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Signs I need surgery?

Posted , 5 users are following.

leland12458
leland12458

Hi, new to patient.info lioking to get some advice about my foot/ankle problems.

Well I have a history of spraining my ankles from sports like basketball, probably around 3 times each ankle or so but my right possibly more.

I notice my right ankle pronates alot when walking, more so then the left by a few degrees. When i relax my feet barefoot I notice my right ankle is looser and pronates more but both sides are bad. Basically thinking at this point that I need surgery to tighten the ligaments that ive stretched or possibly torn. Going for mri's soon just waiting for doc yo get back from vacation. Just wondering if this sounds like I need surgery or if this sounds like deja vu to any of you guys. Looking for advice or insite as this is causing me to limp, feels like more weight is being put on my right hip. When walking on sidewalks that elevate my right side its uncomfortable as I can really feel that sensation mentioned above. Sorry for ranting or if the way I described my situation is sloppy but I'm really having a hard time walking and feeling even. Any advice is welcome an appreciated. Maybe If If I get a brace and symptoms decrease its a good indication I need surgery? Thank you.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Shkubitza
    Shkubitza leland12458

    Posted

    It really depends what the mri says ultimately. I would also have them look at your heels and arches I broke my left ankle 6 times and it would roll over on it’s own and was so loose it could partially dislocate on it’s own. I ended up having high arches which is ultimately what caused most of my ankle problems. My rule was always when it started to effect my daily life i was gonna get it done and once it started feeling like a nail being pushed through the joint was when I was done with it. Sounds like surgery might be an option for you especially if you just feel unstable all the time.
    • leland12458
      leland12458 Shkubitza

      Posted

      When u say check the heels an arches what do I say to my doc? I wanna see someone to look at my gait an a foot an ankle specialist. An yeah feeling unstable all the time is how I feel for sure. Im not lacking muscle so I know its something else, an ankle sprains are literally my only injury, happened when I was just young 12-13 but never knew to do any rehab at that age. Thanks you for your insight. Appreciated alot.
    • Shkubitza
      Shkubitza leland12458

      Posted

      Have them check your alignment is really what most doctors call it. So for me my problem was I had high arches which pushed my big toe down and my heel was turned inward towards my other foot. So it put all my weight on the outside of my foot which made my ankle more likely to roll. It’s really quick and easy for them to check and painless for you. Also looking at a worn out pair of shoes can tell the story too. In mine it was like someone took a knife and just wore down the outside of my shoe soles where as the inside had very little tread wear. Only reason I bring it up is because my first doctor actually missed it 2nd doctor caught it and my foot is much more stable now. So just have them take a look at your foot alignment.
    • leland12458
      leland12458 Shkubitza

      Posted

      Okay, so just ask to get foot alignment done? My gp is from egypt so I honestly dont trust him with the culture gap to check me out but maybe ask for someone else to do it? Lol where u said 2nd doctor caught yours you know what i mean? Sorry if im confusing. Lol thanks for the reply! smile
  • courtney32321
    courtney32321 leland12458

    Posted

    I was having the same problem with my ankle. I was rolling it like 2+ times a week on flat surfaces while playing softball and volleyball. I had a MRI and it just told them what they already knew, torn ligaments that wouldn’t heal back tight enough. I had surgery to tighten my ligaments in 2013 when I was 15, and I haven’t had any more problems with it since. I am sooo happy I had the surgery to because I was spending so much time at the drs office getting X-ray and walking boots. I have maybe rolled my ankle 2 times in the last 5 years and I’m very active and played volleyball in college for a short time. 
    • Shkubitza
      Shkubitza courtney32321

      Posted

      Yeah  I had mine done a year ago and they did an internal brace in mine  and it will never roll easily again lol 
    • courtney32321
      courtney32321 Shkubitza

      Posted

      Ahh yes that’s what’s in mine too! I’m so grateful for it lol! 
    • leland12458
      leland12458 courtney32321

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply! Thats good to hear your surgery was good too. Yeah my sprains all happened within a short time period. Im curious to see what the mri says where Ive injured it so long ago but where its bothering me it should show a loose ligament? Hopefully I can get an answer here soon. Thanks for the advice! ☺
    • courtney32321
      courtney32321 leland12458

      Posted

      Oh yeah, if where it’s bothering you is the result of a loose/torn ligament or even a tendon, it will most definitely show it!! :-) have you done any PT yet for it? most surgeons like to try PT first before any surgery to see if that helps and then do a follow up MRI or see if your still having problems, and then if it isn’t working then they will usually set up a surgery.  I hope you get answers soon and feel better :-)
    • leland12458
      leland12458 courtney32321

      Posted

      Thanks, yeah Ive done pt before but theres not much ive noticed from single leg balance or foot exercises. Yeah thanks! I hope they find sonething so I can get better. Sucks walkin around like im disabled but hey thats life gotta get it checkef out. Thanks for the reply smile
    • caroline0774
      caroline0774 Shkubitza

      Posted

      I am having this done on 3 September. I have been told the recovery time is 2 weeks in plaster cast, 3 weeks in a walking boot. I am having ligaments and tendons repaired too. Just seems like a short period of time. I had a similar operation 9 years ago (without the brace) and it took 2 months in plaster to heal.
  • kpower
    kpower leland12458

    Posted

    Leland,

    Let's see what those MRI images reveal about condition of your soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, nerves, cartilage, etc.) in those poor abused ankles. If your attending physician is competent (not all are) they will get to the bottom of root causes.

    It's likely you suffered unhealed and cumulative soft tissue damage over the years (and I'm guessing that you are average in that you neglected  proper ankle sprain protocols and simply shrugged it off and just bit your lip while attempting to carry on daily activities, hoping for the best).

    If your doc is an ortho they will undoubtedly recommend surgery. I have a lot of misgivings about patients who are so enthusiastic about surgery and think these procedures will be fabulously successful. In fact, there are risks and potential failures involved, so please do your due diligence research and always ask questions.

    • Shkubitza
      Shkubitza kpower

      Posted

      Yes!! Surgery sucks my foot is more stable but I have some different issues now. Mainly nerve damage which is just as dibalitating as my pre op foot. So don’t search for surgery but if it’s needed it’s needed
    • leland12458
      leland12458 kpower

      Posted

      Yeah, for sure! Gotta find out what the images are saying b4 I can move forward. You are right I didn't treat my ankle sprains, but thats literally because I never knew too. kinda like how I never knew to file my taxes till I was 22 just one of those things that arent really taught to people unless they have a sports good coach to tell you whats up. All I can really say is that Ive sprained both ankles a bunch of times but they were all grade 1 or 2 sprains as I was able to keep playing after just not putting weight on the leg for a few minutes, then back to it. Basically think its a stretched ligament, causing my ankle to be loose unstable etc. It certainly feels like I'm unstable in single leg stance especially on my right leg. Just feels like my ankle and foot are to floppy if that makes sense. Thanks for the reply 

  • oscar80077
    oscar80077 leland12458

    Posted

    before go surgery be sure you reach the maximum recovery, it takes a long time.

    my ankle is slow healing and became unstable because doctors rushed the recovery, i was i sharp pains but thought that was normal.

    i then fractured it and when they took the cast off it was really painful. so i refractured it, luckly my new ortho suggested to take it slow, i spent months casted up to the groin and then in the short walking cast (not the ******** boot). now my ankle finally feels better.

    the ortho. at ER whit my new fracture suggested to go surgery loosing 50% ROM. luckly i opted for the long cast.

    sometimes like in my case the ligaments are stronger than the bones, after sprains you see many avulsion fractures.

     

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