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In January of 2009, I fell from a ladder and suffered a catastrophic open-bone fracture of my talus. Not only was the talus shattered, but I immediately developed a serious infection and subsequent deep wound. 9 surgeries, 8 months of IV antibiotics, 9 months on a VAC device, and 15 months of walking in a boot, later . . . I am now looking at life following a complete ankle and subtalar fusion (no part of my ankle moves--except my toes). I am overjoyed that my fusion surgery was successful and am looking forward to learning how to walk again! I was just given the go-ahead from my doctor to begin using MBT shoes and to start physical therapy. I am just wondering if others have walked this road before and have any advice or insight. Thanks so much. Anneh8sldrs (Anne hates ladders)
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I am now 14 weeks post op, most of swelling has gone down, building up foot & calf muscles with help from physio & no pain!
January 5, 2015 - 7:37pmThis Comment
I am now 14 weeks post op, most of swelling has gone down, building up foot & calf muscles with help from physio & no pain!
January 5, 2015 - 7:44amThis Comment
Glad to hear all is going well! I'm currently 13 weeks post op aswell and I go tommorow to hopefully get the all clear to walk without my air boot! It feels great got a little pain in my achillies but apart from that just a dull ach on the side of my foot but a huge improvement from before! So did you just take the boot off and walk? Or use crutches? I'm just very nervous with it even tho it doesn't actually hurt. Thank you :)
January 5, 2015 - 4:43pmThis Comment
I am re-posting, since my last post in aug 14, now I am exactly 6 months post op ( sub talar fusion right ankle). This has been an incredibly long journey, post surgery it was mostly pain free, non weight bearing forr 12 weeks, partial in boot until week 18, and since then in shoes.
January 3, 2015 - 3:22pmPost op i had numb toe for 10 weeks which was due to the anaesthetic given during surgery at my knee, so give numbness time and it will go away.
When i first started walking as there was no muscle left i had a lot of pain , specially on top of my foot. Gradually it has got better, as i can walk around for an hour or so without a huge amount of pain. today i went to a shopping center and with every step I was getting pain at the back of my heel. It has good and bad days, i guess i have to work through thr pain untill the 12 month mark to decide the overall outcome. At this point I wish I hadnt done the surgery as I could have lived with an arthritic ankle for another 5-10 years probably.
Anyway best of luck with your recovery and accept that this type of surgery needs a huge amount of time to recover , it is major foot surgery and you must follow all the non weight bearing instructions.
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I had ankle fusion subtalar on on my left leg July 18 I was out of my cast September the 8th 2014 its been close to 4 months and I still have numbness on the pad of my foot and my big toe. did your numbness last this long ? I am very concerned. does not let me sleep at night. due to very severe pain. did you have pain?
January 3, 2015 - 3:47pmThis Comment
This all sounds very disturbing. This "technology" is decades old. I understand that in Europe the ankle replacement (implant) is a common remedy. I only know one person who had that done in the States. She is extremely happy with it and did not seem to have the problems described in this blog.
January 2, 2015 - 1:07pmAny comments.
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I had a complete ankle fusion on my right ankle on June 26th, 2014 and after 12 weeks in a cast, I am fully recovered. I now have lots of pain in the same ankle and the doctors have now said that the subtaler joint is full of arthritis and needs a possible fusion. Has anyone had two fusions (first one elminated all up and down motion and second will eliminate any side to side motion)? The surgeons are skeptical about it. Tomorrow I have a CT scan and then I will followup with both surgeons on January 7th, 2015. Anybody have any thoughts or have been through this themselves? I would love to hear from you.
December 23, 2014 - 8:07pm-Sandy
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I haven't had both done, yet...would be interested to know if u had..broke both heels and finally had a fusion on my left. It only made it slightly more bearable,( ie I still limp, considerably). Now, after three years, my right is so painful, I am considering another fusion.( I think my previously shattered right over-compensated)...did you do it?
December 6, 2015 - 11:12pmThis Comment
I'm supposed to go in Feb 2015 for a Subtare Fusion of my right ankle. I can't move my ankle hardly at all. The side to side motion and walking on uneven ground kills me. I'm in constant pain. I had ankle surgery in Oct 2014 to clear up the arthritis and was told that surgery made this new surgery more urgent. If I would have left the arthritis in and didn't do that previous surgery so much more urgent. When I have this next surgery if I have arthritis again I'm just going to live with it. This will be my 7th surgery on the same foot. I wish I could just get a new foot.
January 2, 2015 - 7:21amThis Comment
so sorry that you're going through so much pain, I hope and the ankle fusion gives you some relief. pray and keep the Lord Almighty near your heart. I had a cold fusion surgery on July 28 2014
January 2, 2015 - 1:01pmThis Comment