Total Ankle Replacement: Anderson Woman Gets Her Active Life Back

Sue Rehn’s life was always very active and revolved around ballroom dancing every week with her husband and friends, plus other outings. She enjoyed going on trips in her RV with her husband. But her ankle problems were taking that away.

Sue had been working with a podiatrist in Anderson, CA, but after a year of failed treatments, she still had ankle pain. She was searching for anything that would stop the pain. She tried stem cell therapy on her torn tendon, and while she was waiting to heal, her other ankle failed. She was in pain all day, every day.

She was referred to Shasta Orthopaedics’ foot and ankle specialists. At Shasta Ortho she had x-rays for the first time in her treatment plan. Working with foot and ankle specialist Dr. Jason Nowak, they discovered she had a short tendon.

Her best course of action was a total ankle replacement.

For Sue, being active is important. As an avid ballroom dancer being on her feet is a way of life. After ankle surgery, she was on a pain pump for four days. On the road to recovery, she was prescribed pain medication, but she reported that she didn’t need it.

Sue was back up and dancing by New Year’s Eve. She said, “I wonder if all those people out there would believe I had surgery just 3 months ago.” Even her husband, who has had two knee replacements, was surprised at Sue’s quick recovery. Every week offered an improvement, and a step towards the quality of life that she enjoys.

If you have foot or ankle pain, don’t delay! Shasta Orthopaedics has the North State’s most complete Foot and Ankle program.