Surgery hints and tips

I read on page 29 of your Spring Edition of Arthritis Today a letter from Peggy saying that she would be interested to hear readers’ reactions to ankle fusion. I started having arthritis pain in the left ankle at the age of 55. I live on a headland in Cornwall and like to walk my retriever dogs daily but soon found it extremely painful. I started to go to a gym twice a week and undertake particular exercises to keep the ankle mobile. It was successful for about 15 years, but gradually the range of movement in the ankle decreased and it became more painful. Eventually a consultant offered either total ankle replacement or fusion, but strongly recommended the latter.

The thought of a permanently fixed ankle did not come easily as I had visions of restricted walking. So I sought people who had undergone this surgery – one of whom had had both ankles fused – and having witnessed their complete mobility I had the operation in March 2011.

I practiced walking on crutches before the operation so that I was completely at home with them. As a result, the day after the operation I was able to demonstrate to the physiotherapist that I could manage perfectly well with only one leg being weight-bearing and was therefore only kept in hospital overnight. I was non weight-bearing for four weeks and weight-bearing in plaster for four weeks and then had a removable boot for a further four to six weeks. My surgeon said that it would take from three to six months to obtain full mobility but it can sometimes take up to 12 months.

I found that within six months I could walk anywhere and by nine months I was walking up to 10 miles. No physiotherapy was necessary at all and it has amazed people that my operation scars – two small holes – are now completely invisible. I had anticipated that my walking would be permanently unbalanced due to the inability to flex the ankle in a vertical line. The ability to flex it sideways was not affected.

I was amazed to discover that, aged 75, my walking is completely normal and now, 12 months after the operation, I rarely think about the ankle – except when trying to turn on the bath tap with my toe! The ankle fusion is a total success and I would recommend it to anyone.

David, Cornwall - 2012

Reading the letter in Arthritis Today 159 from Joyce asking if any one had had ankle fusion, I had the operation four-and-a-half years ago after 33 years of pain, and undergoing all sorts of treatment, none of which worked. After surgery I spent two weeks non-weight-bearing, then when I had the cast taken off, I couldn’t believe that 90% of the pain had gone, and in a very short time I had no pain at all. I am still pain-free.

Ron, West Midlands

I’ve been reading about post-operative exercise concerning knee replacements. Having had both knees replaced, I fully support this activity.  My surgery was carried out 10 years ago on my right knee followed by the left knee 17 months later, both at the Nuffield Hospital through the NHS. After both operations I had little pain due, in my opinion, to the vigorous muscular exercises imposed by the hospital physiotherapy staff BEFORE surgery.

Eric, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 2014