I had a horribly painful ankle due to rheumatoid arthritis and didn't want to have surgery, for many reasons. Cortizone injections helped tremendously until there was no cartilage left. While I was having the injections - every 3 months - I wore an lace up ankle brace and wore trainers/athletic shoes. Even after the injections were no longer possible, I wore it until it partially fused on its own and the pain stopped. I still needed to wear supportive shoes the majority of the time and was so happy that I'd resisted surgery... until I fell in July, dislocated my ankle and broke my outer leg bone at the ankle! Best laid plans... I had fusion surgery and am still recovering. I have a friend who had two ankle replacements that failed, so I opted for the ankle fusion.
I highly recommend trying everything you can before opting for surgery!!
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I had a horribly painful ankle due to rheumatoid arthritis and didn't want to have surgery, for many reasons. Cortizone injections helped tremendously until there was no cartilage left. While I was having the injections - every 3 months - I wore an lace up ankle brace and wore trainers/athletic shoes. Even after the injections were no longer possible, I wore it until it partially fused on its own and the pain stopped. I still needed to wear supportive shoes the majority of the time and was so happy that I'd resisted surgery... until I fell in July, dislocated my ankle and broke my outer leg bone at the ankle! Best laid plans... I had fusion surgery and am still recovering. I have a friend who had two ankle replacements that failed, so I opted for the ankle fusion.
I highly recommend trying everything you can before opting for surgery!!
September 9, 2009 - 8:28amThis Comment
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