Ankle pain/afraid of surgery

Hi everyone,
I was born with ankles that tend to lean in, if you know what I mean, but up until a few years ago, did not really cause that much trouble. Then I got a bunion and when my toes started leaning in the wrong direction, I finally had surgery done by a podiatrist/foot surgeon. I was in my late 50's at the time; my mother had had the same doctor perform the same surgery on her (she was in her 90's) and everything came out just fine. He put a rod in my second toe and did a bunionectomy, but when the bandages came off, my foot looked worse, if anything. Still, I could walk; my foot just looked funny and strangely, felt funny, like I had bark between my toes. Sounds crazy, I know, but it's true. Also, my toes don't bend like they should and feel somewhat numb. I got this huge callous on the side of my foot, where the bone sticks out at the ball of the foot, but still could walk. Then I got a callous on the bottom of my foot that was sort of embedded and at that point, walking became painful. I had to walk with a limp since I couldn't put full weight on my left foot. I went to a different foot surgeon; he took one look at my xrays and said I would have to have massive reconstructive surgery on my foot; that first I would have to be nicotine free for 6 weeks (I have smoked for almost 50 years, started when I was 14; I am now 63), and would be off my foot for a minimum of 12 weeks.about three months later, my ankle started swelling and then could not walk w/o severe pain. It even hurts to have my foot under the cover in bed. I am a widow (husband died 2 years ago), so I don't have a mate to wait on me hand and foot and besides, I don't trust any doctor to take my foot apart and put it back together again. Long story, long...went to another doctor who is trying to avoid surgery; I am now in a boot, which incidentally enables me to walk, awkwardly, but still much pain with the boot off. I am an old lady, but like to think I am a young old lady, even though I have various health problems. I can't afford the co-pay at this point at the new docs. Next up on the agenda is an MRI, which I don't know how I'm going to pay for that. I am on disability (for back pain) and my daughter and her two boys live with me. She is hunting a job now and when she begins working again and we can catch up the bills, I think I can work out a payment arrangement for the MRI. I know it sounds like I am a whiner; I'm really not. I just want to see what some of you might think...am I doing the right thing, not trying to quit smoking (I have been in a depression since my husband died; he was great, my life is changed drastically by his passing), and trusting this surgeon to take my foot apart? Is there any possibility that the MRI could show up something that could be remedied by simple surgery or something else? Thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me share.

Are you on Social Security Disability which I think means you are offered Medicare after 2 years? Are you close to that?

I'm sorry for the loss of your husband. What a difficult adjustment that none of us ever want to have to do. How many years were you married?

Have you ever tried to stop smoking before? I'm sure you know about all the health issues related to smoking including better surgical healing for non-smokers. I guess this dr wants you to do as well as possible. That's a very tough decision and I will not pretend to know anything about it.

I have also always had ankles that leaned in along with very flat feet that got tired and achy easily. I stumbled and twisted one ankle 8 years ago. For the next 3 years I wore a boot, did PT, wore a brace. Finally a dr said I needed my ankle rebuilt. He cut the ankle bone and straightened it, grafted something into the torn tendon that happened when I stumbled. I was in a cast and could put no weight on it for 12 weeks. I got around on a knee scooter which was great. After that I was back in the boot for a few weeks, PT again and finally able to walk on it without much pain. Then the dr made orthotics for me to wear in my shoes all the time. That took care of the last of my foot pain. I don't think just the orthotics alone would have done it BUT maybe it would have helped a lot. I also had a bunion and hammertoes fixed during that same surgery. The big toe did not start bending so the dr surgically bent it (I was out), then it was ok. That was 4 years ago and I'm very glad I finally found a young dr who knew how to fix my feet! I was in my late 50's then.

I hope you can also find a solution soon. You are among people who understand some of your pain. Welcome!

Post Edited (Abilene) : 6/26/2014 4:41:41 PM (GMT-6)

Anytime a doctor starts mentioning surgery I think it is a good idea to get a 2nd opinion, unless it is something life threatening and needs immediate attention.

As far as paying for the MRI and any surgeries you may need try applying for charitable care at your area hospital. Most have this and they base it on a person's income, then make sure all MRI's and surgeries, etc are done there. Also many clinics have charitable care programs available. All you have to do is ask.

Abilene,
You asked how long my husband and I were married. I'll try not to write a book on this one, but wanted to share this with you. We married in 1970, had two children, and were divorced in 1982. I had married a child and just didn't realize it. We were both 19; he was 9 months older than me. We both remarried eventually; his second marriage lasted a couple of years, mine lasted about 6 years. In 1992, we got back together. I will not go into the details, suffice it to say that I can only describe it as a miracle. He had begged me to come back to him for 10 years, even when we were married to other people. Although I had thought we had something very special, that specialness had kind of been trampled on. I cared about him, like you would a good friend or a brother; I certainly never saw us getting back together. But it happened and we had a wonderful marriage for the next 20 years. We never took each other for granted; he honored me in such a way that other women would ask me, "do you know how lucky you are?" He had become a man of faith (w/o going into a religious discussion) but was a man's man and that (at the risk of sounding sacrilegious) is a hot combination. I really don't see me ever hooking up with anyone else; no one could live up to the kind of man he was, I don't think. Oh my, it kind of turned into a book anyway. But thanks for asking.

Thanks for sharing so much information. It really does help us to understand better. I'm in Texas, so my podiatrist is a bit too far away for you. He was a treasure for me. He was working with the older dr I was seeing. One day my older dr was out and I saw him. I was in PT at that time. He looked over my records and said he would have done surgery, then PT. At that time I didn't even know there was a surgery to fix my problem. That scared me! I went for another opinion who said the surgery was risky and would take months before you would even know IF it worked. So I did nothing until the pain got so bad I felt I had to take the chance. I went back to the young dr who had taken over the older/now retired dr's practice. So my experience with young, more newly educated drs continues to be good. My neck surgeon fits that profile also.

What a sweet story about your husband. I'm glad you two got back together. I guess that makes the simple question of how long you were married a bit difficult to answer but thanks for the long version. I enjoyed it.

Is there a web site for smokers wanting to quit? Since you have been helped in other ways online, maybe that would be a place to start. You have been so open about it here that it just makes me feel you are ready for some help to take care of that. I hope so.

I have spent the past 3 months of my healing time also researching Medicare. I turn 65 very soon. It's been difficult for me to understand. I think I get it and know what I want to do, then something else comes in the mail and I'm confused again. I think my mind has not really been clear enough to handle this. My husband's former employer pays for his Medicare (advantage plan) and would pay half the premium for me also. He has only used it once for a hernia surgery and we had an awful time finding in-network doctors and a hospital. After the surgery we got a hospital bill because his specific plan was not in network, even though no one seemed to know that prior to his surgery. So for myself, I called all the doctors that I have used and would again if I need them to see what they accept. One very nice office manager suggested I get Medicare and a supplement, then anyone who accepts Medicare will also accept the supplement. So that's what I plan to do. And it's not going to cost any more than the advantage plan would per month. I have had high co-pays and deductibles so I'm looking forward to not having them. Hope I understand it correctly.

If your dr can help you with orthotics that would just be so wonderful! That will be my prayer for you!

Yeh, I tend to run on a bit; sorry about that. As far as my marriage goes, I usually say we were married 42 minus 10 years but even then, we were co-parenting and friends. I am friends (& was then) with his wife/ex-wife b/c there just was no jealousy b/c I felt for him what you feel for a friend. That's why it is so weird that that all changed. Abilene, my understanding is that you have to be 65 to get a supplement policy, so that's good news for you; I have 2 years to go and may be more able to pay then. My son gives me money regularly, whenever he can, and my daughter and I pool our money, so when she is working, that helps. She had one job that was commission only and no customers would come in so that didn't work, then another where the mgr. was mental and took it out on her. I have great hopes for this job she's interviewing for next week. As to orthotics, I am hoping and praying that might work for me and as I said, look forward to seeing what the MRI will show. about smoking, I get in a panic when my supply is low, but my plan is to go on the patch when I run out. I have a question...is there a screen or box where you type your diagnoses so that it shows with your posts? Thanks, all, for sharing.

You can draw off of a deceased spouses record when you're 50, if you're disabled, 62 if you're not. But, you would have to draw more off of their record than you would yours.

Mercy&Grace,
Do you know if bluessooz thoughts are correct about not being able to have a Medicare supplement while on Disability before age 65? That's all very confusing to me.

Bluessooz,
I'm hoping your daughter's job interview leads to a better income that will help your household. And that other issue you are dealing with, I hope if you have started yet that it's going well for you and you will soon be smokefree!

I've read some more about Medicare Supplement policies in something my agent sent me. It says that each state is different in whether they offer any supplements to those under 65 and on Disability. If they offer any it may be only the ones that require higher co-pays and deductibles. It said to find out your own state requirements, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. This is from Choosing a Medigap Policy 2014 (Page 39) that M&G referenced.

This helped me to understand better. I have a young friend who, after being on Disability for 2 years, was offered Medicare. She turned it down since she had her husband's insurance. I thought that was a mistake but understand it better now. I expect you already understand all this much better than me.

Abilene, just read your post. Still smoking, unfortunately. I am going to the doctor on the 14th and I am going to get a prescription for Albuterol and Pulmicort. I have had more than one person tell me that when they quit, their breathing was more difficult for a while (one friend who has asthma even had to call an ambulance and go to the ER when she quit) and since I have COPD and sleep apnea and already struggle to get a deep breath sometimes, I think my chances of not caving in and starting back would be better if I am using the machine (my mind is drawing a blank on what it's called; I have one) at least twice a day. I'll update you guys when there is anything new to tell. Thanks again, for caring.

You can't draw off of two people records. So you can't be receiving benefits from your husbands social security and also SSDI on your record. The benefits you're receiving off of your husbands record won't increase when you get retirement age. If you're receiving benefits off of your husbands social security record, when you reach full retirement age your retirement benefits may be more than what you're receiving off of his record. If it is, then SSA would switch you from Disabled Widows benefits to full retirement off of your record.

It's good to hear from you. Sorry about the household emergencies but I'm glad to hear your daughter got the job. Now if she can just get started!

I Know you can draw off a deceased husband's record at your age. It might be that your Disability is more than what that would be. Anyway IF you have talked to SS and verified all that, that's all you can do for now. If you have not talked to them about your specific case, I think it would be worth a call to be certain you are getting as much as possible.

It's been a good week here. I'm slowly able to do more. Stay in touch. We care.