StormWine
06-05-2002, 01:52 PM
Hello all,
Is there anyone here who has had foot or ankle fusion? I just had the surgery 1 week ago, fusing 1 joint in my foot and I'd like to talk to others who have shared the experience. I'd particularly like to talk to others regarding pain levels and recovery times. My doc has me using a bone stimulator. It's used for 30 min a day, every day. Has anyone used one? Do you think it helped?
I'm also taking pain meds.
Have a good day. :-)
Storm
Is there anyone here who has had foot or ankle fusion? I just had the surgery 1 week ago, fusing 1 joint in my foot and I'd like to talk to others who have shared the experience. I'd particularly like to talk to others regarding pain levels and recovery times. My doc has me using a bone stimulator. It's used for 30 min a day, every day. Has anyone used one? Do you think it helped?
I'm also taking pain meds.
Have a good day. :-)
Storm
Sponsor
kathybirdwell
06-10-2002, 08:51 PM
Storm,
kathybirdwell
06-10-2002, 09:15 PM
Storm,
Excuse my previous feeble attempt at posting! ARGHHH..
It sounds as if you might be referring to a sub-talar fusion. At least that is what I had done and your situation sounds very similar. I had the fusion done in Feb 98 with poor results and then redone again in Jul 99 with a better outcome. I used a bone-stimulator after the second surgery. They were designed to introduce a low level of electricity into the site of slow or non-healing bone fractures. They are also finding their way into use with joint fusions. I can't say if the stimulator helped to solidify my fusion after the second surgery or not. But something worked.
Having not fused the first time around, my surgeon cut no corners the second time. I was casted for months and wore a "moon boot" up until I had my internal hardware (screws) removed (due to pain) about a year later.
Did the surgery help overall? I'd have to say yes. The reason I hesitate is because I have mixed connective tissue disease and it causes a lot of joint problems and pain. I've had many, many surgeries including several on the foot/ankle in question. It is sometimes hard to tell what problem is causing what pain. I'm on a regular/daily dose of narcotic for chronic pain but can say that my fused ankle is more stable and less painful now than it has been in a long time. Recovery from the fusion was a long, painful road.
Feel free to contact me outside of the health boards if you wish. You can reach me at:
kathy(at)gfamilychurch(dot)org
I hope this information will help you. I'd be glad to help answer any other questions you might have.
Good Luck,
Kathy
Excuse my previous feeble attempt at posting! ARGHHH..
It sounds as if you might be referring to a sub-talar fusion. At least that is what I had done and your situation sounds very similar. I had the fusion done in Feb 98 with poor results and then redone again in Jul 99 with a better outcome. I used a bone-stimulator after the second surgery. They were designed to introduce a low level of electricity into the site of slow or non-healing bone fractures. They are also finding their way into use with joint fusions. I can't say if the stimulator helped to solidify my fusion after the second surgery or not. But something worked.
Having not fused the first time around, my surgeon cut no corners the second time. I was casted for months and wore a "moon boot" up until I had my internal hardware (screws) removed (due to pain) about a year later.
Did the surgery help overall? I'd have to say yes. The reason I hesitate is because I have mixed connective tissue disease and it causes a lot of joint problems and pain. I've had many, many surgeries including several on the foot/ankle in question. It is sometimes hard to tell what problem is causing what pain. I'm on a regular/daily dose of narcotic for chronic pain but can say that my fused ankle is more stable and less painful now than it has been in a long time. Recovery from the fusion was a long, painful road.
Feel free to contact me outside of the health boards if you wish. You can reach me at:
kathy(at)gfamilychurch(dot)org
I hope this information will help you. I'd be glad to help answer any other questions you might have.
Good Luck,
Kathy
kathybirdwell
06-10-2002, 10:08 PM
To All,
I'm new and this was one of my first posts. I read elsewhere later that it was against board rules to post my email. Sorry about that. I thought I read the rules but didn't think I saw that anywhere. I'll have to go in and change my profile so that my email will be available there if necessary. Again, forgive me. -- Kathy
I'm new and this was one of my first posts. I read elsewhere later that it was against board rules to post my email. Sorry about that. I thought I read the rules but didn't think I saw that anywhere. I'll have to go in and change my profile so that my email will be available there if necessary. Again, forgive me. -- Kathy