Question
Hi Sharon, Thanks for your service to allexperts.com.
I have a VERY painful/bad ankle, mostly osteo-arthritis.
Two options for repair are fusion and replacement.

Question: I am sixty five and the bad ankle came from sports--too much tennis, in fact.

1. Can I ski if I have fusion (I read that somewhere)?
2. I know that ankle replacement gives greater flexability but that I cannot ski afterwards (I hear, just bike and swim). I happen to love skiing.

What has been your experience with patients having replacements vs. fusion?

Thanks..I realize you might not be able to answer this because not much PT is done after these surgeries: but what do you know?

Is there someplace I can go to see the shoes that people wear after fusion to the ankle?

Thanks.
Susan

Answer
Dear Susan

My expertise is with hip replacements, not ankle replacements.  The best thing you can do is speak with you doctor to see what you could and could not do as far as skiing.  My first reaction would be that skiing would not be the best thing to do because of the possibility of dislocation of the replacement.

I am not familiar with fusion techniques for the ankle.  But you probably would need to get at least two opinions from two qualified surgeons before you do anything

Sharon Davis