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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Ankle anything is awful, (except now a full replacement). My ankle was fused in 1994 from degenerative arthritis. I started with shoes that had built in rocker bottoms, which means they were heavy and all I could wear. Then I tried MBT's, but their sneakers were even heavier. The only MBT's I could wear were the sandals. Finally for years now I have made no adjustments. I just walk around with a horrible limp and or a cane (I prefer calling it a walking stick). I'm now on another search for rocker shoes. The other thing I have to watch is that I don't throw my foot out or toe in. Clark's have a very comfortable shoe although their heel is too narrow and I toe in a lot. Part of this may be that I have had most of my major joints replaced also. Then I found Propet's rocker bottom or balance bar. I have the sandals, which are great, but their sneakers, called Cadance, are unavailable anywhere in my size. Even from Propet! Other sneakers I've tried are P W Minor. I'm still looking at Hoka One One, but have not tried them. I feel having my ankle fused really sucks, but it beats not being able to walk at all. I'm still looking for more shoes with rocking action and will keep posting, if you like.
May 30, 2015 - 7:59amThis Comment
Hey Everyone! My name is Marsha and I missed a step coming out of a camper 4 years ago and suffered dislocated ankle/broke leg. I have had 4 surgeries on my ankle. This fourth being a complete fusion. I was in a splint type cast for 4 weeks and now just yesterday went into a hard cast for 4 weeks after which it will be removed and xrays will be done to see at that point what my next step will be. Arthritis had eaten up my entire joint...I walked with a severe limp and God Awful pain. I can tell the pain in the very center is gone and I know that I have plates and screws now along the sides but I still feel as if I can feel the same ole (side under the ankle and around the heel) type pain. I was wondering if any of you could tell me how your first time walking was after the fusion? Do you completely go thru therapy to learn basic walking again? I just want to put one foot in front of the other and walk STRAIGHT once again! I walked with my foot out to the side for years. (shouldn't really say walked b/c it was totally excrusiating and hideous looking)...I continued to work and hope to return to my job in August. I was just looking for any advice, input, etc. that you might like to share. I'm also experiencing a tremendous amount of anxiety and sleep issues. Perhaps I'll try a mild sleeping pill. I'm not on anything for pain. I took that for only a few days post op. It makes me to "Paranoid". Anyways help me out people. I hate this cast so bad....I just want to get into my walking boot!
May 15, 2015 - 12:41pmThis Comment
I had my complete ankle fusion in 1982. It was the final solution after damage from falling off a roof. Doctor decided that as a women he would set the angle to accommodate a 1" heel. But wearing heels is impossible and like others I use a variety of shoes to manage. For me, having a cobbler build up the heels of shoes has helped but I still have arthritis in the foot. Long term problems with knees and back also go along with the new gait. Everyone says you just need to get out there and exercise more but that doesn't work for the fused ankle. The pain would be especially bad after I went to bed. The best solution I found is icing. I have a neoprene wrap made for ankle icing. I insert several ice packs and go to bed. For me, several hours of icing often makes it possible to walk the next day, even if I've been on my feet a lot the previous day. I know they say you shouldnt ice longer than 20 minutes. My ankle and foot are are still hot and swollen after 20 minutes. What helps me is at least 2 hours of icing so that my ankle stays cool until the middle of the night. While it can be a bit uncomfortable at first, It eliminates the pain that used to keep me up for hours. It's given me relIef for many years, not just for the ankle pain but for the foot arthritis as well.
July 31, 2015 - 12:37pmThis Comment
Hi Marsha! If all goes well you'll be walking with barely any pain by the time therapy is over. If I'm completely honest though, walking with the boot on will be pretty easy, it's walking on your bare foot that might cause you some problems. Since you won't have any bend in the ankle, you'll have to adjust to how it feels like to shift weight onto the front part of your foot. I suggest some mbts or rocker bottom shoes for when you go out. They work like the bottom of a walking boot. I remember what recovery was like, but it went by fast so you'll get there! GL!
May 17, 2015 - 9:56amThis Comment
Hi my name is Sam. I got into a car accident in Sept of 2010 and broke both sides of my pelvis, my right femur, and my right ankle. The talus bone was so badly fractured that when I recovered, I was left with pretty bad arthritis. My doc compared it to that of an 80 year old's arthritic ankle... and I was only 19 when it happened. It caused me so much pain that even when I was fully healed, I walked everywhere with a cane. I remembered a time when I went back to school, three students were looking at me from inside the building I was heading into, and as soon as I walked in, they became quiet. When I walked past them, they started giggling. I cried that whole day. It made me feel so self conscious. My doc once suggested to me that since I was still so young, that I should consider getting an ankle fusion. So I thought long about it and in 2012, I made the decision to have the surgery. It has been over two years and I don't know, I'm kind of torn. Though I'm able to walk without a cane now, I still walk with a limp and with pain. I developed new pain in my foot. It just basically shifted. When I looked at my xray, I noticed that he didn't fuse it totally at a 90 degree angle. I don't know if that makes a difference or not but I'm beginning to think it does. I can't stand up straight with my two feet side by side. When I walk, my right foot turns out. I read a comment on here where an anonymous lady said she had thoughts that an amputation would have been better, and some days, I feel like her. I'm 23 and I live with so much pain still, and on a daily basis. Sometimes I think that if I knew it was going to be like this after my ankle fusion, then I wouldn't have gotten it. But, I'm not a person to sulk and mope about things that haven't turned out good. I do try my best to work with what I have to live with, SO when it comes to walking, I have found a little bit of help from choosing and finding the right shoes. Maybe this will help you like it did me, and hopefully your ankle fusion experience isn't as bad as mine, but I found some Sketchers Shape Ups shoes on amazon that I purchased to try and they help me out, not tremendously, but pretty well! I know they're for toning the legs and not really designed for orthopedic purposes but they do work because of the rocker-like bottom, and hey, a plus for toning your legs too. Well since I had my surgery, I haven't been able to walk around a store for more than a few minutes without stopping to rest. Honestly, I resort to the electric carts all the time because I already know it's so hard to walk around, but since I got those shoes, I have been doing good with not even having to use one! Actually, last week I went shopping with my sister and spent 5 hours out, and okay, I did use a cart at one store but only because I haven't been on my feet for that long in 5 years and it was getting pretty sore. I felt pretty good though that night, and kind of proud of myself. Sigh, I do have to admit I have my share of days where I think to myself, I'm only 23 and might have to live this way for the rest of my life. On the bright side, I'm a bit more optimistic than I have been for a long time. I've been looking forward to going back to school and finally getting a career because I'm not so afraid that I won't be able to get around anymore. I know every experience is different but I'm glad I'm not alone. Good luck!
May 13, 2015 - 11:33amThis Comment
Wow! This make me sad for you. I don't even know where to start my story is just as long as yours. I have had 4 foot/ankle surgeries one of them being a fusion of the ankle. And after that they had to take the huge screw out of my heel. Then I thought I was going to get better then not even a year later I developed tears in my tendons and bone spurs. I am 46 and have been dealing with severe pain now for several years. I don't even know now why I am still in so much pain. The pain has shifted. The doctors believe that I have nerve damage and Sympathetic nerve issues. And I have severe pain in the heal where they took the screw out. I am with you standing is very hard and walking long distances. I am using a cane right now with a brace. The cane is helping me to walk better without as much of a limp. The limp was starting to effect my hip. I have to take pain medicine every day to cope with this. I am not even sure it helps anymore. My orthopedic surgeon says he can do another surgery to take the tendons completely out but I don't even think that will help. I am praying for a miracle. Oh and my calf muscle is still atrophied from all the surgeries even after 8 months of physical therapy. Very thankful I have a loving family, who have helped me tremendously. But I know they are tired of it to. My daughter said to me today. Mommy I just want you back the way you used to be. Are you ever going to be? That breaks my heart. I am glad that some people have had good experiences with a fusion surgery. But after reading several posts it looks like to me it is few and far between. I feel your pain.
June 21, 2015 - 10:08pmThis Comment
I'm just glad I'm not alone. Sometimes I feel like I'm sitting in a dark corner by myself because I don't personally know anyone who can understand how I feel.
Should've tried connecting in these circles earlier. ;)
July 5, 2015 - 9:29amThis Comment
I am SO happy I found this page. I had 5 surgeries and then ankle fusion. I am in SO much pain from the arthritis that has set in, it's scary. I am now seeing a Rheumatologist for the pain and she put me on Lidocaine patches. They help, but I don't want to have to have these forever. I am glad to know that I am not alone. I always feel like people do not believe me and the amount of pain I am in. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
August 12, 2015 - 10:09amThis Comment
Hey Sam,
My name is Alexandria and I was the same age when I got into my accident. I was in a motorcycle accident that completely destroyed my right ankle. After 10 surgeries, the reshaped my ankle and I walked normal after being in crutches for 10 months. But after the first year I was in a lot of pain. Like you, I went back in forth with getting my ankle fused. I was afraid of complication and not being able to do certain things, but with the amount of pain I was in I thought it would be the best move. Last year in August I got it fused. Let me say, It was the best thing that has happened to me. I'm no longer in pain and I can still wear certain shoes. I walk with a limp without shoes but that is not a bad price to pay considering where I was before. Its going to be a long journey and Im still trying to figure things out in life, but Im happy that I made that decision and Im looking forward on whats next. I sure hope this helped in a way and I hope you know you can always reach out to me to talk about the different things you can expect. You are a strong person from what you went through and you are going to change the world with what happened to you.
May 13, 2015 - 12:25pmThis Comment
Thanks Alexandria. Maybe my recovery will just take longer. It was my fault I didn't take the initiative to find shoes that will help me walk sooner, but hopefully the more I walk and be active, the more it will get better and soon be more free of pain. Thank you for your encouraging words.
May 13, 2015 - 12:38pmThis Comment