Posted by brad england on May 02, 2000 at 10:28:40:

In Reply to: Re: NEED A TREATMENT posted by Dorothy Napier on December 03, 1999 at 20:45:57:

: : I am 23 years old suffering from extreme JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). Diagnosed at the age of 2 I have been in and out of remission. Now at the age of 23 I am worse than I have ever been. My right ankle is so deformed, detereorated and in extreme pain. I have consulted with over 5 ankle doctors in the Phialdelphia area and no one can help. Medicines do NOT work because it's not active, it's bone against bone. Some days I can not even apply my own wait of 120 lbs. to my feet. I need an operation and a specialist who can help. Someone please help me find info about ankle operations or replacements. Thanks!

: I am in the process of reasearching ankle replacements. I've talked with several doctors, some who say yes and some who say nay. Here is a website for one of the manufacturers of the "Agility Total Ankle Replacement"---www.depuy.com I hope this info is helpful. I had to go to a couple of large orthopeadic clinics that would even discuss this with me. Good luck. I think the only thing going against us is our age.

: Dorothy

I am 28 and suffering from avascular necrosis of the talus due to a severe fracture dislocation. I have been in pain for 2 years now, and am searching for an alternative to fusion surgery. I have researched the agility ankle and the buechel-pappas ankle (anklejoint.com), and would like to have any feedback from someone with firsthand experience with these replacements. I have been taking celebrex medication for the arthritis pain, but it can only do so much. The doctors I have talked to in the St. Louis and Columbia, MO areas do not speak highly of ankle replacements. Any comments would be appreciated. Brad