Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Posted May 18, 2006 Hi Hope, No kidding it is a big decision. ANY surgery is. I have not had an ankle fusion but I have had other CMT related foot surgery, plus non- CMT related surgery. In my experience, you must be entirely comfortable with a particular doctor, the entire process, and the recovery period. Also, an ankle fusion won't take away the arthritis. Have you tried orthotics or AFOs or physical therapy or some other kind of bracing, maybe like Helios? What shoes have you been wearing? Are the doctors you have seen knowledgeable about CMT and ankle fusion surgeries? How do YOU feel about this? Lastly, let me say when I was about 22 and in an experimental drug trial at UCLA for CMT, I had a doc tell me I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 30. I left the drug trial early (pissed him off) plus when he told me the 'wheelchair thing', I told him to go F himself. Right now I am 53, I am in the absolute best physical and mental shape I have ever been, believe it or not, and I am not in a wheelchair, nor was I when I was 30. I urge you to carefully and slowly weigh the pros and cons of everything your doctors have mentioned. Take your time, do not rush into surgery. Only have surgery when you have found the absolute best doctor that you can trust without a doubt who has done many CMT ankle fusions. ~ Gretchen Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.