SAN ANTONIO -- Imagine experiencing such severe arthritic pain in your ankles, you can barely walk. Ron Siliven didn't have to imagine it. He lived it every day. But now, he's experienced a medical breakthrough to take away that pain.
"I spent the last couple years either in a wheelchair or with a walker," Siliven told News 4 WOAI.
After years of playing college football, climbing poles for the phone company, and coaching little league, Ron Siliven's ankles just plain gave out.
"The pain, just to where I could hardly walk," said Siliven.
Siliven's left ankle was fused. But his doctor had different ideas for his right ankle.
"In the past, when we did ankle fusions. That's a good operation for pain, but it's a terrible operation for motion," explained Dr. Marvin Brown.
Dr. Brown performed what's called the "InBone" procedure, which replaces part of the ankle joint with a prosthesis.
"During the surgery, we can separate the joint slightly," said Dr. Brown. "And we actually build the joint after we make the cut out for the prosthesis."
Stems go up into the bone to hold the prosthesis in place.
It's been almost a year since Siliven's ankle replacement. He's back on his feet and now talks to other patients about the pros and cons of the surgery.
"I can walk, no more pain. That's the key to it, just no more pain," Siliven added. "The neat thing is, I finally got to dance with my wife after three years."
The surgery is FDA approved and only takes about one and a half hours.
CLICK HERE if you'd like more information about the procedure.
