Right ankle almost fused naturally after 6 years

[EzzieNqazzi]

Hi been to c the orthopaedic doctors and my ankle has almost fused naturally what am I to expect can anyone explain to me what n how will I know it's fused the pain is horrendous right now so much I need to know but cannot think right now still in shock thought it be sorted out

[oldtimer]

The appearance of your ankle on X-ray is no guide to the amount of pain you have. Please let all your health professionals be in no doubt about the difficulties that the pain is causing you.

The only reason for having the X-ray is to guide future treatment. If it is almost fused what treatment are they suggesting? What they usually do is fuse the ankle joint to stop it hurting. Are they proposing waiting until it does it naturally? Or can they offer you surgery to stabilise the joint so that it doesn't wobble when you walk and cause pain?

[npkb]

Hi - I can sympathise with the pain, having just hobbled from the kitchen with my cup of tea to sit down and wait for the painkillers to kick in! I have been x-rayed and ct scanned, showing that amongst the other wreckage and surgical bits and pieces from previous ops on my feet my ankle (which has been turning increasingly inwards for 10yrs+) is not quite yet fused, hence the excruciating pain. I am told that if/when it fuses there will be no more pain, which is certainly true for my wrist, which despite a couple of years of severe pain has been pain free since it fused itself for the last 30 yrs or so.

The lovely lady ortho surgeon has showed me real concern - but as yet unsure what to do!! 1. Wait for it to fuse on its own (but how long?) 2. Complete ankle replacement (but will my very fragile bones hold the replacement?) 3. have an op to fuse the joint (but not sure my other joints (or me!) can cope with the long weeks of non weight bearing - plus my increasingly fragile skin (many years of prednisolone) mean healing after any op could be a problem. 4. Get orthotics to make a brace to wear to help suppport and just keep taking the painkillers.

She is meeting with another ortho surgeon who already has intimate knowledge of my knees and my left foot to discuss me and decide what's best . . . .!!

Meantime I am to go in and get an anasthetic/steroid injection in the ankle, which may or may not help, at least for a time. Even a couple of days respite would be good!!

I don't imagine any of this is much help, but I do understand totally what you are suffering, and so hope that your situation will improve soon. I am also assuming you are considerably younger than my 63yrs (!) and so will have a much better chance of getting your ankle successfully sorted!

have a big hug from me - and good luck!

[EzzieNqazzi in reply to npkb]

Hi there that's pretty much the same as they offered me except the brace or the replacement am actually 50 and going through the menopause too my knees and hips are in pain also as well as the shoulders some days it drives me to tears does the pain I do have a an ankle splint that I use as my ankle swells so much it's like a ball and looks terrible the top of my foot swells too and looks like it's been hit with a hammer just not knowing where to go and what to do and what to expect and when am constantly in boots work n home not very glam I must add dunt what to do for the best hope ur pain is at the lower end of the scale not the top

[bevie]

hi I can't give you much help or advice really. But I can sympathise, as I am having a lot of problems with my feet as a result of having RA for twenty years. No one seems to know what to do with feet apart from drastic surgery/special shoes/painkillers.

I am waiting an OT assessment as I am having problems getting around at home. Maybe this would help you.