Ankle joint replacement surgery

woolly

Hello

I'm new to this "posting messages" lark but not to osteoarthritis! I have it in both ankles following surgery many years ago. I'm 65 and considering ankle joint replacement in both joints. I have discussed this with my surgeon and my GP and I am weighing up all the options as it's a very big decision.

It's tempting to carry on with the pills and to struggle on with limited mobility, stiffness and pain. On the other hand if surgery is successful I could well be better off.

My difficulty is that I know of no one who has had this surgery and neither have I spoken to anyone who knows anyone who has.

It's difficult to judge the success or otherwise of ankle jolint replacement surgery and it would be invaluable to hear from others who have undertaken the operation and to know their own experiences.

Is there anyone out there who can help please?

Thanks

skezier

Hi Woolly,

I haven't had a replacement but there are a couple who post here who have so hopefully they will be along soon and be able to help you. If you put Ankle replacement in the search box you might be able to find other posts and posters who have been there and had it done.

I think there comes a point where its better to have the replacment but its not my ankle so ...... I hope someone who will be able to help comes along soon and nice to meet you. Cris x

speedalong

Hi Woolly and welcome to the forum.

I haven't had an ankle replacement so have no personal experience of this op. I have read of people here who have only been offered fusions and as Cris says if you search a few people have had replacements though these don't seem to be offered often. I would check that there isn't a window when replacements are offered so that you don't miss the chance of one. A fusion leaves you with a fixed joint whereas the rarer replacement leaves you with a joint that can move.

I would say though that when the pain is starting to get unmanageable and impinge on your mobility and quality of life - then surgical options would have to be worth it. I have one hip replacement (13 years old) and had the other hip done (resurface-replacement) 9 weeks ago - I put this off for ages and struggled and struggled and now I'm on the other side of the op - I wish I had had it done much sooner ...

Speedy

marion1952

Hello Woolly

Just to say welcome to the forum. I also am not the expert on ankle replacements, (I have RA and OA hip), but I'm sure someone will be along soon with advice for you.

best wishes

Marion

tkachev

Hi Wooly and welcome. There are a few fellas who have had ankle replacements so hope they spot your post.
I am waiting on a fusion on my left foot. I dont know very much about the process involved and really need to know more before making such an important decision. So gather as much info as you can. Keep posting,

Elizabeth

k8jenko

Hi Woolly and Welcome!

I'm fairly new to this place also and have found there are many nice folk who will be willing to share their experiences with you.

I have OA in my left ankle following an accident 3 years ago and have been offered a fusion as I'm too young for a replacement. Because OA in the ankle is less common than in the knee and hip there is less research into the area. In saying that there have been some advances in ankle replacement surgery recently, and I think it seems to be becoming a more common treatment.

I hope you get some good advice which allows you to make your decision a little easier.

tkachev

k8jenko wrote:

Hi Woolly and Welcome!

I'm fairly new to this place also and have found there are many nice folk who will be willing to share their experiences with you.

I have OA in my left ankle following an accident 3 years ago and have been offered a fusion as I'm too young for a replacement. Because OA in the ankle is less common than in the knee and hip there is less research into the area. In saying that there have been some advances in ankle replacement surgery recently, and I think it seems to be becoming a more common treatment.

I hope you get some good advice which allows you to make your decision a little easier.

Hi i also have OA in left ankle and waiting for a fusion. I am 47 and have been told to wait a bit longer for the fusion, as long as I can cope with the pain which will get worse.I was wondering how old you are if you dont mind me asking?
Elizabeth

speedalong

I have OA in my left ankle following an accident 3 years ago and have been offered a fusion as I'm too young for a replacement. Because OA in the ankle is less common than in the knee and hip there is less research into the area.

Hi, I think this is an appalling argument!! You can have a fusion which will affect your mobility for ever but someone older can have a replacement which affords more "normal" mobility!!

The excuse that it is a newer op with less research is also appalling!! When I had my cementless, metal on metal THR done at 30, the research in this op on young people was limited and only spanned 5 years. Likewise the research in the Birmingham hip resurface I had this time round in younger female patients is limited too ....

Do they mean it is too risky? Or more than likely are they concerned you will need revisions in the future if/when you wear it out? The same applies to THR and TKR in younger, active patients.

Speedy

And yes, I'd be interested in the answer to Elizabeth's question....

k8jenko

No I don't mind you asking at all. I'm a ripe old 27years of age! I had the accident when I was 24, and was diagnosed the following year.

To be honest I had a bit of a bad experience with the first consultant. I went to my appointment and was first seen by a male consultant, who suggested I was better off seing their female consultant as she had more experience with ankles (I'm only mentioning genders for ease of identification - no sexism intended). She did her initial assessment and sent me off for an x-ray. When I returned to the department 20 mins later, I was taken to a consulting room where the initial male consultant and a colleague (who I was never introduced to) were looking at my x-rays, and discussing them with what I can honestly describe as "excitement". I sat down and the first man turned to me and said something along the lines of "your x-ray shows a reduction in joint space. You have arthritis". When written down like that it doesn't seem like much of an issue, but it was as if the two of them were in a race to tell me what was wrong with absolutely no regard of what I was feeling. It was like they were a pair of school children who wanted to tell me before anyone else. Anyway, they didn't stick around for very long and left me there until the female consultant returned to see me. She was more empathetic, but she said that the only option I had would be to have a fusion. No information on pain relief, orthotics, physio, mobility aids, nothing.

I'm a very active person and it was such a shock to be told that the only treatment was for me to lose all movement in my ankle. I've been a competitive athlete so the thought of not being able to run was horrible! I realise I won't be able to run now, but I can still swim and cycle and I keep the muscles of my leg strong enough to try and reduce the effects.

I had debridement surgery in Jan this year to remove some of the osteophytes, but it's not made too much difference tbh. I've made another appointment to go back and see the specialist here in Scotland as I want to ask him about external distraction, but who knows if I'll be suitable for that!

Both specialists (the one mentioned above and my current one) have said I'm too young for a replacement because I'm "too active" and that it will wear our and I'll need revision surgery. Personally I'd much prefer to wait for as long as I can possibly manage the pain before having any drastic surgery...especially a fusion as for me that would be my least favourable option!

Who knows, maybe they'll come up with a miracle cure...

dreamdaisy

Keep yourself as fit as you can. What an odd argument they have put forward - I know that joints do wear out but honestly! It's far worse to rob you of all movement in one joint - silly beggars.

Is it just the one joint that is affected? It sounds like it, so take some supplements to help, keep it as mobile as you can without damaging it further and fight your corner! I wish you well with it all. Dreamdaisy