Why Do I Still Have Pain After My Ankle Fusion!!!
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2021
- This video explains why some patients may continue to suffer pain after ankle fusion surgery. Pain after ankle fusion surgery can be due to ankle fusion position or even due to the fusion not taking, otherwise known as a non-union. Ankle fusion surgery can be very successful, and many patients can return to their previous activities, as outlined in our video:
What Can I Do After An Ankle Fusion? - • What Can I Do After an...
However there are some patients that remain unhappy and this video seeks to provide some possible answers for this situation. This video does not explain all of the reasons for pain after ankle fusion surgery, and hence we recommend you see your doctor if you have concerns. As always this is general medical advice only, and should not be used to treat your individual situation. We recommend seeking medical advice if you are continuing to experience pain after surgery.
#anklefusion #anklefusionsurgery #painafteranklefusion #painafter anklefusionsurgery 
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I would like to share my experience. I am 59 years old and I had ankle fusion done last September. I needed the fusion as I had a very bad paragliding accident in 2019 which damaged my ankle as well as arthritis in the joint. Everyone's situation is different and I can only comment on my experience. My surgeons final follow-up appointment was actually today. I have been advised that my fusion has been 100 % successful and I can return to work on full duties. However, I am not 100% pain free yet. Post-op I was in an open cast for the first three weeks and then into a moon-boot for the next two months and once out of the moon-boot I was able to return to work two weeks later. So the total time away from work was 3 months. I still experience some intense pain from time to time but it is slowly reducing as the months go by. I have been advised to expect pain for more than 12 months post-op. Each month I can feel my mobility and walking is improving. My advise to anyone getting an ankle fusion is to follow your surgeons instructions explicitly and dont try to take short cuts with your recovery. I was told not to weight-bear at all for the first three months. My surgeon and anesthetist told me that if I tried weight bearing I would risk having the procedure repeated and not something I wanted to repeat. I under estimated how long the recovery would be but when I have a lot of pain I remind myself how much pain I was in with an arthritic ankle. I am very fortunate to have a very supportive family and an exceptional employer who was very supportive during my recovery. Best wishes to anyone having this surgery and I hope you have a successful recovery.
thanks .
Thank you. Cheers to your great recovery.
Hi 49. I had bad arthritis in my right ankle getting continuously worse over the past three years. I had to wait for my surgery because of Covid. Finally, I had an ankle fusion on June 6th. That was 10 months ago. I still have intense pain and without 3 Arthrotec per day, I couldn't walk because the pain would be too much. I also get a lot of swelling from the day's activities. All X-rays show that I have very good bone growth and my hardware is still all solid. My Surgeon has no answers why I still have so much pain. Even though I have great bone growth and fusion and my hardware is solid he asks me if I want to redo the surgery? If all is good why would I need to redo it is what I'm thinking? I haven't been working and I have had no income for a year. Another year of recovery is out of the question but this never-ending pain and messed up mobility have me at the end of my rope. Can you think of anything that could be the culprit causing this pain? Maybe you have read something somewhere that I missed. My Surgeon has no answers. Thanks for your thought and consideration.
@@spankyblack6119 umm 🤔 perhaps remove hardware I’ve heard people say
@@josephmayfield2556 Yes im going to revise my surgeon on my one year anniversary and possibly do just that as a hail marry attempt to get rid of this tormenting pain.
Got my ankle fusion done at Presbyterian hospital in Albuquerque NM performed by doctor Fredrick Sherman. God Almighty protect him. He did a really good job. For 30 years i had a little to no issues with my ankle but now I have gained a little weight and it is starting to hurt me. I am terrified about going through another surgery again. If you had an ankle fusion please exercise safely and eat healthy so you can strengthen your leg. Blessings to all.
Great video! 63 years old and have been living with a severely pronated ankle for about 6 years due to CMT. Had my ankle fusion completed 3 1/2 months ago in Kingston, Ontario. No issues (other than $3.50 I had to pay for Hospital parking 😡). All post op x-rays show good fusion and good ankle alignment. Slight pain on either side of the achilles tendon if I walk to much or go from resting to walking. Still get some periodic swelling that is controlled through the use of 20-30 mm Hg compression socks. Slowly getting better everyday. Good luck to all who have or are going to go through this surgery - my post-surgical pain is 5% of what my pre-surgery pain was at this point 3 1/2 months on.
Hi Stephen, I just had a TT ankle fusion surgery on march 12 the pain is not too bad just wondering how you’re feeling today I am also from Kingston Ontario
Good to hear Mark that you’re relatively pain free. My ankle is still holding up well and has some slight joint point but no swelling. Unfortunately, my left ankle has stated to pronate badly and will probably require a post tibial tendon transfer or an ankle fusion. No ankle surgeon available in Kingston at this time so still waiting to be seen. Left ankle is currently in an Aircast to minimize swelling and associated pain.
Can we avoid surgery
2 years later and I still have pain 😩
thanks for honest info
Oh girl I feel your pain. I had my ankle fusion in June, so about 8 months ago. My incision is on the front, about 6 inches, and has other just holes in the side and back. If most definitely was very painful for several months. I was NO weight bearing for over 4 months. Mine is due to avascular necrosis, AVN from long term steroids. I feel for you but it does get better. Prayers and hugs!!! And kudos to your sweet husband for his caring for you. Men are "fixers" and I know it was hard for him not being able to fix it for you! But he loves you girl! All my best wishes!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Hi I'm having an infusion done in 4 weeks the doc said he wants me bearing weight immediately.which is scared me.alot of stories I heard they don't right way.
Thank you.
I am 8 weeks post ST fusion and am able to partial weight bear for much of the day. I have an ache and it’s tender but no pain.
It is six months since my ankle fusion and I still have pain and some swelling,I can't walk far and can do very little.I have said I am sorry I had the surgery but as one of my friends said remember the pain you had before.I am my disabled husbands carer and had the op as I needed to be able to look after him,I am finding it very difficult.I wish my surgeon had explained more how bad it could be.
How has your recovery been after the one year mark? I’m six months out and also still in quite a bit of pain!
I also had an ankle fusion operation six months ago.
My foot is still painful and extremely swollen.
I'm unable to walk far at the moment.
I am currently having to always buy two pairs of shoes for myself.
A size 7 for my left.
A size 9 for my right.
Can I ask, are you able to drive yet, I can't, not enough mobility or strength in my foot.
Like you, I wish Id never had it done.
I'm in more pain and discomfort post-op than I was pre-op.
@@lindamorris8706 Any arthritis in other joints like subtalar or chopart joint? I had same experience with anckle artrodesis done october 2023 and it 100% fused. My subtalar joint gave out with extra stress (was some damage before surgery already) and kept causing lot of swelling and pain, abnormal lack of mobility and power. They confirmed this by injecting the non fused joints what solved the issues mostly for a couple of months. Talked to 2 orthopedic surgeons, both advised to get 2nd joint fused and having it done soon. I had a very hard time telling what joint was hurting, since they are so close next to eachother
My story ankle reconstructions 1996 using my calf muscle as ligaments & tendon,lasted until 2014, repeated reconstructions using cadaver lig & tendon didn't take so decided on fusion BOYYY what a mistake all toes numb in pain sun up sundown, can only move my toes Now going down the amputation route, can't wait to amputate my light at the end of the tunnel
I’m 30 years old had my fusion done before my 30th birthday I’m almost a year in but let me tell you I’ll always regret this decision I don’t go up or down stairs normal walking sucks wearing any closed shoes are awful as well I’m not sure what everyone else’s experience was like but I promise I will not lie if you can avoid this surgery don’t get it try every remedy before settling for ankle fusion surgery
I’m 31 and just had the surgery 6 months ago! Still in quite a bit of pain, especially when I go from resting to walking. Stairs are tough! I didn’t have another option but this surgery, but I’m sure hoping for a better ankle replacement in the years to come!
@@kayleysea1i'm 32 and had an ankle fusion 10 months ago. It hurts so much to walk just short distances. Even with shoes that have a rocker sole. I did not have any other option but I hate it. I have a really bad limp and that makes my other ankle hurt, as well as my hip and back..
Wow! This is really insightful. Thanks for sharing. My doctor just told me I need a fusion but I had some medical neglect so I’m trying to see what other options I have for my non union surgery that I had. I pray u get some relief.
Hi buddy I’m 5 months since my tt ankle fusion still lots of pain when walking omg I hope you’re still doing well
Yeah I've had two non union operations and in lots of pain and no other operation other then I think was heel nail but as it could cause me even more pain and my age the specialist reluctant to do operation until I'm totally un able to walk
Also sufer swelling cramps need pain as well as pain on both sides of ankle and leg where theirs a plate from 2nd operation
It was to give me a better chance of success but failed as well and 3 paralysed toes little toe in also still having issue with balance
Also after 2nd operation swelling was so bad that when went back to have bandages removed my leg looked like burns victims blisters all over leg and dead skin falling off while taking bandge off Strangely not alot of pain and only had felt alot of pressure in badge before being removed why I was shocked to see how bad my leg was after bandge came off as hand none first time other then operation was
So to anyone who reading my story both operations where totally different recovery 2nd definitely much and unfortunately worse and poorer result after first operation and over a year rehab was able to walk unaided 2klms with break before swelling and pain
But now soon as step on leg swelling starts and over a year rehab struggle 20,to 30mins less then half a klm with multiple rest every 100 mtrs and a rest for a couple minutes to bring pain back to a point I can continue my guess I'm on the extreme end and the lack of sleep is worst of all due to the pain all the time but I'm drug free through my choice to deal with the pain and some days think would be better of with having removed and having artificial replacement instead
I can't fault anyone it's just obviously my body doesn't repair well as everyone was extra careful with recovery and long time in hands of physio and bio mechanics orthopaedics
Sadley nothing anyone can do now first surgery 2018 and now 2023 and can only walk and stand on legs with walking stick 30 mins a day the doctor believes it'll continue to get worse until unable to walk on it at all
Just remember everyone different and you want know what you'll get until after and every individual has to work out when the best time to have it as eventually you will be bad enough to need it
I only did mind when I did due to work had refused to let me continue to work as was accident at work and lost job anyway so didn't save my job anyway but Sadley left me worse off and again I'd say I'm on the worse end of recovery
Cheers for your post I'm sure plenty will get a better idea of side affects and what goes on in operation due to you site and explanation
🦘🇦🇺👍
My ankle was fused when I was 19. I'm now 44, my ankle hurts all the time, my knees hurt, my back even hurts because of the way I walk. Also my foot is awful on the fused 1 I have broken my foot over and over.
I'm 59 April and i hear you. I hate that my day is filled with pain, at least i can lift weights and not feel so old.
@@jayfinn6698 I’m 54 and have had 3 surgeries to rebuild my right foot/ankle. The last surgery was an UNSUCCESSFUL ankle fusion in March 2021. My orthopedic surgeon normally deals with young athletes and had me full weight bearing two months after surgery. Now I have 3 loose screws and one is about to come through the skin! I’ve been told by so many people to sue my surgeon but that’s not the type of person I am. Being on crutches and in a wheelchair for a little over 3 years has torn up my left knee (torn ligaments and bakers cyst because of all the strain). The worst part besides the excruciating pain… I got married in October 2020 and can’t even be a good wife. I feel blessed to be alive after my accidents, but this is no way to live. I’m happy you are slowly getting better!!! I am not that lucky unfortunately. 😢
@@jayfinn6698 I’m 54 and have had 3 surgeries to rebuild my right foot/ankle. The last surgery was an UNSUCCESSFUL ankle fusion in March 2021. My orthopedic surgeon normally deals with young athletes and had me full weight bearing two months after surgery. Now I have 3 loose screws and one is about to come through the skin! I’ve been told by so many people to sue my surgeon but that’s not the type of person I am. Being on crutches and in a wheelchair for a little over 3 years has torn up my left knee (torn ligaments and bakers cyst because of all the strain). The worst part besides the excruciating pain… I got married in October 2020 and can’t even be a good wife. I feel blessed to be alive after my accidents, but this is no way to live. I’m happy you are slowly getting better!!! I am not that lucky unfortunately. 😢
Did ease the pain away I can breath.
limitations
No running
Can’t walk carry stuff
Have to stop long distance and difficult angles to drag foot and my heel got slid forward so it gets bruised.
Mild discomfort when weather changes before rains pressure breaks aw. I’m just happy didn’t chop it off. So I have to find other things I can do not so physically demanding.
❤
I had surgery 8 weeks ago , walking in a boot and it’s causing excessive pain when I walk specially in my boot. This is on my clubbed foot .
You have a club foot you are staying on top of the surgery
are there specific exercises after an ankle fusion that should happen? my husband never had a prescription for pT offered by the office or surgeon. Can we request this now
I know this is late but I’m baffled that the dr didn’t require PT. I started 3 months post op as soon I was cleared to start slowly increasing WB on my ankle. In a month I was walking with no crutches, no boot in sneakers. I had an obvious limp but it improved daily.. The first few months I made progress rapidly around month 3 rehab (6 months post op) rehab I hit a plateau. My doctor said I could stop if I wanted this time where progress is minimal at best. Luckily I had many ankle surgeries and being. Physician Assistant in Orthopedic , a former D1 athlete, and a certified athletic trainer and a strength and conditioning specialist. I knew I still could gain more and used every visit my insurance would cover, I didn’t stand a chance of reaching the goals I had set for my recovery. If I stopped then. I’m knowledgeable in rehabbing but no experience with this surgery having a PT with experience treating young active fusion patients was so crucial in my recovery. I suggest you research and find the best PT for you, I started with PT at Dr office and in a week knew he wasn’t right for me, even after explaining my background not one thing we did together was even hard or something I hadn’t been doing for months. That’s when I realized if I didn’t speak up and be my own advocate I was destined to fail before I started. I went PT 3 times a week for 6 months getting my ass kicked every session. Was it hard, absolutely. I was sore all the time, it was huge financial burden but I knew I needed to commit 100%. When my doctor got my last PT progress report and saw my starting and ending data she was amazed at what I had willed myself to achieve. Reading over my reports she would now and then say I’ve never seen a fusion patient be able to jump at 5 months, and the modifications my PT made to many exercises to eliminate my physical and functional limitations impressed her. She flat out said most people are happy just to walk pain free but I can see how much you value being able to do what you enjoy and worked harder, longer and more creatively than any other patient I’ve worked on. I can’t ski like I could by any means but can do moderate slopes which at first was said to be unlikely to happen. Walking up stairs with a fused ankle is hard, so we came up with idea to walk up hills and stairs with an angled sideways approach, like walking up hill on skis letting my hips do most of the work. Until I strengthened my entire posterior chain hips and core After 30 mins walking my legs were beat and I’d start limping, being stronger elsewhere allowed me to adapt.
I’m far from as agile as I was but all that time and work and modifications has allowed me to be able to twist, pivot, shuffle and move around well enough to be able to play softball again. I can’t run and need play first base now but at first I thought I’d never swing a bat let alone play again.
My gait and balance were ugly but I know if not for all that PT I’d still be tripping over things, getting my feet stuck, or dragging a foot.
I can say PT allowed me to regain enough to be able to do most of what I want. There’s things I can’t do but I believe without it I’d be walking slower than a turtle, going up step foot up foot up each step taking forever. Am I completely happy with my recovery no, do I have limitations that frustrates me to no end, yes. I have been able to accept my current level of function but if I had gone from surgery to being told to walk go back to your life I know I’d be a miserable shell of my former self!!!!’nn
had this done 8 years ago...no pain at all,,!!! until recently, and now suddenly it is unbearable..surgeon said if you have an active lifestyle fusion will last only 10 years....I SHOULD have opted for ankle replacement!!!! I swim alot, so maybe water has more resistance, is causing this. I can't walk at all now!! I don't want to have more surgery, I just had open heart surgery and am still recovering...this sucks...I would never reccommend fusion to an active person.
Ankle fusion lasts 10 years in 80% of patients so it’s got to be replaced too when it wears out.
An ankle fusion if healed properly will last a lifetime but causes a lot of limitations and leads to arthritis in the surrounding joints especially the mid foot, an ankle fusion is only redone if there’s non union and can’t be undone or have the ability to get switched to a replacement.
An ankle replacement if lucky lasts about 10 years but the new ones are having better results with advances in the implants. A replaced ankle can be fused if need be.
I was 43 when I had pick between the 2 and my surgeon said with my physically challenging job and lifestyle she doubted a replacement would last more than 7/8 years before I’d need it redone., and with my age and lifestyle she thought I’d likely need to have 2 to 3 more replacements as I’d just would wear out the implant. That made my go with the fusion, it’s actually the standard for young active patients. I already had 5 prior surgeries and the thought of 3 more was more than I knew I could handle but honestly I wish I would of tried the replacement if I at least got 8 more good years and then fused it I would be blessed. I severely regret my decision to have it fused as I hate how limited I am in way more ways than they tell you, I was told my only limitations would be no running or high heels well that was a load of BS!!!! I hate how slow my cadence , stride length is decreased, I have huge strength deficit when pushing off so with prolonged walking once I tire my whole posterior chain feels the pain, my glutes and hamstrings cramp and tightens. I never once had knee, hip or back pain now they hurt daily. Prior I could take stairs 2/3 in a stride, now I have take one time and more often not place each foot on step as opposed to just walking normally up stairs, hills forget it I have walk sideways like you walk up slope in skis, it took a year to get strong enough to be able walk down normally because at first the weakness caused me to not to be able to decelerate fast enough and I’d trip.partly due to fact I’m 5’10 but mostly because I had great calf strength, you lose all use of your gastrocnemius for most part and have to rely on soleus muscle. My other ankle has had chronic Achilles tendinitis since fusion. Yes the pain has decreased significantly but there’s many days, I can no longer ski at a high level like I could and I’m lucky if I can do 3 runs on moderate slope, that I would take the pain back gladly. It was one worst decisions I ever made, I know replacement wouldn’t of lasted but I wish I’d of tried, I would give anything to of had a chance to ski a few more seasons. It’s a surgery that changes everything about your life in my opinion for the worse.
@@deniseavender8589 yes, I know what you mean. Initially, the pain was gone for a long time. Somebody broke my ankle for me in a tussle when I was 24, so it changed my life hugely. After a number of surgeries, my activities were very restricted. I used to ski, forget it. The back pain has been tough, and I have been on Tylenol3 for many years. My gait was lopsided, and I walk with a limp now, although I don't notice it, others do. Then both my knees went. I need cortisone shots in them so I can at least walk!! And I have a stand-up job, haha!!
20 yrs after ankle fusion front of foot very painful due to more arthritis what can be done
I would like an answer to this too
No I can't see what you mean, as you have subtitles obscuring what I'm supposed to be looking at.
Thanks for watching. You can take subtitles off by clicking the cc button on the video.
Perhaps you can tell my why i still have pain in my foot, 6 month after my tmt 2 and 3 bone fusion?
❤
Does anyone know how the hardware inside your ankle causes a different pain in cold weather? Especially working while outside in cold weather.
I had an ankle fusion and have 2 titanium screws I was lucky didn’t need plate thank god, the say it’s a myth but I swear the weather does something to bother the screws. Summer my ankle hurts like 2/10 but come winter it hurts like 4 or 5 out of 10 and rainy days. I’ve never gotten explanation why but something causes the issue because winter is awful for me.
@@deniseavender8589 thank you so so much. All advice is helpful…This is great info.
My ankle was fused in 2020.
My toes are still stiff.
Please suggest me how can I have my stiff toes back to normal.
I had my ankle fusion in July 21 and it was my 6th ankle surgery
I’ve been in casts before so I knew wiggle toes all the time. I don’t know what happened but it took me 7 months just to be able to curl my toes, and another month to be able to scrunch a towel and pick up marbles. Still my toes don’t curl completely the 2nd and 3rd are worst thank god my big toe recovered completely or I’d be in trouble also I now have a gap between my big and second toe and can’t get them to touch. I couldn’t feel my toes at all for 4 months and had to rub different things like feathers, fur, sand paper for months to get sensation back to about 80%. Had emg apparently normal but since about 10 months post op even with long and intense physical therapy no further improvement and doctor thinks there won’t be any more improvement. She herself doesn’t have an answer as my nerve tests came back normal but sad to say there’s not much that can be done. I still do towel curls, marble pick up, talar domes, toe and foot yoga, nerve glides, joint mobilizations with no improvement. I’m honest when I say I cried with happiness the first time they curled I thought I was never going to be able use my toes, until they improved walking was bad because I had no balance, proprioception or spacial awareness of where my foot was on the ground and I’m a former d1 athlete and was in good shape and strong prior to the surgery.
I wish you luck it was an awful time for me and really caused a lot of depression, negativity and emotional distress.
Would a brace help with pain I'm still feeling months after ankle fusion?
In my experience trying every brace ever made I’d say no. The best thing to happen to me is to have been fortunate enough to be introduced to a podiatrist in Minnesota that has invented a new spring loaded insert. It’s not yet on market I got a proto type, it’s been life changing for me. It has given me the power to push off again when I walk, I can actually almost run up stairs now( not that good but so improved) I noticed with them I can know fully extend my knee when walking, which increased my gait stride and cadence and endurance. I no longer take small slow steps , no more lagging behind my friends. The knee hip back pain I never had prior to surgery has improved so so much. Please feel to DM if you are interested in getting his information the inserts just started production and should be ready few months. I literally tried every brace insert ,AFO on the market with no improvement, these inserts even help make uneven surfaces tolerable again, without them walking on a surface that wasn’t flat caused my ankle so much pain with these it’s mild irritation. He’s a kind, caring man who truly understands how much an ankle fusion changes your entire body and how devastating it can be. He’s so knowledgeable he’s actually been able to explain the causes of many issues my surgeon has had no answers for in 18 months. He came into my life at my lowest point when I thought all hope was gone and despite working so hard for so long in PT I would never be close to my former self or be able to do anything I loved to having returned from my first trip down a hill on skis in years.
I had a left ankle fusion 9 weeks ago and still in lot of pain in my out side ankle still cant walk without pain am i rushing it
I would say you are rushing it Sandra I’m 14 weeks post fusion and whilst I’m walking short distance it’s still very painful and getting pains elsewhere ie lower back hip knee due to my gait I’m guessing don’t see the surgeon for a few weeks yet but slightly worried I feel worse off than before only thing I’m hanging on to is the hope it will improve after a year which is possible after reading other testimonies good luck with your recovery don’t rush it 😊
My husband still have pain after 8 years
I’m sorry to hear that. I suffer all time with mine and it’s been two years sometimes I can’t even hardly walk
Ankle Fusion is a last resort surgery, when all else fails.
Great information but your rate of speech is much too fast. Please slow it down.
You can slow playback speed in settings to 75%
I still have serious pain after 6 months, maybe the surgeon mad a boo boo? That might explain it.