Ankle Fusion and Achilles Tendon surgery

    • Anonymous
      March 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm

      Has anyone had either fusion or AT surgery for foot drop due to our disease?
      I have been wearing AFO’s on both ankles for years and have started to consider one of these options. Anyone have some input.

      Thanks

    • Anonymous
      March 30, 2009 at 9:21 pm

      what is the surgey for drop foot? Do they tighten the AT and if so I would worry about scar tissue causing more damage. I am interested in what you decide. Let us know please.
      Linda

    • Anonymous
      March 31, 2009 at 8:06 am

      I am going to see an RA specialist and Osteo surgeon to get pros and cons. I think they lengthen the AT but I’ll find out

    • Anonymous
      March 31, 2009 at 12:31 pm

      Had achilles tendon release in both feet due to foot drop. was painful but now i can wlk with a cane. wear afos on both feet. Now i need an ankle fusion on the left due to foot drop and after achilles tendon release i walk sid eways on my foot. just one foot though. dr thinks i may be able to do without my afo after the surgery and rehab. good luck. if i could get through it anybody can i am a bit of a baby when it comes to pain.

    • Anonymous
      April 1, 2009 at 12:17 pm

      Michael,

      I suffer similarly. Tremendous tightening of all tendons in the foot. Top of the foot, Plantar fascia, achilles, plus all of the little ones. I do not envy your pain.

      I too sought “tendon reassignment”. That is what they called it then. Some tendons are cut and during healing, the others stretch a little and help cover the difference. I guess there are other procedures that might actually replace tendon parts, etc.

      I got shot down. Nobody would touch me. With a degenerative neuro-muscular disease no solution would be permanent, and each solution had the prospect of failure and losing what mobility I still had/have. Once I got past the emotional rejection of losing an opportunity, I realized they were right. Now, five years later, I understand I would be so much worse now if I had the procedure.

      Everyone is different, but I urge caution. Understand the risks and possible downside results before you go under the knife.

      Dick S