Ich wurde im September 2016 mit fortgeschrittener Arthrose diagnostiziert, nachdem ich eine Bänderoperation hatte. Seitdem ist der Schmerz immer schlimmer geworden und hat Auswirkungen auf meine Mobilität usw. Ich hatte im Januar eine Injektion, aber sie hielt nur etwa drei Wochen an. Mein Chirurg sagte, sie sollte etwa drei Monate anhalten. Ich soll ihn nächste Woche sehen, und er hat erwähnt, dass ich irgendwann eine weitere Operation brauchen werde, aber er versucht, sie so lange wie möglich hinauszuzögern. Er möchte, dass ich eine Knöchelversteifung durchführen lasse, wegen meines Alters - ich bin 27 - aber ich bin mir wirklich unsicher, denn es scheint so endgültig! Ich weiß, dass ich nie wieder richtig laufen werde, aber der Gedanke, dass das alles ist, macht mir Angst. Mit einem Knöchelersatz hätte ich zumindest etwas Bewegung und könnte Dinge tun, die ich seit Jahren verpasst habe. Auch weiß ich nicht, wie ich nach der Versteifung laufen werde. Ich will nicht den Rest meines Lebens wie ein Freak aussehen. Ich möchte tanzen, laufen, am Strand spazieren gehen und einfach etwas Lebensqualität haben. Meine Frage ist also, was ist das Beste? Ich weiß, dass mein Chirurg letztlich am besten Bescheid weiß, aber ich würde gerne einige echte Geschichten von Menschen hören, die eine Versteifung oder einen Ersatz erlebt haben. Auch wie war die Erholung und welche Zeiträume gibt es, um wieder auf die Beine zu kommen? Ich muss jeden Tag Krücken benutzen und manchmal einen Rollstuhl. Werde ich nach der Versteifung noch irgendwie Hilfe benötigen, weil ich humpeln werde, oder ist es in Ordnung? Ich habe einfach das Gefühl, dass mir so viele Fragen im Kopf herumgehen.
Ich hatte bereits zwei Fingerprothesen und eine dritte steht an. Die Meinung meines Chirurgen ist, dass er eine Prothese einsetzt und erst bei einem Versagen des Gelenks, das nicht mehr ersetzt werden kann, eine Versteifung in Betracht zieht.
Ich bin jetzt schmerzfrei und würde nicht zögern, mich einer weiteren Operation zu unterziehen. Aber die Physiotherapie ist mega wichtig, um die Bewegung im Gelenk wiederherzustellen
I too have severe OA in one ankle, as a result of a serious injury which destroyed the cartilage. I've been told that my only options are either suffer the pain or have the joint fused, which as you rightly point out will be Permanent and irreversible and will indeed cause major loss of movement in the ankle and thus affect how I walk. There is no other option I’ve been told that the technology doesn’t yet exist to replace the ankle joint in the same way they can with knees, hips, etc. There is research being undertaken to develop an artificial ankle joint but as far as I am aware it is not finished and not available yet. Funding has mainly gone into developing hip and knee replacements because they are much more commonly needed. My OA surgeon told me that ankle joint degradation is usually down to injury rather than progressive wear and tear and is thus much less common so in terms of research, its way down the list for urgency. Many more people benefit from the development and improvement of replacement hips and knees and so the funding goes into those. I have refused ankle fusion as it would cause me permanent loss of flex in the joint and the altered gait will have a knock on effect in everything I do. He also told me that the disability caused to my walking style would indeed cause excessive wear and tear on firstly the knee in that leg and also put added wear onto the other leg, again leading to OA probably in both knees, which I don’t have at present. Every case is different but for my case, I’ve decided that the pain I currently suffer is preferable to being permanently disabled by fusion and to having it cause future need for joint replacements that are currently unaffected. If there is ever an option to actually replace the joint with a device that will provide movement in the same way other joint replacements do presently, I will consider it but I honestly dont think it will be in my lifetime.
Hi sorry to hear about your condition. Is there not an option to have a replacement? 27 is young for fusion. I've just had a replacement joint for my big toe this week as did not want the fusion option. I'm only 35 and like you said that is pretty much final! I took the risk as there have. Even good results re movement and couldn't take the daily pain anymore. Like you-the injections I had didn't last long at all😡
Recovery is a slow process and I've got to keep my leg elevated for min 10days as risk of DVT and to help reduce swelling. I'll be honest, when my local anaesthetic wore off the pain was horrendous but just ask for pain relief. My consultant advised it could be months before I get any proper movement back but I'm having my dressing changed and stitches removed in 3 weeks and I'm expected to do gentle exercises then (which I'm dreading!) it will be a long road but I think if you want rid of the daily pain surgery will be worth it in the long run. I didn't want to be living the way I was forever. Plus I wanted to wear some normal shoes again!
Good luck and keep us updated.
Hi Charlotte
I am just recovering from ankle fusion which was done in April 5th. I to went through the should l get a replacement or fusion but as my consultant said because of my age and yours ( l am 44) a replacement was not the best option. Firstly the sucess rate is not very good and if the do a replacement they remove a lot of the bone snd ankle so its very hard to fix. If it does not take at all you are looking at anputation......yes that word scared the life out me as it's the last thing l want to happen to me and l am guessing you at 27 years old. A ankle replacement has not been around for a long time and has no where near the sucsess rate for hip and knee replacements.
I will tell you my story Charlotte. I was a totally fine normal 41 year old generally qyite active used to walk 7 miles every night with my husband worked full time as a bank manager went a couple of holidays a year then my world fell apart as l developed ostioarthritis in both my hips. I had bupa luckily as a benifit through my work. So l had both hips replaced within 8 weeks of each other. I recovered well and while recovering found outvl had it in my knees.....same again l needed both knee's replaced. I got ine done in august 2016 but it was much harder and more painful than my hips. But again l bounced back quite quick and though l would off for a while and go back to my work and try and get some normality back. However l just could not work full time hours l was getting.to sore and tired by time l got home at night l crashed on the couch and slept l was also taking stong painkillers. Then from knowwhere l got the pain in my ankle. It got worse and worse taking shoes of were so sore and boots even more. I though the pain was coming from my knee repacement...but xray showed arthritis in my ankle and was told about my options. But my consultant advised me not to get it replaced. Because of the risks and my age. So needless to say i am a month into my ankle fusion. My consultant said not to right yiur foot movement off as there are loads of bones in your foot and you will still have a lot of movement. He also said l will be able to drive my.manual car. I am currently wearing a moonboot 24/7 but l can move my foot so l.would not worry at all about that. He also said l will probably not have much of a limp.if any. So l would defo go for fusion.
I will warn you the recovery is dementing. I have been stuck indoors since 6th April. Its took me so long to being in this boot and using crutches. I have mastered it now but still.have 2 weeks of it. But hopefully it will be worth it charlortte as l was in so much pain and could hardly walk. My.time at work was getting less.
But anything l can help you with or you just want to talk it through contact me or pm me and l will doy best to help.
Laura
X
Hi
I don't understand why people ask for help and advice but don't reply to any of us with your thoughts. Why ask if you don't want help.or advice. I thought l would be best person to ask and speak to since l am fairly young and have jusr had ankle fusion done. Charlotte this forum was the most helpful thing for me when l.was going though hip amd knee replacements you shoud try take our help
L x
Hallo Charlotte, ich habe seit Jahren Arthritis in mehreren Teilen meines Körpers. Ich hatte eine Operation am Rücken mit Laminektomie, Diskektomie und Fusion. Es hat geholfen, sodass ich nicht mehr in miserablen Schmerzen bin, wenn ich einen falschen Schritt mache oder wie ich sitze. Ich habe Arthritis im Sprunggelenk, die gerade bestätigt wurde. Das stammt von einer Verletzung, die ich mir mit 12 Jahren zugezogen habe. Jetzt bin ich 63. Ich war immer aktiv, bin gelaufen und habe als Kind viel Sport getrieben. Aber Laufen war schon immer mein Lieblingssport. Gehen tut weh, wo Laufen nicht wehtat. Ich hatte in letzter Zeit starke Schmerzen, besonders wenn ich am Tag von den Füßen war. Ich war beim Orthopäden und er hat mir von dieser Operation erzählt, bei der das Gelenk entfernt und wieder zusammengeschraubt wird. Er sagte, es sei eine sehr schmerzhafte Operation mit langer Erholungszeit. Er hat mit seinen Kollegen gesprochen und gesagt, ich solle erst die Cortison-Spritzen machen, um zu sehen, wie es mir damit geht. Ich hatte sie heute und ich hoffe wirklich, dass sie helfen, denn ich möchte die Operation nicht. Deshalb bin ich hier, um zu sehen, wer sonst dieses Problem hat und ob sie sich für die Operation entschieden haben und wenn sie sie hatten, was ihre Meinung dazu war und ob sie sie empfehlen.
Laura, darf ich Sie fragen, wie es mit Ihrer Genesung vorangeht?
Ich arbeite Vollzeit und mein orthopädischer Berater sagte, ich würde eine N-Fußfusion benötigen, nachdem eine unter Ultraschall durchgeführte Steroidinjektion erfolglos war.
Er sagte, es wären 3 Monate im Gips ohne Belastung, dann Monate im Stiefel.
12-18 Monate Erholung. Ich würde für diese Dauer kein Krankengeld erhalten und würde meinen Job verlieren.
Ich frage mich, ob es wirklich so schlimm ist, wie er es darstellt. Im Moment ist die Vorstellung unerträglich.
Ich würde Ihre Meinung schätzen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ok,well I'm only 31 and i also had an ankle fusion, and which I can't even walk without the use of crutches bc it's 2 painful oh. Yeah and I was only 28 at the time of the surgery and so yeah I would definitely not even consider that option because now my orthopedic surgeon is telling me that I'm going to have to eventually get my leg amputated from below the knee. So instead I asked for an ankle replacement and they are sending me to Duke to see what they can do.
Hi, 10 years ago I was in a terrible car accident and was told by surgeons there was no way to save my leg, that my ankle injury was too bad to ever consider saving. I fought the amputation and to make a long story short, I researched and found the most incredible ankle surgeon at Duke University Hospital, his name is James DeOrio. After a lot of remarkable work, he put my ankle back together and it looks amazing and normal again. I did have a lot of arthritic pain though and it was something that was very hard to live with. He continued to suggest that I fuse my ankle, that it was a much better solution to my own situation than an ankle replacement, though he does ever so many of those annually... I was just not the very best candidate due to my specific injuries. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to fuse my ankle to 90ﾟ because I have always been active, but I decided that I needed to go with it to get rid of the arthritic pain (something that came about because of the injuries themselves). The ankle fusion was actually amazing… one day I was in awful pain and the next day I was no longer feeling any pain at all. Of course there was recovery time and I don't really recall how long that was, but once everything healed, I was able to do anything again and limping really wasn't an issue for me. You simply learn how to walk with the fusion and your mid foot joints take over as the flexing point. The only things I can think of that I cannot do because of the fusion are running or jumping up and down....and of course, no more high heels. In the grand scheme of things, I'm completely okay with that! I do not use crutches, though I did for a long time, as well as a wheel chair, walker and knee scooter during my 13 surgeries. My husband reminds me, even today, that he can't get over the fact that it looks like I never had injuries at all as a walk along just like normal again. I hike, swim, ride horses and my stride is faster than my husband's when we take long walks. Everyone's situation is different but I have to highly recommend ankle fusion if you are having a lot of pain and you want to get back in the game again. I honestly forget that I ever had the terrible injuries that I did 10 years ago. Though I can only speak for myself on this matter, I do hope for you all the very best with your decision and your recovery! Allyson
Duke is the way to go! Please read my post to Charlotte about my ankle fusion at Duke. No matter how long it takes, try and see Dr. James DeOrio. He's worth his weight in ankle gold!
hi.i had a fusion in my left ankle 2 years ago. it took 6 months for me to get well enough to get back to work.
i still get very tired and have a lot of pain in both my ankle and both knees which was replaced 10 years ago.
they now say that i need the metalwork replaced to try to help with the pain and that this may not help as there is a lot of arthritis in my feet. i do limp if i stand for a would i have it done again?? no the benefits dont match the pain you have to go through, and it damages other joints so dont have the fusion unless there is no other choice
I'm so sorry to hear of your joint problems, I know how awful that can be. I had decided to go through with my own ankle fusion after I met a guy at my physical therapy gym who had been through the same procedure and he said it made all the difference in his life, fusing his ankle. I am from the south/east coast where there is certainly a lot of humidity, but we moved out west after hearing that many people do so much better where it is dry. For me, I'm like a brand new person and I have no joint pain, something that I certainly suffered with back east. Try visiting the west, if you are not from this area, and see how your joints feel… you may be very surprised. My previous painful arthritis in my ankle and knees which were both damaged also (from my injury) are nothing but a memory these days. My surgeon had told me it was nothing but an old wives tale about going to dry places to help with arthritis, but I'm here to say that it's absolutely real. I wish you the best.
Ich hatte vor 4 Monaten eine Wright’s Infinity Total Replacement Ankle-Operation und es war großartig. Ich bin 71 Jahre alt und gehe jetzt viel besser als vor der Operation. Der erste Chirurg, den ich aufgesucht habe, empfahl eine Versteifung, aber ich holte eine zweite Meinung ein und der zweite Chirurg empfahl eine vollständige Prothese. So froh, dass ich mich für diese Option entschieden habe. Postoperativ war ich zwei Wochen ohne Belastung in einem Rückengips, dann wurden die Stiche entfernt und ich trug zwei Wochen einen Gehstiefel, ähnlich wie einen Skistiefel. Ich sehe einen Physiotherapeuten für Kräftigungsübungen, die sehr wichtig sind. Ich hatte bereits meine eigenen Krücken, aber ich lieh mir einen K9-Knie-Roller, um mich im Haus zu bewegen, was nach etwas Übung großartig war. Wir organisierten ein Bett im Erdgeschoss für einen Monat und da wir ein Erdgeschoss-WC haben, konnte ich mich waschen usw. Ich habe eine sehr gute Bewegung des neuen Gelenks, fast gleich wie das andere Sprunggelenk, keine Schmerzen und die Wunde ist fast unsichtbar verheilt. Ich habe immer noch etwas Schwellung um das Gelenk, mehr am Ende des Tages, und etwas Taubheit in ein paar Zehen, aber das stört mich nicht. Ich gehe mit meinem Hund über unebenes Gelände etwa eine halbe Meile jeden Tag, nur mit einer Krücke zum Ausgleichen. Ich hoffe, ich kann sie irgendwann ablegen. Ich weiß nicht, ob Sie sich bereits für Ihre Operation entschieden haben, aber ich hoffe, dass das oben hilfreich ist! Die Schmerzkontrolle ist sehr gut, ich hatte eine Nervenblockade am Knie und eine leichte Vollnarkose, da ich nicht während der Operation selbst wach sein wollte! Ich denke, für mich war das Schlimmste die Unentschlossenheit, sobald ich mich entschieden hatte, durchzugehen, fühlte ich mich, als hätte ich es geschafft. Beste Wünsche.
Can I just ask where those people who have been offered ankle replacement are located? On the many visits to my doctor and ortho at hospital clinic visits, all they ever suggest is fusion and tell me there is no effective replacement joint for an ankle, only for knees/hips etc. I keep declining fusion as although I'm in pain I can at least walk normally and if I have my right ankle fused, the change in how I walk will put strain on the knee in that leg and the joints of the other leg. Is total ankle replacement now available in the UK?
Hallo Loxie. Ich lebe im New Forest Gebiet von Hampshire. Der erste Fußgelenkspezialist, den ich aufgesucht habe, war vom NHS, der zweite war eine private Konsultation, und er wurde mir von einer älteren Freundin empfohlen, die beide ihre Fußgelenksersatzoperationen von ihm durchführen ließ. Da ich die Idee eines Ersatzes gegenüber einer Fusion bevorzugte, er so kompetent und sachlich erschien und wir bereits eine medizinische Versicherung hatten, habe ich diese Entscheidung getroffen. Leider kenne ich die Situation im ganzen Land nicht, ich hoffe, diese Operationen sind für jeden verfügbar. Ich erzähle jedem, der mir zuhört, wie erfolgreich meine Operation war, sie sollte bekannter sein! Ich hoffe, das hilft.
Thank you Susan. At least I know it's now available in the UK and I go can back and fight my case with my GP. I'll have to rely upon NHS unfortunately as I dont have private medical cover but I will at least have the facts to hand. So glad to hear your surgery has been successful
Schön, von dir zu hören, Loxie. Ich wünsche dir für deine Pläne alles Gute und würde gerne hören, wie es bei dir läuft. Beste Grüße, Sue
Thanks so much Susan. Feedback on these forums is so helpful especially for the uphill battle of getting NHS doctors to do anything except throw another pain med prescription at me.