Ankle Reconstruction - Still Have Loud Cracking In Ankle
May 18, 2016
I'm 34. I had a left ankle reconstruction for instability with a ligament repair and arthroscopy in July 2015.
My recovery has been slow due to hip operations around the same time. My ankle has healed well however the range of motion is still below neutral for dorsiflexion though it's improving.
I still have loud cracking on the outside (lateral) aspect of my ankle where the ligaments were repaired. It's terribly painful and my ankle swells straight away each time. It usually occurs with shifting my weight. My ankle surgeon says it's scar tissue breaking down but is it usually accompanied by a loud painful crack in the same area each time. I'm worried it's not ok.
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I am just writing with the hope of getting some more help/assurance re the Gould brostrom (or as my letter has now pointed out Arthroscopic debridement and lateral ankle reconstruction - unsure if this is the same of different?) procedure which I am due to have in just over 2 weeks on the 22nd June.
I have been very unsure for a while now as to whether or not to go ahead with it but have decided to take the plunge, however I still have my doubts!
I injured my ankle initially around 5 years ago (ruptured ATFL showed up in MRI scan) and almost had the surgery back then, only to decide not to go ahead with it. Since then I have rolled over and sprained it on multiple occasions, and have felt it become increasingly weak to the point where I have very little confidence in its strength. When playing football I now wear lace up supports, which are strong enough to prevent the rolling, but obviously doesnt deal with the root cause and there is a still a feeling of achiness and limited movement. When not wearing my ankle supports I would say its at least a 50/50 chance I'm going to roll over on my ankle every time.
I can still run and go about my everyday life virtually without any issues (feel twinges but nothing major unless recently sprained) and the views of the consultants varied from the cautious 'maybe only have it if you're playing high level sport' ( which I'm not but just play football weekly for my local team), to saying yes I go for it as its clearly getting weaker and weaker and becoming more of a frustration.
I guess alongside asking for advice as to what to expect post op, I am also seeking assurance that by going ahead I am making the right decision (bearing in mind surgery is considered last resort and rehab process is lengthy).
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I had ankle reconstruction + arthroscopy 2 weeks ago today (on 7/22). Originally the plan was to first do the arthroscopy, and see if I needed a chondroplasty or ankle debridement and then do a Brostrom-Gould for the ligament I tore. I was never told exactly what my surgeon did, but when he finished my surgery he told my mother that it turned out he was able to do much less than he believed he would need to. Cartilage looked good (except for a bit of discoloration and degeneration which we are looking into the cause of) which is a miracle considering how many injuries this ankle has suffered. So no chondroplasty or debridement. I'm not sure if he did the Brostrom-Gould or if "doing less" meant he was able to salvage the ligament and just sew it back together.
Everything was going pretty well until I accidentally got my splint wet last Thursday (8 days post-op). I went in to the office and my doctor came in and looked at my incision, which he said looked great, and he told the nurse she could take out my stitches and put me in a hard cast that day instead of waiting until today, which was supposed to be my first post-op visit (14 days post-op). There were steri-strips across most of the incision, and she cut the stitches at each side of the incision, and one on the inside of my ankle from the arthroscopy (for a total of 3 stitches). I am confused as to whether she took out all the stitches, since it seems hard to believe that they would close an almost 2 inch incision with 2 stitches, and only one of the arthroscopy incisions would have stitches in it.
Anyway, they put the hard cast on me, and my surgeon told me I could ditch the crutches, so I started progressive weight bearing the next day. I got up to about 50% weight while walking around my house with only one crutch, which did not hurt too much and was not causing excessive swelling. However, yesterday a friend called me as a last-resort when she desperately needed a ride, and I agreed, glad to have an excuse to force myself to leave the house for the first time in 2 weeks. I walked to the car with ease, and while the drive ended up taking much longer than I expected, the surgery was on my left ankle so I was fine. But walking back to my house late at night when I was tired, I put much more weight on it than I meant to, and I tripped once and ended up putting full weight on the foot. Of course it hurt, but it did not worry me too much until about 20 minutes later when I was finally dressed for bed and lying down with my foot elevated. Until then I had experienced almost no pain in my ankle except some normal expected pain when walking or if I let my foot hang for too long. This was a completely different pain than I had felt before, very sharp and throbbing right where my incision was (before then I could not even tell where the incision was by feel). It was so bad that I had to take two oxycodone before I could relax enough to sleep.
I have kept off of it since then and it feels okay unless I move it, since there is a little bit too much room in my cast - I can wiggle up and down and my ankle can turn a bit. These tiny movements probably won't seriously damage anything, but they hurt and sometimes the incision brushes up against the side of the cast and it stings a lot. I am not taking any pain killers today and my ankle feels almost like it did before I walked on it, except now I am able to constantly feel (not pain just awareness) where the incision is, when before I never felt it.
I am just worried that I could have damaged the ankle somehow by putting so much pressure on it so soon after surgery, especially since I wasn't technically supposed to even start walking on it until tomorrow, 7 days after I actually started to walk on it. It seems a little off to me like that my surgeon told me to walk on it 8 days post op (maybe he forgot that I was there earlier than I was supposed to be?) I have also been very worried that I could have torn open the incision somehow, since the stitches came out so early and there was only tape holding it together (I think), which very well may have fallen off by now.
I was hoping I could get some insight from other people who have maybe gotten their stitches out super early or walked on their ankle too much too soon and see if your pain was anything like mine.
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I am scheduled for a total ankle reconstruction in 2 wks and hoping some of you will have some words of wisdom or tips/advice .
I'm going to be on bed rest for the first 2-3wks, in a cast for 12wks, NWB for 8wks and not able to drive.
Any suggestions as to what I should have on hand to make life easier while being on bed rest and while NWB? We've invested in a cold therapy unit for the immediate post op period . I'm a wimp when it comes to pain so hoping the cryotherapy unit combined with the pain med's will leave me with minimal pain.
I'm not one to lay around and do nothing....always have to be out and about doing things. This is going to a very mentally challenging few weeks/months.
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I'm looking for any kind of help/relief from tarsal tunnel symptoms and pain. I had a severe sprain (lateral ankle and high ankle) the end of October that has just turned into so many additional problems, one of them now being tarsal tunnel. I've had the EEG to confirm. I've done cortisone, steroids, PT with ultrasound and all kinds of other treatments. I need to have ankle reconstruction done and they are planning on the tarsal tunnel release at the same time. It should have been scheduled and done already, but I managed to herniate L5/S1 so bad that surgery couldn't wait on my back. I'm almost at 3 mos post op for that. With the recovery for that all my ankle problems had subsided because I wasn't working or on my feet much at all.
Now I'm back to work and living my normal life again - all the pain and swelling is coming back. In the last week, the aching, burning and tingling has kept me up three nights. I try and stay off my feet at work as much as I can (I only work 3 days, 5-6 hrs a day), but by the time I get home my foot hurts so bad I could cry. It's the inside ankle, heal, arch and now even the front of my ankle going up into my shin. I bought some KT tape and plan to take it to PT (for my back) to see if they will show me how to apply it for my ankle.
Any advise or similar symptoms. I have an appointment to follow up this Thursday. I'm hoping for maybe another injection (last one was in January) just to get me through til I get the surgery. I really don't want this during the summer, I'd much rather hold off until early fall.
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I am actually scheduled for Ankle Reconstruction (ATFL CFL and Tendon) for Monday June 24. I know im cutting it close ,but i figured i might as well do this now.
I am wondering what i am in for. I am 22year old male, just completed my last exam to fulfill my degree requirements and have nothing but my life ahead of me, no Full time job lined up so i will be home for awhile, i have a part time job but i told them about the surgery.
I am not the type of person to sit still and be in bed rest and i need something to do. I usually go to the gym 5 times a week along with yoga 5 times a week. It will take some time adjusting to NWB and everything, and i think this will be the hardest.
I've been told i will need to spend the night in the hospital and i will be released the next day.
I was wondering if anyone has any good exercises for working out, any healthy food recipes, or any help in general.
What am i to expect with this surgery. The Orthopedic Surgeon mentioned to me that he will use a modified brostrom surgery to repair my injury which was caused from an old old soccer and track injury.
Any advice on showering, washrooms and other personal hygiene?
How do you sit in a car when someone drives you, as i won't be able to drive with this being my right ankle.
Any advice in general?
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Disclaimer: If I ramble on and make absolutely no sense,
I blame my incoherence on the pain meds
Anyway, my second PTTD reconstruction is done! I had the exact same procedures on my left foot as I did on the right...FDL transfer, medializing calcaneal osteotomy, Evans calcaneal osteotomy, bone marrow aspiration, and Strayer procedure. The surgeon told my family that over two inches of the PTT was severely degenerated/beyond repair. Prognosis is a full recovery over the next 1 1/2 to 2 years.
Unfortunately, my nerve block didn't work as well this time; so, I woke up in pretty severe pain. The nurses were great and had the pain to a manageable point within a half hour. By the time I was discharged, I was able to take my first dose of oral pain meds...I was pretty comfortable on the ride home.
At this point, I am taking one oxycodone every 4 hours (down from 3 the first day) and think I will be able to start putting more space between doses tomorrow. The pain is not too bad as long as I stay "toes above nose."
Knowing what to expect in the days following surgery has definitely made these first few days smoother/less scary. Each day is one day closer to being active again!
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I will be having Flatfoot Reconstruction Surgery in May and am trying to get a handle on the recovery. I live in a small 1 bedroom apartment, ground floor, but with 2 semi-steep steps leading inside.
I'd love to know anyone's experience with steps/stairs after this type of surgery. Also am looking for a recommendation for a good foam wedge for foot elevation...and actually anything else you might want to share. I'm a bit overwhelmed at how arduous the recovery may be.
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I think I saw this mentioned before, but do you have some helpful hints about sleeping after surgery? I'm a side sleeper with pillow between knees. It's about the only way I can sleep. Yea, it's probably not possible at the beginning. Also, did anyone put a "blanket support" at the footboard to hold the blankets and sheets off the foot?
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I had a modified brostrom ligament reconstruction back in October of 2013. I am still having a LOT of pain in my ankle. It is very much more stable now that it used to be... Before the surgery it was like every step it was close to popping out of place due to the ligament, however I still have severe pain in my ankle and shin... Does anyone else experience the same issue, and any advice on what I need to do? I called the OS and they recommended me going back to the brace and although that works, I would like to at some point be without the brace, because it hurts even with the darn brace on!!!! It just feels more protected while in the brace but it doesn't stop the pain from happening.... It aches like when you have the flu, I feel achy in the ankle all the time, but w/o the brace it HURTS about a 5 out of a 10.. I have a very high pain tolerance and would say the pain is about the same as it was before the surgery.. The pain before the surgery was never so bad I couldn't deal, but it was like all day nagging pain... I am still having that pain. Is that normal 6 months after surgery?
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I had my surgery 7 weeks ago and am finally in a boot and can walk again with the help of 1 crutch. I am driving and going to physical therapy 3x a week. The first 5 weeks were very hard not being able to put any weight on my foot. A knee scooter was a tremendous help. I was not In very much pain and got to go shopping and out to eat. Getting the cast off at 5 weeks was great. Hopefully the rest of my recouperation will be as easy.
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I'm after some advice, anecdotes etc. Two years ago I sprained my ankle quite badly and it never really healed. It has bothered me quite a lot since, particularly after walking and running but seven weeks ago I broke the head of the fibula on the other leg and the ankle has become very angry as a result of having to take almost all my weight for so many weeks.
I mentioned it to my orthopaedic consultant at my last appointment, was x-rayed and it was then explained that there is a two year old avulsion fracture there; the bone and ligament never reattached. As well as this, I also have sinus tarsi syndrome. The ankle is very painful and unstable and he strongly recommends a repair. I have a podiatrist friend who suggests strapping, rehab and a steroid injection.
Has anyone had anything similar and what route did you go down with what result?
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I'm a 42 year old female. Six weeks ago I was climbing ropes at the gym and dropped down from 4-6 feet onto a piece of excess rope resting on the ground. My ankle rolled and pain and swelling occurred immediately. Being a stubborn woman, I walked it off until the swelling started spilling over my shoe.
Got an X-ray from the orthopedic who said nothing was broken.
I was on crutches for 2 weeks and still in an air cast boot when I'm on uneven ground or working out. My workouts are modified (rowing, 12" box steps, shoulder work, cleans)and ankle swells 4x the size afterwards.
My current problem/question is this: Saturday I walked without the book (tennis shoes) on a flat surface and was very careful not to twist/turn or injure the ankle. Of course, it swelled 4x the size, as it always does each afternoon.
However, pain woke me up in the middle of the night/early the next morning. I couldn't put any weight on the foot and experienced severe pain over my medial ankle bone. It was extremely tender to the touch and any movement caused sharp pain.
One day later, it's sore but the severe pain is gone.
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I had ankle surgery to repair my medial malleolus back on May 8. It was fairly routine--just 2 screws. I was in a cast for a week, then was put into a boot but told to treat it like a cast--NO weight bearing for 7 weeks, keep the boot on 24/7 unless in the bathtub. I followed directions religiously.
I did notice that when I pressed on certain areas of the foot, I would feel a sharp pain. This occurred in the heel (from the bottom), toes (again, from the bottom, primarily the foot pad below the pinky, second, and 4th toes). When I asked the doctor about this, he said (around week 5) that it was just because I hadn't been using the foot.
The problem persisted, and this week, week 7, I was cleared to start partial weight-bearing--walking in the boot while taking approximately 1/2 the weight off my foot via the crutches. I don't have ankle pain to speak of (or at least, not often and only if I overdo it), but I have terrible shooting pains in my heel and toes as I step. It's OK if I take most of the weight on the crutches, but as soon as I go to more than just a little weight on the boot, the pain starts.
This week I also started PT and the therapist told me this is nerve pain--not uncommon after surgery (don't know why the doctor couldn't have told me this, but OK). I couldn't get much of an idea from her how long this will persist or if there is anything I can do about it.
I'm doing my ankle and leg exercises (those are mostly non-weightbearing at this point) and they are going great. The ankle is clearly healing well. But I don't see how I can progress to full weight bearing (supposed to try that next week!) when much more than a little pressure on the foot results in this nerve pain!
Help! Does anyone have experience with this? Is there anything I can do to speed things along? I need to return to my second job (barefoot hoof trimming for horses--how I broke the ankle!) ASAP and I'm fearful this will slow my progress to a crawl! The doctor is useless.
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I've had 4 procedures on my ankle to remove bone spurs from the front of the joint and to microfracture an OCD.
The first procedure didn't get all of the bone spur removed and I lost 6 months doing PT and then had to have another procedure at the NYC HSS to correct the issues and I also had the stem cells to regenerate the cartilage.
All of the repairs to the ankle went well and the stems regenerated the cartilage based on the 6 month follow up MRI.
I never regained my dorsiflexion. I am stuck at about 2 degrees.
I then had a gastroc release where they told me they got over 10 degrees during the surgery but I was unable to retain it after the PT started.
I then had a debridement to remove scar tissue from the front of the ankle where they we able to get about 16 degrees during the surgery, but the scar tissue once again re-formed and I stuck back at the 2-3 degrees.
I am currently still working hard on PT and have ART and GRASTON done 2x per week.
Has anyone had any luck in finding a surgeon or technique that helps permanently remove the scar tissue to regain ROM?
I'm also a candidate to wear the ankle distraction device where the device is supposed to be able to re-distribute my existing dorsiflexion and plantarflexion to give me enough of each to walk with a normal gait.
I am currently trying to weigh my (limited) options as after 20 months I'm tired of walking with a limp!
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I am currently 8 weeks post op from a very extensive flat foot reconstructive surgery . I was excited to start partial weight bearing this week starting w 25 percent in a boot.
My problem is I have sharp pains coming from the bottom of my heel which I am thinking may be from the screws from the calcaneal osteotomy. This is making it very difficult to put any pressure on my foot when weight bearing ?
Has anyone experienced this ? Did it go away on its own? Was there anything that helped this . I am afraid I will not be able to proceed the wt bearing with this continued heel pain.
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I had reconstruction of my left foot. I am 7 1/2 weeks Post op. I was in the hospital for 4 days with a nerve block behind my knee and drugs through a pushbutton pump. pain was managed. I was sent home with perks and vicodin.
For the first week I was told to take the pain meds before I felt the pain which was every 4 hours. After the perks I was able to use vicaden, however I didn't like the vicodin so I went to tramadol. That was only for the first two weeks. My dr does not believe in hard drugs after that. I was in a cast for two week which was the worse for me😔I felt very confined and tight.
Went back to the Dr to only find out an additional 4 more weeks in the cast. Total of 8 weeks, I am now in a boot an able to bear 1/3 of my weight along with PT and exercises at home.Weight bearing is gradual. Takes 3 months for full weight bearing. It is a very long process with lots of patience.
My knee roller is a blessing.Before weight bearing I tried hopping on crutches and fell, please don't try that.
Be honest I haven't felt myself since surgery hope it's part of recovery...I would like to know if you feel not yourself yet after 7 weeks. I am the type of person that loves to run out every chance I get and sometimes I am not up to it because it's tons of work with the boot. I sincerely hope after 3 months I can work by myself. Let me know if anyone feels the same.
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If you used both crutches and a knee walker after surgery, how much did you depend on your crutches? I tried using crutches today for my upcoming surgery, and I don't think I can go more than 15 feet with them because of elbow problems.
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Doctor diagnosed gout as my uric acid level is high. I went to see the doctor because my ankles were swollen, he prescribed allopurinol, but so far after 3 weeks my ankles are still swollen and painful, but what's weird is that my right ankle is more swollen than the other. Any explanation?
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I had an OCD 15mm by 13mm removed and microfracture to my ankle last Tuesday (6/25/13). I have been sitting with my leg up on the sofa since.
I have been placed in crepe bandages while the wounds heal and go back to get the stitches out 2 weeks post op. I was wondering what they will do dressing wise at the 2 week stage. i'm non-weight bearing for 6 weeks but I feel really vulnerable with my foot just in crepe bandages. Will I be provided with an air boot or something or is there any ideas as to how to protect it?
After the 6 weeks NWB what happens? I'm guessing physio and PWB with maybe a boot?
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So I had ankle arthroscopy with microfracture for an OCD in my left ankle on 13 Apr 16.
On discharge from hospital I was told by the physiotherapist that the surgeon was happy for me to walk on the ankle as soon as I could. I thought this was pretty crazy but surgeons know best right? It seemed at the time that the only reason I was given crutches was because I had been given a local anaesthetic nerve block in my left leg in addition to the general anaesthetic and therefore could not put my foot down as it was numb, although I still felt pain in the area of surgery which again I thought was odd. I was not given any form of cast or boot.
Between discharge and my post op review I stayed mainly non weight bearing but after a week or so I started trying to partial weight bear and tried to walk without crutches. My ankle was not happy about this one bit! And so I reverted to non weight bearing, hopping around everywhere on crutches.
At my post op review I saw a podiatrist and voiced my concerns that I could not yet walk and was still feeling pain. I then saw a different surgeon to the one who performed the op, who confirmed that his patients are always given an aircast boot and told to non weight bear for 2 weeks post op!! He then gave me a boot and told me to wear it for a maximum of 2 weeks and then to try to walk again. I am now at that point and I cannot walk and I am still in pain.
Does anyone have any advice/opinions on this?
Those who have started to walk, did you have pain at first and just carried on through it?
I'd be grateful for any comments, good or bad. I can be quite pessimistic at times but I'm afraid I may have hindered my recovery my following the initial instructions.
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