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
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Hi Geraldine,
I'm sorry to hear that you are having so much pain. Sounds like you're doing the right things by elevating, icing, and pain meds. Are you also taking an anti-inflammatory? Ask your doctor about some to see if it will help you any. Have you tried to massage the area where it's swollen? They did that in physical therapy and it really seemed to help.
What type of shoes are you wearing? I had a hard time with shoes as well and the swelling doesn't make it any easier. I noticed that my swelling increased when I was on my foot a lot (at the beginning a lot was 20-30 minutes). The swelling in my ankle really didn't decrease until after a couple of months of physical therapy and I still have a little there that just hasn't gone away, but it no longer hurts.
Stiffness in the ankle is still an issue for me and it's been 2 years since my ankle fusion. It's not as bad as it was in the beginning but it's still there. I try to avoid sitting for long periods of time and if I can't get up and move around I try to move my leg (up/down) as much as possible.
Does anyone else have any suggestions for Geraldine? If so, please share.
I hope you get to feeling better soon!!!
~Ang
July 14, 2008 - 3:59pmThis Comment
i had a ankle fusion on 19th feb im 31 from ireland have come out of the air cast and am now in my shoes absolute agony very bad swelling in both my ankle and knee do all the usual elevate ice etc am worse now than ever severe stiffness after i sit any tips any one for the pain? im still on oxycotin
geraldine
July 12, 2008 - 9:01amThis Comment
After years of increasing pain and decreasing the activities I wanted to do, I had the fusion done almost 4 months ago. I am a teacher and went back to work after 3 weeks in a wheelchair with my leg elevated until I got the walking boot which I used with a walker that had a seat. Now I have been practicing walking (using a cane and occasionally a walker) for 3 and a half weeks and I feel like it is slow going. I know I had not had any weight-bearing for over 3 months, but I wonder how long it takes to walk without a cane and stiffness. I'm 56 years old, the surgery was successful and I already have less pain when I walk than I did before--I just want to walk somewhat normally. How long does it take?
Rachel
July 8, 2008 - 6:27pmThis Comment
Hi Rachel and others who are wondering how long the healing process will take.
I'm 57 years old, about the same as you Rachel, and had my fusion April '06. Of course, everyone's situation, while the same in that we've all had or are going to have an ankle fusion, is going to be unique...how your body heals, pain thresholds, the cause of the fusion, your general health and physical condition, etc. all make a difference. First of all the ankle is always going to feel stiff...you no longer have an ankle joint. As I mentioned in my first posting, my surgeon removed all the hardware post fusion and that helped enormously. As for the rest of your body feeling stiff, that depends on you and what kind of exercise, etc. you do.
As for walking "somewhat normally", which is where I think I am now— I walked with a cane for about a year, I think, after the fusion. Later on it was more of a security blanket as people can be kind of unconscious about where they are in space and little kids are even more so. I see it now as more of a protection and If I know I'm going to be in a crowd, I'll still use it, just to help people to be more aware. I keep it in the car just in case, but usually don't need it. If I know I'm going to be on my feet longer than usual I'll use it just to make it a little easier for myself, although it is awkward if you need to be carrying things. ( A good tip: I use a little backpack rather than a purse, also good for overall balance and weight distribution.) When I started forgetting the cane and leaving it behind I knew that was a good sign! Also, I think not overdoing it is really important...and only you can know what that means. I think I'm still improving and hopefully will continue. Somedays it really almost feels normal...and then other days I have pain...so again, it's all very individual...but it does, and will, get better. I know this is not a definitive answer, I don't think it can be, but I hope it helps.
best wishes
Kathryn
July 9, 2008 - 2:20pmThis Comment
Hi there,
Don't worry, you are not alone! I had my ankle fused in April '06 following severe trauma due to a very bad car accident in June '05 that almost took my life. (Caused by a meth addict who lost control of his car on the highway.) I had multiple injuries, both internal and external. At first they didn't know if they would have to amputate my foot...when I was out of ICU and conscious again (four days later) they told me my ankle injuries were the worst they had ever seen. BUT I'm here to tell the tale.
Months and months later, I was so itching to get moving after being immobile for so long...I had to push for PT...my surgeon (Dr. Chou at Stanford...EXCELLENT physician) didn't want anyone pushing and pulling on my ankle too soon, but I finally got her to prescribe for it after I was out of the walking boot. Also, after the fusion and I was weight bearing she decided to remove all the hardware which helped enormously. I also had an excellent PT who was very experienced in working with ankle fusions. As for exercise and PT...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!! Getting in the water and taking the weight off the ankle and, just being able to move, was heavenly.
I am now walking more or less normally, with a somewhat modified gait and slight limp (my friends say it's barely noticeable). I consider every step I take a miracle! I do yoga, (with modifications--there are some props available to compensate for not being able to flex the ankle), ride a bike and swim...my doc says no walking (or hiking) for exercise, only what 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 those joints 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 affected side insole in the Merrell's and that helps alot. 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. (update: I just got a pair of MBT sandals...they are great! thanks for the tip!)
Also, I have nerve entrapment in the scar on the outside of the ankle (probably from the initial surgeries at the trauma center) which is slowly getting better with time. My PT did and now I do alot of self massage on it...cross fiber friction is very good to help loosen and realign adhesions. 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 with the massage 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. This accident and the aftermath was a career ender for me (I was a full-time Cert. Massage Therapist) but I'm back in school doing a master's degree, on a new path job wise...life is good.
Good luck to all who are going through this...there is light at the end of the tunnel. If I can be of any help to anyone going through this process please feel free to contact me.
Best wishes,
Kathryn
July 9, 2008 - 8:00amThis Comment
I somehow posted my first post twice before and after editing...
July 9, 2008 - 2:25pmThis Comment
I really appreciate all the comments I've read about what my life will be like after my fusion is healed! It gives me hope, something I haven't had much of in the last couple of years.
I went to the doctor on 7/2/08 to have my stitches removed and my ankle recast. My surgery (2-joint fusion) was 6/18/08. My foot was too swollen to have the stitches out. You can barely see the stitches due to the swelling. My doctor said there were about 80 between my left and right sides and my heel. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, 7/10, and hopefully the stitches will come out. I have had many surgeries through the years and many stitches. I have never had a problem with not getting them out on time. My doctor said my foot wasn't up enough and I'll agree with that. I concentrated more on no weight bearing than I did the foot elevation. Since I got home from the doctor (a 5 hour drive each way), I have been in bed with my foot elevated. I'm getting anxious!
Shela
July 8, 2008 - 1:49pmThis Comment
I really appreciate all the comments I've read about what my life will be like after my fusion is healed! It gives me hope, something I haven't had much of in the last couple of years.
I went to the doctor on 7/2/08 to have my stitches removed and my ankle recast. My surgery (2-joint fusion) was 6/18/08. My foot was too swollen to have the stitches out. You can barely see the stitches due to the swelling. My doctor said there were about 80 between my left and right sides and my heel. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, 7/10, and hopefully the stitches will come out. I have had many surgeries through the years and many stitches. I have never had a problem with not getting them out on time. My doctor said my foot wasn't up enough and I'll agree with that. I concentrated more on no weight bearing than I did the foot elevation. Since I got home from the doctor (a 5 hour drive each way), I have been in bed with my foot elevated. I'm getting anxious!
Shela
July 8, 2008 - 1:40pmThis Comment
Hi As with everyone so glad to find this site, I had no idea there were so many people with the same problem.
I have just had my 6 week appointment and my doctor said my fusion was healing really well and I went off very happy with my aircast to partially weight bare, however it has been really really sore and I am having to use crutches as well. The doctor was surprised that I was in such pain and has just suggested that I slow down (any slower I would be stopped). The pain is particularly bad around one of the incision points, particularly to the touch and in the muscle (if you can call it muscle)just above my heal. Also struggling to sleep as its a constant throbbing ache. Feeling very sorry for myself, has anyone had the same symptoms and how did it progress.
July 8, 2008 - 7:24amThis Comment
Hi,
I'm glad you found the site as well and thanks for sharing your story! Glad to hear that your fusion is healing nicely, but not happy that you're in pain. I did experience the same symptoms!!!! I used my crutches for a couple of weeks after I got my air cast and was given the okay to walk on it. Tried walking w/out anything the first couple of days and it just about killed me - the pain was unbearable. The doctor told me to take it easy and to slow down as well and use the crutches or cane until the pain decreased. So I did and it helped - I still had some bad days and had to resort back to the crutches but little by little it didn't hurt as bad and my foot got us to the weight-bearing. I know I felt like I could just ditch the crutches and walk "normal" again in the cast but not so much! My foot reminded me that I hadn't put any weight on it for 6 weeks what made me think I'd do it all in one day.
So take it easy and listen to your body it will tell you when it's ready for you to go full speed ahead.
If your talking about the incision I think you are - yes it is really sensitive! It does get better in time. I placed my foot on a pile of pillows and elevated it when I slept. That seemed to help the endless throbbing/pain and gave it the extra support I needed. If it was hurting really bad I slept on my side to relieve some of the pain (still on a pillow for the support). One of the things that helped the incision heal faster was to massage it as often as possible. Yes, it hurts like heck but in the long run worth it (at least it did for me).
And it's okay to feel sorry for yourself :-) I'm sure those of us who have been though it will agree!!! You've been through a lot and feels like it's never going to end, but it does. It's been 2 years since my ankle fusion and I still feel sorry for myself when I have a bad "ankle" day.
So take it easy and know that you have a community here at EmpowHer that understands what you're going through.
Keep me posted and let me know how the next couple of weeks go for you.
Best in health,
July 14, 2008 - 5:05pmAng Mares
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