Wow, this message board is amazing! Today I met a orthopedics to discuss the result of the CT and he recommended a sub-talar fusion. I typed "subtalar arthosis" on the google.com and voila, the Tristi's long thread popped up almost immediately. Thank y'all for the great information.

I've had this chronic left ankle problem, say about 5 years. I don't particularly remember any accident and I didn't really care about the pain and the swell. But it's got worse and worse and when I finally took the MRI about two years ago, the doctor said it's the intitial stage of the arthritis, and there's no particular treatment for that. Just strengthen my other muscles!!

This time I got another doctor and he took the CT and came up with this findings:

"There is severe subtalar arthrosis with osteophytosis, subchondral sclerosis, irregularity and cystic changes. There is narrowing of the joint space with vacuum phenomenon. The calcaneum demonstates muptiple well defined luncencies likely related to prior hardware."

You won't tell exactly what's going on here with this brief description, but can anyone suggest any possible alternative to subtalar arthorisis? Or is it the only way to go to "permanently" solve the problem? Thanks in advance of any opinion/suggestion.

Only you can decide what level of "fix" is good for you. I was led to the fusion because I found myself unable to run, and could walk okay with "low level" pain, to which many doctors would say, "well, just don't run", but that was not acceptable for me. I also have arthritis, and some other structural deformities in my foot. I will say that fusion is a long row to hoe. I think I am one of the faster recoverers, having no post-surgery complications to speak of, and it was "life-changing" in many ways. A full recovery time can be in the 1 year range, but near-normal functioning (ie., no crutches or boot) can occur in 3 months, as was my case.

It's worth a lot of forethought, as I'm sure you are aware.

Hi,
Just read your post. I would have to agree with queen on this one. Subtalar fusion has a pretty long recovery time. you will have to have patience and lots of time to heal. As for me as you have read I have had two of them on the same ankle so my healing time has been quite a long period. This will be a decision only you can make what I can tell you is read up on the surgey it will give you an idea of what to expect also talk with your doctor in detail before you go through with it, just remember everyone heals differently. My decision to go through with it was because I went through all the different (easy fixes) and nothing seemed to work after two years of (easy fixes) the surgery was my last option. At this point I do not regret it. Has been one year now since the last surgery still have a small amount of pain and a limp but seems to be getting easier all the time. It is much better than the way that I felt before surgery. I am sure there are things that I done before that I will probably never do again but I have come to terms with it. Just keep in mind patience and time.
I wish you the best of luck................Pam....