Going to private clinic/America for surgery

[arcticcat522]

Has anyone gone to a private clinic specializing in a specific area for surgery? Or some place in Canada that top performing athletes would go. Not that I am one, but I imagine they goto the best.

I shattered my heel about 15 years ago and have been in pain ever since. I've always just dealt with it, but as I get older, it's getting to be too much. Everytime I goto a doctor about it, they send me for physio. Doesn't help. Have custom orthotics, helps very slightly. I really don't know if surgery would help, but with advancements in medicine, they might be able to do something. I'm looking for options. Thanks,

[ThePenIsMightier]

This is more typically done when they already know what's wrong with you and the AHS solution is to get your procedure in 18 months so you go to a private clinic and it's done within 18 days.
I'd try to stay in Canada but get a referral to an appropriate specialist and then go pay for MRI's to help her/him make a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. That's only like $800.

[kertejud2]

Dr. Mark Heard is the orthopedic surgeon in Banff all the skiers go to. Mostly a knee guy, IIRC, don't know about the rest of the doctors there. But if top performing athletes and orthopedics are what you're looking for in a clinic, I guess that's a place to start.

[89coupe]

Has anyone gone to a private clinic specializing in a specific area for surgery? Or some place in Canada that top performing athletes would go. Not that I am one, but I imagine they goto the best.

I shattered my heel about 15 years ago and have been in pain ever since. I've always just dealt with it, but as I get older, it's getting to be too much. Everytime I goto a doctor about it, they send me for physio. Doesn't help. Have custom orthotics, helps very slightly. I really don't know if surgery would help, but with advancements in medicine, they might be able to do something. I'm looking for options. Thanks,

Try contacting this guy.

http://stmichaelshospitalresearch.ca/researchers/timothy-r-daniels/

[mr2mike]

Not value adding but both my ankles are going to be fucked long term. I try to eat a low inflammatory diet to keep the arthritis from forming.

You think diet effects your issues?

[arcticcat522]

Thanks all for the input. I never thought about my diet effecting it. I don't think that's it, because if I'm on my feet all day, I can hardly walk the next day. Or if I'm on a ladder for a couple hours through the day, same deal, hardly walk the next day.

It helps a little, for a few hours, if I have someone try to pull my foot off (figuratively)

[98brg2d]

If you shattered your calcaneus, how I heard it described was like breaking an egg shell and trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. My brother shattered his calcaneus and will never fully recover. Lots of sports he cannot participate in, like running and skiing (he was a pro) due to either no ankle flexibility (running) or deformed foot due to plates and screws (ski boots). Sorry I can’t help more than providing this anecdote but maybe you aren’t as bad as you think? Stay positive, and keep searching for relief.

[The_Penguin]

Fracturing your Calcaneus is a surprisingly BAD injury. Mainly because the amount of force required to break it really fucks up your foot/ankle. I remember the ortho Dr. saying, "man, you picked the WORST bone to break"
I broke mine about 5 years ago (of all the stupid things I've done in my life, THAT's the one I'd take back), and when I started reading up on it, it was scary.
Turns out it's all true. A life-changing injury. I suspect I have arthritis happening now. Some days I'm fine, some days I limp, some days it hurts like a bitch.
Here's some good insight on the injury:
https://www.healthboards.com/boards/foot-ankle-problems/842990-crash-course-being-heelie-revised-calcaneous.html

[arcticcat522]

Fracturing your Calcaneus is a surprisingly BAD injury. Mainly because the amount of force required to break it really fucks up your foot/ankle. I remember the ortho Dr. saying, "man, you picked the WORST bone to break"
I broke mine about 5 years ago (of all the stupid things I've done in my life, THAT's the one I'd take back), and when I started reading up on it, it was scary.
Turns out it's all true. A life-changing injury. I suspect I have arthritis happening now. Some days I'm fine, some days I limp, some days it hurts like a bitch.
Here's some good insight on the injury:
https://www.healthboards.com/boards/foot-ankle-problems/842990-crash-course-being-heelie-revised-calcaneous.html

Thanks for that. I'll read through it. When I went to the hospital with it, the dam nurse didn't believe me or something and pulled off the snowboard boot I was wearing at the time. I told her emphatically to cut it off, but nah. Just pull of the tightest fitting boot. Almost passed out.

- - - Updated - - -


If you shattered your calcaneus, how I heard it described was like breaking an egg shell and trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. My brother shattered his calcaneus and will never fully recover. Lots of sports he cannot participate in, like running and skiing (he was a pro) due to either no ankle flexibility (running) or deformed foot due to plates and screws (ski boots). Sorry I can’t help more than providing this anecdote but maybe you aren’t as bad as you think? Stay positive, and keep searching for relief.

Yep. That was it. I had a plate and 13 screws in it. So much hardware, it got infected. Real close to losing it from what I was told. Was on crutches for 6 months and a cane for another few. I think my Mobility in it is pretty good, but need to reach it good a few times per day.

[darthVWader]

Amputate and change your name to Elieane

[skandalouz_08]

Do you have Best Doctors or ever heard of it? They can refer you to a specialist in the US if there are none in Canada that can help you. Might be something to look into?

[Red@8]

I happen to be a private surgeon who happens to do foot and ankle. I'm in Vancouver. Go see Dr. Lalani at Alpine Foot and Ankle in Calgary. He's a Pod who's done a tonne of calc fx's.