 Poster: A snowHead
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A friend of mine in his early 60's and retired has had an operation to have his ankle fused as he was having a lot of pain particularly with ski-ing which became too painful and impossible. He has also had his knee repaired and is genarally making good progress all round. Recovery from the ankle operation has taken the longest where he was on crutches for 6 months, whilst the knee operation has not caused too much trouble. He can now walk OK and drive a car. His consultant has told him that he should be able to ski moderately on piste, play some tennis and and also golf, which is most encouraging.
The worry is of course ski-boots. With the inability to pivot at the ankle will it be necessary to have any standard ski boot modified and if so what cause of action should he take to prepare himself for next ski season?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| DAVID SNELL wrote: |
| The worry is of course ski-boots. With the inability to pivot at the ankle will it be necessary to have any standard ski boot modified and if so what cause of action should he take to prepare himself for next ski season? |
The first thing he should do is speak to a very good bootfitter. My recommendation would be to start with CEM at Solutions 4 Feet.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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DAVID SNELL, seconded. If CEM can't sort him out, nobody can. He might need to "relearn" some of his skiing too - easiski would be just right for that.
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My next door neighbour had this operation on his ankle last year - his was originally a skiing injury as he used to race for the Army and took a nasty fall a while ago. He finally made the decision to have the operation which was all OK, but then got an infection in it. Took him about 9 months to recover. He's adamant that he's not getting back on his skis again as he doesn't think he'll have enough movement in his ankle. I've told him about CEM but he doesn't want to do anything.
He still got very envious last season though, every time he saw us packing up for a skiing trip 
DAVID SNELL, will be interesting to hear how your friend gets on and whether he manages to get back on the slopes.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Friend of hubbys has both ankles fused, and allegedly had the surgeon set them at an appropriate angle for his ski boots. Lack of flex means he can't ski steep slopes though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
allegedly had the surgeon set them at an appropriate angle for his ski boots.
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there's dedication for you! It must be very hard to get into boots without much ankle movement though.
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pam w, it also gives him a very odd gait, like a duck waddling along.
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DAVID SNELL, getting the foot into the boot will be the toughet challenge, but if that is possible then finding a position for the foot to sit in should not be too much of a problem.... a lot of the time, with problmes like this it comes down to how much the person actually wants to ski.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Aren't touring boots easier to get into? (some touring boots are available with alpine soles)
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EBAY - Rear entry slippers 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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DB, that is always an option...
daehwons, that would be good , but if they are a sloppy fit they can cause more problems than they solve, with a fusion it is important that the joint is well held...something which often doens't happen in that type of boot 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hi David!
Tell your friend that with the right boot fitter, he should be able to ski pretty much anything he wants to. I have a fused ankle and just passed my PSIA Level III exam this past winter and that even included skiing moguls. I did have a lot of work done to my boots as far as boot sole grinding in order to get on my outide edge with the fused foot, but I can ski pretty much anything. I also competed in 3 tri-athlons last summer!
I don't have much in the way of dorsiflextion in my fused ankle, so my bootfitter put me in some Jr. Racing boots that have a 90 flex. They are a bear to get into with that locked foot, but once they're on, I'm good to go!
Good luck!
~Anne~
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You know it makes sense.
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snowmiser,
To resurrect an old post - Recently my friend and I made an appointment with Solutions4Feet in Bicester in Oxfordshire. Prior to this he purchased new HEAD ski-boots from Snow & Rock. Although I could not be there at the time CEM from Solutions4feet spent a long time adjusting and modifying the new boots and my friend, to use his own words, was "hugely impressed by the service".
The proof of the pudding was then in the eating - our group including my friend with the "Fused Ankle and Repaired Knee" have just returned from our ski trip to Ellmau, and without doubt for the first time in about 5 years my friend had a marvellous pain-free holiday.
With grateful thanks to the expertise of Colin at Solutions4feet, who provided fantastic professional service
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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DAVID SNELL, great to hear that. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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That's Awesome David! It's been 8 years since my surgery and I'm still pain free! I skied 105 days last ski season and it will be 70 today for this season so far. I teach full-time so I'm not just a ski bum. (Well, I kinda am! . )
Thanks for giving us the good news!
~Anne~
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have found this thread really encouraging. I broke my ankle badly 3 years ago. My consultant has always mentioned that an ankle fusion may be required. In the last few months the pain in my ankle has become awful. I can't even cycle properly anymore and my walking is restricted.
I ski and snowboard. I have seen people mention that skiing is OK with a specialised boot, but does anybody have any idea what it is like to snowboard with a fused ankle?
Anne, did you have any other issues with your fused ankle??
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