share: Ankle fusion pain

Ness,

Welcome to EmpowHer, and thank you so much for your question!

Can you give us a little more information?

How old are you?

What did your doctor say about recovery time?

Are you in physical therapy? What does your physical therapist tell you about recovery? Have they given you exercises to do?

Is your pain and stiffness confined just to the area right around the ankle?

Twelve weeks past surgery is not an unreasonable amount of time to heal something so integral to our bone structure as a foot or ankle. Bones mend slowly when compared to the rest of our body. If you'll get back to us with a bit more information, we'll be happy to research this for you and maybe we can give you a better idea of what to expect.

Hi Diane, I am 38 years old, the fusion was between the Tibulus and Talus. About now in the recovery I should be able to walk in my air cast without crutches which I could do up until a week or so ago. The ache and stiffness has turned to pain and the little movement that was left has gone only the toes move, however, I do have a little sideways motion.
I have not been offered pt or told any exercises to do and assumed this would come later when out of the air cast.
I understand because of the original accident damage that it is a challenging case, but it was all going so well until this last week. I haven't overdone it and rest only improves it slightly.
Thanks
Ness.

Ness,

OK, that's very interesting -- it seems you were progressing in your recovery and then slipped backward a bit in terms of pain and movement.

And nothing happened right before this backward slip? You didn't stumble a little or anything?

I would like to give your question to one of the experts on our EmpowHer medical advisory board. Please hang in there with me for a few days while I submit it, OK?

nothing happened at all, all a bit boring really. If I had then I could understand it, but as I say, nothing!
Thank you Diane,
Ness

Hi Ness,
I had my right ankle fused back in 2006 and like you had severe pain and stiffness once I went to my air cast from the hard cast and started applying pressure. It hurt so bad that I went back to the crutches and then eased my out of them again. It took me an additional two or three weeks to start walking w/out crutches again while in the air cast and that seemed to help. My doc told me to take it easy and remember that my ankle was still recovering and that it was expected to be stiff and feel more pain as I began to apply pressure on it again. I was in the air cast for four to six weeks then started physical therapy from there. How long will you be in the air cast for? Are you still taking pain meds?
I know how bad it hurts so hang in there!
Ang

Thanks Ang it's comforting to know that, I've been in the air cast for 5 weeks now and had got to the stage where I was padding around the house without the crutches, pain free without any stiffness (apart from the fused joint of course!). It is starting to ease again now but the mornings are the worst. Trying to fit into the air cast first thing when I'm late for the school run is not pleasent!!!
I haven't taken any pain meds since the day after the op as it was so pain free compared to before.
I am looking forward to being able to drive again, perhaps I'll get the all clear for that when I go next Tuesday.
I am also looking forward to PT (I must need my bumps feeling!) as now the pain has subsided a bit I think at least some of the pain is my Achilles tendon stiffening, my yoga teacher, I'd happened to run into at the kids swimming lessons, said to do little streches in that area.
Ness

Hi Ness,

Thank you for sharing your experiences with your ankle fusion. I am sure your story will help others.

Hi Ness,

Thinking of you... how did your appointment go? Are you out of the cast completely? If so, how are you doing? It took me a few days to get us to walking with out any type of cast it felt weird at first. I was also afraid to drive right away, because of the atrophy and I just didn't know if I'd have the quick reflex I needed. However; I was happy to have my freedom back and not have to rely on others to drive me around!
Hope you're doing well,
Ang

Hi all, it's not such good news I'm afraid. I am now 13 weeks post op and the TT joint which was to be fused has a small amount of movement in it and is not healing, however, because my foot has been immobilised for so long the heel bone has decided to fuse itself! I had no idea that this joint was as bad as that! so I have also lost over 3/4s of the sideways movement.
I now have to pad around the house in my slippers in the hope that the weight and movemnt will kick start some healing, which is extreamly painful. Not only is the pain in the top, but now at back and around the bottom.
I have to go back sometime in Feburary and if it's no better a cat scan to see exactly what is going on in there. I've been told that a redo is on the cards. If it swells a lot whilst padding around I have to ring the surgoens secutary to be seen before Feb. I thought I'd leave it to next week to see if the extra swelling I have goes down, as it could be a reaction to the shock of no support.
I've also been told that driving a manual car in the future will probably be unlikely. Guess what I've got!
Ness

Hi Ness,
So so sorry to hear about this! I can only imagine the pain you are in right now!!! I know this doesn't help but I have no movement in my ankle and still get around okay. I'm surprised you aren't getting a scan sooner. If it keeps hurting this bad I don't think I'd wait until Feb. to see what's going on. Let's hope the swelling goes down and it starts to heal on it's own!! Sorry about the car...but does give you an excuse to buy a new one. Trying to look on the bright side of things here..
Take it easy and elevate the ankle as much as possible - hope that helps with the swelling. Keep us posted and let us know how you are doing.
Ang