Thursday, April 25, 2013

Both Fuse Ankle & Knee Replacement - Before and After Surgery


Many people wonder what the purpose of ankle fusion is. What it does is remove the surface of the ankle joint by connecting bones with metal rods to allow the tibia, which is your larger lower leg bone, and the talus, which is the highest bone in your foot, to grow together.

This operation can be performed in many joints of the body where painful join pain is debilitating. Before joint replacement options became available, this was the operation of choice. Still, joint fusion is sometimes the best choice. In some instances, a person will need both fuse ankle and knee replacement surgery. In this case, there are a few preparatory steps you should take before going into the operation.

Before the decision to go under the knife is unalterably decided, both the surgeon and the patient must agree it is the best course of action. If you have any questions or concerns, prior to the surgery will be the time to ask them. Both fuse ankle and knee replacement surgeries are serious and permanent decisions. Before the surgery, your surgeon may recommend a checkup to be performed by your regular doctor. It is important that everything is in order with your overall physical healthy before going into surgery. The night before the operation, be sure that you do not eat or drink anything past midnight or in the morning prior to the procedure.

After surgery, if only a fusion of the ankle has occurred, it will be wrapped in a padded plaster cast for two weeks and replaced with a short-leg cast after that. You must not put any pressure on your ankle until it is apparent that fusing is occurring. This could easily take eight to twelve weeks. If you have both fuse ankle and knee replacement surgeries, you can expect to be off your feet for even longer. To help in the recovery process, basic practices can be performed like elevating the leg while sleeping.

There is more you can do, however, to increase your recovery time, decrease and eventually eliminate pain, and restore full use to your legs. The knowledge comes from an expert in the area that has received two knee replacement surgeries and is well aware of the pain and recovery time that accompanies such an operation. The secrets are being revealed now, so if you are ready to jump back into life totally pain free,Then you have so much more to learn!

While there have been great advances in medical technology, a successful outcome is determined by the patient's attitude and willingness to do the necessary therapy. Based on their experience, many doctors have somewhat low expectations for recovery and may not be very encouraging. It is up to the patient to find and follow an exercise program that has already shown proven results. Equally important is finding a trainer or mentor who has a positive attitude toward recovery from knee surgery and who can teach anyone the same mindset. Believing it can be done and working with someone who has already achieved the desired results is the key to returning to normal activities and remaining free from pain.

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