Willisk2004
new member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2020
- Messages
- 1
- Age
- 44
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
I did not have a Tar I went straight to a triple fusion using Hindfoot tibial rod! Due to less than 40% nerve function and the ligaments and tendons being shot! As well as bone on bone from cartilage loss!
My problem started six years ago with a spinal cord injury, leaving me with drop foot and weakness in the left leg.
Over the years I spent a lot of time in casts or boots to tighten the tendons and ligaments non surgical every time I rolled it! Before surgery I was not able to walk on it without uncontrollable swelling and on 11/02/20 I was rushing to hospital with a infection in my leg and foot from the swelling.
After 3 days on iv antibiotics and 6 days at home on antibiotics, I met with my orthopedic doctor again and said enough!
He told me that I had put off any surgical intervention too long and the only option I was left with was a full fusion, essentially turning my ankle joint into part of my tibia!
He performed the surgery on 12/2/20 and I’m 11days post op. This is by far the second most brutal surgery I’ve had, the first being multi level spinal fusion! I totally underestimated how much pain I would experience or how long I was going to be down.
I’m finally weened off the heavy pain meds from post surgery and only take my baseline meds for my back and we added tramadol on the ninth to assist my baseline meds!
I was told I’ll be non-weight-bearing for 12-16 weeks, depending on bone growth, as I have neuropathy and poor blood flow!
I’m getting a better outlook each day, considering my options were full fusion with the rod and 11 screws and two bolts ( he said they're in my heel and based on size compared to screws lol ) and he tightened all the ligaments and my Achilles’ tendon while he was in there, as my leg will still try to use those to stabilize the joint !
Or I could have said "enough" and opted to remove my ankle and foot to avoid any more infections or swelling.
He said some people choose that after multiple failed procedures and infections and looking at another painful surgery and 16 weeks of waiting to find out if it worked or not and then possibly losing it anyways !
I told him I got nothing to lose pun intended!
That the hope that I can walk semi normal ( already had limp for six years ) and play with the kids and hike! All without a cast or boot or medical devices other than rocker bottom shoes, I take that chance!
My problem started six years ago with a spinal cord injury, leaving me with drop foot and weakness in the left leg.
Over the years I spent a lot of time in casts or boots to tighten the tendons and ligaments non surgical every time I rolled it! Before surgery I was not able to walk on it without uncontrollable swelling and on 11/02/20 I was rushing to hospital with a infection in my leg and foot from the swelling.
After 3 days on iv antibiotics and 6 days at home on antibiotics, I met with my orthopedic doctor again and said enough!
He told me that I had put off any surgical intervention too long and the only option I was left with was a full fusion, essentially turning my ankle joint into part of my tibia!
He performed the surgery on 12/2/20 and I’m 11days post op. This is by far the second most brutal surgery I’ve had, the first being multi level spinal fusion! I totally underestimated how much pain I would experience or how long I was going to be down.
I’m finally weened off the heavy pain meds from post surgery and only take my baseline meds for my back and we added tramadol on the ninth to assist my baseline meds!
I was told I’ll be non-weight-bearing for 12-16 weeks, depending on bone growth, as I have neuropathy and poor blood flow!
I’m getting a better outlook each day, considering my options were full fusion with the rod and 11 screws and two bolts ( he said they're in my heel and based on size compared to screws lol ) and he tightened all the ligaments and my Achilles’ tendon while he was in there, as my leg will still try to use those to stabilize the joint !
Or I could have said "enough" and opted to remove my ankle and foot to avoid any more infections or swelling.
He said some people choose that after multiple failed procedures and infections and looking at another painful surgery and 16 weeks of waiting to find out if it worked or not and then possibly losing it anyways !
I told him I got nothing to lose pun intended!
That the hope that I can walk semi normal ( already had limp for six years ) and play with the kids and hike! All without a cast or boot or medical devices other than rocker bottom shoes, I take that chance!