ankle fusion

[Guest guest]

Just thought I would add in my own .02 about ankle fusion... I realize that

there are cons to ankle fusion, but I would like to point out that my triple

orthedesis was the best thing that ever happened to me. I went from a kid who

couldn't walk without braces at all, much less ride, run, or play sports, to

a kid who could do all of those things (at least as well if not better than

some of her friends)! Now, since I was only fourteen when I had the surgery,

I probably wasn't aware of all of the circumstances behind my operation, and

I probably couldn't technically explain it to y'all, but I find that while I

cannot roll my foot from side to side, I can point and lift my toes, although

part of that is probably from stretching my heel cord while riding. If

anyone wants a technical explanation, you could probably e-mail me and I

could get my Mom to explain it.

Liz

P.S. For all who are interested, I have decided on a college... the

University Of Kentucky. Also, I passed my Senior Project with flying colors

and got an award for Passion in what I was doing (rehabilitating abused and

neglected horses). I have decided that when I grow up I either want a

Lipizzaner (the horses from the Spanish Riding School in Austria) or a

Mustang... or both. )

[Guest guest]

to those of you that are thinking about having an ankle fusion - i

just had one done in pittsbugh by a dr. bowman and he did a great job

on me. i had a very bad case. i was walking on my ankle even with afo.

though he had to put 4 screws in and a staple to hold my ankle together.

i was rare because i ended up losing a screw. but now i do not need a afo

for that leg, which is great to me, because i have worn them since i was

14 years old. now i just have to wear the one. but he said do not fix

it if it is not broke. and i am not. the surgery was painful at first.

but it was much hard trying to get around with out bearing weight on

that leg. but i recommend it if you really need it like i did. and if

you listen to what your doctor tells you to do it sometimes does not

take long to heal. they thought it would that me 4 months to heal but

it did not. so if you have it done good luck.

kitty

[Guest guest]

I also recently had an ankle fusion. My case was bad too. I took a

fall that tore all the ligaments and in the end was walking bone on

bone with an AFO.

I am in my fourth month of healing and am using a walker and still

the wheelchair when I am tired. My doctor thinks everything is going

as planned and on schedule.

It is encouraging to hear that you do not need assistance for that

leg anymore. I have been concerned about that, and trying to

investigate the orthoboot idea. So far I haven't received any input

that is helpful about them. In Dr. Paolo Vinci's book he describes

the boots and the concept behind them, only problem is where to find

something like that here in the US. Good luck to you in the future.

I hope my results are similiar.