I need surgery

[PowerMacG5]

Last year on September 10th 2002, the day before my birthday, I messed up my ankle some how (I was standing up, and all of a sudden I collapsed). Since then I have went through two orthapedists and two MRI's. The first orthapedists really was a joke, he didn't help me at all, and when we went for the first MRI last November, he never got the results and was never persistant about he. He had me go for physical therapy, and do at home exercises, but none of it has helped. So my mother got me to go to a foot specialist. One the first meeting he could tell my ankle was still swolen and that I had limited movement in it.

He had me go for a second MRI, and this time he got the typed report and the films. They confirmed that I still have abnormalities within the ankle. It showed possible scar tissue within the joint, and on the achilles where it connects to the ankle. It also showed excess fluid. He said that I need two surgeries, but I need to pick which one is needed first. He said based on which one hurts more, is which they will operate on first. The two operations are either an orthroscopy into the joint, which will be a quick procedure, and minimal downtime; or an incision on the rear of my leg by the achiles, which has about 2 weeks of downtime, and 4-6 more weeks before I will gain functionality back.

Both operations have a one month therapy period. He said both operations are for him to see what is really wrong, and he can fix it on the spot. Now, to me, both problems hurt pretty much equally, just hurt more depending what I am doing. But they are always hurting (meaning right now as I sit in my computer chair typing this, I feel it hurting). I have learned to control the pain, or else I wouldn't be able to walk, or do anything that involves my right foot. He said that he cannot do both at the same time, and the operation on the achilles cannot be done using an orthroscope.

He believes that within the joint, the cartilage that is there for lubrication may be damaged, so it would have to be repaired if possible, or removed. And he said he believes that the achilles may have a semi-rip and scar tissue aggrivating it. I am scheduled for surgery the beginning of my december break (either December 19th or 21st will be the surgery).

Now, everyone is telling me that it is more important to have the achilles operated on first because this is the longer procedure, and I have 2.5 weeks off for the break, so I would miss little to no school (my course this year is very rigorous, and I really can't miss school unless I can find tutors qualified for teaching me 5 AP courses). I know that if I still need the orthroscopy I have one more break available to me, or when I come home for a long period when I start college. I just wanted to vent and let everyone know what is going on, and if anyone is in this area, could they give me their professional opinion on which they believe would be more important to have operated on first?

 

[Broohaha]

sorry to hear about that but paragraph's PLEASE!!

 

[Cooljt1]

paragraphs!!! or at least some spaces

 

[fatbaby]

cliffnotes?

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
cliffnotes?

No cliffnotes, this is not something that should be. I added spaces for everyone else, I hope it makes it a little easier to read.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
cliffnotes?

 

[Lvis]

I would get another opinion to see if the doctors both agree. Something like this could bother you the rest of your life, you want to make sure it's done right.

my 2 cents.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: fatbaby
cliffnotes?

 

[brxndxn]

I feel sorry for you. I hurt my ankle playing paint ball nearly 3 years ago. It pained me for an entire year even though I tried working out myself to build it up. However, I never recovered until I went to physical therapy recommended by an ortho. The physical therapy (mainly balancing with my eyes shut for minutes at a time on a foam pad - very hard when your ankle hurts) built my ankle back up strong in a single month. I am so glad for that physical therapy.

I would recommend trying something like that before you get surgery. Your body is very capable of repairing itself if it is assisted in the right way. That foam pad balancing helps work muscles that you don't ever even realize you have because they're involuntary (entirely balance muscles).

Your foot is made to balance itself so that you land with your feet always pointing the right way after every step. When those muscles are torn and weak, your foot doesn't land the right way - even for walking - and it causes sever pain. Perhaps check that out.

Hope you get better - with or without surgery!

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: L vis
I would get another opinion to see if the doctors both agree. Something like this could bother you the rest of your life, you want to make sure it's done right.

my 2 cents.

Ditto. I've had surgery on my ankle a couple of times, because I was born with a club foot when I was little. The surgeries straightened it out so that it looks normal, but it still gives me occasional problems - standing on it or walking all day (like, going to Six Flags for the day or hiking all day) can make it pretty sore. The surgeries I had were a little different than yours, but the down time was similar. Unless you need surgery on both ankles, the operations shouldn't keep you from going to school. You'll just need crutches or a wheel chair for a few weeks. This is neither pleasant nor easy, but it's doable.

Look at it this way: at least you're in Highschool and getting close to College, where Phys. Ed. isn't required. If it were, you'd be SOL. The last surgery I had on my ankle was in 5th grade; the doctor told me not to put any weight on it for 2 weeks, and not to do any really strenous activity for another month after that. I had stitches running through my foot to hold something in place; not just in my foot to hold the suture closed. Yet, after that first two weeks was up, my dumb@ss gym teacher told me to get up and run the mile with the rest of the class - and that he would send me to the principal w/ an insubordination writeup if I didn't. So I got up and spent the rest of class hobbling around the parkinglot in my big, heavy, blue cast to complete that mile. :| If I could've taken that cast off that day, I'd have beat him with it

Nate

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: brxndxn
I feel sorry for you. I hurt my ankle playing paint ball nearly 3 years ago. It pained me for an entire year even though I tried working out myself to build it up. However, I never recovered until I went to physical therapy recommended by an ortho. The physical therapy (mainly balancing with my eyes shut for minutes at a time on a foam pad - very hard when your ankle hurts) built my ankle back up strong in a single month. I am so glad for that physical therapy. I would recommend trying something like that before you get surgery. Your body is very capable of repairing itself if it is assisted in the right way. That foam pad balancing helps work muscles that you don't ever even realize you have because they're involuntary (entirely balance muscles). Your foot is made to balance itself so that you land with your feet always pointing the right way after every step. When those muscles are torn and weak, your foot doesn't land the right way - even for walking - and it causes sever pain. Perhaps check that out. Hope you get better - with or without surgery!

I already went to physical therapy and did everything you mentioned, and it didn't help. I also did the boke, stim, cold, etc.... and nothing made it feel any better.

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: L vis I would get another opinion to see if the doctors both agree. Something like this could bother you the rest of your life, you want to make sure it's done right. my 2 cents.

Ditto. I've had surgery on my ankle a couple of times, because I was born with a club foot when I was little. The surgeries straightened it out so that it looks normal, but it still gives me occasional problems - standing on it or walking all day (like, going to Six Flags for the day or hiking all day) can make it pretty sore. The surgeries I had were a little different than yours, but the down time was similar. Unless you need surgery on both ankles, the operations shouldn't keep you from going to school. You'll just need crutches or a wheel chair for a few weeks. This is neither pleasant nor easy, but it's doable. Look at it this way: at least you're in Highschool and getting close to College, where Phys. Ed. isn't required. If it were, you'd be SOL. The last surgery I had on my ankle was in 5th grade; the doctor told me not to put any weight on it for 2 weeks, and not to do any really strenous activity for another month after that. I had stitches running through my foot to hold something in place; not just in my foot to hold the suture closed. Yet, after that first two weeks was up, my dumb@ss gym teacher told me to get up and run the mile with the rest of the class - and that he would send me to the principal w/ an insubordination writeup if I didn't. So I got up and spent the rest of class hobbling around the parkinglot in my big, heavy, blue cast to complete that mile. :| If I could've taken that cast off that day, I'd have beat him with it Nate

If I get the surgery on the achilles, I will most likely be ina similar situation as you, with stitches running through the back of my leg as well.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: L vis
I would get another opinion to see if the doctors both agree. Something like this could bother you the rest of your life, you want to make sure it's done right. my 2 cents.

This is the second one we have been to, and the first one, before we left him, said that if the physical therapy didn't help that i would need surgery.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Bump for the night crowd.

 

[Cal166]

Sorry dude,

two years ago, i dislocated my ankle playing basketball, landed on someone's foot. Went to the hospital, waited 5 hours....doctor came and pop it back...$1,000 right there.