Ask a doctor on the topic of Orthopedics

Treatment options for opioid dependence

May 22, 2012 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Michael Schröter

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Kim Langhardt and I am 24 years old.
On 6.12.2011, I underwent a retrograde drilling of the left ankle joint.
I suffer from OD, Stage 1.
The same operation was performed on my right ankle joint 5 years ago (Stage 2). It went smoothly and I am almost symptom-free.

I am still suffering from severe pain in my left ankle joint. Even after minimal exertion, I experience strong pain and my foot still swells significantly. The symptoms are worse than before the operation.
Yesterday, an MRI of the ankle joint was done (images attached).
The doctor informed me that the findings are more serious than before the operation.
I am now somewhat desperate and don't know what to do next.
Can you form an opinion on the actual severity of the condition based on the images and give me a tip on the next steps?
My trust in the local clinic has diminished due to the course of healing, and I am looking for a new treatment option and a new clinic to support me.
Something needs to happen immediately, as I am in pain every day and even small walks are becoming torture.
I would be very, very grateful if you could provide me with information here.

I have also been experiencing pain in my left knee for a few weeks. I am now concerned about further cartilage damage. Is this realistic or are the pains likely due to my "protective posture" and resulting misalignment?

Thank you very much and I look forward to your response!

Warm regards,

Kim Sarah Langhardt

Dr. med. Michael Schröter

Good morning,

if you were operated on in stage 1 in December, which means a pure cartilage injury, I can now see on the images a stage 3 possibly with displacement of the detached lesion.

The pain in the knee needs to be clarified, it could be due to a protective posture, or of course also an osteochondritis dissecans. The surgery 5 years ago healed well, the prognosis is better in younger adults. This means that the prognosis now 5 years later is not as good as back then despite a smaller stage.

Please present yourself with the images in a specialized clinic e.g. BG or Orthopedic University Clinic. Normal drilling may not be enough here, the bone damage may need to be filled in or similar! There are different surgical procedures for the respective stages, which the surgeon can explain better to you.

Do not waste any time, present yourself accordingly. All the best to you

and get well soon

Yours

Dr. M. Schröter