Has Anyone Had Ankle replacement Surgery? | Arthritis Information

 

I saw an orthopedic surgeon today about my ankle and he said I could either have it fused or go for ankle replacement.   He said he usually doesn't recommend it to patients but he thinks I am an excellent candidate for it.   I was wondering if anyone else has had it and if it worked out for you and what was involved.  How long did it take to get back on your feet?  Thank you.

I've never had ankle replacement surgery but my left ankle is totally shot and I'll probably need it at some point.  I'd be really interested in hearing about anything you find out regarding this surgery though if you don't mind sharing.  I'd imagine recovery would take quite a while though.

Hi Aleva,

I'm a candidate for ankle replacement, but have decided to hold off.  I've had both knees and both hips replaced, and I'm amazed and so thankful for the mobility regained and the elimination of pain, but I'm not anxious to undergo another joint surgery.

I could go with a fusion or an ankle replacement, but if I recall correctly, for me, an initial ankle surgery would have been necessary before the ankle replacement.  Unlike my hip replacement surgery, in which I was 100% weightbearing right after surgery, one cannot put any weight on the ankle after surgery for nearly 2 months.  The problems that presented to me, needing someone to help me, getting around, made me decide to hold off on surgery.

I opted for an Arizona brace, that provides some support and enables me to walk with less pain.  However, my walking is quite limited.

You might post over on the Arthritis Foundation's RA forum site, there are a couple of women there that have had this type of surgery -- that's how I came to learn about these RA forums, when I was looking for info on ankle replacement surgeries.  (I think one woman was Donna, and she had very good results)  You might also check on yahoo, I think there's a group there that deals with ankle surgeries.

Ankle replacements have improved, I believe the STAR (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement) is the best, but may not yet be approved by the FDA, though there are some US ortho docs that are allowed to use them.

It's very, very important to have the best ortho surgeon you can find, as ankle replacement surgery is much trickier than hip or knee replacement.

Good luck, let us know what you learn and decide, if you go through with it and have good results,  maybe I'll change my mind.  :-)


 
this might be of some interest:

ttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624150654.htm

Hi Aleva,

My partner had an ankle fusion in November.  Ankle replacement wasn't an option as they are not yet as effective or successful as other joint replacements.  Hip + both knees have already been mobility saving!  The ankle fusion has had some impact on the other joint replacements though as the partial weight bearing now is putting additional strain on them because of the different movement.  I'm digressing ...  So far we've had 8 weeks of no weight bearing and a full plaster to just below the knee + 2 weeks of a "walking plaster" (still to the knee) and some weight bearing.  2 more weeks of that to go and then - hopefully - plaster off and a walking boot for about another 4 - 6 weeks.  Don't know yet when driving will be allowed or return to work.  Big bonus is that pain has gone from bone grinding on bone, swelling +++++ and high pain levels to NO pain!!  Once completely healed, walking will be slightly different but not significantly so.

Yes it is a l-o-n-g convalescence and limited activity compared to the recuperation after the other joint replacements.  It is a big decision to make in terms of the time required off work, but the reduction in pain has been worth it.

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