Synvisc for the Ankle?

[ChrisJan]

Hello everyone,

              I just joined this forum a few days ago. I was researching Synvisc for my husband, whose doctor is recommending the injections for his ankle. The doctor was very frank with him, telling him that it is not yet FDA approved for ankles, but it is a permitted "off label" use. Apparently it has been approved in Europe, and the doc feels it is imminent in the U.S.

               My husband, Gerry, broke his ankle in a motorcycle accident when hew was 21. He is now 56, works a physical job where he is on his feet most of the day, and has been in pain for the past 10 years. He has been in SEVERE pain for the last two years, and EXCRUTIATING pain for the last six months.

               He's been taking the glucosamine since it first came out, he elevates and ices it every evening, has had a chiropractor give him some kind of "electro" therapy.  He finally agreed to see an orthopedist who took X-rays (the chiro never did) and showed Gerry that there is simply no cartilage left in there; the pain is from bone on bone.

                The doc gave him a cortisone injection that day, which took a few days to kick in, and that has provided some relief. The doctor suggested ankle replacement surgery, but the recovery time is too long right now. Besides the fact that we don't have health insurance and would be paying 100% ourselves, he would not be able to get 2 to 3 months off from work.

                 The doctor then suggested the Synvisc.  So my question is, has anyone here tried it? What has your experience been?

                  Sorry if this so long.  I look forward to hearing from someone.   Thank You!

                  Chris

[ChrisJan]

My husband had 3 Synvisc injections,the first Sept. '08, the last on 4/09/09. The last shot put him over the edge; the ankle swelled up, just as it did after the first two, and it never went down. The Dr. just went in blindly, without flouroscope  (X-ray guidance).

   On July 13,2009 I saw a report on our local CBS news about a treatment using adult stem cells, a person's OWN cells, to treat conditions like everyone here has. Your body will actually make new cartilage.  Please check it out: www.regennex.com and also www.centenoschultzclinic.com . They are in Colorado. My husband started the procedure on 9/14/09, and his last re-injection of stem cells will be on 12/10/09. He has experienced relief already, and that will improve over time, as the cartilage grows.

     This isn't cheap, about $8,000.00 plus travel costs and it is not covered by insurance, which we don't have anyway. We already know that  this is the best money we will ever spend. If you have been buying Glucosamine and Chondroitin, save your money, it's useless. So is Synvisc, IMO.  And ankle fusion surgery? BARBARIC!! Just ask anyone with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Dr.s used to do ankle fusions on them for foot-drop.  And don't even think about Total Ankle Replacement!!  Dr. Centeno has a very interesting, very sad article about a patient  who had that done, and then elected to just have her foot amputated, she was in such agony. So sad.

         The web sites I mentioned have a lot of information, and Dr. Centeno also has some videos on Youtube explaining the procedure.  These Dr.s are not quacks.

      Another component of their treatment is prolotherapy, which we'd never heard of and apparently is controversial. That needs to be done within in a week or so in advance  of the re-injection of the stem cells, and can be done locally, rather than in Colorado. You can learn about this at www.getprolo.com. Gerry has had this done twice so far. The purpose is to prepare the tendons and ligaments surrounding the ankle.

      Good luck and best wishes to everyone. It breaks my heart to read your stories. But don't give up hope.

       Chris

[zenboogie]

I just had my third synvisc injection in my lower ankle for pain.  Like MikeRoss, I was in an auto accident in 2001 that shattered my heel and severely damaged my ankle - after three surgeries leaving no cartilidge.   The injections are directed to my "lower" ankle joint - a lot trickier to get to without flouroscope except maybe by the best and most confident doctors.  Each injection is delivered from a different angle of the foot.  The first injection was like falling off a log... the second left me slightly more painful after, but subsided after a day or two.  The third one was 5 days ago and I'm still pretty sore and slightly swollen.  This is supposedly a "postponement" for ankle fusion - to which I am highly resistant.  I'll try to keep the group informed as to my progress.  Since I have a "performance" next week which will have me on my feet and very actively dancing around, it will be my ankle's first big test.

[scouter89]

I just had my 2nd synvisc injection on my ankle yesturday and I am wondering if it is normal for it to be painful for a few days after, it seems that it is better today than it was yesterday.  I know the relief does not come for a month or so after the first one.  

I am 38 years old, broke my ankle almost 3 years ago and now am suffering from severe post tramatic arthritis of the ankle.  I am on my feet all the time as I am a bartender and have 2 young children.  I am wondering if synvisc has helped or not.  My surgeon says my other option at this point in time is fusion but feels I am too active to take this drastic of a step right now(he says if i was older I would have a new ankle tomorrow)

[mikeross509]

I have just got back for the Dr and he sugessted this Synvisc for my ankle and I am now looking it up

I shattered my heal about 6 years ago and have had ankle pain since they said most of the cartlidge was gone and that was the reason for the pain he also sugested that I could get my ankle scoped but to try this first

we will see how it goes

[Lil_Gleason]

Hello,

I am a long time, (4 or 5) years, Synvisc patient for my ankle injury in 2001. I am 46. It happened on a Motorcycle as you, Chris. My pain is 24/7, too.

Anyway, Synvisc is not a direct pain reliever, as pointed out by the Toothfairytracie, but, by keeping the joint lubricated with the Synvisc, it helps with bone on bone wear and daily stress to my ankle, which in turn, reduces the number of pain issues and level of the pain issues I must deal with.

Also, I find it takes about (4) weeks from the first injection to actually start having better mornings and using less ice packs at night.

I usually get my injections every 8 to 9 months, not quite twice a year. I also feel the Synvisc injections are sort of maintenance on my ankle. Sort of like a lube job on the ball joints of your car.

So, not only does it help with the comfort level, I feel, it sort of helps to lengthen the longevity of my fragile ankle before I eventually have to get an ankle replacement...

Tip: Here is an ice trick for the ankle, someone passed on to me. Instead of trying to wrap your foot with ice and ice packs,
1) put cold water in the bottom of a mop bucket, ankle deep,
2) then submerge your ankle in the water,
3) adding ice cubes to the water "to your tolerance level"
...it can be a bit hard to drop your foot into the water if you've already added the ice. Its very easy to go past cold with this procedure. But it can be very effective in not missing a single spot on your ankle or foot...

Good luck, I hope I helped Chris (even though I was almost a year late) or anyone else reading this...

Eddie

[toothfairytracie]

Hi,
Just had no 2 injection of SYNVISC. I had a lot of questions before the injection, as I had suffered with extreme discomfort since no 1, & was worried it has irritated the joint. You, as I have had to, put your hands, faith & trust in your surgeons hands. He has assured me that he did not expect anything from no 1, but I should start to get some relief from no 2 & no 3.
There is not a lot of info out there on SYNVISC in the UK, but there is in America. What I have learnt is it is only a lubricant & will NOT help with pain relief.
As I said before ask plenty of questions.
Hope I am helping.
Toothfairytracie x