ankle fusion

[Moonshine15]

Hi I’m just wondering if anyone has had an ankle fusion as I’m having one soon and I’m wondering how long I will be off my feet for,

I will try and keep my story short, I fell off a door step 18 months ago and broke three bones in my ankle and leg, I was in hospital for a week and had pins and plate put in.

However it has become increasingly painful and I have trouble walking on it, following an x Ray it was found that the pins had come loose and the bones haven’t healed back so I was told an ankle fusion would be the best thing to have which might also need a bone graft.

I’m worried as I’m a terrible patient and I read on line that I won’t be able to walk for over three months, I’m also concerned that I may have to buy an automatic car.

I would appreciate any info from anyone who has had this operation

[Imagine1]

Hi Moonshine15,

I don't know much about the operation but in regards to buying an automatic car? if you don't mind me asking do you get Personal Independence Payment from the government? if you do and you qualify for the top amount of mobility you can get a car from your money. I know this because I am on this benefit and my mobility isn't that good but I don't qualify for the top amount. I hope this helps in some way. Good Luck with your operation.xx

[Moonshine15 in reply to Imagine1]

Hi imagine1 Thanks for your reply, yes I’m on top mobility due to numerous physical problems but I don’t really want to pay out that much for a car as I don’t drive that much but if hubby is out I don’t want to not be able to go anywhere.

I’m really pleased with the car I have it’s 10 yrs old and only done 15,000 miles 😀 if only it was auto or I hadn’t been so clumsy 😂

[Imagine1 in reply to Moonshine15]

I thought it was cheaper if you used some of your mobility payment? I was exactly like you I fell downstairs top to bottom at home and broke my ankle, the problem with me was I didn't get the correct care by the NHS, it was just before Covid times and that was there excuse it happened 2 months before and they could have put it in a cast but they didn't and left me to walk on a broken ankle and now I am in agony all the time and I walk with a permanent limp now and I have developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which will never get better. I am now classed as disabled and had to give my job up that I loved.

[Moonshine15 in reply to Imagine1]

I’m so sorry you went through that, I have to say I had excellent care with the NHS both in hospital and follow up.

I went in via A&E and they kept me in for a week as I had an op whereby they put pins and plate in, but it hasn’t healed properly as the screws came loose and the bones didn’t heal so now have to have the ankle fusion hence needing an automatic car as it’s my clutch foot.

Hope you get the help you need soon

[Beaty1 in reply to Imagine1]

Have you been offered an ankle replacement? I had one when I was living in France and the op was about 15 years ago and I had no problems driving my manual car after my recovery time. I lived alone and was in a plaster cast, non weight bearing for about 6 weeks.

[Imagine1 in reply to Beaty1]

No I have not been offered an ankle replacement. The specialists that I have seen all say that there was no break in my ankle yet on my Xray it states clearly there was, because the bone wasn't coming out of my skin they said it wasn't broke? It was a closed fracture and they said they treat it the same as a sprain. WHY? I am still in agony after 3 years, so it wasn't a sprain was it? They make me sick. If I ever have another accident or injury I am NEVER going back to the hospital, I will just live with it.

[Beaty1 in reply to Imagine1]

Mine was a very bad sprain and a torn ligament in uk and had a ligament repair. Then when living in France a few years later the remaining pain became worse and a French orthopaedic specialist offered the op which was so successful. Maybe it’s worth posing the question if it is unbearable. Good luck with it.

[Imagine1 in reply to Beaty1]

I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, due to the injury, so now I can not have any operations again because I could get this condition in another limb and I don't want to take that chance. The NHS have wrecked my life and got away with it. I just have to live the way I am now Disabled.

[Beaty1 in reply to Imagine1]

So sorry to hear about your condition. All the best.

[Blackknight1989]

I have had bilateral ankle fusion (along with bilateral knee replacement and bilateral hip replacements) and with a fusion it is a long recovery as unlike “replacement” you cannot weight bear for a significant and then at only certain amount of weight bearing as you will be fully casted for several weeks. I have no clue how to only put 20% of your weight on the ankle but that’s how it goes…20%, 40% etc…. I choose fusion over replacement because in 2013 ankle replacements “lifespans” were only 10 years or so. I was 46/47 when operated on those were surgeries number 20/21 so I’ve decided NO MORE operations At the time I had a manual Ford Mustang Cobra a terrific (gas unfriendly) but super-fun car. I could no longer operate the stick shift as the fusion almost completely eliminated any “up/down” motion of the ankle. However, depends on the type of fusion indicated. Mine was a Subtalar Joint to talus fusion. (Main ankle bone to largest “foot bone”) if it’s not that type and is lower in the foot you might be fine. Ask the doctor. I wish you my best in your CKD journey!

[Moonshine15 in reply to Blackknight1989]

Thank you so much for your reply, I’m nervous about having it as I don’t make a very good patient, I’m feeling sorry for my husband already.

The last time I had a plaster cast on I couldn’t get upstairs to bed so had to sleep on the sofa for six weeks which just about killed me, this time I’m thinking about getting a stair lift installed.

I also couldn’t get in the bath or shower so don’t know how to manage that one

I’ve also been thinking I’m going to have to change my car to an automatic,

I’m worried about how much movement I will have left in my foot, and if I will ever be able to wear pretty shoes again 😂

Is your ankle pain free since the fusion, it sounds as if you have been through the mill with everything

Hoping you are well soon 😀

[Blackknight1989]

It was pain free for a while. I now have Idiopathic Peripheral Neuropathy cause by my stage 4 kidney disease which I’ve had since 1996 (thus the PN due to yeas of higher toxin levels) so I’ve got aim back but may b the PN and not the fusion. However, the “dirty little secret “about the fusion is most folks have problems at about the 8-10 year mark. When you fuse two bones as large as those the body never really “accepts” the graft as “normal” and you build up osteophytes and other issues similar to a severely osteoarthritic joint. I just had both X-Rayed and they are a mess…but the replacement would need to be redone as well so it’s which outcome (do you perfer) your willing to live with at your age. You’ll be able to drive and wear shoes that you choose it’ll just be harder than it was…a FACT of all things related to getting older…lol…but there may come a time in several years that both become too hard (and no longer have as much meaning to you)

[Moonshine15 in reply to Blackknight1989]

Well I’m a 65 year old grandmother who according to my husband has far to many shoes for one person so maybe I should just start giving them away 😂

I have peripheral neuropathy too and also fibromyalgia and arthritis in my spine and hip, well if the fusion lasts me 10 years I suppose I should be happy

I just want to get about a bit physically cos at the moment I look at my fit elderly 90 year old neighbour with a little envy 🤣 and I never thought I would envy a 90 year old bless her.

[Blackknight1989]

my best of luck to you as a final issue, I had the ankle fusions done at my states teaching hospital as opposed to locally because the knee and hips have limited motion as opposed to th ankle and I wanted an “ankle only” specialist as opposed to a general orthopedist. Don’t know if that is an option for you but if so I’d consider it as it made my surgery much better but I had good doctors Ho agreed and supported my decision. I hope you have the same! My best to you…more questions ask anytime!

[Moonshine15 in reply to Blackknight1989]

Thanks, yes I’m lucky there to as I’m seeing a specialist ankle surgeon so hopefully he will do a better job than the previous orthopaedic surgeon who fixed it initially with the pins and plate, hope you are managing to get out and about a bit because I find myself staying in a lot due to the pain and lack of mobility, and the more I stay in the less I want to go out.