but really wish I could jog/run. So far I'm 100% pleased with surgeon and unit. Be well.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen kenneth48428

      Posted

      Thats great news Kenneth. May I ask who your surgeon was and which hospital.

      I had one done in 2012 but it was done badly and Osyerlysis set in and it was revised by a different surgeon in a different hospital and so far all brilliant.

      Please be aware that Osteolysis is one of the major reasons for a TAR failing and I strongly suggest that every check up you have that you ask your surgeon to check the Xrays for ANY hint of it!

      Cheers, Richard

    • kenneth48428
      kenneth48428 RichardKen

      Posted

      Surgeon was Paul Fortin out of Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. Thank you for the tip (next check up is November). Be well.

    • mary46820
      mary46820 kenneth48428

      Posted

      kenneth he was my surgeon also 7 1/2 weeks ago. So far I am pleased with the results and am walking short distances

    • mary46820
      mary46820 kenneth48428

      Posted

      that is great news!! I also wish I could run again but I'll take walking with little to no pain any day. I'm 56 and plan to return to work as a nurse in two months.

    • coljc
      coljc mary46820

      Posted

      don't bank on it .. 4months after mine can barely put foot down.. am going for fusion can't bare this.

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