Dear UKC,
Tell me your stories and help me settle on a course of action.
There is a long a boring backstory, but the essential news is that I have been diagnosed with Fibrous Synostosis of the foot ( this plus plantar fasciitis caused by flat feet, but that's yet more long and boring backstory ) and Surgery is an option - including fusion of the ankle joints in both feet.
I can't currently walk for more than about 4 hours without serious pain afterwards and into most of the next day, so the 'Do nothing but keep stretching those calves' option does not seem to be a way forward.
So what are your experiences of Fusion? What were/are you able to do afterwards? Still mountaineering / climbing / walking, or what? Recommend it? Other options?
Over to you.