Sometimes, one quick moment can really throw your body out of whack. Just ask Randy Seals of Apple Canyon Lake. His knee buckled when he was coming down the stairs, causing a fall that tore multiple ligaments in his ankle. The result? Pain, limited mobility, and an absolutely poor way to kick off his retirement.
After nearly nine months of waiting for his ligaments to heal and the pain to subside, Randy was growing impatient. It wasn’t getting better. He mostly used his heel to walk, and described it as feeling like he had a “peg leg.”
With increasing frustration, Randy turned to FHN Podiatrist Richard Bell, DPM, who met with him and immediately recommended a consultation with his colleague Sherjeel Hassan, DPM, who specializes in ankle replacement surgery.
Choices Available for Ankle Pain
Dr. Hassan ordered x-rays and learned that in addition to the torn ligaments, Randy’s joint was off by 15 degrees. Options included an ankle brace, which would be a permanent fixture, or ankle replacement surgery. Randy says, “There wasn’t even a question how I would proceed.’
The surgery went well and was completed about a month later. Randy read up on what was to come, perusing FHN’s literature and preparing for the big day. Post-surgery, he wore a cast and then a boot, and spent many weeks maneuvering a knee scooter.
FHN’s Team was ‘Phenomenal!’
His overall reaction to ankle replacement surgery has been very positive. “Phenomenal!” he exclaims. “Keri Wall, the podiatry/orthopedic total joint coordinator, knew what I was thinking before I even asked her, and Lorrie Heeren, podiatry nurse navigator, was right there if I needed help. And I couldn’t be more pleased with Dr. Bell and Dr. Hassan … not enough good things I can say about those guys.”
Randy is hoping to get back on the golf course soon, and has enjoyed exploring nearby Galena, gaining strength while exploring the historic city to Freeport’s west. In the fall, he plans to visit Disney World with his grandkids. “That’s why I did it,” he explains. “Now I can enjoy activities with my family again.”
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Freeport, IL 61032
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Read more of Randy's story in FHN's Insight magazine.
