I had my ankle fusion in April '06. I had to push for PT...my surgeon (Dr. Chou at Stanford...excellent physician) didn't want anyone pushing and pulling on my ankle, but finally got her to prescribe it after I was out of the walking cast. Also, after the fusion was complete she removed all the screws which helped with pain enormously. I highly recommend getting in a warm water therapy pool as soon as you can. I did several 6 week sessions one-on-one with a PT...it was just the ticket. Not only did it help with improving my balance, strength, etc. it just made me feel so much better!! I had been immobile for so long following a traumatic car accident in June '05 and getting in the water and taking the weight off the ankle and just being able to move was heavenly. I had several ankle surgeries, etc. finally resulting in fusion of the right ankle in April '06. I am now walking more or less normally, with a somewhat modified gait and slight limp. I ride a bike and swim...my MD says no walking (or hiking) for exercise, just what walking is needed to live my life, as more pressure is now being put on the other smaller joints of the foot as they compensate for the ankle, which in time could lead to further fusions as the cartilage in them is getting more stress than it would normally. I wear Merrell (sp?) shoes and KEEN sandals, both are great as they have rounded heels...I put a Dr. Scholl's gel heel insert under the insole of the affected foot in the Merrells and that helps alot. Going barefoot doesn't work so well as the immobility is more apparent and often there is some pain...it's always easier to walk with shoes. Sometimes my ankle almost feels normal...other times I have pain and slight swelling, not severe but there, which is easily addressed with elevation, ice and a couple of Ibuprofen. Also, I have nerve entrapment in the scar which is slowly getting better with time. I do alot of self massage on it. I went to the Stanford Pain Mngmt. Clinic for awhile to try to deal with it. After a variey of drug therapies which did nothing, they recommended Botox injection into the scar but my insurance wouldn't pay for it and so I just decided to let it be and it is slowly diminishing with time. Anyway, all in all, given that I am lucky to be alive, the fusion is something that I can live with. Good luck to all who are going through this...
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Hi there,
I had my ankle fusion in April '06. I had to push for PT...my surgeon (Dr. Chou at Stanford...excellent physician) didn't want anyone pushing and pulling on my ankle, but finally got her to prescribe it after I was out of the walking cast. Also, after the fusion was complete she removed all the screws which helped with pain enormously. I highly recommend getting in a warm water therapy pool as soon as you can. I did several 6 week sessions one-on-one with a PT...it was just the ticket. Not only did it help with improving my balance, strength, etc. it just made me feel so much better!! I had been immobile for so long following a traumatic car accident in June '05 and getting in the water and taking the weight off the ankle and just being able to move was heavenly. I had several ankle surgeries, etc. finally resulting in fusion of the right ankle in April '06. I am now walking more or less normally, with a somewhat modified gait and slight limp. I ride a bike and swim...my MD says no walking (or hiking) for exercise, just what walking is needed to live my life, as more pressure is now being put on the other smaller joints of the foot as they compensate for the ankle, which in time could lead to further fusions as the cartilage in them is getting more stress than it would normally. I wear Merrell (sp?) shoes and KEEN sandals, both are great as they have rounded heels...I put a Dr. Scholl's gel heel insert under the insole of the affected foot in the Merrells and that helps alot. Going barefoot doesn't work so well as the immobility is more apparent and often there is some pain...it's always easier to walk with shoes. Sometimes my ankle almost feels normal...other times I have pain and slight swelling, not severe but there, which is easily addressed with elevation, ice and a couple of Ibuprofen. Also, I have nerve entrapment in the scar which is slowly getting better with time. I do alot of self massage on it. I went to the Stanford Pain Mngmt. Clinic for awhile to try to deal with it. After a variey of drug therapies which did nothing, they recommended Botox injection into the scar but my insurance wouldn't pay for it and so I just decided to let it be and it is slowly diminishing with time. Anyway, all in all, given that I am lucky to be alive, the fusion is something that I can live with. Good luck to all who are going through this...
July 8, 2008 - 3:35pmThis Comment
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