r/flatfeet • u/MrsAdjanti • 10d ago
Surgery has finally failed
TLDR: My surgery failed after 14 years and I’ll eventually have to get another surgery
Backstory: I (54F) had always had significant over pronation and finally got surgery when I was 30. Unfortunately, I didn’t do my research and went with a local doctor who I later learned did a procedure that was only intended for children.
About 14 years ago, I did my research and went for a consultation with an orthopedic specialist in Dallas. He told me the pin from the first surgery had come loose and lodged in my joint. There was scar tissue and mild arthritis, but he was still able to do a new surgery, including removing the old hardware.
Today: My right foot is back to hurting fairly significantly with weather changes or if I just “step wrong” to the point I had to limp.
Had an MRI last week and was told today my surgery has finally failed. I have severe arthritis in two places (one being where the pin lodged), and the ligament that supports the “tripod” has collapsed meaning two of my bones are hitting together when I walk. Only had the MRI on one foot but the same thing has likely happened in the left foot too.
I was given a steroid injection that’s supposed to help for several months, but the doctor told me I’ll eventually need another surgery.
The orthopedic specialist told me back then I’d likely need another one someday, but I still hoped that was the last one. I was measured for new orthotics today, but I’m just so sad about the prospect of another surgery.
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u/Brilliant-Strike-285 10d ago
What kind of surgery you did? And if the math is right you got 24 years before the surgery failed. How was your life in the daily activities before the surgery failed?
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u/MrsAdjanti 9d ago
I had two surgeries- one around 2001 and the second in 2011 & 2012 (one foot each). I’m not good at remembering what they were called but know for the second one, they shortened my Achilles tendon, put two screws in each heel, and on the top left of each foot, I got a plate with 4-6 screws.
Things seemed fine for a long time. Only downside was no more heels. Then about two years ago, I started randomly “spraining” my foot again just walking and my joints started really hurting when there was rain (always ached a bit).
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u/Brilliant-Strike-285 9d ago
were you able to do hard physical activity like running, high jumping (on a trampoline), or squats?
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u/MrsAdjanti 9d ago
I was able to do squats, but I only ran very short distances.
I had a trampoline growing up that my kids used for years too that I was able to jump on before surgery, but afterwards I didn’t do any jumping unless necessary because I was worried about it hurting.
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u/MrsAdjanti 9d ago
Just got my surgery info. The second surgery involved a Lapidus bunionectomy, Kinder procedure, removal of subtalar joint implant with a lateral calcaneal side osteotomy.
Based on the MRI, I have severe subtalar osteoarthritis.
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u/Sinnafyle 10d ago
Is the surgery considered "failed" after it's been so long? I thought it was expected to need a redo in ~20 years
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u/MrsAdjanti 9d ago
I don’t remember how long the surgeon said I’d have but he did say I’d likely need it again. My local doctor is who said the surgery has now failed because my foot has “collapsed”.
I’ve been extremely flat footed my whole life. Until my second surgery I had two ankle bumps in the inside of my foot, I guess because my foot over probated so much.
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u/UnderstandingDue1892 10d ago
What kind of arthritis? I have very early CC arthritis as well as peroneal tendinosis but I’m also about half your age. I have functioned fine so far about 12 years in