I went to the Dr. yesterday to get my MRI results. I have one, possibly two tears in my new tibial tendon repair. (GREAT) He was concerned because the tears are in my good foot. He would "make an incision to check out the tear, he would transfer another tendon and do a calcanial osteotomy (SP)

The other foot, the bad foot, needs the heel moved over so that it sits under my ankle. Right now it is bone on bone (the fibula and heel) I think thats right. After that is done, I will need an ankle replacement.

The dr. said that the surgery on the bad foot might not make me feel better and he is concerned because this would be my 10th surgery on this foot. He is also affraid of RSD. Some kind of nerve pain. I have that now, I don't know what the diff would be.

I don't know. Does tendon tears heal on their own? Should I wait until I cannot stand it any more? Should I try PT first? Should I take up drinking? LOL (then I would have a migrain problem)

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

TENTH surgery on the same foot? Oh, my gosh, how do you cope with that????? I didn't even know there was such a thing as an ankle replacement...hip and knee, yes, but ankle? In yous shoes, I would definitely be quaffing down the Margaritas by now, migraine or not. Have no idea what to suggest...my problems seem mundane in comparison to yours...but I wish you the best of luck and the least of pain! :confused:

Marianne

Wtwct, Hey, Great to see you on the board again but sorry to hear that you have so many ongoing issues that have not been resolved!! I can't help with your questions but wanted to pop in and say hi and let you know that I send my best wishes. Are you still seeing the specialist in ....was it Baltimore?? How's your Mom?? Did I see that you just bought a house...was that you??
I am 2 weeks out from my 1st mtp fusion and bogged down by this nwb hard cast for the summer but otherwise still in pretty good spirits. I hope whatever resolution you come to brings some much needed relief your way. I'll be thinking of you!! Sophie:angel:

Hello,

The only question that I can answer is about the tendon tear. When I sprained my ankle three times, had a MRI done and found out there was a spkit-tendon tear the original Orthopedic doctor I went to told me that he would have to refer me to a doctor that specializes in Ankle and Foot damage, because PT would not help a torn tendon. I had some pulled and tore ligaments also, he told me that PT heals the ligaments, but that there is nothing they can really do about tendons. I went to the A&F doctor and he agreed but said there is a very,very slim change the immobilization of the foot may result in the tendon healing on it's own. He put me in a CAM-Walker for 6 weeks and when that didn't work we opted for the surgery. I am almost 6 weeks post-op and in a hard cast right now. I get my cast off next week, so I won't know until then how my ankle has healed. After the second sprain the doc. at the hospital told me to go see a specialist but I waited for a few months, and I hurt it again...causing this surgery to be a 'major' surgery. Also causing some really bad bone contusions on the opposite side of my ankle from my bones slamming into each other.

The way I look at it now, is that the few weeks I am off my feet now from the surgery sure beats being out of commission for 2 weeks everytime I sprain my ankle. Oh yeah...and as far as taking up drinking.. and migraines...a little birdie told me to get rid of pain you have a few drinks, a few drinks gives you a headache, to get rid of a headache you have a few more drinks... LOL Is it easy to tell my family is Irish???

Best of Luck with whatever you decide to do!
-Britt

WTWTC
Sounds like quite a decision that you have to make. From experience I will tell you that a tendon can heal- but it takes a long time. You may remember me from the past eighteen months, I was the one that had peroneal tendon surgery on both ankles, I have also been lucky enough to have tendon surgery on my wrist and my elbow. Now have PF in both feet, although for the most part the ankle tendons are doing well. I never did well when wanted me to wear a brace and do PT,as I was always trying to push to hard and thought that it would get better. You have to have ALOT of patience with tendons. Are you seeing Dr. Myerson? I used Dr. Schon from Union Memorial he was great. Good Luck with your decison and let us know what you decide.
Nancy

wtwct~
Sorry you're dealing with more, again. I'm not good for advising you, as I've decided that if I need any further surgical intervention, I'll fuse, to avoid having to have 10 ops. I'm reading a lot of conflicting things about " ankle replacements", and my OS said they don't last long, and better than 50% of the recipients have to fuse or amputate. He refuses to do them. I'm not judging, knowing these men form opinions based on their experience, and then rarely give an inch afterward. You're smart enough to do your homework. I'm not sure the pt will be enough, though. Rigid immobile protection, rest, and then pt "might" do it, but, if it doesn't, you've spent the time and still have to do it. I sure wish there were better options, and I'm sorry i can't be helpful. I do wish you the best. Please, let us know how you decide. Kim

Thanks for your replies. I am seeing Dr. Myerson in August. Lets see what he has to say. I know that I need something done with the left foot. The bone on bone is getting uncomfortable and I am getting crabby. (More so than usual). The bad tendons are on the right. I think I will go for PT, then the second opinion and see where that takes me. I always new that I would have more problems. When the Dr's tell you what is going on, I feel like they are talking about someone else.

Then you wake up one morning and have a hard time walking. It hits you, yes, they are talking about you. That's when I feel like breaking down. I do for a little while, take more medication, get ready for work and "get over it".

I am going to work for as long as I can, save some money, then when I cannot possibly take it any more, I will have more surgery.

They do another kind of surgery called "allograph". I guess that is where you are put on a donor list and when they find a match, you can have a new ankle. I guess this last longer than the Agility ankle. I know they still have problems with both. That is why I need to wait as long as I can.

I can alway go back to my chair. I kinda miss my wheel chair. I could do everything in that chair. It's the walking that kills me. LOL

Thanks for listening to me vent. I know that I can tell you how I feel and all of you understand, after all, you have been through it.

By the way, I can still ride my bike. That makes me feel better.

wtwct~
I'm glad you're hanging on to some positive thoughts, holding a bike and a chair up as ways to maintain independence. I haven't been through anywhere near as much as you have, and have nowhere near as much patience... I've a little over a year of difficulty, and only a few months of total reliance on crutches and/or wc, and I get so frustrated, grouchy, muttering, (red-faced with shame, cursing my wc as it gets hung on something because I wasn't paying attention.) about how nice it would be to simply get up and walk... You are a humbling example for me. Re working as long as you can, I think its a good idea. Smart. If I had known how long I'd be down, I would have worked through the season and had the op in mid Dec, and wouldn't have had to struggle so much with $ while I was down. But, then, you've been there and done that enough to know what you're in for... take care, and keep us posted. Kim