Getting Ready for Second Fusion
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hey Everyone! I am having my second fusion on November 12th and am getting a little nervous. This will actually be my third ankle/foot surgery in less than 2 years and a knee surgery in May because of all the damage with this ankle mess. My doctor will also be removing a plantar fibroma at the same time because I am over everything and need to get everything done at one time. I can't imaging needing another surgery next year. All of this has been going on for 2 1/2 years and it is just too much. I am in so much pain and have tried every type of nerve block and try to stay away from pain meds but they are the only thing that works. Did I also mention that I am in an upper management role and have to work full time, which means at least 50-60 hours a week.
Has anyone else had to have a second fusion? I am having mine because it appears that it is only 10% fused after 1 year since the first fusion. Is the pain as bad as I am expecting? The doctor is actually keeping me at the hospital for 1-3 days and all the other surgeries have been outpatient so that is also adding to my anxiety. Any advise will be appreciated or just your experiences, positive or negative will help me to prepare.
0 likes, 5 replies
Kknee07 GreenThumbz
Posted
hi, I feel your pain!!!!! End of April I had my 4th ankle surgery and 2nd fusion. same as you that the first fusion didn't fuse. I wish I could tell you that a miracle happened and I can walk pain freeðŸ˜. I can't! I had a fancy brace made and it helps a little but not enough! and I can only wear it with a gym shoe. I will say that the swelling did go down a lot and if I sit with my foot up the pain is very minor but of course that's not life with kids and working full time. I go back to work Jan 4th and the work is not the issue its the walking to get there and moving around at work. I hope you have help and ill be praying for you! mine was shattered in a car accident so maybe thats why I'm having a hard time. good luck to you!
kim
GreenThumbz Kknee07
Posted
I had one of those braces made after the first surgery, of course mine had to be pink 😃 I can't wear it though because of the fibroma. I definitely understand the walking to work and at the office. Thanks so much! There can never be enough prayers.
nancy56987 GreenThumbz
Posted
I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time. All surgeries and healing are different of course, but I did want to share with you that things can go better the second go round. I had ankle surgery last year and after 3 months of non weightbearing, I began walking in a boot. The pain and swelling was pretty bad. Another set of Xrays later showed a broken screw, non fused joint- complete failure. It took me a year of pain and discomfort to agree to surgery again. This time the doctor was a little more agressive and used a few plates in addition to screws, broke my heel and repostioned it, and used cadaver bone marrow. Although I still had the same recovery time things went much better including pain wise. So it is possible for a surgery to go better 2nd time around. One piece of advice, get your vitamin d levels checked. Mine were very low and that probably affected the healing process. I took large amounts of vitamin d supplements this time. Being able to walk is so important for our quality of life. Hang in there and hope for the best.
GreenThumbz nancy56987
Posted
That is so interesting that you said that about the Vitamin D. I went to my doctor about 5 months ago, when I felt like I was going crazy because it seemed like nobody understood how much pain I was in, and requested every type of test he could do and I found out that my Vitamin D was really low and I have an immune disorder that affects the healing. I feel like anyone who has gone through all of these surgeries should participate in writing a book to make sure that everything is covered and the patient knows what all to do. At least now we know all of this going in to this surgery. My doctor is actually going to take bone from my hip to help it heal better, he wanted to avoid cadaver bone sine he is having to use cadaver tendon in the bottom of my foot. Thanks for the advice.
kathy18445 GreenThumbz
Posted
I am so sorry you are suffering with ankle problems. Is the doctor taking any responsibility with this messed up surgery?when did you first realize that the ankle did not fuse?
my second question is why didnt the ankle fuse?
i had a fusion 8 months ago and we knew within the first six weeks if it fused or not.
im glad he is keeping you in the hospital for a few days. ankle surgery should not be an in and out kind of surgery. you need the help of nurses to get you through the first few days. It's very important to keep your ankle and foot still for at least six weeks then after that knee scooter or crutches.
i hope the doctor is making sure you have the help you need at home to heal properly. i cant imagine how discouraged you must be.ANKLE PAIN is the worse it affects everything else in your body. So bite the bullet and get the surgery done.
I found that it didnt hurt as much after the surgery as it did before. ill bet you do great this time, but I do understand your concern of going through another surgery.No matter how you look at it things are very difficult for the first two months. Take it a day at a time and make sure everybody knows you need help.Like I said the surgery doesnt hurt as much as trying to live life with a bad ankle.
IM going to have to do the other ankle and i'm not looking forward to that either.BUT I never want to have that kind of disability and pain to keep me from living my life again. So I know three months of healing is not going to be as bad as I imagine it to be.after that I AM INDEPENDENT AGAIN.
HANG n there and make sure your doctor knows what he is doing.He may have done a good job on your knee but ankles are a whole different thing.
I GUESS YOU PROBABLY KNOW TO TAKE YOUR VITAMIN D AND DO THE STRETCHES AND PT THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR MAKING THE SURGERY WORK. I know.....its such a pain.