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,
April 16, 2012 - 6:14pmIt can be VERY depressing. I cannot wear anything any higher than a one inch heel. My fusion was done in 1998. I get really down cause I am so limited to activities that I can do. My family always played sports together so running, walking, hiking, climbing etc...... is out for me. I know you can relate to all of this. It is so much of a challange. So when I got my shoes last month at least I can walk better without so much pain because my foot never completely fused together. I promise I will look and research shoes that are a little higher heel for you. Us ankel fusion ladies have to stick together.
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How very kind of you!
April 17, 2012 - 5:50amThis Comment
I recently tried orthaheel shoes I really like them alot. I can wear sandlas again!!
April 16, 2012 - 2:55pmThis Comment
Hi,
April 16, 2012 - 5:02pmI've been wearing Sketcher's Tennis shoes for years. But when I want to dress up a bit I'm stuck! I can't wear plain, leather shoes because there's no cushioning. (I walk on the edge of my right foot.)
I looked at the site for the shoes you mentioned and saw that they are all flat. My foot was set up higher and can't wear flats. I'm assuming your foot was set to wear low heeled shoes. My doctor (45 years ago!) said that since women wear a bit of a heel, he set it that way. I've been told, recently, that it was set too high. I'm sure my doctor did what he could so many years ago. Now things are different.
If you know of a highly cushioned shoe, with at least a 1/2" heel please let me know. I always add pads so my foot is resting at a comfortable height.
But, as I said, when I want to dress up it's very depressing to look at all the tennis shoes in my closet!
Thanks for any help you might give.
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Found this site looking for shoe recommendations. Broke my left ankle 5/6/11, both fibula and tibia. Surgery 5/17/11. However, tibia was so crushed that it never healed correctly and I was in tremendous pain. Had my ankle fused 12/1/11. I've now been out of the boot and walking on my own for about a month. Still some pain in the joint below the fusion, but I can deal with it. Lots of swelling and Dr. recommended foot & leg massage to help. Love it! Looking for shoe recommendations. Having a hard time with gait in my New Balance athletic shoes. But, seems to be better in a couple of casual shoes I have from Merrill and Donald Pliner. They both have a rounded heel. It definitely hurts to walk barefoot and I can't imagine a backless shoe. So, I guess I'll just go to one of the local "comfort shoe" stores in Albuquerque and see what they have to offer in an everyday athletic shoe. The MBTs seem to be the most recommended. Unless someone has another suggestion.
April 16, 2012 - 2:29pmThis Comment
I had a problem with extreme pain and had the screws removed. The pain level is much lower but I am very limited as to what I can do. That includes walking. Walking around the block is about all I can handle.
April 9, 2012 - 5:53pmUnfortunately that means I can easily break it again. If it does then it will mean having a rod in my leg and metal inside on both sides of my ankle to hold it. The original Dr. who did the fusion made a mess of it. He is no longer practicing.
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Hello,
April 9, 2012 - 5:27pmMy ankle fusion didn't make my leg shorter . I had mine done about 13yrs ago. I can say it has been a nightmare for me, my ankle never completely fused together. If I would have know what it would have been like I would have never gone through with having it fused.
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Hi , my name is vicki , I had my ankle fused may 2012 . I think all is going well but not sure as the physo ( didn't see a doc post procedure but have put my foot down so to speak and am seeing one nov 20 th) made a flippant comment the 1st X-ray pat cast looked better tan the 2 nd post boot .
I had th cast for 6 weeks , boot for 6 weeks , I used to swim in pool and sea when removing boot , and cycle with the boot, perhaps I shouldn't have . After total of 12 weeks through the boot off and started normal life , , did get a lot of pain in 1st few days boot removal . Back to work after 14 weekes working 12 hour shifts , get some swelling and some pain , prob 4 out of 10 .
How did you know not fused properly?
Was it through x ray?
Did thy give advice what to do about that?
What caused it ? ( guilty conscance , maybe I was too active in the boot stage)
[email protected]
October 18, 2012 - 1:02amVicki
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Does fused ankle make your leg shorter?thats my worry
April 9, 2012 - 9:49amThis Comment
I had an ankle dislocation and fracture 1 year and 2 months ago. My surgeon only fixed the fibula and told me the tibia fractures would heal on their own. Later I found out the whole back of the tibia was fractured as well as across the bottom abover the cartilage. I was only non-weightbearing about 6 weeks then started into therapy. I knew pretty quickly something was wrong. Tremendous pain with every step, crazy swelling. I kept telling the dr and he kept telling me to be more aggressive with my therapy. FInally sent me for an MRI which showed Avascular Necrosis of the tibia and many unhealed fractures of the tibia. He said he didn't believe it and he wouldn't change anything. Sent me for a CT and it said the same thing, again he didn't believe it and there was nothing else he could do for me so he sent me to his friend who was an ankle specialist. Keep in mind I was continuing to walk and work on my "chronic fractures." The specialist didn't believe it either, said I had a stress fracture. Then next visit decided I should put the boot on and use crutches. Then the next visit after reviewing the scans for the first time decided I did have this previously undiagnosed fracture that was unhealed, as well as others, and casted me and used a bone growth stimulator. Then another ct which showed the AVN and more fractures coming out of that area. So in the boot and on crutches 6 more weeks. Then he told me to walk on it for 6 weeks and see what happens. Then a cortisone shot. Then an MRI and come back. Went yesterday. The AVN has more than doubled in size, has spread to the outside of the bone and all of the articular cartilage and joint surface. Told I could have an ankle replacement but it was not a good choice because I am active. Said I really have no other option but a fusion but they are leaving in all the dead bone, and inserting screws into the dead bone. I am terrified this is not going to work and I am going to end up losing my leg. I am scheduled for March 27 and I am going to seek out another opinion as well as legal counsel at this point. I am 38, a nurse, and 4 busy busy kids.
January 13, 2012 - 8:24amThis Comment