After struggling with some strange ankle issues for about 2 years I finally found an ankle ortho guy who is willing to help me. He has ordered another MRI (better quality) even though the first one came back and didn’t show anything. He said he is willing to scope it and possibly remove the screw/anchor I had put in when I had the ankle fixed. He will discuss further details after he gets the reading back. He said I could possibly be in a cast for 2 weeks after that if it was soft tissue clean up and screw removal. I’m curious if anyone else had hardware removed and how long it took them to recover. I"ll ask the doc more questions when I go back, but just curious how long before you were swimming and cycling again ( at least on the trainer). How long was your recovery period?
Just bumping cause I’m curious. Ankle had a plate put in in 2008. Trained for HIM last year, no issues. This year: running hurts right at the top of the metal plate. I’m hoping it goes away, and it isn’t too painful but it makes me wonder what’s going on…
Mine started bothering me 10 months after surgery. I got through an ironman w out an issues
I always thought that if you tried to cut that stuff off, it would alert the cops. I keep mine on for now.
Can you tell us what the original injury, diagnosis and surgical treatment were? Thanks.
John
Not exactly the same thing, but… I had a plate on my lower fibula, near the ankle when I broke it in '06. I lived with it fine for 7 years (ran a marathon and raced bikes successfully) until I had it removed during a procedure to take out some other hardware in the same leg. The plate was always sensitive to the touch and would get sore during long runs but for the most part didn’t bother me. I’d say having it out was for the best, but I’m not sure I would have gone through the general anesthesia just to have the plate removed. Recovery was a quick few weeks. I was off crutches in a week and riding the trainer within 3 weeks but had some infection at the incision that required a few extra weeks of cirpo/cephalexin to clear up. Remember those outer extremities don’t get the same blood flow a more central injury does.
I dislocated and broke my ankle in 2003. Had a plate and 7 screws put in to put my fibula back together. Unfortunately I missed most of my PT due to traveling for work, so I don’t have full flexibility, but it still hasn’t inhibited my movement (soccer and triathlons). I considered having it removed, but after the pain of surgery, I didn’t want to go through that again if I didn’t have to. 12 years in, I still have the hardware, and don’t have any issues thankfully. I know that doesn’t answer your question completely bc I haven’t had mine removed, but I’ve not had pain. If I did, I’d follow the same path you are pursuing. Sorry to hear about your pain, but I’m curious to hear the answers you get to this question as well.
What has to be removed and where will impact a lot as far as your recovery time goes.
As with Dr. Post’s inquiry - what was done originally and what kind of hardware do you have?
After struggling with some strange ankle issues for about 2 years I finally found an ankle ortho guy who is willing to help me. He has ordered another MRI (better quality) even though the first one came back and didn’t show anything. He said he is willing to scope it and possibly remove the screw/anchor I had put in when I had the ankle fixed. He will discuss further details after he gets the reading back. He said I could possibly be in a cast for 2 weeks after that if it was soft tissue clean up and screw removal. I’m curious if anyone else had hardware removed and how long it took them to recover. I"ll ask the doc more questions when I go back, but just curious how long before you were swimming and cycling again ( at least on the trainer). How long was your recovery period?
Nineteen years later I still have screws in my ankle that was broken on a motorcycle. No issues.
I had a brostom surgery w supposed peroneal tear. I say supposed peroneal repair because I’ve had two docs question that repair based on the incision. I have ordered the post op report and am waiting on that. I def have a screw in the ankle tho seen on x Rays. I’m on my fourth ortho. The most recent and the last one(docs) said they might want to remove it. I can tell it bothers me in some instances, but not sure it’s my entire problem. Hopefully the better quality Mri will show more or it sounds like that screw might be coming out. this has been going on for almost two years and I have tried everything out there. It’s time for a scope if this Mri doesn’t show anything
I had the brostrom repair due to instability. I could step on a leaf and my ankle would feel like a sprain. The stability has been great, but this sharp pinching and deep ache(near the screw) need to go away. Sometimes I get a nerve like feeling where the screw is too ( sizzling sensation). I can live with the nerve issue, but it’s the sharp pains that pinch the tissue and cause my ankle to go weak. After the sharp pains I hobble around and can’t bear weight for a few hours until the next day.
I just got home and the post op report came in the mail. The report makes me feel like the surgery had revealed further issues than I really thought there was when everything was explained.
It said there was arthroscopy with limited debridement and synovectomy. The lateral ligament was reconstructed and there was a repair of the peroneus longus and brevis tendons. As I read through the report it stated there was a large meniscoid band arising from the distal edge of the distal tibial fibular ligament impinging on the lateral side of the talus. I also read that it said there were adhesions on the inferior surface along the talus and that was released.There was synovitis with the tendon sheath of the longus and brevis. Both tendons had a 1cm long split and they were debrided with scissors and closed with suture.
I know there is no guarantee when it comes to surgery, however I’m wandering if it’s very common for synovitis to keep coming back w surgery. I don’t want to be one that keeps coming back to the operating table every few years. Also, What is the deal with a meniscoid band? I’ve never heard of this before.
Clicked on this post because I thought it was going to be about getting off house arrest LOL!
Clicked on this post because I thought it was going to be about getting off house arrest LOL!
haha. I felt like I was on house arrest when I had surgery, but def not that type of hardware! 
I’m not a doctor, but work with ortho surgeons on implant survivabilit and such ( so take my advice with a pinch of salt)
statistically, implants in the ankle have a much higher failure rate than in the knee or hip. this of course varies from implant to implant and various procedures, but the main problem remains that the ankle ( or talar bone) is a relatively small bone unable to support large hardware.
If you’ve got normal screws I’d just leave it, any big hardware and I’d try to get it to heal as naturally as possible.
I still have a screw in my 5th met. from a foot fracture in 2003. Took about 10 months for the foot to feel right but no issues after that.
I know this is in regards to ankle but I shattered my elbow. I did IMCHOO with the hardware in the elbow last year and it was very painful on the swim and after a while in aero. Thank goodness for the current last year or I probably would have drowned. I got the hardware removed shortly after the race as it was 8 months post accident. I went for a swim yesterday and didn’t feel pain anymore.
That being said, I am a firm believer in removing hardware and screws. I didn’t get all of the screws out of my elbow as they broke off while trying to remove them. I don’t notice them and I don’t have a plate in my arm that catches tables and things anymore.
Thanks for the updated info. It’s pretty obvious that the issue of hardware in or out is only a small part of the overall question in your case and it’s not going to be answered by crafty Internet sleuths like u found on ST.
Your doc (or docs) have the advantage of a hands on exam, physical and the ability to study any scans or op notes as the specifically relate to your ankle and it’s current state. You’ve seen that some posters have hardware in that’s not at all symptomatic. That would be the case with me as well. Others have done well by removing theirs. So whatever you and your medical team decide will be what’s best for you as an individual. Best of luck and hope you get a great outcome.
John
Thanks for the updated info. It’s pretty obvious that the issue of hardware in or out is only a small part of the overall question in your case and it’s not going to be answered by crafty Internet sleuths like u found on ST.
Your doc (or docs) have the advantage of a hands on exam, physical and the ability to study any scans or op notes as the specifically relate to your ankle and it’s current state. You’ve seen that some posters have hardware in that’s not at all symptomatic. That would be the case with me as well. Others have done well by removing theirs. So whatever you and your medical team decide will be what’s best for you as an individual. Best of luck and hope you get a great outcome.
John
You are correct. We don’t even know if taking the hardware out is going to solve my issue. I’m looking fwd to asking the doc all sorts of questions next week after the new MRI, but it’s interesting to hear how others have felt afterwards.
I know this is in regards to ankle but I shattered my elbow. I did IMCHOO with the hardware in the elbow last year and it was very painful on the swim and after a while in aero. Thank goodness for the current last year or I probably would have drowned. I got the hardware removed shortly after the race as it was 8 months post accident. I went for a swim yesterday and didn’t feel pain anymore.
That being said, I am a firm believer in removing hardware and screws. I didn’t get all of the screws out of my elbow as they broke off while trying to remove them. I don’t notice them and I don’t have a plate in my arm that catches tables and things anymore.
Sounds like it helped you and glad you were able to finish Choo. Do you know about how long it took to feel better after the removal of most of them?
I know this is in regards to ankle but I shattered my elbow. I did IMCHOO with the hardware in the elbow last year and it was very painful on the swim and after a while in aero. Thank goodness for the current last year or I probably would have drowned. I got the hardware removed shortly after the race as it was 8 months post accident. I went for a swim yesterday and didn’t feel pain anymore.
That being said, I am a firm believer in removing hardware and screws. I didn’t get all of the screws out of my elbow as they broke off while trying to remove them. I don’t notice them and I don’t have a plate in my arm that catches tables and things anymore.
Sounds like it helped you and glad you were able to finish Choo. Do you know about how long it took to feel better after the removal of most of them?
The doc initially said it might or might not help out the pain and flexion extension of the elbow. I had already hit my max out of pocket so I went ahead and had them removed. It was 2 weeks and I was cleared for normal activity. He said to be cautious of the internal stitches so I didn’t swim or do upper body things.