ankle arthroscopy complications?

Hi, after reading these articles I find there is a lot of negativity with ankle arthroscopy. It's a long story, but hopefully will help! I had a sever ankle fracture when I was 15, which involve my tibia and fibular bones to fracture. This required 2 screws up in to the tibia bone and a plate and 5 screws in the fibular bone. After around 9 months, the metal work had become loosed through wear and tear and was removed. I found at the time having the metal work that my ankle movement was down to about 30% and the movement in my toes about the same. After the removal of the metal work I eventually had full movement of my toes and about 70% movement in my ankle joint. With regular exercise I was able to increase the movement slightly more than this by doing low impact activities such as cycling and cross training machines. 12 years down the line and now at the age of 27, I started to experience pain in the joint, which was becoming uncomfortable with every day activities, stopping me from doing physical work and exercise. I was experiencing a locking and tightening sensation, giving me heavy pain and swelling. I went to a private ankle specialist, where I was immediately sent for an MRI scan. The scan showed I had a very large build up of scar tissue through out the joint and varying Amounts of debris and about 5% arthritic change. I was told this is a cause of excessive trauma to a part of the body, which would have mainly developed from the two post surgeries, but slowly got worse over time. So the diagnosis being I needed an arthroscopy to clean out the joint, which would enable me to regain function. I was told prior to the surgery that improvement was 70 - 80% with a 5% chance thing would get worse. I went ahead with the operation in November 2013. I was in the hospital as a day case, going in early morning for a 55minute operation, which I was told was longer than usual, but they had made sure a thorough job was done, as there was more tissue that what had previously been expected. After surgery I felt no pain what so ever as they had given me a nerve block in my thigh and one in the joint itself, this meant I had a tingling type sensation for around 2 days, wearing off by the 3rd day. As mentioned by many other people, I had numbness in my big toe and second toe, this is because the larger incision is right next to a main nerve, the swelling and trauma around this nerve can cause numbness for quite a period of time. I was told I would be driving by the 7th day, which was probably more like the day you will start putting your full weight back through the joint. I would say I was on and off crutches for about 4 weeks until I started to feel enough improvement to walk totally unaided. I found that I kept putting my self back on crutches in the first 4 weeks because I was really trying to push the range of motion in the joint. I was doing daily exercises and stretching the joint as much as possible until it felt uncomfortable then resting until it felt I could do it again. It's the only way I have found recovery to work as this is the 3rd time I've gone through physio on this joint, if you don't push it hard in the first stages, you will be in for a long recovery. At the point of about 6 weeks I started to do cycling and further ankle stretches to increase pressure through the joint and build muscle to create stability also. Don't get me wrong at this point I am still getting pains in the joint, but the more exercise I am doing, it is making a simple walk nearly painless. I am in week 9 at the moment and I am using a Cross trainer as well as bike 3 - 4 times a week, which is making the joint far far better. Another rehabilitation you can try is swimming, jogging motions in deep water takes the pressure off your joints. I have also manage to push it hard enough that I have about 85 - 90% movement now in my ankle, which is more that I ever had. I was told when I went back for my final review that If you don't push it hard and work through the pain in the first few months, that you will be looking at longer and longer recovery times, up to and over a year. Also you must do harder exercise than walking, as it just isn't enough to build the strength up in the joint. One more thing, I still have very slight numbness in my toes, which can be desensitised by rubbing cream into it until it feels uncomfortable, if you do this every day, it will eventually desensitise the skin. The way I look at it pre op to post off, I have seen a vast improvement, and all though each case is different If you stick with it, hopefully you can get results. I wish everyone one the best of luck

twisted ankle in july2012  had ankle arthroscopy debridement in sept2013 , had cartilage and bone spurs cleaned,  started therapy 4 weeks after surgery, and as james2009 posted earlier, my therapist recommended the same push a little bit harder initially as to not allow scar tissue to form, weight bearing joints are difficult to heal, and as mentioned by other contributors earlier everybody's situation is different, and ankle injuries take a while to heal there's still lingering pain, weight management has been a big part of my recovery process as i am overweight, I have been able to lose 22 pounds in about 2 months, managing my food intake, low calorie diet mostly vegetables, that has greatly improved my situation although I still have pain, it makes me hopeful knowing that even with the physical limitations I have which are, not been able to run due to pain, only able to walk for about 20mins before ankle gets extremely swollen,  doing stationary bike for 20mins 3xweek, before pain becomes unbearable there is still other things you can do, i've done some pool therapy that has been helpful, for the past two days i started using custom made insoles for my shoes that my therapist recommended, he also uses them for ankle issues, they are great, with the insoles in my shoes I'm able to walk up to 45mins before swelling becomes too painful, to all of you out there stay positive my friends it will pass, it's very frustating at least for me has been, but I haven't given up hope that one day I will feel much better and all of you will too. this thread makes me realize I'm not alone and reading james2009 post uplifted me because today in particular i was having a bad day but his post made me realize that I'm in pain today simply because for the past 2 days i have walk more than I have walk in months although a small feat, my pain was blinding my progress, it will take time but it will pass, it will pass.

So icehockey hair and other posters, where are you now a year from the operation? Any light at the end of the tunnel you wish to share would be awesome. I just had debridement and arthroscopy in my right ankle and at week 6.5, weighbearing is pretty painful but I am following all instructions / doing physiotherapy. HOW GOES IT GUYS??

I sprained my ankle June 2013, wasn't right since so had an ankle arthroscopy to debride the ligament in November 2014. I was told to weight bear straight away, I'd be off crutches after a week or two and in 6-8 weeks I should be all good. I was using a crutch (woulda used two at first if I could but I have a bad wrist!) up for 8 weeks until I finally managed to ween myself off it! Walking unaided now and nearly got rid of the limp, however after an hour or two on my feet the limp starts to creep back. I'm 23 and normally a very active person and I haven't been able to run in 19 months and it's rather frustrating. Just wondering how long it took other people to get back to sports (of any description!) Guess it's just been a slow recovery for me? I don't even feel confident enough yet to start cycling.

I went through this surgery and ended up having a second surgery with a different doctor. The first surgeon left a massive amount of scar tissue and a bone fragment in the joint. He performed the microfracture to generate new cartilage but failed to debride the joint space. I learned that my surgeon had performed the surgery "half way." I suffered a year in pain and I am consulting a lawyer. My advice is to see someone else. You may need a second surgery if you have no pain relief within six months of your surgery.

I had ankle microfracture, debridement 12 days ago. I still get the same sudden stabbing pains to lateral ankle. Anyone else? Terribly frustrated. see doc 3 days, hope he has comforting answers. Will this pain ever go away?

Hi Nicos, I m 8 months from similar surgery. Any dorsiflexion is painful. Standing to walk painful. I never know when it will happen. Motrin is giving me elevated blood pressure. Like you in a year I hope and pray to be better. My dr wants me to use allard toe off brace. I use to walk 2 miles daily. Now I line people up to walk my Aussie. My best to you. Keep me posted. Peggy

I'm 3 years and still the same!!!

Hi Barbara,

I know you posted over a year ago, but was curious of your outcome. My husband is going through the same thing and I wondering which was I should go.

Thank you,

Roseanne

have you improved since Marlene? I had exactly the same surgery 6 weeks ago and am quite discouraged in that I am having considerably more pain nor than before the surgery. No my surgeon is talking about fusion or ankle replacement.. I wish he had warned me before recommending the first surgery.

Hi there,

Same experience here. Thought I'd share the timeline, I am still struggling 5 mths out of surgery. taking lots of vitamins and fish oil supplements.

Feb 16 - injured medial ligament ankle inward high sprain.
Apr 17- got arthroscopic surgery after no success with physio, acupuncture, chiro, osteo. Removed bone fragments and synovitis
Post surgery Jun 17- steroid injection due to nerve pain
current -still get nerve shooting pain from normal walking and reduced dorsiflexion
1st sep 17 - meeting surgeon again

I will share more should i get a better solution. I feel your pain.

H

I had the same procedure done 21 nov, I have sharp nerve pain and numbness coming from my big toe down towards the wound.. I’m going to ring my surgeon and find out what steps to take next, I’m I need more pain now than I was before surgery

I had ankle arthroscopy and debridement in August, 5 months ago . My ankle is healing very slowly, I still have pain and discomfort but I’m pretty sure that I will make a full recovery now . I’ve started doing short runs on the treadmill. Like you I thought it would be a few weeks but it can take a good few months. I reckon in still at least 3 months away from full recovery.

I had a right ankle arthroscopy to clean out my joint and remove loose bone fragments following a small fracture in April 2016 and had instant relief. The past month, I’ve had ankle pain, swelling and stiffness... I haven’t done anything different lately or hurt myself but I’m a phone call away from going back to the dr for a checkup.

I’m six months now and my ankle is worse than before the operation. I found that the physio aggravated my ankle so I am now going to rest it at every opportunity. I’m still hopeful it will get better.