Re: FUSION SURGERY - Possible Alternatives

[Guest guest]

Good idea to explore other alternatives, before fusion surgery...

I use an electronic bone stimulator, which looks like a big fat

blood pressure cuff, is hard plastic & shoots electricity through

the ankle. The plan is that with the AFO allowing prece on the bone

& the stimulator, we can create & encourage increased bone cell

growth & hopefully the fusion will be " filled in " & there won't be a

need to re-operate...

I still believe in the old adage that you do everything else first,

you can always operate. That may sound odd coming form an RN who has

had 50 operations...

------------------------

(1) Interesting comments about your using the electrical current for

bone stimulation and regrowth. This has been the established

practice for years for either jump-starting bone knitting or to

stimulate regrowth when bones simply don't want to knit. The current

used is about 6-8 hz. What I find fascinating is that the studies

that have been done (and they are extremely expensive to do) is that

the frequency emitted from the hands of energy workers when they are

working also runs between 6-8 hz. I have been cautioned in more than

one class about not working around any broken bones until they have

been properly reset because of the risk of jump-starting the

knitting process. On the other hand, I have personally also used

energy to reset broken bones (my own ribs two years ago when I first

started doing energy work). And I have been doing a fair amount of

energy work on them again the last few days.

(2) About 40 years ago when my knees were the worst they have ever

been and before anyone had even heard of arhtoscopic surgery, I was

considering surgery on both knees. My doctor at the time gave me

what I have since come to feel is the best medical advice I have

ever been given. His direct quote comment was " I am a surgeon - and

I will personally try anything and everything else before I would

ever go under the knife myself - for anything. " The big issue back

then (and to a large extent still today) was not the risk of the

surgery itself but of getting a qualified anesthesiologist.

(3) I would be the first one to concede that there are times and

circumstances where surgery is not just the best option - it may be

the only practical option. Unfortunately, there are far too many

cases where other, far less invasive, alternatives exist that aren't

even considered, let alone explored.

[Guest guest]

I flirted with the idea of getting my ankle fused. It is completely wrecked due

to my arch collapsing. My foot also turns in and has in turn twisted my whole

leg right through to the hip. I'm wearing a specially constructed brace (I've

talked about my " Forrest Gump " brace before.) The brace is actually correcting

my entire leg and has even relieved some of the pain in my back. I'm a lot

straighter now. (Which makes a huge difference in absolutely everything!) The

brace is going to be hard to adjust to this summer, in the heat, and I'm going

to be making one heck of a fashion statement with my rugby socks and sundresses!

We do what we have to, right?!

However, I am still thinking about getting some of my toes fused. Most of my

little toes are constantly dislocating and a couple of them are like rubber.

Makes balancing very difficult. Anyone else have toes fused??

Onale

[Guest guest]

,

I can't remember if I asked you this.... Have your docs considered

using a hyperbaric chamber to get your fusion process / bone growth

going? I read a bit about this years ago, that they had quite a lot

of luck with it... As I understand it, they use it for a variety of

health problems, but I seem to remember that I saw a program on TV

where they used it on bad fractures/crush injuries that would not

heal etc . They also use it when people have had radiation and that

has caused problems with bone...

Here's some URL's:

http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/hyperbaric/index.asp

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3x_Hyperbaric_oxygen_therapy.asp\

?sitearea=ETO

http://www.hbomedtoday.com/HMT_6/626.html

http://www.hyperbaricoxygenchamber.com/Medical_conditions_treated_by_/medical_co\

nditions_treated_by_.html

hugs,

Aase Marit