The Procedure: Ankle Arthorodesis

Day 6 after surgery:  The pain lessens with each day, thank God.  I can stand on the left foot where all 9 rods that went from one side of the foot through muscle and bone, then extended out to attach to a circular metal cage and fix my ankle in place, was removed after 10 weeks. Sorry, for the graphic picture but I thought it would help illustrate my disscussion.

So, what did I elect to do after walking and losing my balance for two years: Ankle arthorodesis.  This is a method of treatment for drop foot in patients who are not candidates for tendon transfers.  It is aso an effective way to improve gait efficiency and potentially eliminate the need for brace wear in patients.

After a long, frightening and frustrating journey, in 2007, I felt that my primary care physician was not listening to me.  He insisted that the statin medication I was taking for high cholesteral had nothing to do with the persistent weakness in my left ankle.  In addition, two orthopaedic doctors took a wait and see attitude, never once placing my feet into their hands to physically examine me and threw me into braces where I lost muscle and function of my ankles. Over the course of the next couple of years, three neurologists had varying diagnosis's consisting of lower motor neuron disease, ALS, neuropathy; then, by late 2010, it was decided that I was not a classic patient with those symptoms, or "I would be dead by now." Thus, my suggestion to see a recommened podiatric surgeon was a good idea.  Yes, this was my final recommendation after my countless visists to chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, water therapy, and, most important and crtical to my healing, a nutritional plan ( I'll save that for another posting).  This was my quest to heal and correct my condition, while rejecting one physician's death sentence after spending about 10 minutes with me.