Ankle fusion and cycling

Sailingalong
Sailingalong Posts: 156
edited January 2011 in Road beginners
Hi guys.

Wonder if any of you have experience on this.

Smashed my ankle, badly in 1985, now they want to fuse it so it doesn't move and give me any pain. I'd like to know if it's still o.k for me to cycle after it.

If anyone knows about this I'd be grateful.

Thanks.

Comments

  • kayakerchris
    kayakerchris Posts: 361
    No personal experience but you might want to think about the following.

    ask them to make you a moulded thermoplastic brace to immobilise your ankle in the position of the fusion and then try cycling with it on. If you cant cycle with that you wont cycle with an arthrodesis.

    How old are you? have they suggested an artificial joint? Do they do artificial joints? If not could you see an artificial joint expert to ask his advice. (artificial ankles are available but I do not personally know indication)

    Have you tried steroid injections, all pain killers, etc?
    www.hand-surgery.co.uk
    www.dupuytrens.co.uk
  • Sailingalong
    Sailingalong Posts: 156
    I'm 58.

    Nobody has suggested an artificial joint. The consultant, was a bigger pain than my ankle. :cry:

    Pain killers do work and I've yet to try injections. Doc's tomorrow so I'll get a good view... I hope.

    I actually get little pain when cycling, it's walking that kills me.
  • mikebarrett
    mikebarrett Posts: 2
    If pain killers work then stay away from the operating table.

    If painkillers work and you are therefore able to relieve your symptoms, do you really want an operation?

    As for cycling, it depends on the position the ankle is in. On would imagine you will still be able to cycle but the fused ankle will not be as good / powerful as the other side.
  • Sailingalong
    Sailingalong Posts: 156
    mikebarrett wrote:
    If pain killers work then stay away from the operating table.

    If painkillers work and you are therefore able to relieve your symptoms, do you really want an operation?

    The last thing I want is another op. Just had a knee arthroscopy and that's bad enough. Just able to stand on the pedals now after 3 months.

    Good advice thanks.
  • mikebarrett
    mikebarrett Posts: 2
    The only indication for a joint replacement is for pain. If you have pain and it is relieved by analgesia most surgeons will tell you to go away and come back when the pain is bothering you too much and the painkillers don't work.

    Ask your surgeon if you need the operation as there may be an underlying reason why he wants to fuse the joint. Then you will be able to weigh it up and decide if you feel you want an op. Painful but functional vs reduced function and possibly painful and possibly giving up cycling which you enjoy.
  • kayakerchris
    kayakerchris Posts: 361
    If it only hurts when walking would you be willing to use a splint on the ankle just for walking?

    he may think that the problems in your knee come from the abnormal anatomy in your ankle.

    I would also ask your GP to refer you to a podiatrist or a gait laboratory. It may be that insoles in your shoes will even up the anatomy and allow you to avoid surgery altogether.
    www.hand-surgery.co.uk
    www.dupuytrens.co.uk
  • bliarout
    bliarout Posts: 153
    http://www.return2fitness.co.uk/Support ... e_Supports

    Fusion is the absolute last resort, never mind cycling, you'll struggle to get down stairs!

    Oh, and you'll walk like a twat. I had a medically stiff knee for a good few years and was offered fusion. It's a one way street and I'd only use it if I couldn't sleep etc.

    A medical brace would allow you to see the effects of a fusion without being fused.
  • skyntri
    skyntri Posts: 1
    I had a subtalar fusion 16 years after a breaking my heel. It had become arthritic and painful. The fusion did not take and I have to get a triple arthrodesis now. I am able to ride although painfully. I can hammer out about 75 miles a week if I immerse my ankle in ice water after and then take it easy between rides. I'm on disability so that's doable. In three weeks i'll be back on crutches hoping for better results this time.
  • unclemalc
    unclemalc Posts: 563
    I ride (and walk) with the results of many, many surgeries for Talipes (Club Foot) from birth.
    My right ankle is now a mush with more arthritis visible in the x-rays then useful bone but it does not affect my riding. As you say - it's long walking that kills it. I have never managed more than 8 miles walking at any time in my life, which made scouting fun as a kid - all they seemed to do was hike... :(

    Anyway, last time I was 'in the system' the consultant asked if I wanted it fused. He laid out the pros and cons and my decision was that I am NOT having it fused. Ibruprofen (400mg) rocks...
    You definitely need to test the rigid anklebrace and see what effect it has. I suspect you'll hate it...
    Spring!
    Singlespeeds in town rule.
  • finappy
    finappy Posts: 2
    I had to have my left ankle fused last year because of a compound fracture in 1998. I have no movement in the ankle but also no arthritic pain. I don't have any issues riding my mountain bike, especially if i ride on my heel or ball of the foot. if i over do it, i just ice it afterwards......Good luck.
  • finappy
    finappy Posts: 2
    BTW, forget about artificial ankle joints....There's only a couple doctors that even do it. Hips, knees, etc.... are pretty common but not ankles, especially at 58 (too young). I can still golf with my fused ankle, just had to adjust swing, etc....
  • kayakerchris
    kayakerchris Posts: 361
    Ankle fusions are now actually a reasonably common procedure. I personally know half a dozen surgeons who would do it!

    Age is a bit low but better to have a few more years of the movement and then fuse or revise than continue in pain. This is a fairly routine scenario for surgeons.
    www.hand-surgery.co.uk
    www.dupuytrens.co.uk
  • tonywebster5784
    tonywebster5784 Posts: 1
    edited May 2011
    I've just had an ankle fusion, well it was in Nov, I'm still in plaster. I've read the comments made by everybody but it's all just guess work, has anybody had the op and then carried on with a serious mountain biking passion?

    I'm 40 and have been mountain biking since my late twenties, I had a car accident which caused the smashed ankle in the 1st place, it was ok for about 10 years & then the pain started in earnest, pain killers didn't touch it even though I was necking 3 a day & I knew if I’d missed one. I hobbled around like a cripple even though I worked out in the gym most days & spend as much time on my bike possible, in fact there was no pain on my bike as there wasn’t any impact directly on the ankle, it was walking I couldn’t do. So three weeks to go until the plaster comes off, my bike is cleaned & lubed the 1st thing I’m doing after I get home is head out on it. I'll let you know how I get on.


    OK, it’s now late May 2011, 7 months since the op & 3 months since the plaster came off. The ankle is cured, well no pain from it, the foot hurts a bit but the doc did say that the recovery period for that is 12 – 18 months from coming out of plaster due to the foot moving in directions it hasn’t done before. The bike is no different, I got on it as soon as I got home from hospital, my fitness was poor, ankle was tender & I lacked confidence but managed 24 miles with an additional 35 min on my PB, not so bad, back to normal now, well not quite, went out with some mates a couple of weeks ago & was last out of 5 riders when I used to be 1st but I’m not bitter, much. Recovery will happen, it takes time, the improvement in my life is amazing, my advice is if you’re in pain & this op can help get it done, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, even at this stage, still recovering, I know it was the best thing I could of done.

    Good luck & happy Mountain Biking!!
  • stubble07
    stubble07 Posts: 5
    My Story goes quicky like this I am 45yrs old

    Had my left Ankle Fused May 2008 they put two long titanuim screws in my ankle to help
    it fuse together.
    I was in plaster for 6 months took another 6 months before I could happy say i was walking with no walking aid and no pain.
    before the fusion I was very much into Mountaineering including Mountain biking.
    all my life I was always into sport never sitting still. Played Badminton at County level,
    Playing 6 days aweek.
    As you can see this was a hell of a blow to me to lose a ankle joint. It took me two years to make up my mind, the pain was really getting me down.

    Anyway two and half years later It was the best thing I could of done.
    Don,t get me wronge I had to change my life around, take up new ways of keeping active

    So to cycling. I find no problem what so ever. A year ago i got myself a road bike and
    love it. I do 180 miles a week.I have done sportives and Audaxes up to a 100 miles no problem last year.
    I do use the mountain bike, going down hill over bumpy and stoney ground does hurt the ankle, mainly the screws in the ankle if i had them removed it might help.

    So I hope this helps PM me if you need more info

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