I had my left ankle fused do to arthritis and heavy damage to my soft tissue after numerous sports injuries and ankle reconstructions. A also have had numerous surgeries to my right ankle 8 in total. One was to take the hardware out of both ankles and 3 were to deal with a pesky nerve that they eventually just killed. I'm am 3 years into my ankle fusion and am 50/50 like it hate it. I am able to work out everyday but it hurts constantly although it is much better than it was post fusion. The last year I was told by my surgeon to cut out any sports that I have to run because of the stress on the soft tissue from the impact of not having an ankle joint. My knees and hips are a little sore but I do work them out everyday I know that if I didn't I would be a mess right now. I can no longer do the job I used to do as it was to hard on my ankles it was oil field work so pretty heavy work but I can no longer work any jobs where I am on my feet for more than a couple hours a day. My life has been flipped upside since I was so active it is a hard adjustment but I was fortunate to have my first daughter in the middle of all of it which I think if that didn't happen I would be in a very deep depression. I am in therapy for depression right now have been for a year related to my injuries and change of lifestyle so yes mental help is needed. I do not take any pills for pain or pills for my depression. Only thing you can do is talk about your problems mentally and for pain I just elevate it whenever I can and ice it daily. All in all it is better than it was pre fusion but it is still painful and will give you limitations just wonder if there will ever be a better option for severe ankle injuries as I am not happy with my fusion. Also be prepared for mental issues two years I went without dealing with it mentally and have since developed agoraphobia anxiety due to OCD and depression it is a shock to your body and brain.
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I had my left ankle fused do to arthritis and heavy damage to my soft tissue after numerous sports injuries and ankle reconstructions. A also have had numerous surgeries to my right ankle 8 in total. One was to take the hardware out of both ankles and 3 were to deal with a pesky nerve that they eventually just killed. I'm am 3 years into my ankle fusion and am 50/50 like it hate it. I am able to work out everyday but it hurts constantly although it is much better than it was post fusion. The last year I was told by my surgeon to cut out any sports that I have to run because of the stress on the soft tissue from the impact of not having an ankle joint. My knees and hips are a little sore but I do work them out everyday I know that if I didn't I would be a mess right now. I can no longer do the job I used to do as it was to hard on my ankles it was oil field work so pretty heavy work but I can no longer work any jobs where I am on my feet for more than a couple hours a day. My life has been flipped upside since I was so active it is a hard adjustment but I was fortunate to have my first daughter in the middle of all of it which I think if that didn't happen I would be in a very deep depression. I am in therapy for depression right now have been for a year related to my injuries and change of lifestyle so yes mental help is needed. I do not take any pills for pain or pills for my depression. Only thing you can do is talk about your problems mentally and for pain I just elevate it whenever I can and ice it daily. All in all it is better than it was pre fusion but it is still painful and will give you limitations just wonder if there will ever be a better option for severe ankle injuries as I am not happy with my fusion. Also be prepared for mental issues two years I went without dealing with it mentally and have since developed agoraphobia anxiety due to OCD and depression it is a shock to your body and brain.
February 20, 2015 - 7:16pmThis Comment
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