Ugh. Saw the ortho for 2nd opinion today

[minkydog]

I have post-tibial tendon dysfunction. Basically, the tendon that runs behind the inner ankle from the mid-arch to the back of the calf is stretched beyond recoveryr. I had already gotten an opinion from an orthopedic surgeon and today the 2nd ortho confirmed everything. I need surgery. He did offer to put me into a hard plastic knee-high brace--for the rest of my life Or I could opt to just sit on the couch until doomsday. I'm only 53; I think I'll get it fixed.

Shoot! I pretty much knew there wasn't really anything he could do differently but I had hoped there was maybe one more thing we could try. I went by my original surgeon's office and set up surgery for early June. Hopefully I can make the tendon last until then. If it ruptures, then it will be an emergency. I'd do it now, but I jsut started a new job as a school nurse. If I can wait until school is out that would be much better.

The docs tell me that recovery is long and miserable--6-8 weeks non-weightbearing in a cast, then 3-6 MONTHS in a walking boot. Nine to twelve months until full recovery. Bleah

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Sounds like my sister's ankle reconstruction. It was real hell for her. She is still not 100% and it has been almost 2yrs now.

 

[themilesfamily]

Ugh, that is depressing. It's hard to accept when body parts start pooping out.

Well, don't hesitate to turn to us at the DISboards while you're recovering. We are certainly here for comfort and entertainment 24-hours a day. I really do hope that everything goes as perfectly as possible.

Did they say if it was the result of an injury or just normal wear and tear?

 

[minkydog]

Did they say if it was the result of an injury or just normal wear and tear?

Probably a little of both. I have been very flat-footed all my life. My wet foot prints actually look like large ovals. Over the years my arch has dropped even more and my ankle bone is now almost on the ground. So it started as an overuse injury and it makes my ankle very unstable. Then I broke the ankle a few years ago and that did nothing to help. It had been doing pretty well until last summer when I went to New Orleans. The sidewalks there are very old and and uneven which stretched the tendon more. I was in a cast last summer and 8wks of PT. Then reinjured it in December walking on the treadmill. I just got out of my walking cast and I'll have to wear a brace pretty much until I get the surgery.

All I can think of is how darn hot that cast is going to be this summer.

 

[minkydog]

Sounds like my sister's ankle reconstruction. It was real hell for her. She is still not 100% and it has been almost 2yrs now.

Oh goody. Something to look forward to. NOT.