Hi, I'm new here. Great forum!
Thought I'd share my story.
Started to have ankle pain last April 2008. Felt like it was sprained all the time.
Had xray and the xray showed Osteochondritis Dissecans.
Went to Ortho, had MRI, Cat Scan and Bone scan.
Confirmed the lesion.
Ortho said "I can try the scope but may have to break your ankle to get in there".
So I did the scope last Sept. 2008
2 months after scope, still had severe aching pain.
I suggested to them maybe PT would help so did a month of PT.
3 months after scope, still had pain.
Next, a cortisone shot as a last ditch effort to rid the pain.
My ankle laughed at the cortisone shot, if anything it got worse.
FINALLY in Jan. 2009 I suggested another MRI.
Like how I have to suggest and ask for everything?
That's the way it is sometimes.
Lo and behold after all I'd been thru, the lesion was stil there and had actually slightly increased in size.
To think I did a month of PT with a lesion (sighs).
Nothing against doc since he didn't guarantee it would be fixed "I can TRY the scope".
Well, after 5 months with this Ortho, I was sent to another in the big city.
I at least now have all the MRI's and cat scans myself and am better informed of the lesion. The first Ortho was always hurried and I never got to discuss it. Most of what I learned, I researched myself.
This is the gist of mine from the most recent MRI:
"Osteochondral lesion involving the medial aspect of the talar dome. It is characterized by approx. 8 mm wide bony defect containing approx. 5 mm long probable bony fragment surrounded by a thin rim of T2 hyperintensity. This is consistant with an in situ fragment. The overlying cartilage is thinned. Deeper within the talus adjacent to the osteochondral defect are regions of moderate bone marrow edema and scattered cystic change.
Compared to an MRI I had in June it has slightly increased in size."
Went to new Ortho in Feb. for first visit and they spent a good hour with me going over my films.
He graded my lesion as a grade V
From my own research, I knew what the next plan of attack would be and I was right:
Open Reduction Allograft
This is where they get a donor ankle from a cadaver (could be up to a 6 month wait for one too), open your ankle, osteomoty of the lower leg bone (cut it off after pre drilling holes to screw it back on after) to access it, then cut out the lesion and fill it with piece from donor ankle. Does not sound like fun.
My second visit 2 weeks ago, I thought we would discuss the allograft but now he says he wants to do another scope himself to get a first hand look at it. Doesn't want to just get the report/photos from previous Ortho I had. Scope is happening in another week from now.
OH NO...I'm dreading this. I just has the scope last Sept. and for me it was excruciating pain (so bad after a week I thought it was infected)..throbbing.
So after being in pain a total of 11 months now, and the pain has been much worse since the first scope, I have to look forward to even more pain? I don't know how I'm going to handle MORE pain.
I could see if this was to fix it, but it's not, it's only diagnostic. The plan is still the allograft down the road.
BTW - I'm male, 48 yrs old, and fortunatly I work remote at a computer so I can still work.
I wouldn't be able to work a physical job as I'd surely be disabled from this cursed ankle.
Every morning I can barely walk for the first hour. Can't run, can't jump, can't be on my feet for more than an hour without increased pain.
I feel for all of us that have this OCD. Wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Well that's all for now.
Good luck to all of you that have this as well.
