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.
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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
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