OCD Talus Drilling veterans - your feedback needed - Foot Problems Message Board

kimberp · 03-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Hi! Everyone here was so helpful before my surgery in October 07 that I am hoping for more advice as I head down this what appears to be a never-ending road ...

I am now 5 months post drilling and debridement surgery for my OCD and have had 2 xrays for the lack of ROM (only +5 dorsiflexion) and to see why I still have a lot of pain (and those heart stopping sharp shooting pains too).

The xrays show no bone fragments causing a problem (which is good) but my questions are:

- how were you at 5 months post surgery? How was your ROM? And pain?

- Do we know of anyone whose drilling was successful and didn't need to have the OATS procedure done?

- When did you stop using crutches completely? I seem to walk better with one as my walk is still completely off and with a bad limp.

- Did you OS talk about Achilles Lengthening surgery at all with you? Mine mentioned it to me since he said my ROM isn't what he'd like it to be, but said it was too early to tell and we'll see how my ROM comes back over the next 6-8 months more of PT.

My other ankle now hurts after compensating for my left for a year now (friday makes one year) and my OS took an xray and I have an OCD on my talus in my other ankle too! Nothing appears loose from the xray and I can't even begin to think about that one until the left one is fixed, but has anyone ever heard of having it in both?? I think I should play the lottery, how can I be this lucky

My hope is that it hurts less as my other feels better, but I am not optimistic, but don't know after 5 months if what I am feeling is normal.

Any advice/experiences you can share would be appreciated. I am not sure if I am just having a really bad ankle week or with my upcoming 1 year anniversary of what I am calling 'the skiing incident' that I am just extra aggravated and impatient.

Thanks for all your help and for being a place to come to talk to about this ... it makes me feel better that I am not the only one with this rare problem.

Thanks,
Kim

carol1225 · 03-05-2008, 08:27 PM

Hi Kim
Can't tell you about drilling but I had Oats (Cadaver) 16 months ago and I can relate to your frustration no doubt. It took about 4 months for me to get rid of the crutches completely but I developed PF with my first few clumsy attempts at walking and I think that delayed me.

I would suggest that you talk to your OS and ask about an ankle gauntlet and I may not have the name right but its a velcro contraption that you put on like a fighters boot and it has velcro straps that wrap around it, it provides great support to the ankle, I believe that it helped me walk better as it didn't allow my ankle to roll.

Unfortunately my OS said that since my OCD couldnt' be traced to injury and I have odd bone structure that I am likely to have it in the other ankle as well, I have noticed lately that its exhibiting signs and I know its because I put too much pressure on the good leg / ankle and its starting to revolt and it scares me to think that I can have it in my good ankle as well.

I wish you the best and take it one step at a time, try heat like a hot shower and then move your ankle around and see if that helps, ankles are difficult no doubt and if you have good ones you can't understand but this board is a great place to talk to people who have walked in your shoes!

Take care
Carol

mak06 · 03-06-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carol1225

Hi Kim
Can't tell you about drilling but I had Oats (Cadaver) 16 months ago and I can relate to your frustration no doubt. It took about 4 months for me to get rid of the crutches completely but I developed PF with my first few clumsy attempts at walking and I think that delayed me.

I would suggest that you talk to your OS and ask about an ankle gauntlet and I may not have the name right but its a velcro contraption that you put on like a fighters boot and it has velcro straps that wrap around it, it provides great support to the ankle, I believe that it helped me walk better as it didn't allow my ankle to roll.

Unfortunately my OS said that since my OCD couldnt' be traced to injury and I have odd bone structure that I am likely to have it in the other ankle as well, I have noticed lately that its exhibiting signs and I know its because I put too much pressure on the good leg / ankle and its starting to revolt and it scares me to think that I can have it in my good ankle as well.

I wish you the best and take it one step at a time, try heat like a hot shower and then move your ankle around and see if that helps, ankles are difficult no doubt and if you have good ones you can't understand but this board is a great place to talk to people who have walked in your shoes!

Take care
Carol

Hey guys. Kimberb, I don't mean to steal your thread, but I have a quick question for Carol. How is your ankle feeling after the OATS? What is your activity level like, and how long is that supposed to last before another surgery/procedure is likely? I had a failed drilling and will probably get an OATS done in a month or 2... Oh, and 1 more thing, why did you go with an allograft (cadaver) rather than an autograft (from your knee)?

Kimberb, where was I when I was 5 months out...
I was off crutches after 6 weeks and into a walking boot for 2... I can tell you at first that my ankle was very stiff and so moving without crutches was muuuch slower. Over time with the PT I was able to get almost all my ROM back, and eventually got back to running on the treadmill and jump roping...unfortunately I have a new larger OCD so...I'm getting pain back. At 5 months though my ankle was definitely weak, tender and had instability...just keep up the PT, and I would recommend water aerobics (try running in a pool) or riding the bike or even just walking on the treadmill to build strength slowly...

carol1225 · 03-06-2008, 06:42 PM

Hey Mak06
I seen your posts on other threads and was going to jump in there to respond there...

In response to your question about why I used Cadaver in lieu of my own, it was my Surgeon's decision. He had told me he stopped doing OAT's using the knee about 7 months prior to seeing me as he found that while it was successful for the ankle it was not successful for knees and in his studies he found using healthy cadaver bone / cartilage from the same weight bearing area that is damaged works better.

As far as my activity level goes... Its hard to say, I developed a wicked case of Planters Fascitiis with those first clumsy steps after surgery and I haven't shaken it completely (*&^%$$ Sometimes I think WOW...its been a few days and maybe its over and out of the blue it will stop me in my tracks and cripple me. I think I can do just about anything in moderation! I can bike on my stationary bike for 8-10 miles no problem and I can walk distances but the PF gets me before the ankle does. I hope to do scuba diving this summer and that will be an indicator as I gave that up 7 yrs ago after my ankle started locking up with the swimming motion using the fins - have your ankle lock 70-80 down and try not to drown! haha I do alot of non-impact activity as you see and I think I can do it all. I wish I was more impact active but having this issue since the age of 13, you learn quickly that its not worth the pain.

If your doing this surgery and going for Cadaver check your insurance, I was dual insured at the time BCBS and Aetna and both denied the surgery stating it was experimental... Better yet they stopped paying for PT after 20 visits stating that they didn't cover services resulting from an uncovered procedure. I went thru appeal after appeal to no avail... I have a home equity loan on my ankle. I can tell you it was worth it, I can walk nearly pain free and my ankle moves with a smoothness that I never can recall, so yes it was worth it.

I know I didn't give you the answers you wanted but I am not a good person to say about this surgery as my complication of PF definately has changed how I recovered and continue to recover.

All my best to you!
Carol

mak06 · 03-07-2008, 12:00 PM

Hey Carol,

Thanks for your response, it was great! I'm glad to hear you're doing well (other than the PF!). Which brings me to another question...what exactly is PF?

When I go in for my final appointments before surgery, I will need to ask the doc about using a cadaver for the OATS procedure...I am a bit aprehensive about taking cartilage out of my knee, but if it's what I have to do to slow down the degeneration until cartilage regeneration techniques become widespread, so be it. I'll also have to check my insurance! I also have dual coverage and one is Aenta and I know they don't cover that!

One last quetion...the drilling and debridement was a pain the first couple of days, but by day 4 I was at work, and within a week or 2 I was crutching around to the grocery store, library, etc. and doing everything on my own. How is the pain for the OATS procedure? Did you feel like you couldn't really crutch around very much at first? I've heard people saying that they couldn't hang their foot down for more than 5 minutes...