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2nd surgery and now screws 60 days post-op are bothering me! I was wondering how long the re-cope time is for this then?
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Hi angmares, i've got to go and see a podiatrist on thursday for insoles as i walk on the outside of my foot on both feet have done since i was little they only noticed it about 6 years ago i wore there insoles before for 3 years & they didn't work but am willing to try again i'm going to see what he thinks to me having an ankle fusion as they do all biomechanics. If he suggests it may be an idea i will ask my doctor i'm going to ask her for a second opinion on my ankle with a different orthopaedic surgeon in a different hospital i have a few choices of hospitals can't believe the one i got he is one of the top ankle surgeons in wales & does treatment for the welsh rugby team but he manages to cock up on my routine operation probably cause i wasn't paying i'm not the first person to have problems after surgery with this surgeon anyway what ever happens i'm entilted to a second opinion and will go for one even if my doctor does not like the idea of an ankle fusion it's the specialists opinion i want. I've fallen over a couple of times this week luckly not hurting myself to much just a few scrapes & bruises cause my left leg has collapsed on me. Got to see my neurologist on the 8th march don't think i'm going to get much information from this appointment but i'm being optimistic don't think they have seen someone with my sort of tremor before they don't seem to know alot as it only happens when i stand on my right leg & put weight through the leg . I'm meant to be back in the pain clinic in march but i haven't had the appointment yet.The new tablet i have started pregablin is not working but have to go up to the maximum hightest dosage next week i will message you once i've seen the podiatrist & asked the doctor about the second opinion & the ankle fusion the appointment for a second opinion will probably take a couple of months they don't do things quickly down here but if i write a letter to the health board may get it a bit quicker. Still waiting on the appointment to see the muscoskeletal specialist about my pelvis. How are things going with yourself ? i will keep you updated on what happens next for me.
February 7, 2011 - 11:06amThis Comment
Hi Gem, you are welcome! I was refused in December of last year, and didn't know anything about the appeals process, so I have been in touch with a lawyer. The main problems is that I have a college degree, so they automatically turn people down with college degrees. I have been looking for a job, but they all require so much standing and walking, and I can't stand for more than a few minutes.
February 1, 2011 - 7:23amI will keep trying though. My other joints are already beginning to deteriorate, mainly my big toe and my hip hurts more than the injury sometimes (b/c I walk with my foot out to the side). The worst part is all the weight I've gained, which makes me more sore and tired.
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HI JESSICA YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE SHOULDNT COME IN TO THE DESCISION ITS ALL ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL CONDITION SO THAT IS WRONG. I HAVE BEEN ON THE SICK FOR A YEAR AND 5 MONTHS AS LIKE YOU I CAN'T STAND FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES AND I CAN ONLY STAND ON MY LEGT LEG AS WHEN I STAND ON MY RIGHT LEG IT TREMORS I'VE BEEN TOLD BY ALL THE DOCTORS I'M SEEING I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE JOB I'M DOING AS I'M ASSITANT MANAGER IN A PUB AND CAN'T DO STANDING WORK. I HAVE TO WALK WITH CRUTCHES AS I WALK WITH A BAD LIMP OTHERWISE CAUSE OF THE PAIN IN MY ANKLE MY PELVIS HAS NOW TILTED DUE TO ME LIMPING FOR SUCH A LONG TIME MY WHOLE BOTTOM HURTS ASWELL MY PELVIS PAIN AND PAIN IN MY BOTTOM IS JUST AS BAD AS THE PAIN IN MY ANKLE I HAVE TO WEAR AN ANKLE BRACE AS MY ANKLE STILL GIVES OUT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD MY LIGAMENTS REPAIRED IT EVEN GIVES OUT WHEN I'M WEARING THE BRACE. LIKE YOURSELF MY OTHER JOINTS ARE STARTING TO DETERIORATE AS WELL MY LEFT LEG HAS STARTED GIVEN OUT ON ME FROM MY PELVIS YOU MAY FIND THATS ITS NOT YOUR HIP HURTING IT MIGHT BE YOUR PELVIS AS I THOUGHT IT WAS MY HIP HURTING AT FIRST BUT THE DOCTOR TOLD ME IT WAS MY PELVIS ITS WORTH ASKING. IVE BEEN LUCKY WITH MY WEIGHT AT THE MOMENT (TOUCH WOOD) IM SORE & TIRED ALL THE TIME AS WELL THATS ALL I KNOW NOW IS PAIN & TIREDNESS EVEN THE LITTLE THINGS MAKE ME TIRED I EVEN STRUGGLE TO DO NORMAL DAY TO DAY THINGS. NONE OF THE PAIN MEDICATION IS WORKING THERE JUST GUESSING NOW WHAT TABLET TO PUT ME ON NEXT THIS IS WHY I'M THINKING REALLY HARD WHETHER TO HAVE MY ANKLE FUSED AT LEAST I MAY BE ABLE TO WALK A BIT MORE NORMAL & THEN I WONT BE ABLE TO DO ANY MORE DAMAGE TO MY OTHER JOINTS AS OTHERWISE IF IT IS LEFT TO GET WORSE ITS JUST GOING TO GO DOWNHILL ALL THE PROBLEMS NOW HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE & A HALF YEARS & NONE OF MY DOCTORS OR SPECIALISTS KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE. I STILL HAVE MY JOB AT THE MOMENT EVEN THOUGH IVE BEEN ON THE SICK FOR SO LONG BUT COULD BE LOSING MY JOB IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. DID YOU BENEFIT FROM THE ANKLE FUSION AT ALL IS ANYTHING ANY BETTER WITH YOURSELF HAVING THIS PROCEDURE DONE ?
February 2, 2011 - 3:40pmThis Comment
It is crazy what these injuries will do to us. I was a teacher and I was fired from my job just two weeks after my surgery. They actually came to my house and told me; it was horrible. I tried to hire a lawyer and fight it, b/c the job actually did more damage to me, but I was unsuccessful. I will say that I do not regret having the surgery, because I was more miserable before. Now, my ankle does not hurt if I am not standing on it, whereas before it ached all the time. I can only stand for about five minutes now, and like you said, the hip/pelvic pain is much worse than the ankle. The doctor says that by now I would not be walking at all, so I am glad I had the surgery. My surgeon left the surgery decision up to me, since it was strictly for pain control, but once he started the operation he realized that the damage was much more severe than an x-ray can ever show. At that point, he hadn't brought in enough bone graft from a bone bank and had to remove much more of my leg bone than anticipated, and that is hurting me pretty badly. He says that scar tissue will build up and stop that bone from moving around in there, but hasn't happened so far. Just be sure to ask if you will have to have a bone graft and/or will they be using your own bone. I will say to try to be as healthy as possible before your surgery and you will do much better. I wish I had been on a major diet before the surgery, because I gained more weight during recovery b/c I wasn't getting much movement... just laying in the bed for about two months. My blood pressure is out of control and I have severe sleep apnea. I know someone who had three ankle fusion surgeries that were unsuccessful, and after the third one she was tired of it so she decided to have an amputation. I have seriously considered that and it may be something I need to do in the future. Looking back, I wonder if that would have been my best option and sometimes regret not having it done.
February 2, 2011 - 7:31pmThis Comment
Hi Gemma,
January 24, 2011 - 9:23pmFirst off let me say I'M SORRY you are dealing with all of this! As I read your post it was like readying my own story but without the tremors. I've been through 5/6 ligaments reconstructions (sorry lost count) on my right ankle. And like you my ligaments just kept giving up or tearing again. I had tons of physical therapy over the years but that didn't always helped and sometimes made it worse. I walked around in a full ankle brace but that wasn't enough anymore. I'd be walking and my foot would just go out from under me. I hear your frustrations with the pain and no quality of life. And the hip and lower back pain just added to the misery. Arthritis set in on the tabia and my ankle just couldn't handle it anymore it was so weak, I couldn't walk, stand, sleep etc. or do much of anything - I just lived in pain 24/7. My doctor did everything he could to help me my last option was an ankle fusion. It took me a year to agree to it, I just couldn't take it anymore. So I know where you are at right now. I was to young for an ankle replacement (35 at the time), so an ankle fusion was it.
As as sit here writing to you I can honestly say it was the best thing I did. It wasn't easy and it's still not perfect, but it's alot better from where I was. I have no ankle movement which includes no heal to toe movement at all. The only thing I can move on my right foot are my toes. It took me a while to learn to walk again but can do it really well with my MBT shoes (they have a rocker bottom that allows the heal to to movement). Without shoes I have a limp and walk funny. My ankle still gets stiff and hurts now and again but I can walk and stand without pain. I'm not sure if an ankle fusion is for you, its a big decision to make. You gain things and you lose some as well and you need to consider all your options. As I mentioned before it took me a year to agree to the surgery. I was scared of the outcome and how it would change my life. But I've adjusted well and take it one day at a time.
Check out my post on my ankle fusion - you also find other women who have shared their stories and can also provide you with some information or suggestions.
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/ankle-fusion-i-know-i%E2%80%99m-not-alone
I'm so glad you found EmpowHER and shared your story with us. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. If you have other questions, please ask. I'm happy to share my story in more detail if it helps you out.
Take care,
Ang
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HI ANGMARES THANK YOU FOR REPLYING TO MY POST, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOOUT THE COMMUNITY I HAVE READ ALL THE PERSONAL STORIES AND ALL THE OTHER POSTS ON HERE THIS IS WHY IM THINKING OF GOING A HEAD WITH ASKING MY GP TO CONSIDER REFERRING ME TO AN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON TO ENQUIRE WHETHER IT WOULD BENEFIT ME OR NOT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A PAIN FREE LIFE AND BE ABLE TO BE NORMAL AGAIN. IM THINKING REALLY HARD ABOUT THIS DECISION AND I KNOW IT SHOULDN'T BEEN TAKEN LIGHTLY I UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOOK U A YEAR TO DECIDE BUT IM THINKING THIS COULD BE MY LAST RESORT. MY ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON DISCHARGED ME LAST YEAR SAYING THERE'S NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO BUT SURELY THERE IS, PHYSIO'S WON'T TOUCH ME AS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME CAUSE OF THE TREMOR IN MY RIGHT LEG, PAIN MANAGEMENT ARE TRYING ALL THE TABLETS THERE ARE AND AT THE MOMENT NOTHING IS WORKING, THE NEUROLOGISTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TREMOR AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO KNOW ANYTIME SOON. IM WAITING TO SEE A MUCUSOSKELETAL SPECIALIST TO SEE HOW FAR MY PELVIS HAS TILTED THE DOCTOR HAS SAID IT HAS TILTED BUT REFUSE'S TO DO A SCAN UNTIL THE SPECIALIST SAYS TO DO ONE UNLIKE YOURSELF MY DOCTOR JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE. IM JUST WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO GET MY LIFE BACK IM WORRIED THAT IF EVERYTHING IS LEFT IM JUST GOING TO GET WORSE THEN NOTHING WILL BE ABLE TO BE SORTED DO U HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO ANY ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT THAT I CAN SUGGEST TO MY DOCTOR.
January 28, 2011 - 11:02amThis Comment
I had ankle fusion surgery in April 2010 & lost my job b/c I took off for the surgery, so now I'm really struggling, especially b/c I no longer have medical insurance, so I'm not getting any care anymore. Although I don't regret having ankle fusion surgery (I also had a bone graft, as most of my joint was completely deteriorated after years of rubbing together after a car accident when it was shattered), I will say that I still have so much pain. The pain is just a different pain. I also have a weak spot where I am in danger of getting a stress fracture. Walking is difficult and I now have pain in different places, especially hip pain on the right side, because I am now walking with my foot to the side. I don't have the money to buy special shoes, but I have heard that you can walk almost normally if you buy certain kinds of shoes. All the shoes I found were way too expensive. The problem with this type of injury is that it will get worse. I exhausted every type of treatment and the ankle fusion was my last try, just to keep me walking. I need to lose so much weight, b/c I've gained over the past five years from not walking around and not being mobile. Good luck to you and I hope you are able to find the treatment you need. I know this is so scary, because I came to this community too, for advice, before I had my surgery last year. Please don't lose hope... even though I still have problems I still try to have hope. I also filed for disability but was turned down.
January 31, 2011 - 9:00amThis Comment
HI JESSICA THANK YOU FOR YOUR MESSAGE. I CAN'T BELEIVE YOU GOT REFUSED FOR DISABILITY I WOULD TRY AGAIN WITH IT AS I GET IT FOR MOCILITY REASONS THEY CLASS ME AS VIRTUALLY ENABLE TO WALK IT TOOK ME 1 YEAR TO FIGHT TO GET DISABILITY I HAD TO APPEAL THEN GO TO 2 TRIBUNALS TO FIGHT MY CASE IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO GET DISABILITY FIRST TIME ROUND. THE MAIN THING IM WORRIED ABOUT IS IF MY WALKING DOES NOT IMPROVE MY OTHER JOINTS THAT ARE ALREADY DETERIORATING WILL GET WORSE AND THAT ILL END UP HAVING TO USE A WHEELCHAIR THATS THE LAST THING I WANT.
January 31, 2011 - 10:55amThis Comment
HI ANGMARES THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY POST I HAVE BEEN READING ALL THE STORIES ABOUT ANKLE FUSION FROM THE OTHER LADIES AND IM REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS DECISION I NEED TO MAKE ALL THE TIME IM THINKING THIS IS MY LAST RESORT IF I DECIDE TO GO HEAD I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER OPTIONS I HAVE. UNLIKE U MY DOCTORS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE WHICH LEAVES ME IN PAIN AND THINKING WELL WHAT I AM GOING TO DO IF THIS IS NOT SORTED IT'S BEEN 3 1/2 YEARS WITH ALL THE BIG PROBLEMS AND IM THINKING IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE WITH MY ANKLE AND MY PELVIS ORTHOPAEDICS HAVE DISCHARGED ME SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. NEUROLOGISTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING MY TREMOR AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO KNOW ANYTIME SOON. PAIN MANAGEMENT ARE JUST TRYING EVERY TABLET TO SEE WHICH ONE MIGHT WORK. I'M WAITING TO SEE A MUSCOSKELETAL SPECIALIST TO CHECK MY PELVIS MY DOCTOR HAS TOLD ME IT HAS TILTED AND THAT IT IS BACK ON MY NERVE IN THE BASE OF MY BACK INSTEAD OF MY PELVIS SITTING FOWARD IN THE RIGHT POSITION BUT THE DOCTOR WON'T DO A SCAN TO SEE HOW FAR MY PELVIS HAS TILTED. PHYSIO'S WON'T TOUCH ME AS THEY CAN'T TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE TREMOR. MY LEFT LEG IS NOW GETTING WEAKER BY THE DAY AND IS STARTING TO COLLAPSE ON ME.
January 28, 2011 - 1:43amThis Comment
I'VE HAD ANKLE PROBLEMS FOR 12 YEARS NOW. I FOUND OUT IN 2006 I HAD TORN MY LIGAMENTS IN MY RIGHT ANKLE MY SURGEON SAID I WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION. SO IN AUGUST 2007 I HAD A RIGHT LATERAL LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION DONE ON MY RIGHT ANKLE THIS WAS MY FIRST OPERATION AT FIRST MY RECOVERY WAS GOING GOOD THEN IN FEB 2008 MY PHYSIO FOUND A LUMP IN MY SCAR. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY SURGEON HE TOLD ME THAT THE SUTURES THEY USED TO REPAIR MY LIGAMENTS WERE COMING LOOSE SO HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THEM SO IN AUG 2008 I HAD A SECOND OPERATION TO REMOVE THE SUTURES FROM MY RIGHT ANKLE. THREE WEEKS AFTER THIS OPERATION I DEVELOPED A TREMOR IN MY RIGHT LEG EVERYTIME I PUT WEIGHT THROUGH MY RIGHT LEG MY LEG WOULD TREMOR I CAN ONLY STAND ON MY LEFT LEG AS IF I STAND ON MY RIGHT LEG AT ALL IT TREMORS. THEN IN AUGUST 2009 THEY FOUND ANOTHER LUMP IN MY SCAR AND I ENDED UP HAVING A THIRD OPERATION TO REMOVE ANOTHER SUTURE AND SCAR TISSUE FROM MY EXISTING SCAR. I STILL HAVE THE TREMOR & THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT, I HAVE HAD FOUR PHYSIO'S & HAD 50 SESSIONS OF PHYSIO IN THE LAST 3 YEARS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. I HAVE NO HEEL TO TOE ACTION WHEN WALKING THERE'S NO STRENGTH IN THE FOOT OR ANKLE I HAVE HARDLY ANY MOVEMENT IN MY ANKLE AT ALL I HAVE TO WALK WITH CRUTCHES & WEAR AN ANKLE BRACE AS MY ANKLE STILL GIVES OUT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD MY LIGAMENTS REPAIRED. I HAVE A BAD LIMP IF I WALK WITHOUT CRUTCHES AND BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LIMPING FOR SO LONG MY PELVIS HAS NOW TILTED. I'M IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN WITH MY ANKLE AND PELVIS EVERYDAY HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS NEARLY 4 I CAN'T EVEN DO NORMAL DAILY TASKS CAUSE OF MY MOBILITY PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN ON THE SICK FROM MY JOB FOR A YEAR & FIVE MONTHS AS I CAN'T COPE WITH THE PAIN I'M IN. IVE HAD PAIN INJECTIONS, PAIN PATCHES AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT PAIN MEDICATIONS WITHOUT ANY OF THEM WORKING. MY LAST SCAN ON MY ANKLE SHOWED THAT I HAVE LOST MOST OF THE CARTILAGE IN THE JOINT, MY ANTERIOR TALOFIBULAR LIGAMENT IS VERY THIN, I HAVE BONE DEGENERATION AT THE BOTTOM END OF MY TIBIA BONE & I HAVE A BONE SPUR AT THE BOTTOM END OF MY TIBIA BONE. MY SURGEON HAS DISCHARGED ME SAYING THERE IS NOTHING ELSE HE CAN DO FOR ME. I'M ONLY 26 & I'M FED UP OF BEING IN AGONISING PAIN EVERYDAY THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE THAT I'VE BEEN IN AGONISING PAIN FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS NEARLY FOR BEFORE I HAD THE FIRST OPERATION MY ANKLE WAS CONSTANTLY SPRAINING MY SURGEON SAID IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPERATION TO REPAIR MY LIGAMENTS I WOULD END UP BREAKING MY ANKLE & I WOULD BE WORSE OFF BUT BEFORE THE OPERATION I WAS MOBILE NOW I'M BASICALLY DISABLED I'M SO DESPERATE ILL TRY ANYTHING.
January 24, 2011 - 6:20pmI'M CONSIDERING ASKING IF I CAN HAVE MY ANKLE FUSED I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OR WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ANY COMMENTS WELCOME THANK YOU GEMMA.
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