Hi there, i just googled orthopedic devices for sleep with a fused ankle and came across this blog. First of all no, you are not crazy for wishing for an amputation. I myself have made similar comments to my family and doctors. The doctors just chuckle (because in their mind there are still options) and my family gets upset because to them its so shocking. But, unless you live with chronic pain that affects every part of your life from your physical abilities and sleep, to your mental health, relationships and work, others just don't understand. A bit of my background...I was on active duty in the army and started having bad pain in my lower leg and ankle. The military doc told me i just had shin splints (i was a runner so im well aware of what shin splints feel like, and this was different). The army doc would not take xrays. So when I went into the guard and had civilian insurance I saw a surgeon and he diagnosed me with a stage IV osteochondral defect of the talus. I had an oats procedure with a graft taken from my knee. He told me i would be back to running...a year later my ankle still had issues and now my knee killed me and i lost all of my inner quad muscle (whatever its called, lol). I had a surgery to remove the plate and screws from the outside of my ankle because it was so painful. I was cleared by a surgeon for the army and i was then deployed to iraq. While climbing the ramp of a chinook i twisted the knee and had a burning pain. I suffered through my year long deployment with the Army PAs saying heres some IB pro fen. When we returned home the army sent me to a civilian ortho person in Philly where they said my ankle still had the defect, my knee had end stage arthritis plus was not tracking correctly because of where the graft was taken.. So, they performed another oats and took another graft from the same knee but different spot, and also did a lateral release of the knee ligaments. Again, the graft didn't take and my knee was still always swollen and in pain and now I had no outer quad muscle . The civilian surgeon told the army case manager i needed an ankle fusion and knee replacement (although no one will actually do a knee replacement because as of now im only 32). The case manager decided I needed to go to West Point to have Army surgeons evaluate me. They did arthroscopy on both the knee and ankle. It did nothing for me and their conclusion was that I needed a fusion and knee replacement. So...I was medically retired at 30 and 3 months after retirement had the ankle fused. It has been a long road but the ankle is better in some ways with the fusion. It has its issues like Achilles pain sometimes and swelling and pain if i stand too long, but overall its in a manageable place. Ive been doing therapy for 4 months now (a year after the fusion) to help stretch, strengthen my whole leg and the therapist does a myofascial massage..the massage has helped so much. Its basically scar tissue break up and you would be surprised how much of the nagging everyday pain is from scar tissue and nerve damage. I still need my knee fixed and im sure the VA would give me the replacement but im now at the point were i want a break from surgeries and rehab for a while. So im going to try to suck it up. And my opinion for you after everything i have gone through....being that you are over 50 ( which is still young) some surgeons might be willing to do a replacement on you. I would do the replacement... A fusion fixes the pain from the jacked up bone, but it is so limiting in life, even with little things like shoes and sleeping positions (its hard to sleep on your stomach because the foot wont lay flat). Sorry my post is long, but i get how you are feeling and just want you to know there are people in your shoes and understand. I hope you get to a good place and out of pain. Do research on surgeons, do not settle for a local person just because its convenient. Find the best! Take care : )
-T
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Hi there, i just googled orthopedic devices for sleep with a fused ankle and came across this blog. First of all no, you are not crazy for wishing for an amputation. I myself have made similar comments to my family and doctors. The doctors just chuckle (because in their mind there are still options) and my family gets upset because to them its so shocking. But, unless you live with chronic pain that affects every part of your life from your physical abilities and sleep, to your mental health, relationships and work, others just don't understand. A bit of my background...I was on active duty in the army and started having bad pain in my lower leg and ankle. The military doc told me i just had shin splints (i was a runner so im well aware of what shin splints feel like, and this was different). The army doc would not take xrays. So when I went into the guard and had civilian insurance I saw a surgeon and he diagnosed me with a stage IV osteochondral defect of the talus. I had an oats procedure with a graft taken from my knee. He told me i would be back to running...a year later my ankle still had issues and now my knee killed me and i lost all of my inner quad muscle (whatever its called, lol). I had a surgery to remove the plate and screws from the outside of my ankle because it was so painful. I was cleared by a surgeon for the army and i was then deployed to iraq. While climbing the ramp of a chinook i twisted the knee and had a burning pain. I suffered through my year long deployment with the Army PAs saying heres some IB pro fen. When we returned home the army sent me to a civilian ortho person in Philly where they said my ankle still had the defect, my knee had end stage arthritis plus was not tracking correctly because of where the graft was taken.. So, they performed another oats and took another graft from the same knee but different spot, and also did a lateral release of the knee ligaments. Again, the graft didn't take and my knee was still always swollen and in pain and now I had no outer quad muscle . The civilian surgeon told the army case manager i needed an ankle fusion and knee replacement (although no one will actually do a knee replacement because as of now im only 32). The case manager decided I needed to go to West Point to have Army surgeons evaluate me. They did arthroscopy on both the knee and ankle. It did nothing for me and their conclusion was that I needed a fusion and knee replacement. So...I was medically retired at 30 and 3 months after retirement had the ankle fused. It has been a long road but the ankle is better in some ways with the fusion. It has its issues like Achilles pain sometimes and swelling and pain if i stand too long, but overall its in a manageable place. Ive been doing therapy for 4 months now (a year after the fusion) to help stretch, strengthen my whole leg and the therapist does a myofascial massage..the massage has helped so much. Its basically scar tissue break up and you would be surprised how much of the nagging everyday pain is from scar tissue and nerve damage. I still need my knee fixed and im sure the VA would give me the replacement but im now at the point were i want a break from surgeries and rehab for a while. So im going to try to suck it up. And my opinion for you after everything i have gone through....being that you are over 50 ( which is still young) some surgeons might be willing to do a replacement on you. I would do the replacement... A fusion fixes the pain from the jacked up bone, but it is so limiting in life, even with little things like shoes and sleeping positions (its hard to sleep on your stomach because the foot wont lay flat). Sorry my post is long, but i get how you are feeling and just want you to know there are people in your shoes and understand. I hope you get to a good place and out of pain. Do research on surgeons, do not settle for a local person just because its convenient. Find the best! Take care : )
March 14, 2015 - 8:55pm-T
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