In the last ten years I’ve had surgery eight times on my right ankle. Most of them were ligament reconstructions and finally a complete ankle fusion. Making the decision to fuse my ankle was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make but with the chronic pain, instability, degenerative arthritis and inflammation I agreed. It’s going to be two years this June and although it’s been a very long recovery and endless hours of physical therapy I can say I’m feeling good about it. One of the biggest challenges is finding shoes that help me walk. With an ankle fusion you have no range of motion so I need orthopedic shoes to help me out. I wear a pair of MBTs but would like to find something different that still provides the support I need, any suggestions? I’d love to hear your story and how you are dealing with the ankle fusion -- was it the right decision for you?
~Gimpy
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment311 Comments
Hi Ang,
December 17, 2009 - 11:41amI am new to this site and have been reading the posts. I read yours and I am wondering how you are getting along with no movement? I am in my 60 days post-op after the 2nd fusion on my ankle and I now have no movement either. You are the first person I have found that has had a total fusion too. I have a nail up my tibia. Do You? You can read my story in my profile if you like. I am anxious to hear from you as I am afraid to put weight on this since what happened last year with my first fusion. A new friend-pabeach
This Comment
Hi everyone
My name is grace and I am going to have an ankle fusion i'm 28 years old and i'm scared of the out come will I be able to walk normal and pain free right now the pain is unbearable.I can't walk more than 5 minutes could anyone please tell me what I will be expecting from the fusion and is the recovery very hard I have a 3 month baby girl that I have to take care of i was wondering if i will be capable of doing
thanks grace
October 30, 2008 - 8:05pmThis Comment
Hi Grace,
November 20, 2008 - 6:22pmWhat type of ankle fusion are you having done? I was scared about the procedure as well - so you are not alone there. It's been 2 1/2 years since my ankle fusion and I'm glad I did it. I'm pain free 90% of the time - it flares up when I've been on it all day. Considering I was in your shoes and couldn't walk or stand for more than 5 minutes at a time. The quality of life is so much better for me now. I did have a long recovery total of 5 months I was in some sort of cast - then 6 months of physical therapy. But ask your doctor how long your recovery will be (how long will you be in crutches, cast, walking cast, therapy etc.) it all depends on what you are having done. If you don't mind me asking..why do you have to have the ankle fusion?
I wish you all the best, please keep me posted.
Ang
This Comment
Ang,
What a nice story to hear. So often we only hear the downsides of procedures that people need to have done; it's wonderful to hear that you needed a procedure, made the decision to do it, and even though you had a long recovery, that you are happy with the results.
Why did you have your ankle fusion? Was it due to an injury? What kinds of things did you weigh while you were making your decision, and how did your doctor help you make that decision? Are there things that you still cannot do? Your experience can truly help others who are faced with figuring out what to do and what their results could be.
Again, so glad you are doing well. Thanks for writing.
November 21, 2008 - 8:04amThis Comment
I know this sounds crazy but I wear flip-flops most of the time. I am 31 years old and eleven months post-op - the first 9 months were HELL with pain! But very suddenly, it started feeling better and I have discovered ways to work with it, and ways to stretch.
October 28, 2008 - 9:55pmI know this sounds crazy (I do miss my 4in. heels!) but your ankle will tell you when it's ready to feel better. And for me, because my platform foam flip-flops provided more cushion than anything else, they were just more comfortable. I think it has also allowed me to re-strengthen my ankle and foot muscles.
Now, I have started walking barefoot a little, it feels good to use the muscles and stretch my midfoot.
Anyway, I am not advocating walking in flip-flops or barefoot - talk to your doctor.
This Comment
Shela,
I'm sorry you are still in pain, just 7-8 weeks post-surgery.
I have not had an ankle fusion, but am wondering what your doctor said about the pain? You mentioned that you did tell him/her, and s/he said it may be from nerve damage? Was your doctor concerned that you "still" have pain? What did your doctor say about treatments for nerve damage?
The only pain I can relate to is pain from delivering a baby, and my doctors and nurses said I would be "sore" for a few weeks. WHAT?! "Sore" is not the word I would use to describe it, and it took at least 8 weeks of not feeling "pain" or "soreness", and a few more weeks after that to feel "like myself" again. I went back to the doctor at 4 weeks post-delivery, because I was so nervous that something was really wrong since I was "still in pain". Nope--everything was healing properly (just as your doctor is pleased with your progress...yeah!)
So, my point? My opinion, rather, is that everyone has different levels of pain, different healing and recovery periods. I am not a "wimp", and I am sure you are not, either, so if you have any guilt or bad feelings toward yourself that you are "still" in pain, then banish those immediately! :-)
Secondly, you are doing the right thing by asking for help with others who've had the same surgery. Chronic pain is debilitating, frustrating, and scary. Is your doctor able to help you continue managing the pain? It really doesn't matter if it is not "supposed" to be there (like the nurse said...that comment was incredibly UNhelpful!). You have pain, it is just a fact, and if your doctor has ruled out other reasons for the pain, besides YOUR normal recovery period (not what it says in the medical textbooks), then ask for their assistance in managing your pain. That is what they are there for!
I hope you hear from others, soon, who have gone through your exact experience.
Hang in there!
August 19, 2008 - 2:44pmThis Comment
Dear Alison:
When I asked my doctor at my 6 week check-up if it was normal to still be in pain, he shrugged and said all pain is relative. He didn't mention that I wouldn't be given any additional pain medication, and I did refill my pills twice more after that. I think I have a high pain tolerance, but the day in and day out nagging pain gets old mighty fast. The doctor's comments concerning nerve damage resulted in him suggesting it was due to my foot being elevated all the time. He thinks the nerves in my spine are being pulled and somehow hurting my ankle nerves at the points of incision. Huh? Also, when I talked to the triage nurse, she told me to keep my foot up and elevated. I told her the doctor said to put it down. She just said "oh."
I am going to call his nurse tomorrow. Not the triage nurse but the doctor's personal nurse. Unfortunately, the nurse, a male, just had surgery on his spine and took only 5 pain pills according to him. He can probably tow a boat with his back now.
I don't have children so I don't have that to compare my pain to. I did have a hysterectomy and parathyroid disease surgery in February, both things they found on my pre-op when I was trying to have my ankle surgery in January. They thought I had ovarian cancer, which thankfully I didn't, although going to a gyn-oncologist was a scary experience. Both surgeries were at the same time and I was back to work without pain killers in 2 weeks.
Thanks for writing, Alison. I talked to a customer who came into my place of business and she had an ankle fusion 2 years ago. She said she took pain killers for 4 months and now she mixes a drink when the pain gets too bad. I don't know if 2 months out is a lot to still have pain or if the person I talked to is more normal.
Shela
August 19, 2008 - 3:14pmThis Comment
Hi Shela,
January 7, 2009 - 10:09amI apologize for not responding sooner. I hope that you had a chance to speak to someone about the pain you were experiencing. Are you still in a lot of pain these days? I was in a lot of pain for at least 4 to 6 months and still have pain til this day but it's not close to what it was after the surgery. I've noticed that my pain gets worse based on the weather, have you experienced that?
I did have some nerve damage as well and physical therapy helped with that. Are you still in physical therapy? Did it help any?
Let me know how you are doing, again sorry for the delay in response.
Ang
This Comment
I had my ankle fusion on June 18, 2008. At my 6 week check-up with the surgeon, he said there was a lot of new bone growth and he was extremely pleased. I told him I was still in pain and he thought it might be nerve damage. On each side of my ankle (I had 2 joints fused)the round "balls" feel like bee stings. I was on Vicodin until a week ago when my pills ran out. I wasn't taking them more than the prescribed dosage. The triage nurse said I shouldn't be having ANY pain after 7 weeks. I'm wondering what the others who have had ankle fusions think about that. I have read some of the posts and it seems like some people have had pain for quite a while. I don't go back to the doctor until next Tuesday. I am tempted to call the doctor himself. I don't sleep and it is tough to work. Even though I sit at a desk, the throbbing makes it a long day. I called in sick today, had it elevated all day, and it is still throbbing. How long were you in pain?
Shela
August 19, 2008 - 1:12pmThis Comment
Hi Shelajn,
I had my fusion done on July 11th. I'm not sure how complicated yours was, but mine was pretty tough. But that being said, I have not had much pain from it. Not like your talking about anyway. Mine hurts some in the evening when I've been keeping it DOWN too long. I can't believe the story about keeping it up too much!
My suggestion would be to go back. I've talked to a lot of people who have had this surgery and none of them have struggled this much. If there is some type of nerve damage, maybe they can do something. I know after I fractured my ankle, the doctor gave me some medication for the nerve damage because I was in trememdous pain then. I think it was something for seizures, but it worked.
I hope things get better for you! I hope you don't mind, but I'll be praying for you to feel better soon.
Keep us posted.
Blessings,
Janea
August 20, 2008 - 1:48pmThis Comment