Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Surgery Question

Hi all.. I know that it is not unusual for Asers to have to have surgery to correct issues the AS has caused.. I have been battleing Achillies Tendon problems for awhile now and all conservative approches have failed.. the issues are in the insertion points where the tendons meet the bones.. So I was wondering who all has had surgery for an AS related issue and what was the outcome.. I am a bit scared because I will go thru this and hopefully will regain mobility however I still have AS will it happen again?

Tamara this was a recent thread, just a few weeks ago - end Jan beginning Feb? I posted some information and some surgery sites. A few members added their posts. Try a search on the forums. The thread came up in the general section (IF I remember correctly).

Molly C

Hi Tamara,
Before I start, I want to say that my AS has always been considered 'rapidly progressing' by my doctors, so nobody be alarmed.

1 Umbilical Hernia and Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia. Both got fixed at the same time. End result good, but I had to spend a few months trying to swallow without difficulties, which is normal. The cause of these were having a fused spine causing weakened muscles in the abdominal area. I think what physically made them occur was lifting bundles of newspapers, and I always used my stomach muscles to stand up as straight as I could from being bent over. Getting my belly button fixed hardly bothered me at all lol. I had a collapsed and repaired lung during the operation, but it never effected me. I was asleep the whole time.

2 I had some kidney stones broken up with sound waves (3 lithrotripsies) done with a stent put in my right kidney to bladder tube, whatever that tube be called lol. Stent was removed just after the the doc saw that the biggest pieces of the first set of stones have passed. The last time I was checked for stones, they found newer stones developing. The operations were successful, although somewhat minor. The cause is AS induced osteoporosis. 5 stones in all so far, but only 2 broken up.

3 Hips were replaced 19 years ago, and still getting use out of them. Operation successful. Cause: hips fused and locked up (way before my back did). They were not both done on the same day, actually they were done 6 weeks apart due to not having enough blood and iron... and I didn't want to accept a transfusion back then. I think I might be feeling wear and tear or some inflammation in there now.

4 My back problem... May 2008, T9-L2 got 'surgically fused' because I had a nasty vertebral compression fracture in my back. The cause was AS induced osteoporosis, pushing too hard in exercise (that's where I initially fractured it), and then a few months later, a minor incident involving the car where it dropped off the side of the pavement and hit bottom. The car incident is what put me in a wheelchair most of the time for 3 years approximately (I think), up until I got my back fixed. When it was fractured I wasn't paralyzed, but I did experience temporary paralysis in the very beginning, and then a lot of numbness, pain and lack of sleep from then on. As soon as I woke up from the operation, I immediately knew my back was fracture-pain-free even though the surgery pain was there. It was a HUGE success but I still can't get used to the feeling of having 2 rods and 12 bolts stuck in my back. The joint that blew out (where the vertebra caved in) is filled with bone cement. I'm walking around now. I'm on probation for surgeries because this will take 2 years to fully recover from (so the doc says lol).

So all 9 of the operations (if counted individually (I only count them as 4)) turned out successful, but there was a few minor bumps along the way in some of the procedures. I have heard that a few others here have not been as lucky though.

I hope this helps,
Take care,
James

What surgery are you having? Tendon lengthening or a gastroc slide? What conservative things have you done so far?

I've had both feet operated for plantar fasciitis (2/3rds of fascia cut on both feet, different times), but still have achilles problems. Ortho surgeon kicked around doing gastroc slide, but says now that he isn't sure that's the whole problem and he doesn't want to do a surgery if it's not going to fix everything. I'm on a quest for a definition of 'everything'. The fascia surgeries seemed to go okay for a time, but the pain has returned in the heels/metatarsal heads and legs. Good luck with whatever you end up doing. From what I read, gastroc slide has shorter recovery time than a tendon lengthening, fwiw.

Oh Molly thanks I will look for that I am sure it will be helpful.

All I can say is WOW!! you have been thru a lot.. Bless you.. thanks for the input. I hope I can stop at the ankles. Although I have had 12 inches of my colon removed. I don't think Diverticulitis is AS related.

Rumble, I don't know yet for sure.. I just got the call from my treating MD in the group he has been working with me for over a year now, I have been in and out of a cast (boot)with lifts in them that I gradualy took off the lyers, months at a time.. I have lifts in my shoes ice of course NSAID.. I have torn the tendon like runs in a nylon. I have not talked to the surgeon yet. But in my last appt. my Doc. was not pleased at the plateu we are at and consulted with the surgeon in the group..He said words like cut debri, get back to healthy tendon so it can heal??? Does that help?

My husband had elbow surgery, tennis elbow they called it, tore the tendon off the bone surgery went well. He had to stop Remicade for awhile so that he could heal. He was out of work about 8 weeks but had no complications. Good luck to you.

Willy,
From what I understand AS can really attack these insertion points I never knew that until last year.. Glad he is doing well.. I will have to come off the enbrel which is kinda scarey, since I am see good relief with that therapy,

Sounds more like the tendon needs the work. ouch. I think I'd get 2 opinions on what can be done to help. Tendons don't heal quickly. Good luck.