Pain 7 months post double ankle fusion of right foot

First of I’d like to tell you that I’m sorry for what you’re going through.  I don’t want to discourage nor scare you with my response because everyone is different.  I did not have a reply that’s going to put a smile on your face.  I’d like to give you a quick description of my story first. Two years ago I fell 19’. My tibia/ fibula broken and exposed. It blew a dime sized hole through my ankle. I had three surgeries that did not include fusion because of stories like yours. On September 27th I had a transtibial amputation.  I’m now virtually pain free!!   I will be getting a prosthesis in 3-4 weeks and I’ll have my life back!!  This was the choice that I made.  I’m not saying it’s what you need to do.  It comes to a point th where we had enough. I’m excited to put those two extremely painful, inactive two years of my life behind me. 

So sorry about your pain.  Have you asked a second doctor for an opinion?  My experience six+ weeks post trimalleolar fracture and surgery is that we have excellent care at the beginning but then there is little or no information about how much pain we will have or how much is normal at any given stage of recovery.  Have you been to a physical therapist?  Mine has been the most helpful in telling me what to expect.  However, I am still NWB.

Hope you feel better soon.

No worries Laura I am six months post op and I to have  pain most days.  I have one plate and six screws in my right ankle.  my tendon in the back hurts quite a bit, the top part of my foot also bothers me along with the ankle ,my big toe is still numb and I to have  Limited range of motion. I think part of the problem is I have two screws going directly up into the leg from the ankle holding everything together the plate also bothers me. Everyone has told me that this is very normal and that it takes the body a very long time to recover from such an injury. I know it’s going to take at least a year if not more. But I just try to remember that my body is working very hard at repairing  itself. We must be patient.  I’m still taking gabapentin to help relieve some of the nerve pain .  My surgeon told me if my hardware is still bothering me after the first of the year we can look into removing it but I definitely want to give my body the time needs to completely fused together because when I saw my surgeon in October my inside Bone was not completely fused I do go back November 1 so I’m hoping that everything will look good at that time. I wish you the best in your recovery!  

I hope that someone can help you with the pain. I went for around five years with the arthritic pain before surgery, then there's pain during the healing time. It seems unfair that you should still have pain, maybe my expectations are too high. I was two weeks post surgery yesterday when I had my back slab and stitches removed and a cast put on. I have never been in a plaster cast before and I can't say I like it much. I'm worried that the swelling won't go down or the cast will become too tight. It's very strange to be so dependent and in hospital I felt very vulnerable. I can't sleep much, and to not even be able to make a cup of tea is depressing. I was extremely silly when the Consultant said she would operate, I was so pleased that I didn't ask any questions which left me totally unprepared for weeks of immobility and then hopping around. I am worried about everything today, is the plaster too tight, why is it sore and burning, is my leg high enough? That's what happens when you have time on your hands, too much thinking! I will be thinking of you and hoping you will soon be pain free.

Hi Laura,

I am 6 months post op tibiotalar arthrodesis with two screws. I hadn't done days when I have no pain but most of the time and on most days I still have a lot of pain which can be excruciating at times. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason why either. I have read that 12 months is the Ave amount of time it takes to fully heal but you're never told this. Only ever that it will take 3 months to fuse. No info about pain going forward, hip aches, lower back strain and knee trouble all due to a different gait.

I hope you're better now. Good luck. X

Laura

we share the exact same issue. i am 8 months post op with pain across the top and on the ankle, but when i press down it doesn't hurt.. from what i understand it can take up to 1.5 years for healing. i had 1 screw and my Dr took 3 xrays and said all looks good and i asked so why am i in pain everyday. he told me this procedure is one of the longest healing procedures because you walk on it everyday

I am 8 months post surgery, right foot. I have a plate and 6 screws. I finally was released to go back to work. I can barely focus or think at work because the pain is excruciating! The driving is the hardest, I don't have the strength or reaction time I once had. I go home every night in tears and have to sit for 2 hours with it elevated and huge ice packs on it. Then when I get up from my chair, I can barely walk. I wished I had never had it fused.

It's always so swollen that blisters form and then I have an open wound. My back and hips kill me now with pain also, because of my gait.

The doctor says its normal and put me back in a boot now for 5 months. I hope I don't lose my job, because they can see the pain I'm in and can't do all the duties my job requires.

I feel hopeless, I'm merely existing, missing out on life.

Thank you all for listening.

I am so glad I found this forum..I had my foot fusion on Feb 2nd, 2021. I went through the non weight bearing..the cast..the boot...and now am supposed to be able to walk on it. I go to physical therapy twice a week. I have pain from none to excruciating in I call it my "donut" as it swells across the top of my foot and around the back of my ankle. I also had work done on my achilles. No one told me the pain would last this long. I just went through a stress fracture from a weakness of bones and soft tissue. To top things off. I have been having major lower back problems due to the change of my gait for 5 years before the fusion. I thought the arthritis was bad..now I am regretting doing this. It is reassuring to read some of these posts and see that I am not the only one. I go from wearing the boot ( where I have practically no pain) to wearing shoes and using a cane. I just want to go for my walks........Thank you for letting me vent....

HI Laura, Im 6 months post ankle fusion with screws and plate but other than that have no idea what was done to my ankle, but it was clearly not too bad ( i simply didnt want to know). The pain in my foot is awful and seems unending. But on a bright note I am walking a mile with one or two sticks maybe once a week. ( I have been a walker all my life). Its hard to do and results in more pain but I think its helping things to work better. After the walk its foot up and rest a couple of days. BEFORE the surgery I couldnt walk to the bathroom from my chair! Everyone i have spoken to who has had this done tells me its an 18 month recovery period at least but I havent come across anyone for whom it hasnt resulted in improvement. I have read that it hasnt worked for some but have yet to actually meet one! I guess some people will be unlucky. For the rest, if I as a 66 yearold can cope with it, so can you. Best wishes.

hi

i had my ankle fusion 5 months ago and all was well until the last 2 weeks. Stupidly I did a lot of walking and now have a constant ache which I am having to take regular pain relief for. I am going back to my consultant next week but now wondering if I have some nerve or muscle damage from walking too much on the ankle. My fusion is ok and the bone is fusing but the sleep disruption and constant pain is really disturbing. Anyone had similar or any treatment I can try?