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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I had an Ankle Fusion on Jan. 30, 2007. I did very will not much pain. Now five months later, I do physical therapy three days a week. My pain seems to get worse. The doctor said the fusion look great the bones have healed well. I asked him why when I sit down, for just 5 minutes I can barley walk when I stand up? He said he did not have a clue. I am not a baby and have a pretty high pain tolerance I don't understand what is going on I have been working very hard, and I am going crazy. anyone have an answer.
June 17, 2008 - 6:22pmThis Comment
Hi,
I had my ankle fused June 2006. I had a lot of pain once I started PT and walking on my own. I had the same thing happen to me after sitting no matter the duration of the time --it hurt to stand and apply pressure. I also encountered a sharp shotting pain going up the tibia when I walked. Doctor said the fusion looked great but after taking it one step further (x-rays, etc.) he found a small fracture on the tibia where the rod and tibia joined. (On top of the pain my foot was always stiff after sitting, I had to take it easy the first few steps before I could walk again.) Since we couldn't risk a complete fracture on the tibia the dr had to go in and remove all the hardware. I did have to wait until the year was up before the dr would go in and remove anything. He didn't want to risk further complications by removing hardware to early. So meanwhile I took it easy stopped PT right away and took pain meds to help me deal with the pain.
I feel so much better now and feel like I have my life back. I can walk and stand pain free! I know hard to believe! My foot still gets stiff after sitting to long but that's expected and nothing like before.
My suggestion would be to ask your dr for an MRI and have him take a closer look. You are having pain for a reason and if he can't help you go get a second opinion. It's bad enough dealing with the fusion and I'm sure you had it done to eliminate the pain not increase it.
What does your PT have to say about it?
Hope this helps some and know you're not alone.
Good luck and keep me posted,
June 24, 2008 - 2:28pmAng
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I too, experience pain and stiffness after sitting, but once I take about 10 steps, the stiffness decreases! I have arthritis below where my ankle was fused now, which was 8 yrs ago, thus my pain. I know I did not have that problem for the first five years after my fusion though, so I guess I'd have your doctor check for arthritis above of below your fusion. Did you have your ankle done the traditional way or arthoscopically (closed). Mine was done closed and it was a very easy surgery with a very fast recovery compared to the "open" way. It is now that I'm having problems with severe pain again from the arthritis and am looking for anyone else who is five or more years out who is also having problems. I don't know if I am unique or normal. I thought my was gone for the rest of my life and now it's back again. It's very discouraging. I also have a friend who is in the same situation but his pain is not arthritis related (they don't know what's causing his).
June 24, 2008 - 8:06amWe've both even briefly thought of amputation when the pain stops us from doing daily things!
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I am almost five months post surgery and am ready to find shoes. I have the best gait so far with the MBT however I'm hoping to find some other options. The MBT is very expensive and clunky. I live in a small town so the shoe options are very limited. I'm hoping a trip to some better shoe stores in Seattle will provide some new options. Any ideas?
Diana
June 7, 2008 - 8:11pmThis Comment
Seattle? Did you go to Harbor View? I hear that is the mecca for ankle issues. I live in MI & will travel anywhere for a great surgeon (who almost must possess great bedside care). One of my ankle drs will refer me there; I have to decide if that is where I want to go.
July 18, 2017 - 5:31amThis Comment
Hi Diana,
I had my ankle fused June 2006 and have had the same problem you are having. It's bad enough we can't wear heels ever again but our options are limited. I've been wearing MBTs since I had the surgery. And yes they are very expensive and not to attractive. You could have some custom made for you -- currently looking into this option myself. I live in Phoenix and found a company that specializes in orthotics. I can purchase a normal pair of shoes and they can add a rocker bottom to it to help me out with movement. I'm sure the cost will be just as much as a pair of MBT shoes but at least I can pick a shoe style I like. I also found an open toe sandal that has a rocker bottom from Curves (purchased through Avon for $40). Same rocker bottom concept as MBTs and they work great. Nike shocks have also worked well for me during PT and general use.
Hope this helps some! Did you have any success in Seattle? Let me know if you find anything worthwhile. If not, this may be a good opportunity to venture into a new business for us :-)
~Ang
June 24, 2008 - 2:55pmThis Comment
Ahhhhh....I've found friends in the same wobbly boat! I had my ankle fused last Tues so I'm in the first week of recovery. Prior to the fusion, I had 3 operations to repair cartilage and tendons - nothing worked. Last week, the doctor replaced tendons and fused the ankle. I go back in 6 weeks for a cartilage replacement surgery. Then I'll really be on the road to recovery. So far, the pain has been fairly moderate - thanks to pain meds. I use a knee walker upstairs and a regular walker downstairs (and yes, I go up/down the stairs on my butt). I live alone and have no help but I'm here to say that, with careful planning, I think most things can be managed. It's not easy but life goes on. I'll check back in later with recovery news. Anyone with advice - let me know!!!!
June 7, 2008 - 6:03pmThis Comment
I was able to start weight bearing in a rocker boot after the doctor had removed cast and x-rayed at 6 weeks post fusion. Probably took another 4 weeks to be weight bearing without the boot and then learning adapt to getting about without aids.
My biggest tip would be to learn to balance on the fused ankle (when the Dr OK's full weight bearing on it). Use wobble/balance boards, standing on one leg in the pool and I found 'body balance' classes helped as the posses / movements were repeditive for each side so I had to balance on each side and stretch both sides of my body the uneveness became apparent as you will be shortter on the fused leg hence uneven in hips and shoulders but if you know about it you can work on it and will leanr to compensate - it doesn' eventually become the new normal for you.
May 25, 2008 - 8:25pmThis Comment
What excercises did anyone do after their ankle fusion and you were starting to put weight on it again?
May 20, 2008 - 11:20amThis Comment
Hello,
I am a 39yo male who had a horse riding accident when I was 18 and completely tore my left ankle off. Luckily they reattach my ankle. Without going into all of the problems I had I will fast forward to me having my ankle fused at about 26.
My ankle is fused some what diffrent to most, as my heel is fused straight onto my shin bone ( the tibia ) and my talus bone has been completely removed so I have no movement at all in my left ankle.
Now before I broke my ankle I was a boxer who had won several national tites and qualified for an Olympic games, so exercise is very important in my life. I have found that I can still do most exercises exept running, I just modify the exercise a little.
I have found that riding an exercise bike helps reduce some pain, but it must have the foot straps. I also lift weighs and do squats use a rowwing machine, in other words I have refused stop living or exersicing because I have an ankle injury.
I do hope I have helped with some question you guys have had
September 30, 2012 - 5:33pmThis Comment