Pamela
29-04-2006, 10:49 PM
Hi All,
Just found this site and am delighted to find so much useful information. I'm in the UK and have been feeling totally despondent with my situation and completely helpless.
I am 53, have had foot and ankle problems from birth and underwent subtalar fusions in my 20s. This proved successful and after a lengthy and painful rehab I resumed full sporting activities - competitive horse riding, competitive running, hill walking skiing etc etc. Then in my 40s I slipped through a hay pallet and injured my left ankle badly. I've had trouble on and off with it ever since but last November, after a minor riding injury, things took a dramatic turn for the worse and are deteriorating rather than improving despite physio, podiatrist and so on.
My GP thinks I should still wait and things will improve but it is not looking likely. There are no expert ankle ortho consultants in my region and I was sent (privately) to the nearest one to me. He clearly did not have up to date information and had a rather arrogant attitude. Without seeing x-rays he told me I could have full fusion which would relieve the pain but restrict my sporting activities. Or I could do leave things but try and preserve the joint as far as possible by doing nothing physically demanding for the rest of my life. I was furious about the whole thing. He knew nothing about me or my life style yet made these far reaching comments on my future.
Obviously I will not see this man again but do want to get a good expert opinion. In this country you can only see a consultant by referal through your GP. Yet my GP isn't keen to send me anywhere and doesn't appear to know who would be the best person to see. How can one find out who the top ankle people are, especially those with sporting interests/leanings?
Just found this site and am delighted to find so much useful information. I'm in the UK and have been feeling totally despondent with my situation and completely helpless.
I am 53, have had foot and ankle problems from birth and underwent subtalar fusions in my 20s. This proved successful and after a lengthy and painful rehab I resumed full sporting activities - competitive horse riding, competitive running, hill walking skiing etc etc. Then in my 40s I slipped through a hay pallet and injured my left ankle badly. I've had trouble on and off with it ever since but last November, after a minor riding injury, things took a dramatic turn for the worse and are deteriorating rather than improving despite physio, podiatrist and so on.
My GP thinks I should still wait and things will improve but it is not looking likely. There are no expert ankle ortho consultants in my region and I was sent (privately) to the nearest one to me. He clearly did not have up to date information and had a rather arrogant attitude. Without seeing x-rays he told me I could have full fusion which would relieve the pain but restrict my sporting activities. Or I could do leave things but try and preserve the joint as far as possible by doing nothing physically demanding for the rest of my life. I was furious about the whole thing. He knew nothing about me or my life style yet made these far reaching comments on my future.
Obviously I will not see this man again but do want to get a good expert opinion. In this country you can only see a consultant by referal through your GP. Yet my GP isn't keen to send me anywhere and doesn't appear to know who would be the best person to see. How can one find out who the top ankle people are, especially those with sporting interests/leanings?