Ankle Fusion

[UrsulaPandress]

Anyone had one?

Hi
I had a triple fusion of my left ankle to stabilise my foot( I have Cerebral Palsy) Aged 16, I'm now 54
Any questions, I'll help if I can

Not yet, but it’s the next treatment for my very arthritic ankle and I am resigned to having it when I need it.

My ankle pain isn’t too bad right now but it has been awful in recent years.

How about you? Are you in the process of deciding?

Yes. Either fusion, replacement or live with it. But the pain is constant and agonising a lot of the time.

What has improved your pain eternal?

And strange question but can you get wellies on dumb53?

I will need one in about 5 year ish for a large osteochondral defect which is progressing to severe arthritis. So watching with interest.
I want to know if I could ski if got specially adapted boot. It’s about the only exercise I can do as my ankle doesn’t move one bit in a ski boot.

Great question! I need one as well. I've been putting it off. (new job wanted to pass my probationary period before I need 3 weeks off) I was told I was too young for ankle replacement as it only has a 15 year guarantee. I don't want ankle fusion. What happens to shoes? Would it mean I couldn't bend my ankle ever? So many questions! I've had an ankle brace for the last 6 months. It's bearable with pain killers. Now I have medical insurance from work so will look into doing it privately.

I had 12 years ago, it still hurts occasionally but is much improved on how it was. Over the last 12 years probably walked 4 miles a day and I’m a 20 stone lump so it’s taken a bit of a hammering.
I’m pretty restricted in what footwear I can use, mainly trainers with air pump heel types and especially reebok walking boots for going out.
If I wear normal leather shoes to work then I have to accept I will be in a world of pain for at least a day after even with personalised inserts in them
Good luck

mumble that's my worry shoes. I live in flat boots or sandals. I also need to look professional at work so trainer type shoes wouldn't work. The bigger question is why won't they do ankle replacement for under 60 surely that's when you need more flexibility and mobility??

I’m 60 this year. Wear wellies for walking the dog and they are actually the most comfortable when on but bleeding agony to take off.

Then go for the replacement as your eligible. You'll still be able to move your ankle. Maybe not heels but can move.

Sorry didn't mean to be ageist and I didn't know how old you are. I'm just annoyed fusion is my only option.

I’m not sure what has improved the pain! It ebbs and flows over several months and has been ‘better’ i.e. low pain levels since October last year.

I had a second arthroscopy 2 years ago. Pain got worse for 4 months, then better for about 3, then worse for about a year and now it’s better again for the past 6 months.

I have been getting intentionally and progressively fitter - I did an nhs ‘return to gym’ series of physio classes which ended in October and I have continued to go once a week. I also do a strenuous yoga class once a week.

I have end stage arthritis - no cartilage, loads of bone spurs, and a now slightly deformed gait (can’t remember the technical term).

Ankle replacements are terrible ops. They don’t really work.

I have no cartilage left. Surgeon said replacements are only 75% successful. But I’m not sure I could cope on crutches for weeks with the fusion. I already have two screws in my good foot (broken heel) and a knee replacement on that side.

ursula I don't know I was told 3 weeks no movement then upto 6 months on crutches. With a fusion. Mines not a arthritis problem or cartridge problem. I did a lot of gymnastics as a teenager and broke my ankle badly but still competed as I thought it was a sprain. Totally fucked my ankle. I thought I sprained it several times after but have discovered I fractured it every time. I can't remember what the long ankle bones are but mine are off my about an inch. They are not where they are supposed to be. Sorry for asking so many questions. I did ask last August but didn't get any responses.

I know what you mean re: crutches, although isn’t the recovery from a replacement quite similar?

Big picture, the fusion has better outcomes than the replacement so should be worth the time spent immobile.

I’m only 40 so no real choice for me anyway.

@uncomfortablydumb53 what has your experience been? Have you subsequently had to have nearby joints fused?

I have an appointment to discuss with the consultant tomorrow.

I've seen those knee crutches that might work better for me.

eternal if you had been offered the replacement would you have taken it? Why do you think replacement is worse? What kind of shoes can you wear?

The knee walker things? Those have been recommended to me too.

I also have a dodgy knee on the other side so am worried about recovery impact on the ‘good’ side.

@eternalfun
I have had quite a bit of surgery on my left leg, but just the one" bony op" on my foot I've just realised it was almost 40 years ago and my foot is still very stable... The only slight downside would be loss of range of movement which may make uneven surfaces harder to walk on

@eternalfun
Regarding the knee walker, my cousin had a similar operation and used one very successfully... She then progressed to weight bearing with a boot
She is 60 this year too

I've put off my decision until August. But I think I will probably go for fusion. There is currently a study being undertaken on the outcomes of fusion against replacement. The study is full but the consultant was telling me that a computer is used to randomly select which procedure a patient has, having first gained their consent of course. This made me realise that if I were part of the study I'd be disappointed to be selected for a replacement.

And he did say I should still be able to get my wellies on.

I also realised that my ankle is more or less fused already in terms of the amount of movement I have, so it hopefully will be the same but without the pain.

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on with it as it’s not that common to have it done. I did meet someone at work who was unlucky enough to have one of both (on each ankle). He was pretty grumpy about the whole thing tbh, but did say the replacement had its down sides (he had lost side to side movement, for example) and the recovery time was very similar to a fusion.

Every case/decision is different I guess.

I’m seeing the consultant again in October. He said I’d know when I was ready to fuse it - as in, the pain would be such that I would be grateful to submit - he also said his fusion patients were his happiest, in terms of pain reduction, which I took as positive.

I had a fusion done in 2015 aged 50 .I was not a candidate for a replacement but had come to the stage where I could hardly walk at all and was in excruciating pain.I broke my ankle aged 22 yrs so had suffered for a long time and could not stand it anymore.the operation and the post op phase were tough but I got through it and the fusion was successful .Recovery is long though .I was told 1.5 years and so it was.Four years later I am doing ok. Still painful at times but in the heel area . I have a feeling lately that something is going on with my knee on the operated leg and I have a very painful Hallux Valgus on the other.I can only wear flat shoes with cushioned soles.I find the specially made orthopaedic boots with a rocker bottom sole rather uncomfortable.Not being able to wear nice shoes anymore really gets me down tbh. Its not easy.By the way there is a Facebook page for ankle fusion patients .It can be a bit graphic at times and there are some sad stories so don't look at it if you are the type to worry or are squeamish.