ankle fusion

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I've had an ankle fusion....pretty pointless for me. My Neuro-

surgen thought I wouldn't need to wear my leg brace after..WRONG! I

also had my ankle cords cut, not to sure what that was supposed to do,

but I don't recomend it, and tendon transfers, waste of time. I must

say though, that my degree of CMT is severe, maybe it would help some

one who is not quite so badly affected.

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I haven't been in touch for ages. Been trying to figure out for almost a year

now what to do for myself - surgery vs wheelchair. I found a doctor in Dartmouth

Hitchcock in Lebanon NH who is going to fuse my ankles and lengthen my achilles

tendon and release some others - starting with my right ankle. I am nervous -

hoping I've made the right decision. What choice do I have really?

When I was told there was no hope for me to continue walking I felt like my life

had ended. (or that I was going to end it)

Ed, I read that you have had this done recently - hope you were able to figure

out what the problem was? Any regrets having the surgery done? Any advice? I am

so much pain when I stand now, I just want it done so I can work towards having

the left ankle done. Hope all is well with the rest of you.

Hope

[Guest guest]

Hi Hope,

No cause has been determined. I went to the doc last nite and they took a bunch

of xrays, there seems to be no bone damage, and all the metal seems to be in the

right place. My ankle is really inflamed though. I'm back in the walking boot

for awhile to see if everything will calm down again. Could be a case of doing

too much too soon. They are supposed work me in to see my surgeon but so far

they haven't called. I'll have to contact them tomorrow. I should've done that

today but got side tracked trying to round up enough stuff to put together a

decent enough portfolio for a job interview.

The pain that I'm experiencing now is really nothing compared to that when I was

walking on the side of my foot. If the doctor is convinced that you'll have

enough function to make doing the surgery worthwhile, I'd recommend getting it

done. For about a week and half after I got out of the walking boot you would

not believe the amount of work I got accomplished. That alone was worth the

surgery. The problem with this is most of my feeling is dead so major pain for

most is kind of twinge to me. I probably was doing something really stupid but

simply didn't feel it. The problem with this condition is that it doesn't kill

you, it's the Sonny Bono moments that do.

Ed