“I have shin pain after ankle fusion surgery?”
I underwent left ankle fusion in June 2021. Seemingly went well and I was walking in air-boot unaided after 8 weeks and boot removed 10th week. I have since swum and cycled too. However, I noticed a slight pain in the left shin and that pain has been increasing. The pain is low level in left side of ankle but significant in shin. What may be the cause? What might be the solution?
Male | 64 years old
Complaint duration: 10/06/2021
Medications: none
Conditions: recovering
7 Answers
First, I recommend that you go back to your surgeon and address these concerns. Second, reading your story, if you had this done in june of 2021, and as I am answering this in march of 2022, you are recovering, healing, and then doing remarkably well. ankle fusion usually takes 9-12 months to fully recover. Lastly, one thing with any joint fusion, joints are suppose to move, and a joint is fused, there can be other compensation symptoms or other ailments that comes about, so the symptoms you are feeling can be normal process or may not, therefore, highly recommend you to return to see your surgeon.
Could be a stress fracture. Should have an X-ray taken, preferably by the surgeon.
This may be related to the surgery and the body adjusting to a new normal. I recommend you discuss your specific case with a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) for a better understanding of your situation
Reconsult Surgeon. You can try Acupuncture with Moxibustion.
When you fuse a joint, the motion has to be taken up from the joints proximal and distal to the fused joint. So you may be getting pain secondary to the fusion and the stress on other areas of your leg and foot. Furthermore, long periods of immobilization, such as are needed for an ankle fusion, can also cause residual issues with the kind of pain you are describing.
You should visit your surgeon and ask for anti-inflammatory medication and possibly physical therapy (particularly electrical stimulation and ultrasound modalities). If the pain persists, you may have to get an MRI or other imaging studies to evaluate what is wrong.
You should visit your surgeon and ask for anti-inflammatory medication and possibly physical therapy (particularly electrical stimulation and ultrasound modalities). If the pain persists, you may have to get an MRI or other imaging studies to evaluate what is wrong.
Perhaps a follow up and X-ray with your surgeon would provide more information.
Best of luck.
Robert D. Swift, DO, FAOAO
Best of luck.
Robert D. Swift, DO, FAOAO
Consider an in-depth orthopedic evaluation of your tibia on the ankle fusion side to rule out a fatigue fracture. Triple phase bone scan may be helpful with working through the differential diagnosis.
REG
REG
