I am having surgery next month on my left ankle and want to know if anyone has had the same or similar surgery. I have to have a tendon transfer with a heal bone osteotomy. I am 34 years old, a single mother of 7 year old twin boys, work full time and my house has stairs to the bedrooms. I am getting a little freaked out and want to know what to expect. I would love to hear from anyone who has had this done.

Hi - what is the tendon transfer for? I had surgery for a calcaneal osteotomy a few months ago, and he was going to have to do a tendon transfer to repair my posterior tibialis tendon, but when he actually got to the tendon during the surgery, he found it was torn in three places, but it was repairable without the tendon transfer. I had anticipated that he was going to take a piece from the tendon that connected to my four smaller toes. I had two opinions and they were both going to do that, but it ended up they didn't have to. Does that sound similar to what your doctor is planning on doing?

Yes, that is exactly what I am having done. You are lucky that you didn't have the tendon transfer. I am more worried about the osteotomy, it sounds like it will be very painful. I am wondering what to expect post op. The doctor says using crutches is better than a wheelchair but I am not so sure about that. Also, all of my bedrooms are up two sets of stairs and I am thinking that it will be very hard to get up them with crutches. I think I may need a hospital bed in my livingroom. The doctor said I can't have any weight bearing for 6-8 weeks. What has it been like for you? How bad was the pain? Do you have any post op tips? Help!!! I am getting scared because I have never had a anything like this done.

Hi again Baycolegirl..... I disagree with your doctor about the wheelchair - after 5 days on crutches, I was exhausted, and my husband rented a wheelchair for me and it was the best thing I did. My bedroom was also up a flight of stairs, and I learned to go up on my knees and come down on my butt, because they were carpeted, and I just didn't feel secure balancing with the crutches. I'm 45 and my kids are teenagers - I hope your husband is going to be willing to help out a TON, because simple things like laundry, cooking and dishes aren't going to be so simple. And forget about vacuuming!! I had my teens help me, but even then, every little thing you do takes 10 times as long, because you can't balance on two feet, and when you're standing, you've got these crutches under your arms and you can't carry anything, either. And be sure to get your doctor to sign a form for the Dept. of Motor Vehicles so you can get a handicapped parking sticker - you'll want it for the first three months!! As for recovery, what it's like, etc. I've pretty much described everything in the thread called "Anyone had a calcaneal osteotomy?" on this foot board. Read it if you get a chance and feel free to ask me any more questions!!! Good luck!

Thank you so much for the info! My Mom has a wheelchair I can use and I will get it from her. I already have the temp handicap card, thank God! I figured the crutches would be difficult and will for sure use the wheelchair and I guess I will just have to drag my butt up the stairs to sleep and shower...YUCK!!! My twins are 7 and I they will be spending a lot more time with their Grandparents after the surgery becuase I don't think they will be much help to me. I will check out the thread and see what everyone said. Thank you so much for you input.