Total Ankle, a kankle story
As the story goes, overshot a jump or 2 in the late 90s. Flat landing shattered the cartilage in my right ankle. Never saw a doctor til a few years later when it started bothering me. Had my first surgery to clean it up and reform cartilage (microfracture). Lasted about 12 years. Got another microfracture circa 2017, lasted about 5 years.
Tried another clean-up and microfracture 2 years ago. It went OK, but it wasn't great. At 45, the law of diminishing returns came into play. We started using hyaluronic acid gel injections every 2 months, and that seemed to help keep the bones from rubbing.
However, after a bad wipeout (front wheel folded in a corner) that tweeked my ankle, then required a long hike out on a techy trail in stiff clip-in shoes, shit went south.
My foot was completely numb by the time I stumbled home. Numb, and painful.
I had a trip to Peru, dive trip with kids, a ski season, and a job that requires being somewhat mobile, all in jeopardy.
We treated for nerve entrapment to no avail. An MRI revealed "cysts" on the tibial nerve. A tarsal release surgery revealed globs of joint gel stuck to the nerve. The recent injection had oozed out of the joint capsule and into the tarsal tunnel. This was all washed out, and some feeling has returned.
However, the main problem returned in earnest. My ankle was always swollen, and janky trails hurt.
The jankle made it thru a shuttle-centered 10-day bike tour de Peru, scuba, an abbreviated ski season, work, and life for 6 months. It was painful and required a lot of icing. Any activity needed a bucket of ice and a celebrex after. I developed a pressure ulcer from walking on the outside of my foot, and structural changes were occurring in my left knee due to my abnormal gait.
So, spring is here, and a more permanent solution was planned.
Total Ankle replacement. The tech has improved, and a friend had it done. He was quite satisfied.
Had my 5th ankle surgery, with metal placed, done at a local place from a well-respected surgeon.
- "My ankles have climbed Everest."
https://www.wright.com/footandanklep...l-ankle-system
So today, 7 days post-op, and I'm in a cast, bored out of my mind and wishing I had any other hobbies that didn't require a healthy body. PT can not start soon enough.
I hope this is the solution. My kankle/jankle/mankle has been the limiting factor in my life for the last few years.
I'm looking forward to some more good years!
Survived a fall/winter of fun things while the kankle deteriorated and controlled my activity level: https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bcacb2dfda.jpg
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Last day on skis with the Littles:
This day hurt, bigly.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...eb446beda0.jpg
The crash that turned this into a necessity.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...dbaf53ff4f.jpg
The only way I survived the past 6 - 8 months.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...110fd78899.jpg
Pressure ulcer that developed from my abnormal gait. I could no longer bend my ankle to walk, and it showed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...933ef7c361.jpg
Joint goo stuck in the tarsal tunnel.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...848a270e51.jpg
Post op nerve release:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...618bee27a9.jpg
Various other past procedures (also tore some tendons along the way)
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Post-Op images:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...918b780929.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...982bce82d3.jpg
Take-home nerve block post-op is essential.
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