Follow up appointment
GraceB
Member Posts: 1,595
I have my second post-op appointment Wednesday morning with my ankle consultant and I have a nasty feeling he's not going to be too pleased with the state of things. Mind you, I'm not exactly delighted either, so that'll make two of us! :roll:
I had an arthroscopy July with the aim of trying to avoid an ankle fusion. My home life does not allow for me to have major surgery at the moment as I won't be able to manage afterwards. I'm braced for my consultant to condemn this joint.
I'm in a lot of pain, it's been locking, giving way and spasming -and as for the swelling - well :!:
If anyone else has been in this position, has an ankle brace helped long term? I wonder if the joint is held in one position, whether it'll fuse itself? I'm thinking about asking for a brace so that the ankle is supported and would be encouraged to "set". Thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.
GraceB
I had an arthroscopy July with the aim of trying to avoid an ankle fusion. My home life does not allow for me to have major surgery at the moment as I won't be able to manage afterwards. I'm braced for my consultant to condemn this joint.
I'm in a lot of pain, it's been locking, giving way and spasming -and as for the swelling - well :!:
If anyone else has been in this position, has an ankle brace helped long term? I wonder if the joint is held in one position, whether it'll fuse itself? I'm thinking about asking for a brace so that the ankle is supported and would be encouraged to "set". Thoughts would be welcome. Thanks.
GraceB
Turn a negative into a positive!
0
Comments
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I hope it goes better than feared, Grace. I know your home circumsances don't lend themselves to a prolonged convalescence. I guess that might have to be balanced against the prolonged difficulties of an unfused ankle.
Mine fused themselves, one completely and the other almost ie I have an almost imperceptive up and down movement in it. I don't recommend the DIY method but ankle fusion surgery was in its infancy when mine needed it. It seems I did a good job. The orthopaedic foot surgeon was very impressed when he saw the x-ray. Said he couldn't have done a better job himself. But it was pure luck. I very occasionally wore a cheap ankle support but mostly just struggled. Probably in my favour was that from my early 20s I had to wear surgical shoes so they were made to counteract all the lumps, bumps, misalignments and wanderings of my feet. And, at the time, I had a brilliant orthotist-cum-shoemaker who had a real instinct for gait.
Good luck with the appointment and let's know how it goes.If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Steven Wright0 -
Grace I am sorry, but hopefully the surgeon will be able to offer something other than a fusion..will be thinking about you..xLove
Barbara0 -
Thanks for your replies. I'll let you know how I get on.
GraceBTurn a negative into a positive!0 -
Thinking of you Grace (((())))) xxSmile a while and while you smile
smile another smile and soon there
will be miles and miles of smiles
just because you smiled I wish your
day is full of Smiles0 -
Good luck Grace will be with you . Mig0
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Well I had my 10 minutes with the "man of the moment". To cut a long story short, the spasms, locking, giving way, massive swelling are all normal at this stage. He said he did microfracture during the surgery and it can take 6-9 months to know whether this has done any good.
So, I have to "grit my teeth" and get on with things. He didn't think physio would be helpful, even though I pointed out the Achilles tendon area of the heel was extremely tight.
I will see him again in February at which time he'll know whether or not the July op has been effective. Or not.
Ho hum, as DD would say.
GraceBTurn a negative into a positive!0 -
I can understand your mixed feelings when all these nasty 'after effects' are described as normal. I've never had ankle surgery so maybe they are. He seems to think so and he also seems to think you're not going to damage his handiwork (surgeons are big on this) by doing what you're doing. So I'd say go ahead. I hope he's right and it all calms down in time. I guess you've nothing to lose by gritting your teeth and carrying on. You're good at that, anyway.If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Steven Wright0 -
Sending hugs Mig0
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