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Conditions and Diseases > Foot Disorders Forum > torn ligaments or cartiledge defect
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Q: torn ligaments or cartiledge defect
asked by: Kryssja on May 10th, 2008
Experienced User
Hi, ok....ive been to the doctor on several occasions. They are not sure if i have torn ligaments in my right ankle, or a cartilage defect. I have been told to get an MRI done, but have not been able to afford it.

Sometimes the ankle doesnt hurt for quite some time...bear in mind i have been wearing a brace for the past 4 years or so...lately though, it has been hurting like every minute of every day. I have a doc appt on tuesday, and i know that they will tell me again to do the MRI, which i hope to finally get done this month.

My reason for posting is that i am scared of the results. My doc says if its a cartilage defect i will have to do surgery, and also the ligaments, depending on the severity. I am terrified of that. I mean, i always hear and read that ankle surgery is not recommended because of the post surgery side effects, and that some people actually end up in pain for the rest of their lives.

can anyone give me some further information on this? i could really use some reassurance.
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rollar64
replied on May 18th, 2008
Experienced User
You probably should have dealt with this a bit earlier sometimes, when ligs are torn the dysfunction that this causes can eventually wear away some of the cartildge, if the ligs are repaired before this there is a good chance that the Cartlidge will stay in good shape if it has really deteriorated then there is only the option of either fusing or replacing the ankle as bone will be rubbing on bone due to the fact there is no cartilage, and you will be in pain. There is some truth that ankle fusion (if that is what the doctor is thinking) does have some side effects but it is also sometimes necessary.
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Kryssja
replied on June 6th, 2008
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ok, so i know i should have dealt with this sooner "rollar64", so really, the lecture doesnt help. As a matter of fact i have seen a few doctors before this one, and was given crappy diagnoses, and not much help. Not to mention the fact that its kind of difficult to get it fixed when i could not afford to get the MRI done. So its not like ive been sitting and letting the situation get worse without concern.

On that note, my condition is worsening. I am now in constant pain. i cannot put wait on my ankle for more than a couple minutes at a time, and while it doesnt hurt to walk necessarily....once i am still, thats when the pain hits. Nights are rough because no matter how i position the ankle it still hurts.

I got a prescription for painkillers and those arent even really helping. a couple times now since last night i have experienced a burning sensation in the ankle....
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rollar64
replied on June 7th, 2008
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Hi i am so sorry about the lecture i am kind of in a similar situation to you and i cop all sorts of crap from people i should have known better its tough when you are permanently affected because a doctor was not up to the job of dealing with a problem when they should have now there is not a lot that can be done.

I don't know what you can do i think you need to see an orthopedic surgeon i don't know whats wrong with your ankle but i doesn't sound like its going to get much better your condition sounds like its to bad to be helped by physio or braces or orthotics sorry i cant help your age is an issue ankle fusions are worse for the very young as they limit activity and the changes they impose on your gait have an impact over a long period of time.

wishing you all the best Rollar
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Kryssja
replied on July 8th, 2008
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hey rollar64, sorry i took so long to reply.....been kinda busy with work and stuff.

i actually got my mri done, and i will be seeing the doctor again on friday to see what the verdict is.....my true fear is that i will need surgery....not necessarily about the actual surgery....but the pain and recovery period as well as the cost....and the physio that will have to follow it. sigh.

but hey....keep in touch k? ill need someone to talk to when i get the results Smile
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rollar64
replied on July 9th, 2008
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ok Kryssja good luck
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Kryssja
replied on July 12th, 2008
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saw the doc :(
Ok, so i saw my doc and showed him the mri film....the good news is that i dont actually have any torn ligaments, so i will not need major surgery.

the not so good news....we still dont really know what is wrong with my ankle...the doctor now stipulates that the lining of tissue surrounding my joints may be chronically inflamed. so now i have to do a blood test to rule out certain things, and then i will be taking some anti-inflammatory medication for two weeks....high dose one week, lower dose the second....then nothing for the third week, and i have to record what happens during those three weeks.

if the medication does not work, he says he may have to insert a scope into my ankle and scrape away as much of the inflamed tissue as possible.

basically, im feeling pretty low....even though i dont need major surgery, im not much closer to finding out what is really wrong with it...and my left ankle is actually weak now because of having to compensate for the weakness of the right.

SIGH
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rollar64
replied on July 14th, 2008
Experienced User
Hellow Kryssja well it is good news i suppose do you have a copy of the MRI report. If so can you post it.


Have you ever heard of a condition called sinus tarsi syndrome its a poorly defined term for pain in the sinus tarsi whitch is a small channel underneath the ankle that is full of nerves and connective tissue i just thought it sounded vaugely familiar to your symptoms.

What did you do to hurt your ankle in the first place.

let us know how things go.
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Kryssja
replied on July 14th, 2008
Experienced User
I forgot to get a copy of the MRI letter, so i called the doc and asked them to fax me a copy.

i have actually never heard of that condition....but here's the thing....im feeling the same symptoms in my left ankle....when the doc tested out my left ankle, basically the same areas were tender. these days, im feeling stiffness in the back of both ankles....basically at the heel level.

how i injured my ankle....it was back in the day when i was about 17 or 18, and a group of friends inc me were playing around and sparring. i pretended to kick a guy....and he grabbed my ankle, and im not sure if he was trying to re-enact a certain move or something, but he twisted my ankle, and i heard a pop, and then it was swollen three times the size. but by the next day it went down. so at the time i thought it was just a bad sprain. i did notice a difference in the performance of my ankle after that, and actually consulted quite a few doctors that didnt really take it seriously, or order any tests to be done. it was when i moved to another city for school and work, that i consulted an orthopedic surgeon. and now, here we are.

so....its just to do the blood test and then see what happens with the medication. ill keep in touch.
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Kryssja
replied on July 14th, 2008
Experienced User
MRI REPORT
REPORT:
SEQUENCES:
Sagittal T1, T2, gradient echo T1 and gradient echo STIR datasets.
Coronal T1, T2, and gradient echo STIR series.
A T2 axial sequence.

REPORT:
The anterior and posterior tibiofibular liagments look intact. Appearances of the talofibular and collateral ligaments also appear normal.
A small effusion is present in the ankle joint (coronal T2)
There are no osteochondral defects in the bones of the ankle mortise or calcaneum.
The sinus tarsi appears normal.
Image 12 of the sagittal gradient echo T1 series shows irregular low signal of the intermediate cuneiform and adjacent metatarsal bone.
The sites are shown as high signal on the sagittal gradient echo STIR series (12).
These features are consistent with marrow oedema of the intermediate cuneiform and adjacent metatarsal base.
Please check rheumatoid factor.
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rollar64
replied on July 16th, 2008
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it does sound like pretty good news i thought you ankle would have been in pretty bad shape i think with the right treament its possible to make a good recovery

wishing you a pain free day if thats possible
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