Really Margaret?
Do tell us more. I'm glad it is getting better. I was thinking about you. Didn't you have the hardware taken out? Did that make a big difference?
May 19, 2008 had OATS
January 9, 2009 had hardware removed, joint debrided arthroscopically and peroneal tendon repaired which was thought to have torn because I was walking funny because the screws were backing themselves out.
Still in PT but I am boot free, crutch free, and cane free! My expectations were out of whack, I think because we didn't have the MRI report about the tendon until a few hours before the surgery so I didn't do my exhaustive research about recovery etc. While the Doctor told me the surgery was going to be a big set back in my recovery, I didn't realize HOW big a set back nor did I know he expects the tendon surgery to be 4 months recovery. That being said, I think what has made a difference lately, besides time, is I have been wearing a night splint on the bad ankle which is keeping the tendon from stretching when I sleep. The PT recommended it and I was skeptical but alas, three weeks later, I can feel the difference. I also no longer have the burning sensation in the peroneal area of my other ankle that I was getting from limping.
My ankle is still weak and I am working on ROM but I am so relieved the pain is subsiding. I had been wearing the boot about half the day until last week. Now I haven't put the boot on since. My limit on the ankle is about 3 hours solid but that is up from 2 hours just a short while ago.
So I have hope again! I wish the same for everyone else!!!! Abby, anything to report about your knee?
That is such good news! It gives me so much hope too. My dr. has mentioned taking the hardware out down the road because I can see/feel it through the skin and when it gets hit it sends pain down my tibia.
I'm so glad that it has made such a huge difference. I had my peroneal tendon repaired during both my surgeries. I never knew it was torn the last time. It is finally getting where it is feeling good. So if yours was torn I'm sure that caused a lot of pain and tendons take a long time to heal. I have to remind myself that as well. I remember the 4 month mark being the time of great improvement for my first surgery that was ligament/peroneals/ocd. The ligaments and peroneal tendon was the last thing to feel good.
I'm so happy for you and glad things are going much better.
I may be confused about dates and sizes but I thought there are really only 3 options for dealing with ankle OCDs that are causing problems; drilling, OATS, or fusion. Maybe some of the veterans can weigh in here.
Well, you can look at it this way. EIther way, 9mm or 14mm, or where you are now, either way they probably would've done OATS. You just face a bigger hurdle with the 20mm lesion than you would have with the 9mm one. I think treatment wise though, even at 9mm, you should have/probably would have had the OATS after the failed drilling. It's just a shame you've been in pain so long while it grew bigger.
As for the negligence, I don't know who you should talk to about that one.
So Margaret - When I read your good news I was like, "Wow, that's awesome!!" It's about time your foot is starting to feel better! With a second surgery I can see it taking several more months to calm down. But what great news - just in time for summer. I'm so happy for you.
Abby
Last edited by Administrator; 06-12-2010 at 12:33 AM.
I seriously think that falling down the stairs was the best thing for my ankle. I am pretty sure it tore up a bunch of scar tissue so yeah, it hurt a week or so, but it is feeling better than ever and I have better range of motion. I haven't tried running yet, but I tried some lunges and they felt so much better. I could actually do them.
Now, my ankle cracks and pops all the time and it didn't do that before, but it isn't painful. It still hurts along the plates/screws and I have minimal shooting pains, but I have to say it is feeling way better than it did a few weeks ago.
Hi- New to group but have been reading the postings as I have been having ankle pain recently. I was originally diagnosed with OCD in 2005. I was surgically treated by what you seem to note as drilling. Now the discussion is to get donor bone to graft to my ankle (I believe this is an OATS procedure).
I am curious what the different treatments/complications are for OCD... think I have a 6x9x?depth mm problem... Still relatively young so would like to avoid fusing (loss of motion, new complications) or mechanical replacements (don't plan on running the mini-marathon, but would like to get back more motion with less pain).
I live in Louisville, so I am interested which doctors in the area, are experts in this ailment/treatment. There are many Ankle specialists here. My experience is that the more a doctor does an operation, the better his success rate is... I am wondering if it is possible to find out who does these operations and how frequently... I don't want to do this again in 4 more years. Kind of worrisome that most people here have gone back for post-op repairs.
Expectations is another issue with treatment. Assuming I would be out of a boot and walking pain free in 6 months might be optimistic. I can't remember how long I was in the cast and boot... seems like 16+ weeks. For those that had OCD treatment, what length of time did you spend in cast/boot/PT/pain.
Thanks.
Last edited by Administrator; 06-12-2010 at 12:36 AM.
Treatments I believe are drilling/microfracture , OATS/Mosaicplasty, I've read something somewhere about ACI, not sure if it applies only to knee or ankle too, and there is always fusion...
As for a search for dr.s in your area that do that, I don't know where to find the info on that. My dr. is the only OS in the area that does the OATS surgery. I could have gone somewhere else, but decided to stay local.
As for post op. At 6 mos I am out of the boot for sure and walking pain free a majority of the time. I no longer think about my ankle with each step. Am I back to normal yet? No, not there for sure, but working on it.
I had the speed rehab plan by my dr. who is newer at this and I think super agressive with rehab. He even said he was very agressive with rehab. Others here had dr.s who took a more conservative path. I was in a splint for 2 weeks followed by hard cast for 4 weeks, followed by aircast boot worn all the time for 6 weeks. I was NWB for the first 8 weeks (I think it was 8) and then FWB in the boot for 4 weeks. Most average about 12 weeks of some type of NWB/PWB status.
I wouldn't say most of us had to go back for additional surgery. Margaret did, but she had some non-ocd issues, I believe that had to be fixed. I can't remember if she had the hardware out or not. I'm thinking she did. It looks like I may have mine taken out down the road too, only because they bother me right now. I'm still to wait until 8-9 mos post op to make a decision on the hardware and 12 mos before we know how well the OATS worked.
Rich - Hello, I am Dawn. I also live in Louisville!! I called every orhto surgeon in Louisville and the surrounding areas. I only found four docs that will do the OATS procedure. As with the non listing of links on this board, I'm not sure if I can list dr or practice names as I have not seen anyone else do that. I will find out for you though. I can tell you that the OS I am currently seeing does not really look at OATS except with lesions 12mm or larger and that seems to be the general concensus. When my ankle pain first started back in 03, my MRI show a 9x9x9 lesion and the OS I was seeing at the time only did the drilling. I went back a year later with c/o pain and the MRI then showed a 9x13 lesion and he said it is not at a point where he would do anything about it. The point I am making is that with a 6x9 lesion, I'm not sure that you will find a doc around here that will do anything other than the drilling. My advice for now is to do your research and be a very informed patient and don't let this go. After being told repeatedly that nothing is wrong and it's not bad enough to do anything about, I finally did suck it up to just me being crazy and when I finally did get fed up with the pain and went to another OS...I now have a 20mm lesion and am facing OATS at the end of May. I would be happy to give you any info I have found out about all of this....and believe me, I have done my research!!!! I spent two days calling ortho offices...I called everyone here in Louisville, Lexington, Columbus and Indianapolis. Sorry, I know this post is long....I'm just very excited to find someone else from Louisville. I don't feel so alone now!!!
Thank you Dawn. I am going to try to go to the U of L medical library and see what I can find regarding procedures and success rates. I am not in constant pain, but it recently increased in frequency. My last X-ray was last year, so I will go for another. My Dr is fully aware of what is going on with my foot and is communicating with me. I don't want to do a more invasive procedure than I need too, nor do I want to wait too long and have something damaged by waiting.
Last discussion was "let the pain be my guide"... so more pain... back to the Dr.
HI Rich and welcome. Sorry you have to join us. So the recovery from the OATS is alot worse than the drilling and the pain is alot worse too. I believe a full 12 weeks non weight bearing and then 8 or more weeks of therapy. A good 16 weeks plus. I am waiting to get mine done till possibly next year. My OCD does not seem to be getting worse and I have no signs of arthritis but I know that I must be careful with it. So i am with you on the let pain be my guide plan.
I think alot of the recovery and success depends on your age and the lesion size. I am sure the doc experience plays a part also. I am guessing alot also depends on the number of years the lesion has been around too. There is alot of research you will find on the web. There also is a few different types of OATS that can be done. There seems to be good success with some artificial plugs too. At least you got time on your side and you don't have to make a rush decision. Best wishes,
Diane
So my PT thinks my knee problem is patellar tendonitis which definitely fits my symptoms. So basically, my muscle tone of my inner thigh is too weenie and he wants me to strengthen my leg. So no real consequence from surgery except that rehab goes slow enough that you loose a lot of strength in your legs. You would think the activites I do would help but I guess nothing really gets that inside knee/thigh area like a 'Thigh Master' would!
So anyway, hope everyone has a great blessed Easter weekend!
Hi Abby!
Good news that nothing major is going on with your knee. My PT said the same kinda thing. I thought my leg was still pretty strong, but it wasn't. It's amazing how much strength you really do lose with all the NWB.
It's good that you now know what to work on.
Happy Easter!
Hello everyone,
Happy to see all of you improving by the day. It inspires me and keeps me optimistic. I am almost 4 weeks post op. I'm trying to be patient, I just can't help feeling a little down at times just laying around and watching my leg get scrawny. I started up at school again. I sit in class with my leg propped up all day! It hurts my bottom! But at least my professors don't mind. I got a temp disability hang tag so we park right in front of the bldg where my classes are and my friends drive me, carry my backpack and bring me water or food or whatever I need in class. So, it hasn't been too bad.
I'm wondering, do you think I'll be able to drive at 12 weeks post op? I had the oats on the right ankle, so I am absolutely dependent on rides! Also, how long before I get my knee rom back? I have about 100 degrees when bending it. Past that is quite uncomfortable! Did you girls move it everyday to get your rom back? Hope you all have a great weekend!
Liz
Hi LIz,
Hope it's going well. It does stink to just sit all day. It sounds like it would be nice. But after the second day it's more like -now what- booorrring! I tried to move the knee as much as I could as soon as I could. I got my rom back pretty quickly. Can't say the same for my foot. Can't believe you are in school. WOW to you. You would have to ask the doc about the driving. I have alot of trouble with my ankle driving. After work I can hardly press the pedal. But I still have the OCD in that foot. To always need someone else to take you must be a royal pain. I am not looking forward to that at all. When does your therapy start? that may be the deciding factor. How well you get the movement back.
Abby, Good luck with that thigh master!
Hope everyone is getting stronger. Have a Blessed Easter.
Diane
Thanks Diane. Were you able to get your full rom in your knee back? If at four weeks I don't have all of it back, should I be worried? Also, how long before the swelling in you knee completely went away?
It's about time your foot is starting to feel better! With a second surgery I can see it taking several more months to calm down. But what great news - just in time for summer. I'm so happy for you.
