help....questions about subtalar fusion! - Foot Problems Message Board

looics17 · 06-19-2008, 01:38 PM

im due to go in for an operation soon for a subtalar fusion. how long will i be off work? i am foreman in a very busy engineering shop and work about 60-70 hours over 7 days all on my feet. will i be in a plastercast or aircast walking boot? is the sucess rate as poor as ive really read. im dreading having another operation to cure this if this doesnt work. 4 years of ankle pain is far too long to bear. im only 36 as well!!!!!! if you have had a similar op to myself i would love to hear your story

looics

janewhite1 · 06-19-2008, 07:11 PM

Okay, assuming the fusion takes and you don't have too many problems with other parts of your foot, you should be in reasonably good shape afterward. If your general health is good and you follow the doctor's instructions, it should take. You will lose a lot of the sideways movement of your foot (inversion/eversion).

If you work on your feet, you will be off for months. Not sure how many, ask your doctor. It'll be about a year before it really gets to the point of feeling good. You will be in plaster for a few weeks, and will have to spend about a month with your foot propped above your head most of the time. So, the operation is a big deal. Definitely get some wheels afterward, crutches are annoying.

What exactly is your foot problem?

looics17 · 06-20-2008, 03:37 PM

thanks for being the only soul in the universe to reply ... lol

i have stiffness in my l. ankle and lots of pain. im on my feet all day long literally. had the usual suspects of mri and ct but no real diagnosis. some cortisone injections and a debridement op at jan 08 but no sucess. so the fusion is the other way to go. really worried bout the job aspect of my post op recovery. my company really relies heavily on me and so do i for their money lol

looics

janewhite1 · 06-20-2008, 08:21 PM

Um, did you just say they want to do a joint fusion without a clear diagnosis? That sounds like a very poor idea to me. What exactly did the surgeon find when he did the arthroscopy & debridement, and what did he debride exactly?

If it's clear that your main problem is arthritis of the subtalar joint, then fusing it should serve you well, eliminating the pain and allowing you to walk normally.

If it's not clear exactly what the problem is yet, DON'T DO IT! This is a major surgery with a long recovery time that will permanently change the way your foot works.

Have you seen an orthopedist who is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon? A good one?

Where exactly is your pain, and how is your ankle stiff? How much dorsiflexion/plantar flexion do you have? Do you have any inversion/eversion? Does it hurt all the time, or just when you walk? Can you walk down stairs normally? Did this condition just come on, or have you had injuries to that ankle? Do you have any visible swelling or bruising?

sassy47 · 07-09-2008, 02:16 PM

Hello,

I've just joined the message board. I had a subtalar fusion on July 1st. My joint was arthritic from an injury when I was 18 years old. I am now 47. I began having serious pain this past year. I am a resource teacher for an elementary school so I am on my feet and walking a lot. It got to the point where I could do very little without a lot of pain, as a result I gained about 10 pounds as well.

To complicate matters, my sister has triple negative breast cancer and is currently in hospice care. I put off having the surgery as late as possible before school starts back, so I wouldn't be on crutches when the kids come back to school.

I am scheduled for my post op visit this Monday July 14th. What can I expect at this visit? Do you think I will be in a boot by the end of the first six weeks?

They did end up finding I had no cartlidge left in my joint and there was a piece of bone floating around on the outside of my ankle joint that they removed.

My greatest concern is whether I will be able to return to work on July 31st. My doctor said 6 weeks no weight bearing, then a month in a boot. Is that realistic?

Any input would be welcome-

Thanks Sassy47