Hi.
Hope you are all as well as can be.
Had my left ankle fusion done back in May and I finally had my 6mth check up on Wednesday.
Unfortunately I need the screws removing as I can feel them just sat underneath my skin (can even feel the flat head of one!) and they are causing an awful lot of pain too.
Feel physically sick at the news of more surgery as it’s going to be my 8th op on my ankle. I know it needs doing but I can’t help but feel deflated at the news.
Anyone else have to have their metalwork take out? How did you do afterwards? Did you need long off work? What was the swelling and pain like?
Lots of questions I know, just want to get clued up I guess.
Claire. Xx
Hi Claire, I need to have my screws out too on 5th Jan. while I’m not exactly looking forward to it, I’m hoping it’s going to be very minor compared with the fusion. They told me 30 mins for the op then 2 weeks in a bandage for 2 wks fully WB. I hope it’s going to be ok and will make things finally fully better. Good luck with yours! It can’t be as bad as what we’ve been through already! And btw I’m 10 months on now and feeling so much better than even a couple of months ago. Almost starting to feel normal again!
I have 5 screws holding my ankle together. I am now 24 weeks post op and am full weight, back driving and some slight discomfort and some swelling. I as my surgeon if the swelling was normal and she said yes. I asked her about the hardware(screws) and she said it was her gift to me for life....... she said that she rarely removes the screws as the bone has grown around them and it would be difficult to remove them and it would compromise her good work. I told her that I heard about some people who hav had them removed and her comment was they should stay in ....although she did not say she hinted that maybe there could be a problem with the surgery.....
my suggestion is to ask your Dr. why he is going to remove them , if it will compromise the joint, .
hop this helps