I broke my ankle about 2 months ago, and am just now beginning to walk on it, but I have a funny feeling that it is going to develop some nasty arthritis, as the doctor warned. I am wondering if anyone here has had to have an ankle fused, and what were the results...ie, short term pain control vs long term arthritis in other joints with accompanying pain. The surgery sites (there are two sites, a plate and screws in my fibula, and a screw in my tibia) don't cause pain except where the incision rubs my walking boot, but there is pain in the area of the joint. I'm suppose to return in a week and a half for a recheck and probably boot removal, but the idea of walking on it without protection makes me break into a sweat, and besides its swollen like a big salami....
I shatterted my ankle back in 1990. They had to rebuild it and use pins and bolts to keep the bones together. I have had some abnormal pain but it is is very infrequent and short lived.
