Brace or fusion.

LucBlue
LucBlue Member Posts: 4
edited 21. Feb 2022, 15:22 in Living with arthritis

Hi, I'm new to the forum although I've been following the fb group for a while.

I'm 42 and have extensive OA as a result of trauma (motorbike accident-not my fault). 🙄

My right ankle is knackered and my consultant has recommended fusion, I have been refusing this for years because I believe it must cause more problems throughout the rest of your joint?

I've discovered a brace I am interested in, from the hype it may be what I need, although at 4k I'd want it to make the tea too!

Financially it will be a big strain and of course it might not help me.

Has anyone got experience of braces?

Should I just go for fusion?

I broke my back too so knock-on effects need to be considered.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice you can give. 👍😁

Comments

  • jeddison1985
    jeddison1985 Member Posts: 211

    Hi @LucBlue firstly let me welcome you to the forum I hope you find the information and support you are after from our wonderful community.

    I can see from your post that you a long history of OA and are after others experience of ankle braces as you are having to decide between fusion surgery and alternatives.

    The site is full of information and conversations, I wanted to share some links with you firstly around ankle fusion surgery, and OA of the ankle.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/foot-and-ankle-surgery/
    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-oa-of-the-foot-and-ankle/

    Please feel free to search the forum for others with similar experiences and I am sure that some of our community will be able to help offer some useful suggestions.

    Take care and I hope you feel better soon.

    Thanks

    Joe

  • jeddison1985
    jeddison1985 Member Posts: 211

    Original post edited to remove specific product mention from title and content. Edited to be about generic braces rather than specific product.

  • airwave
    airwave Member Posts: 579

    I have been in surgery and admit I have had fewer problems after fusion rather than replacement. Braces bring their own issues, supporting a joint causes loss of strength with constant dependence so the argument for and against may not be so clear cut. Talk the issues through with the medical staff?

    its a grin, honest!

  • N1gel
    N1gel Member Posts: 161

    Well, I've been following the brace pro or anti threads for some time now; I've been using a knee brace for a hyper extending knee for over 10 years and not noticed a loss of strength but I know some people have.

    I should say mine is fitted by an NHS Orthotist costs about £400 and changed every few years. Worth factoring in the lifespan if you're buying it yourself. A 'tired' orthotic brace is hell if it's expensive to replace.

  • LucBlue
    LucBlue Member Posts: 4

    Thanks for getting back to me. Although the title of the post is a little incorrect.

    It should read AFO brace (Ankle Foot Offliading) brace. I understand I can't refer to a specific brand etc.

    Replacement hasn't been offered to me, I guess because the area was totally mashed I'm probably not suitable.

    Nobody in the medical staff has come across this brace although the NHS orthotist? Used to work for the company.

    I'm in the North of Scotland so even going for a consultation is a big journey!

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764

    Hi,

    By googling AFO ankle brace for OA Pubmed, I found this articlehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32197789/ Pubmed stuff is reliable and has no axe to grind. Interestingly, other Pubmed stuff that came up was about this AFO device as an aid to KNEEE OA, not ankle.

    My ankles fused themselves years ago. I have RA and OA. They've been much better ie no trouble at all once fused but I should add that they fused in a very good position and also that, with arthritis everywhere, I don't have very high expectations of my body😀

    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • N1gel
    N1gel Member Posts: 161

    I should have added I've got an ankle brace as well which I hardly use because it's not very good.

    A physio told me that insurance companies are very sniffy about people driving while wearing ankle braces.

  • LucBlue
    LucBlue Member Posts: 4

    Maybe it's called an offloading AFO?

    It isn't to support drop foot but take a large percentage of weight off the ankle joint, and provide the spring lost when the ankle movement and strength is lost.

    The NHS brace I have been given does a little of that, however I think I might lose the battle against having my ankle fused.

    I'm not keen on painkillers and manage so far with cortisone injections, I used to suffer from so many side effects of painkillers I'm better off without!

    Thank you all for your comments, maybe I should arrange the consultation with the private company and see what happens.

    🤔

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