Fused ankle

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Gregstv
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Fused ankle

Post by Gregstv » Sun May 02, 2021 8:58 am

I will be getting my right ankle fused next week. I will have zero ankle movement for the rest of my life. Has anyone fitted a hand accelerator to a C5 RS6? Being an electronic set-up I would think it could be done. Not 100 percent sure if I will need it. Just depends how hard it is to drive a high power car using my knee to control the accelerator.
I won't be able to drive for 3-4 months. Looks like the wife will get to drive the RS6 afterall to keep the battery charged and I will be the passenger. Is this where you say, and that's when the fight started? :mrgreen:

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Shoppinit
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Shoppinit » Sun May 02, 2021 9:17 am

:shock: That doesn't sound good. What happened?

The RS6 accelerator is pure fly-by-wire. I bet the same unit or a similar unit is installed in absolutely loads of VAG cars and it must be a fairly standard conversion for adapted vehicles.

Why don't you move the accelerator pedal to the left and use your left foot for everything?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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Shoppinit
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Shoppinit » Sun May 02, 2021 9:18 am

Have a look at this list of adaptations for cars:

http://jeffgosling.co.uk/docs/Quarterly ... sGuide.pdf

It's just the first one I came across but they do a left-hand accelerator for Passat. Might be a simple plug-and-play job.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

Gregstv
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Gregstv » Sun May 02, 2021 9:55 am

I broke it in 5 places when I came off a dirt bike about 15 years ago. Taking up flat track racing at 40 wasn't a great idea. It's now totally eaten away by arthritis. Bone on bone. It's been quite painful for the last 5 years. Put off the fusion for as long as I could.
I like the idea of moving the accelerator pedal to the left side. I already use left foot to brake. I have a spare pedal box that I can start looking at. Just need to check it will be legal and it will pass inspection.

steve2003rs6
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by steve2003rs6 » Sun May 02, 2021 10:01 am

Sorry to hear that mate. Simple answer is yes it can be done if you need it.
I watched a mustang conversion in the USA for a soldier who had a double below knee amputation.
The huge smile on his face was heartwarming.
Stay positive buddy.

srichards
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by srichards » Sun May 02, 2021 12:33 pm

If there is a left foot pedal option then it's the easiest. Especially if there is one that flips up so you can easily get the car back to standard.

Alternatively one of those handle bar things like they had in the invacars might be a riot :D

Gregstv
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Gregstv » Sun May 09, 2021 10:27 am

The operation has been postponed. They couldn't get a sleep doctor.
It's made me think I have time now to get a second opinion. I would much rather a ankle replacement. The specialist I have seen told me I was to young and it wouldn't last long enough. A second opinion will help ease my mind. I also want to know what will happen if I just leave it for a few years. It is bone on bone so it would be good to understand the impact of just leaving it for a while.
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steve2003rs6
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by steve2003rs6 » Sun May 09, 2021 12:26 pm

Bloody hell mate. You made a mess of that.
And I thought my right heel pain was bad.
Your photo has stopped me moaning though.
Also looks like the surgeon has raided my toolbox for screws and my posidrive screwdriver.

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Shoppinit
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Shoppinit » Sun May 09, 2021 2:03 pm

Reminds me, I need to put a shelf up.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

Gregstv
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Gregstv » Sun May 09, 2021 9:16 pm

I think the surgeon had trouble finding the correct length screws and grabbed what ever he had.

Shop,
Longer screws might work well with the shelf.

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IchBautAuto
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by IchBautAuto » Mon May 10, 2021 1:05 am

Gregstv wrote:
Sun May 09, 2021 10:27 am
.............. The specialist I have seen told me I was to young and it wouldn't last long enough. A second opinion will help ease my mind. I also want to know what will happen if I just leave it for a few years. ...................
I assume use equates with wear. Walk less, drive more may make the replacement solution a long life option.
C5 RS6, Milltek and Wagners: B5 RS4 450 + HP: A4 1.8 GP TQS original: 1963 UNIMOG 404:

Gregstv
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Gregstv » Mon May 10, 2021 9:38 am

Hopefully that will be the case. In 10 to 15 years they might of caught up with what doctor Rudy Wells did to Steve Austin.

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Shoppinit
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Shoppinit » Mon May 10, 2021 9:41 am

Yeah, seems like fusing is a last resort. You can always do that if the artificial ankle fails.

/obvs the RS6 forum is the best place for medical advice. :beerchug:
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

srichards
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Re: Fused ankle

Post by srichards » Mon May 10, 2021 9:50 am

I'd think trying a replacement ankle first would seem far better. They're making improvements with replacement bits all the time so an ankle might last 10 years now but the replacement for it might last the rest of your days.

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Re: Fused ankle

Post by Mɐʇʇ » Mon May 10, 2021 10:30 am

I'm not going to pretend to know anything about ankle joints.
But I do have a titanium plate in my shoulder and it seems to be the norm that they just pick out the longest screws in the box

As far as a hand throttle goes, I'm not sure if it's just a potentiometer and a potential divider or whether it's a proper digital signal. I know some of the motors I've looked at for other projects it's just been a potentiometer which would make things easy - although the alternate throttle pedal looks like a nice solution.

How much practice did it take to "moderate" your left foot? Whenever I try, I end up stamping far too hard on the brakes.
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