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Looking for opinion about ankle fusion / replacement

Posted , 9 users are following.

Nadine_00
Nadine_00

Hi everybody 

needing advice on weather to fouse my ankle totally so there will be no movement at all or a ankle replacment my specialist is thinking of a fousion then when I'm older he would give me a replacment but it still in the talking stage for now so just wanted to here from anyone who has had a replacment to know how long u took to recover ect and a if anyone has had a total fousion to know about the recovery etc so please help if u can ???????? 

Cheers 

1 like, 52 replies

52 Replies

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  • john09838
    john09838 Nadine_00

    Posted

    Nadine,

    After reflecting on your youth at only 38 I feel driven to add that I did much research before embarking on my TAR, including discussions with neighbours who are orthopaedic surgeons, followed by 3 private consultations with TAR specialists.

    However, the advice you have been given that TAR is possible following fusion contradicts everything I have learned, and appears to be inconsistent with the understanding of every other contributor to this blog.

    So before potentially condemning yourself to 50 or more years of limping on a stiff ankle I strongly recommend you  identify another TAR specialist and obtain a second opinion.

    John .  

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 john09838

      Posted

      Hi john 

      thankyou very much for all your advise it's so much appresheated because you are right about asking for a second oppinon which I think I will be doing , which ever way I do go it's still going take a lot of waying up the good and bad things with both , the hardest part about it all is I was born with vertical tales and doctors told mum an dad not to do anything with my feet until they start breaking down which has been the 8 or so years so I understand pain a hell of a lot. I also have been doing a lot of resurch and have a lot more to do which is why I come on here to read other people's comments about what they have been though good and bad thanks heaps again 

      cheers   Nadine 

    • gill08601
      gill08601 Nadine_00

      Posted

      Hi Nadine, 

      You should have mentioned the Congenital Foot Deformity at the outset. This puts surgery in a whole new ballpark. My TAR , and I suspect those of john and fishersid, was due to arthritis in the ankle joint.

      You are probably unlikely to find help in a forum as your Vertical Talus is rather uncommon.

      Regards, Gill

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 gill08601

      Posted

      Hi gill

       

      this is due to arthritis why I put a post up asking for people's experience with a TAR or a fousion and how they felt which is what john, Phoenix and fishersid did for me and I'm very great full for there input and vertical talus isn't an that uncommon sorry to say 

      cheers 

      Nadine 

    • phoenixOmen
      phoenixOmen Nadine_00

      Posted

      I just read that you mentioned “Arthritis”, I do not know how much damage such disease has caused to your joints; only your Doctor can tell you that. But there is a 4th option to take in consideration if you are a good candidate. That option is reconstruction of the affected area.

      This type of procedure is one of the best options, but not many do perform such surgery. It will not stop the disease but it will give you time. You should ask your doctor if you are a good candidate for this type of treatment. 

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 phoenixOmen

      Posted

      Hi Phoenix 

      thanks very much for the 4th option of a reconstruction know I have a lot more to think about and talk to my specialist about when I see him again in 2  and a bit weeks. 

      You must have done a lot of research before you had your ankle done 

  • phoenixOmen
    phoenixOmen Nadine_00

    Posted

    I understand, but generalizing a whole sector, because and based on your case, it is just wrong. I had a friend that was “Checked out” by a private provider on his right ankle and consequently told that there was nothing to worry about (With MRI’). A week after, and because of continuous pain, he visited a Public care provider; this provider using same MRI’ stated he was in need of a Lateral Ankle Ligament Reconstruction.

    I could give you thousands of examples on which private providers have committed same mistakes as public providers; yet I don’t go around generalizing. Anyhow this is off topic, I just hope Nadine gets the best outcome.

  • Nadine_00
    Nadine_00

    Posted

    Hi all 

    wow things that people say that get taken out of control I did not mean to start a war about talking about private sector to public sector everyone has there own reason to select which ever way they go depending on there situation as long as everyone gets the care they are happy with that's all that matters in the long run ............... 

    • gill08601
      gill08601 Nadine_00

      Posted

      Haha, Nadine you are right there.

      Just for the record I had my TAR procedure on the NHS. I only mentioned the Vertical Talus as it may complicate the surgery.

      Best of luck with whichever you have done.

      Gill

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 gill08601

      Posted

      Hi gill 

      yes you are it makes things much harder for all involved and I guess I've come this far now it's just reading though a lot of info but seriesly thanks very much for your help,

      I hope everything stays smooth sailing for you too 

      cheers 

      Nadine 

  • jenna07053
    jenna07053 Nadine_00

    Posted

    I've had fusion at age 31. my ankle was riddled with arthritis due to an accident 5 years ago. I had this done 5th March and am out of cast when at home. 28th I come out of cast altogether, so only 12 weeks in cast. It's painful and frustrating but the pain is easing.I've had no movement since my accident and have still competed my horses in jumping and dressage and have ran. I don't envisage any of this to change. The only difference will be that I won't be in pain.

    Fusion is end of the line but I was sick of operations and recovery periods hence opted for fusion.

    ultimately you have to decide what you prefer but thought I would reply as no one seems to talk from personal experience of ankle fusion

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 jenna07053

      Posted

      Hi Jenna 

      oh my gob finally someone that has light at the end of the and with everything you have achieved to be able to still ride ect. 

      So so my main question is though does your foot just sit in 1 spot now and that's it no movement at all ?? 

    • jenna07053
      jenna07053 Nadine_00

      Posted

      I've not tried riding or running yet with the fusion but as I said I had no movment before the op but was in constant pain.

      I have the very slightest of movement up and down but that is from joints in the foot and not the ankle so yes it is fixed in the one spot. But even at this early stage I can walk around the house without my cast with only a slight limp.

      Every one is different but personally I'm glad I did it. I didn't want future further ankle replacement and recovery periods. Also due to only being 31 consultant was not willing to risk ankle replacement as can only do 2 and they last 15 years max.

      Just Do your research before agreeing to either because recovery is long and frustrating

    • phoenixOmen
      phoenixOmen jenna07053

      Posted

      Hello, but seems the info given to you is not 100% accurate.

      Ankle replacements do have a year spam of 15 years, but it could be shorter or longer depending on how much activity the area faces.

      You stated that you didn’t want “future further ankle replacement and recovery periods” you also stated something about only can do 2. Well I will give you heads up.

      Ankle fusion main issue is that arthritis will “appear” in other sectors and joints of the affected ankle foot, which translates into future pain and probably more interventions. If you are 31 and you could not have an area reconstruction, you may had a huge loss.

      There is no such thing as only can do 2. Ankle replacement is like a lego set of pieces, once the piece that work as cartilage and joint wears off; it gets replaced with a new one.

      There are many factors that could hold a specialist back from performing a TAR, but never because you are 31. In fact, patients with ages below 50 are better off with a TAR than with a Fusion, and mainly because of the arthritis issue.

      I could enumerate more reasons, but every individual’ case is different, and as you stated; the decision will always come down to what the patient think is better for him/her. Providers can only inform the injured person; and educated him/her into making or taking the best decision.

    • jenna07053
      jenna07053 phoenixOmen

      Posted

      Like I said I'm very active and I was giving Nadine a view from someone who has had fusion. Not wanting to get into a debate about something I've already had done.

      thanks for the correction in what I was told by my specialist.

    • phoenixOmen
      phoenixOmen jenna07053

      Posted

      Was never trying to enter into debate, I just trying to make sure Nadine has and gather all the facts in order to help her make the best decision. After all, is her who will have to deal with her decision for the rest of her life.
    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 phoenixOmen

      Posted

      Phoenix 

      wow ur very quick to jump in on anyone that's put up a post to me about the question I've asked about both TAR and a fousion you have had your TAR and told me what you went though and your recovery which I'm very great full for and Jenna is now talking TO ME about what she is going though with her fousion so please stop jumping on when someone else is just saying what they have had done and what there out come has been. 

      I understand your just making sure I do all my resurch which I am but I too have been told by a second specialist that they don't know how long they don't know how long they last for and that they will only do 2. 

       

      Nadine 

    • Nadine_00
      Nadine_00 jenna07053

      Posted

      Hi Jenna 

      wow you must be thinking why did I go and put a comment up to tell me about your fousion ....... 

      When end you are walking around your house are you still walking as normal with a wee limp or is your foot turned to the side a little bit  ????.                  ( sorry not sure how to ward it ) 

      I too was told that I was only able to have 2 replacements and due to been younger as well ( 38 ) was another problem because he didn't won't to do the TAR till I was 50 or over , 

      I do understand every one is different but what you have written just sounds like me I've been in pain for months now and I'm walking with 1 crutcher and a moon boot so I too am sick of the pain in every way possible 

      I'm still doing resurch about fousion's I see my specialist in about 2 weeks and said last time I was there he wanted to do an injection of anasthitic into my ankle joint to see if that stops the pain and if it does he said that would confirm that it's must likely the way to go so I've got about 2 weeks to keep thinking 

      so please if there is anything more you can tell me about your ankle fousion I would really be very great full

       

      thanks again 

      cheers. Nadine  

    • jenna07053
      jenna07053 Nadine_00

      Posted

      Hi Nadine.

      so my ankle was pretty mangled, no cartlidge, lots of bone spurs. When opearated on I had a nerve block from the knee down so when I came round I felt nothing until the following morning,then it hurt a lot. I was non weight bearing for 4 weeks, partial for 4 weeks then full weight bearing for 4 weeks. All in cast.

      When I walk without the cast my foot is straight. It hurts around the foot and muscles as I've been in cast 12 weeks which acts as a support.hence I'm limping but it's still very early days.

      Listen to your consultant and if needed get a second opinion. I've been under a specialist at Nuffield orthopaedic hospital for 4 years and tried injections, special shoes and an op to clear the joint. All of which didn't work .

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