Hi everyone,
The ankle fusion process is life changing... or I should say life 'altering'. I was in a head-on collision in 1985 (I was 19 yrs old) that shattered my talus, and broke the bottom head of the tibia/fibula. Initially I was in surgery that same night for about 4 hours until my bp got too low and they had to sew me up (two 9-10 inch incisions on both sides of the ankle) but nothing was put back together. I tried a bone graft from my left hip to generate some bone growth because what bone was left was necrotic. The graft didn't take so 5 years post accident I had a total fusion. Best decision I ever made! I was in so much pain for those 5 years and the fusion took most of that away. I also did not have any physical therapy. To quote my orthosurgeon "what do you need physical therapy for? Nothing moves. You just need to learn how to walk again." I thought it was odd, but I believe he was right. The atrophy of my calf is the most noticable thing and I am self conscious of it when wearing dresses/skirts. I can wear up to a 2" heal for work as long as I'm not doing a lot of walking. 25 yrs post fusion, My 'good leg' suffers from knee joint issues and my back has suffered from the subtle altered gait. I ended up with 2 long scars on the inside and one long scar on the outside of my ankle. I also have scars where the Charnley Device (rods for fusion) were placed. I have no internal hardware and my leg is shorter. Basically they fused the head of my leg bone it to the calcaneus without any talus in between. The small piece of dead talus that was left was removed. No one knows that I have an ankle fusion unless I tell them! I tattoo'd over my scars with beautiful flowers so you can't see those either. I do have to say though that the muscles on top of my foot that are connected to my toes are quite large due to all the work they do. I'm just glad I can walk at all and I live a fairly normal life. I can't run, but why would I need to??? Riding a bike is the best form of all-year exercise and swimming is great as well. Good luck, it takes time, but it will get better!!!
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Hi everyone,
March 15, 2011 - 4:36amThe ankle fusion process is life changing... or I should say life 'altering'. I was in a head-on collision in 1985 (I was 19 yrs old) that shattered my talus, and broke the bottom head of the tibia/fibula. Initially I was in surgery that same night for about 4 hours until my bp got too low and they had to sew me up (two 9-10 inch incisions on both sides of the ankle) but nothing was put back together. I tried a bone graft from my left hip to generate some bone growth because what bone was left was necrotic. The graft didn't take so 5 years post accident I had a total fusion. Best decision I ever made! I was in so much pain for those 5 years and the fusion took most of that away. I also did not have any physical therapy. To quote my orthosurgeon "what do you need physical therapy for? Nothing moves. You just need to learn how to walk again." I thought it was odd, but I believe he was right. The atrophy of my calf is the most noticable thing and I am self conscious of it when wearing dresses/skirts. I can wear up to a 2" heal for work as long as I'm not doing a lot of walking. 25 yrs post fusion, My 'good leg' suffers from knee joint issues and my back has suffered from the subtle altered gait. I ended up with 2 long scars on the inside and one long scar on the outside of my ankle. I also have scars where the Charnley Device (rods for fusion) were placed. I have no internal hardware and my leg is shorter. Basically they fused the head of my leg bone it to the calcaneus without any talus in between. The small piece of dead talus that was left was removed. No one knows that I have an ankle fusion unless I tell them! I tattoo'd over my scars with beautiful flowers so you can't see those either. I do have to say though that the muscles on top of my foot that are connected to my toes are quite large due to all the work they do. I'm just glad I can walk at all and I live a fairly normal life. I can't run, but why would I need to??? Riding a bike is the best form of all-year exercise and swimming is great as well. Good luck, it takes time, but it will get better!!!
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