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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 12:59 PM
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I'm writing from a sub acute care facility in Northern New Jersey, a place that I might have considered as a standby facility for my aging Mom "just in case.” But here I am, typing away on my notebook, connected to the office wireless network, Skype headset around my neck, walker and wheelchair parked nearby, with a "reacher" handy to fetch them, and all the other stuff that I can no longer capture after a short walk.
I just turned 65 and between Medicare and my secondary the full cost of my surgery and rehab for up to 30 days is covered. I had developed a bad case of arthritis in my left ankle which ate away all the cartilage between some key bones, which were by then in contact with each other. I live overseas and the condition became acute in September. It took me several months before I could budget the amount of time necessary for non-weight bearing stay in the States, which was two weeks ago. I was told that the surgery would fuse the bones that are moving against each other. I didn't learn the details of how that would be done until afterwards, but more about that later.
Thursday I checked into the pre-surgical office, waited for half an hour to be called, was taken to a prep room where they took my medical history (I already had pre admission exams and tests), swapped my clothes for paper ones, and walked into the "operating room." I use quotes here, because I felt more like I was in a carpentry shop than an operating theater.
The biggest decision I had to make before the surgery was whether I wanted a general or spinal to put me out. Figuring that the spinal meant a needle in the spine and being conscious during surgery and imagining what they were doing on the other side of the drape, I was siding heavily with general. But all the advice was going the other way. The guy who would administer one or the other told me that his first move for a spinal was pumping the patient full of liquid Valium until he/she was too high to be aware of anything, and then doing everything else. I immediately jumped on that option and it all went exactly as advertised. The next thing I knew I was in recovery with Mom, a glass of apple juice and a tuna fish sandwich, and a morphine drip for pain that I could control with a push button. The button got a good workout, and I never felt the least amount of pain. Two hours later I was in a semi private room on the 13th floor with a Rastafarian room mate who reminded me for the next couple of days how great God was. I wasn't disagreeing.
The Doc recommended that I buy an EBIce system to speed recovery and reduce pain, and I agreed immediately. During surgery, he placed a water bag with two pressure hoses over the wound before he dressed it, which in my room got connected to a (heavier duty hospital unit) picnic cooler full of ice water and two hoses, through one of which the water was pumped up into the pad, and returned through the other. This helped manage the pain, but I relied on the button until they took it away from me the next day. I guess I could have been discharged the following day, but had to stay for three days to qualify for the sub acute rehab. That gave me a change to learn how to hop around via walker and minimize possible accidental "touches" with the bad foot. Yesterday I was taken by ambulance from the hospital to the New Jersey sub acute rehab facility. This was my third ambulance ride, and without a doubt the best.
Before I left, the Doc changed the dressing and showed me his handywork. Looks like one of those shoes that zipps up the front -- with BIG UGLY stitches instead of the zipper. Underneath is a metal plate through which screws fasten the bones together so that the "bone glue" can get them all fused together. Lovely. Can't wait to explain this to Homeland Security as I get beeped during baggage checks at the airport!!
So here I sit in what is primarily an elder care facility (there are only three of us in our 60's -- the average age is around 80), emailing and Skyping away, and ushering in a new generation of geriatrics who will have similar needs and habits.
I expect to be here for at least a couple of weeks, maybe the full allowable 30 days, and won't be going back to my overseas home until my left foot is "weight bearing." Accidental weight on the joint before it sets up could be cause for a "do over" and I certainly don't need that!!
Last note: I've experienced NO pain during the entire process -- other than the discomfort that I feel when I lower my leg from its raised position to the floor, with blood suddenly flowing downward, putting pressure on the wound site and getting my attention. I plan to continue using the EBIce system (the home unit is smaller and less powerful than the hospital unit) for another couple of weeks. I don't know why I've been so lucky -- but I'm not planning to change anything!!
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 12:52 PM
Posts: 67,
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I've been thinking about you all week! I'm so glad you, too, had a positive experience and that you are on the road to recovery. Enjoy your pampering and keep that gimpy foot elevated!
I wanted to also let you know that many of us ankle fusions have defected to Yahoo! Groups. I will try to post the link (have trouble doing these things). Sharon, one of the great gals here started it, and we have a great little group. There are many of us in different stages of our different fusions.
Again, I am so glad to know you are on the road to recovery!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/anklefusion/
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:00 PM
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| Hi, my name is Brett and I have a question? Have any of you had a ankle fusion (main bones) then had the subtalar joint wear out and need that to be fused. This is where I am at now, after having my left ankle fused about nine years ago due to a work accident, the subtalar joint is now very painful and the cortizone injections are not really cuting the pain much anymore. So how much more movement am I going to lose if any with this additional fusion? Hope I am not freaking anyone out with this the main fusion did help for almost 10 years but it pushed the stress to other joints (subtalar) which have now worn out. My goal was to wait as long as possible to do this operation but with the second child on the way now it might need to be done sooner.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:01 PM
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Hello all, looking for a little advice. I am scheduled for subtalor fusion in mid June. I my daughter will be 13 months old at that time. I have care takers for both of us for 6 weeks post op. Is that enough time? Will I realistically need to rely on someone else caring for her after 6 weeks or will I figure out a way to get by on my own in the mean time? We live in a 1 story house with the exception of 2 stairs to get into the living room. She should be walking any day now. I would anticipate she should be walking fairly well on her own by that time. I know I won't be able to hold her and walk around at 6 weeks.
The idea of this surgery is scaring the crud out of me. After 16 years of pain, excruiating at times, I don't think I can wait any longer. I was just relieved to finally find a doctor who could tell me what was wrong with me and not just "you're fat, lose weight and your ankle won't hurt anymore." I did and it still hurt. Wouldn't you know, what happended to me would have begun hurting around puberty and during that time the Dr's I saw thought I was faking an injury to get out of PE. I loved the excuses Dr.s find and how they place blame when they aren't sure what's going on. Enough venting...
My primary concern is my daughter and adequate care for her. Any advice would really be appreciated.
I did read some of the other posts and made a list of all the comfort and in my view necessities I want to make sure my Dr. has lined up for me before surgery.
Thank you.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:00 PM
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| Hey Diana216, I am having my subtalar fusion on April 11 so it's commming right up. Part of the reason I am doing it now apart from the constant pain is that I have another kid on the way in early October and I need to be able to help my wife with the new baby and our daughter which will be about two by then. What I can tell you is what the doctors say "everybody is different, some people take longer to heal", but figure at least two months on crutches and another month or so in a boot where you do not carry any thing heavy (read baby). I wish you the best of luck in finding people to help you during this time. Do not try to cheat because if you have a non-union in the fused joint it will take even longer and might even require another trip to the OR. You will have to ask your doctor what he/she thinks about the weight of the baby and walking but those guidelines above are what my doctor has told me.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:01 PM
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| Brett: Was hit by a car Jan. 18 and just found out by results of cat scan that my ankle will have to be fused. My surgery has been scheduled for May 3 and looking for support. I am so scarred that I will limp for the rest of my life.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:02 PM
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| I too am scared! Although being in a wheelchair for 3 1/5 years since my auto accident prompted me to find someone that could help me walk again motivated me to do this... now that I found someone that can help, I'm nervous. My first two surgeries after the accident were no piece of cake and I was not able to walk again due to intense pain. My main question is for those of you who have moved on; my doctor assures me I'll no longer need the wheelchair and will walk. Will I limp? Can I go on walks again, go to the gym to lose the lbs. I gained in the chair this past 3 years, can I dance again? I do remember the non-weight bearing issues from before and I certainly dread that and still have all my accoutrements - although the roll about thingy sounds nice. I'll check that out since reading it on your postings. ANYTHING to not get back in that chair again! But one thing really scares me about this -- the screw! OMG - that really terrifies me. Any suggestions? Also, suffering from RSD I'm to have several injections in the spinal nerve bundle to stabilize the nerves in my foot or the last one will basically kill the offending ones. Anyone else had this done? What do I have to look forward to there? Killing nerves just doesn't sound good to me but he said it will prevent probelms with them post op. Any word on that? Lastly, I'm glad you guys are here. I feel silly wasting my Dr's time with these type of questions that he hasn't lived through and cannot tell me first hand what to expect. Sorry this was a book!
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 12:52 PM
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Join our Yahoo! group, there are many, many people who are in various stages of their fusions, and you can find a wealth of information here.
Look forward to seeing you there!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/anklefusion/
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:00 PM
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| Well I had the sugery and have been on crutches for the past two months. I am just now starting to put weight on the ankle while walking with the crutches. The pain has not been too bad, but I am not walking with full weight on it yet. The screw thing, yes I was quite taken back when I saw the X-ray of the ankle with two 10cm srcews going all the way through my ankle. Hope all of your recoveries are going well. As far as limping I do not know yet how it will go, this ankle was already fused so this sugery only took away a little bit more movement.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/31/2008 1:04 PM
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| I was in a bad car accident in Dec. 04, and I am on my second surgery, I had a sub talar fusion, it's been 4 weeks, I had no pain until the stitiches came out and a new cast put on, I have pain in my heel, I sit everyday with my foot up in my recliner, just wondering if maybe the cast is too tight or is that normal to have pain?
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