Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Hi I smashed my ankle july 2013 quite a bad injury, bones have healed not too bad but still having a lot of ankle joint related pain and have been told i have arthritis in it. following a steriod injection for pain relief which only lasted a week, now have been giving two options by my consultant. ankle replacement - but due to my age, possible risk of infection, failure to work due to the healed bones not having a decent bond surface, this option will have a low sucess rate so the other option of an ankle fusion has been suggested with a bone graft inserted at the same time and i have agreed to this but im still unsure wether i should proceed with the surgery after reading other reviews. I'm 37 and work in the building trade so therefore on my feet all day.
do you get used to the adapted shoes which ive been told are for life?
Pain - does this go away completely?
any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks Grahame
Recent Posts
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment3 Comments
Thank you faith for your input it has helped make my mind up and to have it done, I wld also lyk to know if u have had it done yourself and if so how u found since having it done Thanks again Grahame
December 31, 2014 - 7:42amThis Comment
Hi Grahame! I'm so glad you found my comment helpful and that you proceeded with the operation. I genuinely wish you a speedy recovery.
I actually do not have any personal experience with this. I have not even broken a bone before. My knowledge on the subject came purely from seeing what others have experienced, and what worked for them.
Let us know if you have any more questions as you progress in your recovery. EmpowHer is here for you!
Faith
January 3, 2015 - 11:00amThis Comment
Hello and thank you for sharing your question with the community. I am so sorry to hear that you are having these issues with your foot as I'm sure it has disrupted your life significantly. I'd love to give you some helpful information on the subject.
The ankle fusion and bone graft is definitely your best option just as your consultant told you. To address your questions, there are several steps you must take after surgery that are vital to recovery and will allow you to eventually walk proficiently.
First, you will be in a cast for 8 to 12 weeks after surgery. The cast will then be replaced with an ankle brace and you will need to use crutches in both these phases. As the fusion gets stronger you can begin to put more weight on it. You will need to get therapy in order to start walking smoothly and without a limp.
The time it takes to adjust to the special shoe fitted for you is different for each individual. But I submit that your challenge will not be getting used to your new shoe, but getting used to your new foot. The shoe will help with that.
Pain is also different depending on the individual. I, nor the doctors can predict exactly how much pain you will experience. It will depend on how well you body accepts the fusion and graft.
I hope this has given you a little more insight. Let us know if you have more questions along the way.
All the best,
Faith
December 28, 2014 - 4:23pmThis Comment