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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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So sorry that you need a 7th surgery. You are not alone! Many patients have a lot of surgeries before finally fusing. (The most I've heard of is 13!). Think about it... a fusion would be a hard sell on the first surgery! Surgeons have to try other things initially such as debridements, microfractures, stem cells, and allografts. A lot of the time these other options work, but for the contingent on this blog, it has not been successful. Most likely, the arthritis would have caught up with you anyway at some point. Something that has helped me during recovery has been to have a benchmark of what I couldn't do prior to fusion and what I can 5 months later. For me that's a short hike that I could not do, or if I could, it would take days to recover from. Now I can do that hike even though I'm still in the recovery stage. It's fabulous for the mind to know that the pain is not as constant or as intense as prior to surgery. Good luck!
January 2, 2015 - 8:14amThis Comment
I am in the same situation as you. Doctors don't want to do the subtalar after the ankle because it would be like having a club foot. Before heading in that direction we are doing injections into the subtalar joint and also have a ucbl which is only goes up to my ankle but limits the motion my foot can go and this is working quite well. Particularly the injections...
December 24, 2014 - 12:48pmThis Comment
I also had a tibiotalor fusion. July 2014. I initially had very bad subtalor pain. I worked with the physio a lot to create heal wedges that made it more comfortable. If they did a CT scan perhaps they are also trying to confirm if the fusion was successful, or if it's a non fusion? I was forewarned that a subtalor fusion was possible in the future but there is so much healing going on at present that I want to see how it feels after 1 to 2 years. I will wait 12 months before i say I'm "fully healed".
December 24, 2014 - 6:41amThis Comment
Had ankle fusion (subtalor) July 18...but i still have numbness on my big toe and the pad of my foot .has anyone had this problem? is it going to take time for the nerves to heal?
December 23, 2014 - 7:37pmThis Comment
I had a tibiotalar fusion on July. I have numbness and pins & needles. Apparently the pins & needles will become less of an issue over time. Other patients say it takes 12 months. The numbness area minimizes over time. Massage helps.
December 24, 2014 - 6:28amThis Comment
god bless you I need all the help I can get. thank you for your words of encouragement.
December 24, 2014 - 9:50amThis Comment
My husband has had his right subtalar joint and bone fusion 6 years ago. He amazed doctors in the military and thought he was 100 %. Now, he's complaining of right knee, hip and back pain which I'm sure is due to over compensation for lack of movement in his foot. He's only 28 now worried about its effects later in life. He was told by the doctors at 21 that he would probably have to use a cane for the rest of his
December 15, 2014 - 9:47pmThis Comment
He needs to check out the Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor. WA. They make a device called the IDEO that was originally designed for injured military people.
January 5, 2015 - 2:55amThis Comment
I am being told that I need an ankle fusion. I am a swimmer and scuba diver. I don't see how I will ever be able use fins again with the talus, tibia, fibula fusion. Has anyone ever had this done and been able to swim with that foot, using fins?
December 10, 2014 - 11:27amThis Comment
I have a fusion on my left ankle and am an avid swimmer. Swimming has been one of the few exercises that I can do without pain. I train in find quite often with minimal discomfort and I am barely a year out from my fusion.
December 23, 2014 - 8:35pmThis Comment