I was in a head on car collision December 2014 where I suffered an open-fracture of my left ankle and left tibial plateau. The ER doctor told me that It was severe and they would do the best they could to save the ankle. 3 weeks post accident, I had 2 plates added at the ankle and 2 at the tibial plateau with more than 30 screws in the 2 locations. After being off work almost 5 months and PT and trying all types of NSAIDS, pain meds, creams, gels, soaks, rocker bottom shoes and cortisone shots I am still in horrible pain. I realize it is only 14 months old, but I have been told by 2 specialists that I will not gain any more then the 5 to 10 degrees of flexion I currently have. I have also been told that my only options are ankle distraction (which doesn't have high success), ankle fusion, ankle replacement (which I am too young for in my mid-forties) or amputation. I am trying to give the short version of my long story, but I'm so frustrated and tired of not have any quality of life. If I chose to walk more than absolutely necessary, I pay a big price with stiffness and pain the next day. I am afraid that I will not have quality of life with fusion and may still have pain. I don't want to amputate, however the thought of being pain free and being able to hike and walk on the beach makes me want to cray. I have read a lot of mixed reviews on this site and of course, haven't been able to read all. Can you please share your experience and thoughts with me if you have been in my position? Tell me what caused you to make the decision you made and what pros and cons you have experienced. Thank you everyone! I have no one to talk with that has experienced what I am going through.
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I had a closed ankle fracture (a crush) of my ankle in a car accident (cars hit us and we went head first into a telephone pole while I was slamming on the brake) 20 years ago this year. I have been waiting for the doctors to come up with a better option than a fusion (which I view as "not an opiton" becuase of all the side affects it causes - top of foot, hip, knee and back pain) or ankle replacement with what I call a "robo" ankle. I saw a specialist out of Mercy Hospital in Baltimore recently (Dr. Mark Myerson) who has offered me another option of an ankle transplant. I'm going to take it -they can still do the "robo" ankle if it doesn't work. They use a donor ankle and then coat it with stem cells they are going to take out of my hip. The doctor said it's a 50/50 chance it will work but I think it's worth it to try. He has one patient who had a successful one and is running marathons. I asked him about cartlidge replacement (which is being done experimentally in Australia) but he said that it will probably be 10 years before it's done in the U.S. I am confident in this surgeon as one of the former doctors I've been to left their practice at Johns Hopkins to train under this guy and he's taught ankle surgery all over the world. Good luck (I'll need it myself) with what you decide. I'm at the end stage myself and am getting around with a cane and in horrible pain quite alot these days unfortunately. I hope this helps you. My point is there are always other options available - look into them before you jump and make sure you're making the right decision for yourself.
June 19, 2016 - 10:03amThis Comment
I had a closed ankle fracture (a crush) of my ankle in a car accident (cars hit us and we went head first into a telephone pole while I was slamming on the brake) 20 years ago this year. I have been waiting for the doctors to come up with a better option than a fusion (which I view as "not an opiton" becuase of all the side affects it causes - top of foot, hip, knee and back pain) or ankle replacement with what I call a "robo" ankle. I saw a specialist out of Mercy Hospital in Baltimore recently (Dr. Mark Myerson) who has offered me another option of an ankle transplant. I'm going to take it -they can still do the "robo" ankle if it doesn't work. They use a donor ankle and then coat it with stem cells they are going to take out of my hip. The doctor said it's a 50/50 chance it will work but I think it's worth it to try. He has one patient who had a successful one and is running marathons. I asked him about cartlidge replacement (which is being done experimentally in Australia) but he said that it will probably be 10 years before it's done in the U.S. I am confident in this surgeon as one of the former doctors I've been to left their practice at Johns Hopkins to train under this guy and he's taught ankle surgery all over the world. Good luck (I'll need it myself) with what you decide. I'm at the end stage myself and am getting around with a cane and in horrible pain quite alot these days unfortunately. I hope this helps you. My point is that there are always other options, look into all of them before you do something life altering.
June 19, 2016 - 10:01amThis Comment
Hi Tonsacurls, I'm sorry you even have to deal with this but it is what it is. I destroyed my ankle in a head on accident 26 years ago & finally had my ankle fusion a few months ago. I lived with horrific pain for all those years, the surgery was a nightmare but ankles are tricky things & painful. I had triple fusion with bone grafts, I was full non weightbearing for 12 weeks with a hard cast & now I'm in the middle of 5 more weeks of a walking boot. I'm having a flair up of nerve damage pain but that will ease with time (the nerves were damaged badly in the original accident). So far I have very little pain when not walking, that's unusual for me, I used to hurt just sitting down the arthritis was so bad. When I now put some weight on the foot it's painful but not the same pain & it's not excuciating. Just imagine how weak all those tendons & joints get when you haven't used them for months on end, this too shall pass & they will toughen up. Personally, I'd never consider an amputation, I really want to go out with all my limbs I came in with when that time comes. Plus amputation comes with it's own can of worms. I may never be 100% but if I can get through a day of working the farm outside then I'll consider it a success. Good luck, I hope it all turns out as you need it to.
April 15, 2016 - 2:01pmThis Comment