bone spur surgery on top of big toe: recovery time

Hi Janet,

I think I posted last in late November and was doing well then after 3 weeks. I'm pleased to say things have continued to improve, and I don't feel much discomfort except when I'm out walking any distance .. it's now exactly 3 months since the fusion.

I saw the consultant in early December and I waltzed in to the consulting room in normal shoes.. he was amazed, and said I was at the 3 month stage already. He said it was 3 months to be fair, 6 months to be good, and a year to be, well, as good as it's likely to get.

He told me to promote the idea of fusion on the forums, because although it sounds scarey and final, it definitely takes away that toothache... immediately.

After 9 months of hell I can do just about everything.. except pirouhette !

I do hope this isn't just another waste of time for you, and that you see lots of improvement soon.

The reason my manipulation didn't work is because I had developed a lot of scar tissue... I am of that body type. The manipulation breaks it down, but mine reformed.

Now I have to deal with the fact that my business has almost collapsed because of my inactivity.. more changes on the horizon.

Let me know how you are doing in a week or so.

Steve

 

Hey Steve thanks for your quick reply! What great news! So glad it has worked so well for you! Amazing after such a lot of failed mucking around! makes me less worried if I end up needing a fusion..all I want is my life back! It's shocking how much this toe stuff mucks up our lives... crazy! ..but I hope this manipulation will work..I just took the max pain meds they gave me and haven't needed - and see if they help while I will try to get it bending. But it is good tp know no matter what there is light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks. Good luck with your work! :)

I had bone spurs removed from both my feet in Dec. of 2010 due to osteo arthritis.  After the surgery, my dr. told me that the one foot had alot of joint damage and I may need a joint replacement.  In Sept. of 2011 I had a joint replacement.  Did PT, exercises the dr. told me to do and never gained ROM in that toe.  Also had 2 cortisone shots which didn't help at all.  Anyway, over a year later I am still in alot of pain, can't find any shoes to wear and was told it is most likely scar tissue.   I am probably looking at a fusion.  Question I had for Steve R is when you had your fusion did they have to replace bone.  I have read other blogs where they took bone from the hip and now they are having alot of pain in their hip where bone was removed.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be helpful.  I am at my wits end with this whole thing!  It is very depressing. 

Hi Guest.. apologies for the delay in responding.. I've been working away this week. I also had reservations about the possibility of a graft, but didn't need one. My original implant was resurfacing only on one side of the joint, so when the ends were cut and screwed togther there was a loss of only about 7mm in overall length. My big toe is now slightly shorter than my first toe by a couple of mm. The plate across the joint looks like a dog bone on the xray! and there are 8 screws holding it in place. . I was told when I had the hemi implant.. that should it go wrong, which it did, that the surgeon would be able to fuse without a graft, but if you have had a full replacement a graft might be necessary. The fusion is arranged at an angle of about 15 degrees upwards, to give some compensation for the roll of the foot without having the flexibility of the joint. The other joints compensate for additional flexing. I'l repeat that it has been a revelation for me.. no more joint pain that I had sufferered increasingly for 20 years. Don't be afraid of it.

I also play football and I just got the surgrey at the beginning of the week... How much did it help? How long did it take you to recover? And it was the top joint in you big toe right?

I had a bone spur removed from the top of my big toe in August 1999; I am in constant pain each and every day. My big toe will not bend; therefore, it will not grip when walking; wearing a sandal is not longer possible; the ball of my right foot is swollen and stiff at all times. I can no longer dance; I can no longer walk to shop; I can no longer stand without constant pain. Even to sit in a chair there is constant pain. I was never told there would even be a "possibility" that surgery would not be successful. Thus no knowing to ask, I live in a depressed state because when you can not walk, your entire life style is debilitated; there is not joy. After 13 years, I would beg anyone to think long and hard before surgery; find a surgeon that knows what he/she is doing; find out ALL THE FACTS! Do research and talk to patients of your doctor that have had the surgery. Please do not let your life become less than it should be like I did. I did not know the questions to ask. I believed in my doctor, and I live in daily pain due to a surgery performed by a doctor that did not know what he was doing. This I know after years and years of talking to others that I just happen to meet shopping for shoes. I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on shoes to "try" and relieve any pain. My heart goes out to any person that has been through the anguish that I live with every day. I've gone to other orthopedics, explained my problem; but, I assure you no doctor will stay one negative word about the "botched" surgery I had. Please, please think long and hard before surgery; try everything humanly possible before allowing any doctor to cut on the top of your big toe.

Hello! So i am 17 and i had this procedure done. Being so young, there was a possibility for me to have problems with my foot for the rest of my life. I had my sirgery 2 days after christmas. After about a month, i started to walk. I am in marching band, and i am not very comfortable marching yet. I am starting to run, but i hurt a lot and i cannot run for a long time. I would give yourself a couple of months. Do make sure to keep it clean and lookibg okay. When you are allowed to take showers, gently clean the toe with dial soap or any antibaterial soap. If needed, ice your foot. Be careful at school (if you are going) because any accident can cause longer recovery. I was pushed down the stairs and had to go back. But, longest is like 3 months. Do not push it!(:

I had my feet done last May so 9 months ago... I am still not runnng again though I can walk well on the flat - it is painful trying hill walking and going through mud or rocky ground. Just had manipulation under anasthetic on the one that still wouldn't bend and it has really helped - great movement now in both - and a good level of comfort. Can pick out a wide range of shoes now tht I can walk in comfortably. My feet are over 1/2 size bigger so I've gone up a she size. Hopefully the remaining pain will settle down - it is only if I catch it or I try to run or do too much. I can easily walk 4 to 8 miles now with my dogs though without too much bother. So good luck guys with your recoveries - hopefully by the sunmmer!

Sorry though to the 'guest' who has had such an awful outcome - must bee deeply distressing and depressing - I have found the long recovery much slower then I expected and the outcome not as amazing and life transforming as I had hoped - it feels better but I am doing much much less then normal. But I think mine will get better. I do hope you can find help though to get yours sorted better cos we all need our mobility. xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just had my 8 week check post MUA - so this is 10 months post op. The guy I saw said the pain is muscle damage and not a problem- does that sound right?  If so has anyone any idea about how long will it take to stop hurting and get back to running?

 

Okay...my advice on this surgery has got to be DON'T do it!!!!!!  Just DON'T!!!!!

...I seriously wish I'd never had this done.  :'( 

Thank Steve R for the info about a fusion. I saw an orthopedic dr. today and he took x-rays, he was a little surprised that the joint replacement I had was pretty "old school" and said they have had a lot of issues with this type of joint replacement. He did say everything looks OK of course he can't see scar tissue on the x-ray. Basically to get out of the pain, I will need a fusion. I will think seriously about this, however, not ready to take the leap yet, just not ready to have a 3rd surgery on the foot. Hope you are still doing better with your foot!

Hi Guest.. I'm still pleased with my fusion 5 months on. It certainly took the pain away, but I don't think I can ever expect it to be perfect.. My remaining issue is that the plate and 9 screws that were used to hold the joint together does feel a bit sensitive occasionally, and when the bone is fully fused (it can take several months for new bone to get its full strength) I might ask for the plate to be removed. It's been a liberation for me.. being able to take long walks again.. in fact I don't even think about whether I can take something on. Apart from making sure to have good shoes and some orthotic support I walk quite normally.. no limp or change of gait! Good luck with it if you decide to go for it. Janet... Oh I am so sorry to hear you have problems again.. Ironically, my friend who had the implant, and convinced me to go down that route is now having problems 3 years on. She has been told it's calcification. I'm a bit surprised that yours is apparently due to muscle damage... surely physio would be able to address that? I wish could say that I can run following my fusion, but being nearly 60 and weighing 220 pounds those days have gone! Maybe losing the 40 pounds I gained laying on the sofa most of last year would help. What are you going to do?

That last post should have shown as from me Steve R.. not sure why it didn't

Thanks Steve...given the doc I saw didn't know I had any surgery and though I was in the very early stage of pre crartlidge damage I rang and complained. So I am seeing my surgeon soon instead to gain an opinion from someone I can trust. I feel like I made a big mistake in ever having my feet messed with though in fairness my left one has been 100% trouble free! So I will see what he says and go by that. Maybe it will gradually recover...hopefully it will. Thanks.