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 Teathyme - Sorry to hear that you're dealing with so much discomfort, and I hope you hear from others. While we don't support posting personal email addresses on EmpowHER, you are welcome to use the email service provided by this site to reach out to others and seek their advice and support. You may also find some helpful information in some of the other ankle fusion links:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/ankle-fusion
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/ankle-fusion-2
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/living-ankle-fusion-and-subtalar-fusion-any-advice
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/ankle-fusion-1
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/ankle-fusion-pain
https://www.empowher.com/media/video/ankle-joint-replacement-and-ankle-fusion-what-are-long-term-complications-dr-horton-vide
Please keep us posted on your recovery and I hope you'll share insights that you gain from others. Take care, Pat
April 19, 2010 - 6:13pmThis Comment
HI ALL... I am asking PLEASE for some words of encouragement about how a light at the end of the tunnel. I never ever thought that the ankle fusion would leave me like this 7 months later. Help? Please? Someone....
April 20, 2010 - 10:05pmThis Comment
Teathyme - If you're not getting responses as a result of your comment then I suggest starting a new post of your own and asking people for their responses. That way your request will be a lot more visible to other people than your comment within an existing thread. All you have to do is go to the home page of the site which is at https://www.empowher.com/ and then look at the middle of the page for the big orange buttons that say "Ask" and "Share." The Ask feature will probably work better for you than the Share, and it's easy to fill in the information. I hope you'll try this and that it brings you responses. Pat
April 21, 2010 - 5:12pmThis Comment
I 'm not sure who I am writing to, but after reading so many of your stories I wanted to communicate. 18 months ago a severe car accident shattered my right ankle. I am now told that the only option for pain relief is a total jopint fusion. In the last year, I feel like I havelost y life as I know it. I am a high school president and struggle to walk and stand, let alone attedn all the school activities that I want to be a part of. I can no longer ride my beloved bike, walk without a cane or do most of the things I used to. Let me ask you. After the surgery, will I be able to get my life back. Will I be able to wear regular shoes, ride a bike, dance,walk on the beach ,be pain free. I need to talk to people who have undergone this surgery and understand my own despair.Limps a lot
March 3, 2010 - 11:57amThis Comment
Hi Anon - Thank you for writing and for sharing your story. It sounds like you have a lot of concerns and worries. The EmpowHER site is a place where women - of any age - can talk freely with other women, ask questions, and share information. I hope other women who've had this procedure will write in response to your post and answer your questions. There are also posts on the site from women who have had this procedure and written about it and you can contact them directly through the site email system if you register as a user.
We have a series of videos on the site with Dr. Eric Horton about ankle fusion that you may also find helpful. Dr. Horton is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in lower extremity conditions and ankle and foot conditions with about 10 years experience in treating a wide range of adult, juvenile, and childhood orthopedic disorders including trauma, sports injuries, arthritis, leg deformities, and other musculoskeletal conditions of the body.
You will find additional information at the following posts:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/ankle-fusion
https://www.empowher.com/community/share/ankle-fusion-2
I hope this information helps you. If you have additional questions after reviewing this information just let us know. We're here to help and support you.
March 3, 2010 - 5:32pmTake good care,
Pat
This Comment
I had an ankle fusion when I was 14. I have had alot of success with mine. I finally started getting over stares at the scars and wore flip flops when I wanted to. You probaly notice it more than anyone else does. My question... what really is the best cardio workout for us? Is it stability bikes? Walking fast enough to bring up a decent heart rate just hurts and I pay for it for 2 days after. I have tried an arc trainer and an eliptical. They seem to work pretty good. Just looking for new suggestions. Keep your heads up everybody! Thank goodness for the ballet falt coming back into style!
February 25, 2010 - 8:59pmThis Comment
I had my ankle fusion in June, 2008, as I have mentioned in previous posts to this blog. Has anyone reading this been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after getting an ankle fusion? Within 3 months of my fusion, I started feeling flu-like symptoms. After months and months of getting up, going to work, coming home and getting right back into bed, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I know Fibromyalgia can be brought on by trauma like an injury or car accident. I'm just curious if anyone out there has had a similar thing happen.
January 5, 2010 - 6:51pmThis Comment
Shelajn,
It will be interesting to see if any other readers have had the same issues you have. I'm so sorry you are now dealing with Fibromyalgia. How are you doing now? Do you have a doctor who is helping you work through it?
Are you having much pain elsewhere in your body?
Have you felt depression or anxiety, and if so, are you getting treatment for it/them?
Are you taking pain medicines? Have you been prescribed physical therapy?
We have a detailed page on fibromyalgia that might be of some help:
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/fibromyalgia
The National Fibromyalgia Association has a forum/chat room for those dealing with the condition. They also have a place where you can find any support groups near you. Link to both of those from this page:
http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=community
Let us know how you're doing and whether there's anything we could help with, Shelajn. And here's hoping you start feeling much better soon.
January 7, 2010 - 8:15amThis Comment
Hi E-1 Happy New Year and hopefully a better one for ALL!!!
January 3, 2010 - 11:36amThis Comment
Hi pabeach - I like your sense of humor! Ankle fusies can learn a lot from each other, and I hope you will hear back from others. In the meantime, yes, we would be interested in hearing your story, so please fill us in.
December 14, 2009 - 6:17pmTake good care, Pat
This Comment