Sorry, just saw your message about the ankle fusion…I am not on here a lot, and I always have a hard time figuring out how to reply to the private messages on here. Sorry…hope this works! Anyway, yes, I had an ankle fusion about 8 years ago, I don’t regret it for a minute! The pain before was very bad, I think that I waited a year or two too long. I have no pain now, walk without a limp, have pretty much no limitations…only ones I can think of…I can’t run, I look like I am having a seizure if I try, lol! Can’t wear anything more than a tiny wedge heel, but am not a dressy shoe person anyway, so that’s not much of a sacrifice. Can’t get pull on tall boots on…which made me a little sad, as I always wanted a pair of Dubarry’s…but now they have zip ups, so problem solved! I still ride, I do only dressage now, but that’s more because I am old and don’t have a steady eddy anymore…I did jump my old retired horse, up to 3’ after my ankle fusion with no problem. I think anything really high, where you have to really shorten your stirrups may be a problem, because really can’t get heel down. Any equitation where heel down position judged as important would be out…I did eventing though, so no problem there. I was pretty functionally limited before the surgery anyway, the pain was so bad. I don’t regret it for a second, the pain was improved almost immediately. The recovery takes a bit…it was 6 weeks total non weight bearing, then another 4 in a walking boot. It did take another few months just to get used to the new normal…I would say by 6months I didn’t even notice that I had had anything done. I was in my late 40s at time of surgery. Everyone is different, though. I also have a co worker who had one…she doesn’t ride, but is younger and active and very happy that she had hers done as well. Would steer away from replacements…I have been told they fail/wear out after a certain time… given how little I notice that mine is fused, I wouldn’t want the added risk of a replacement failure, I do just fine as is. Hope this helps!.
