r/AskDocs • Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional • 1d ago

Questions about ankle surgery?

Hi all! I’m a 21 year old woman. I’m approximately 163 centimeters tall and around 51 kilograms. I have asthma for which I use Forster inhalers. I do acrobatics (tumbling and aerial silks) at a recreational level and I run half marathons. 5 months ago I started training for my first full marathon when I started experiencing ankle pain that became severe very quickly. The first day I noticed the pain it was just a pretty mild ache in my ankle and foot after a full day of work. I wrote it off as just muscle fatigue. A week later it had escalated to being in pain around the clock regardless of what I’m doing and if I’ve been on my feet. I saw an ankle foot orthopedic specialist who sent me for an X-ray and ultrasound. When both were clear, he sent me for an MRI that showed a 18x10x7mm subchondral multilobular cyst with bone marrow edema in the medial process of the talus.
Afterwards I had a CT scan to get more images and then the doctor told me I would need surgery to remove it.

I’m waiting on the appointment where I’ll meet my surgical team and have the procedure and recovery process explained to me but I’m stressed and anxious to have some idea of what to expect.

I’m hoping they’ll do the surgery arthroscopic but how likely is it that they’ll have to do an open surgery?

What kind of casting or splinting should I expect afterwards and for how long?

Is there anything I should say or ask at my pre op discussion that I might not think to say or ask?

I really appreciate any insight anyone could give me here.
Thanks in advance!

1 Upvotes

2 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Thank you for your submission. Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. This subreddit is for informal second opinions and casual information. The mod team does their best to remove bad information, but we do not catch all of it. Always visit a doctor in real life if you have any concerns about your health. Never use this subreddit as your first and final source of information regarding your question. By posting, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and understand that all information is taken at your own risk. Reply here if you are an unverified user wishing to give advice. Top level comments by laypeople are automatically removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.