I'm 21 and was diagnosed with tarsal coalition in my left foot when I was 14. I was advised not to bother with an operation, and was told I shouldn't do any high impact activities like running, or else I could shatter my shins (don't like the sound of that!)
Two years ago I sprained my ankle by walking quickly (over a period of a week). My ankle has been swollen ever since, and I've had varying degrees of pain with it, from 'crikey, I can't put any weight on this' to 'slight twinge'. I saw a physio for several months, who tried everything to get the swelling down, but eventually gave up and suggested it was all due to the coalition, and that I should go see an Orthopaedic consultant. After X-Rays and CT scans, they're basically saying it's a boney coalition, and the surrounding joints have already suffered some damage.
But here's my problem. One consultant said operations weren't that successful. Another said they were the only option. From what I've read on the Internet, either they work fine, or they cause even more problems, and require follow up operations to re-fuse the bones, which can go on to cause damage to the surrounding joints eventually. That's the problem I'm having now! I'm not in constant pain, though I can't walk quickly and if I over-do it then I'm limping. I want to improve this condition, but I don't want to go through a painful operation and weeks of recovery only to end up with exactly the same problem.
Please can people tell me their stories - if they had the operation or if they chose not to. No one will tell me what'll happen if I don't have it. I'm afriad of consultants who use surgery as their only option. But I'm also really frustrated that I'm 21 and find my ankle getting stiff in the mornings. My friends did a marathon a few weeks ago and it kills me that I can't do the same. Just walking without pain would be nice!
Any replies would be fab.
Thanks.