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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In 2011, victim of a head on collision, shot my femur thru my pelvis, broke every rib, fractured my sternum and broke every bone in my foot/ankle. Decided to try to save my foot and they did after a 22 hr surgery (Froedtert Hospital/WI), they are the best. But I didn't have health insurance and couldn't afford therapy and it collapsed. 2 years I lived with that until I got Medicare. Finally, in 2014 I had to have an ankle fusion and it sucks. The numbness, the pain and the toe cramps. From mid-calf to the toe is gets so cold (corpse like). It fused crooked and I am walking on the side of my foot. (This causes a chain reaction of pain in my whole leg to my hip & back). I can't wear any shoes unless they are laced because my foot is humped on top and won't slide into any shoes. Sometimes when the pain is sooo bad, I wish they would've cut it off. But as bad as these complications are, I am grateful I have my foot. I can walk, not real far or long, but I can. I did find a shoe solution for me that works with an ankle brace, Sketcher’s Shape Ups, they have the totally rounded bottom. They are not sold anymore because of running instability, but I don't run! (U can find them in thrift stores and people selling them online). If your balance isn't the greatest I suggest wearing a regular shoe on good foot for stability. (Matching isn't an issue compared to comfort/walking more normal). Good luck and may you all have more good days than bad!
January 24, 2018 - 9:36pmThis Comment
I am so sorry for your accident. I have found active muscle release with a chiropractor has helped tension and muscle spasms in my leg, foot and ankle and you can find Sketchers Shape up shoes on Amazon New. I got mine for $40.
February 5, 2018 - 11:43amThis Comment
HI
December 17, 2017 - 11:12amI broke my ankle on February 14, 2014. I fell in my driveway due to ice on it. It was a compound fracture. The orthopedic surgeon said he had only seen one other break that bad. I had four surgeries by July of the same year. I went through two years with pain but not too bad. On my second year anniversary the pain was intense. The doctor said I have traumatic arthritis. I was bone on bone. The only thing he was able to do was fusion. He sent me to a doctor to see about an ankle replacement. I had another surgery to remove all of the hardware. I am currently on shots and will have the ankle replacement when the shots stop working. I still have pain but not to the same magnitude. When the pain got severe I went into a shoe store in tears. It was extremely painful. I walked out of there with no tears and a lot less pain. I wear Hoka. I even wear their hiking boots. my only wish is that they would come up with a dress shoe for women. I never knew there were so many people in the same situation.
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Sorry to hear. Be very careful, a TAR isn't something to jump into. Do your research!!!
December 17, 2017 - 2:07pmI'm 50 now and was qualified and was qualified for a tar some years ago. But I'm still way too young to have that procedure done. They only last at 3 to 5 years, if you're not active. My ankle is too far gone and a TAR is point pointless. The only joint I have left is the subtalar at 50 percent. The rest all bone on bone with class 4 arthritis. Doing shots hoping for the best but in the end I'm looking at either for fusion Toto To doing shots hoping for the best but in the end I'm looking at either foot fusion-total or amputation. I'm way too active for a fusion.
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I had a TAR at 27 years old. It collapsed after a year and my doc did a subtalar joint fusion because he didn’t believe the implant collapsed and that fusion didn’t take... That was at the VA and I’m currently 4 years into an appeal and it’s going to the board in D.C. I ended up going to Florida Orthopedic Institute and having a total ankle fusion and that was in 2015. I still have a great deal of pain and use a mobility scooter (I’m a sight pulling my 18 month old alongside me in his stroller) and often a cane. I have a rod in my femur and recently discovered a leg length discrepancy so have to get shoe modification. I can across this thread because I’m looking for good shoes to get modified. I recently turned 35 and have had 12 surgeries over the past 10 years after my MVA. Anyway, I wish you all the best.
February 9, 2019 - 5:58pmThis Comment
Hello everyone, I've been following bits and pieces throughout the last year or so and have found it helpful. So thank you all.
My situation is it much different than everybody else's, I've been doing dealing with a disintegrating left foot for 30+ Years. My 7 surgery was last December ( bone spurs and joint opening) which left me with very little motion when I was expecting to gain motion. Now it looks like I'm on the track for some kind of fusion which I have refused in the past. Most likely a total ankle&foot fusion. I feel like it's no better than having a peg leg and truly think I'd be better off having it cut off. Even though it's not fused yet my range of motion is now down to 15% total, zero on a bad day. I'm quite active and I have two extremely young kids, so I want to remain active.
Any thoughts on amputation versus total foot/ankle fusion. Would be glad to read any info or even send you my email somehow. Bit more history, all ankle ligaments of been replaced or rerouted, no arch, about a level 4 arthritis, the talus has shift and is tilted, mid-foot collapse has begun.
October 1, 2017 - 10:20amThis Comment
Hey man I don't know exactly how bad your ankle and foot are, but I almost lost my leg after falling off a balcony and shattering my talus. Long story short I got an ankle fusion. The ankle fusion was the best choice and eliminated most of my pain. Its true that you lose range of motion in your ankle but it's much better than having no leg. I am still very active working twelve hours a day as a chef, I also surf and walk without a limp. I do get arthritis in some joints after long days but my point is you will learn how to compensate the for the limited range of mortion with your leg and foot intact.
March 9, 2019 - 7:46amThis Comment
I had my ankle fused this last summer and want to get back to skiing. Doctor says not this year. I've yet to find someone that is skiing after fusing an ankle but have heard people do. Just wondering how? Lift in the heel of the ski boot? Anything else special that helps?
March 13, 2018 - 10:45amThis Comment
I had a left ankle fusion back in 1986. If it is done correctly you should be able to remain very active. I am very active, bike, ski, fly, exercise, hike. The only things I cannot do are high impact things, running, some yoga poses [I improvise] and cannot balance on my left foot only. there are other things to consider which your doctor can brief you on such as constant swelling, a level of constant pain, possible/likely stress fractures in the other joints within you foot. my doctor fused my ankle so that my foot is at an angle pronating outward, most of my weight is on the outside of my foot and this creates a smoother gate, less limping. actually i do not really have a noticeable limp at all, its very, very slight. few people even know i have an ankle issue due to the way my doctor fused it. anyway, i highly recommend it over amputation. amputation was my second option as well and i'm glad i went with the fusion. good luck. Janet
October 17, 2017 - 4:20pmThis Comment
hello...thanks for sharing
August 29, 2019 - 7:25amdo you know if you can go a long distance on a elliptical?
trying to determine if i can keep up my cardio.
thank you in advance
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