It may be too early for me to agree, but so far I certainly do. I had a large spur removed from the big toe on my right foot on Thursday. It really has been fairly anti-climatic so far. After reading this website I was expecting the worst but haven't really had any problems so far (day 3). I drove to the store today, went shopping etc. I'm down to about three vicodins today and will try for just two tomorrow. I reccommend you opt for the ice before the pills, the ice helps tremendously. Buy a flexible ice pack that wraps around the top of the foot and use an ace bandage to hold it there. The only negative aspect so far is the anesthesia withdraw that made me pretty nausiated for the day after surgery (yesterday). I imagine a patients' age affects recovery rate.. so if you're considering this procedure and to put things into perspective for you I'm a 44 y/o male.
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For two years I put up with extreme pain in my right big toe and after going to an orthepedic surgeon that strickly does feet advised me that I had a bone spur on the top of the joint causeing me the pain. (Halux Rigidis) He told me that he would do a Cheilectomy and if it was to bad once he got inside that he would then do a fusion. The fusion really scared me. I had the surgury on Dec 16th and was told to keep it elevated and no weight bering for 5-10 days. The ankle block wore off after 18 hrs. and I only needed 3 pain pills, so the pain I thought was very minimal. I could take showere after the three days but only in and out for ten minutes. After about ten days I was walking around on the heal and outer foot relatively ok and little pain with the use of a wooden open soled sandle. The big toe and the ball under the big toe were still fairly swollen. After two weeks the stiches were taken out and was told I could go back to work but wearing the sandle for another three weeks. It's now been 6 weeks and I'm wearing regular shoes to work and am walking fairly normal with great range of motion in the toe. Ever since the surgury day one I have been without the extreme pain completely except for a little soreness from the cutting of the bone which will go away in time. I still have some swelling of the big toe and the ball underneath but was told that all of this will heal and go away in around another 6-8 weeks. So for me it seems recovery time is around the 3-4 month range. All I can say for mee as of right now this surgury was the best thing I could have done. So I hope this gives someone hope after all the horror stories I've read. My surgeon has a record out all the ones he has done over 17 years he has had only one have to come back and redone. So Ask your surgeon for his trac record, history and references. Any othe questions my email is
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For two years I put up with extreme pain in my right big toe and after going to an orthepedic surgeon that strickly does feet advised me that I had a bone spur on the top of the joint causeing me the pain. (Halux Rigidis) He told me that he would do a Cheilectomy and if it was to bad once he got inside that he would then do a fusion. The fusion really scared me. I had the surgury on Dec 16th and was told to keep it elevated and no weight bering for 5-10 days. The ankle block wore off after 18 hrs. and I only needed 3 pain pills, so the pain I thought was very minimal. I could take showere after the three days but only in and out for ten minutes. After about ten days I was walking around on the heal and outer foot relatively ok and little pain with the use of a wooden open soled sandle. The big toe and the ball under the big toe were still fairly swollen. After two weeks the stiches were taken out and was told I could go back to work but wearing the sandle for another three weeks. It's now been 6 weeks and I'm wearing regular shoes to work and am walking fairly normal with great range of motion in the toe. Ever since the surgury day one I have been without the extreme pain completely except for a little soreness from the cutting of the bone which will go away in time. I still have some swelling of the big toe and the ball underneath but was told that all of this will heal and go away in around another 6-8 weeks. So for me it seems recovery time is around the 3-4 month range. All I can say for mee as of right now this surgury was the best thing I could have done. So I hope this gives someone hope after all the horror stories I've read. My surgeon has a record out all the ones he has done over 17 years he has had only one have to come back and redone. So Ask your surgeon for his trac record, history and references.
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hi,, i was starting to get a bit worried after reading all the stories about the severe pain.thanks to kethekop i feel bit better about the surgery,,,not only do i have to get the spur removed ,but,,,due to foot surgery i got 5year ago ,it turns out that a screw which was put into my foot is under the spur , it has looseed and trying to work it,s way out , but is now stuck under the spur and bone is surrounding it,,,god i dont do anything by half,,,,,go to laugh about it,,,,,,,anyway ,,,surgeon will remove the spur and then the screw,as the screw apparently has done the job it had to do,,,,,,,hubby said ,,,it just confirms wot he,s always thought,,,,,,i,ve always had a screw loose,,,got to laugh,,,,,,,due the surgery round about may,,,,,,, :
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Hi, I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one suffering after having a partial joint replacement in the big toe due to arthritis. I had surgery done September 29 2009. 5 months later my foot did not feel right as tho I had some pluracy in it. So, I went back to my doctor and had an x-ray taken. He found that my bone had bled and bone was growing around the implant and leaving scar tissue on ball of the foot. So, I had surgery again to clean up the bone and remove scar tissue. It's been 4 weeks and I am so sore that my toe bone hurts to touch it. They also put bone wax on the bone so it would not bleed again. My doctor said it was no big deal and I would be back in my shoe within 2 weeks of my surgery. Well, I am back in my shoe but its very hard to walk because of the soreness of the bone around the joint. I'm taking celebrex which has helped alot but can only take it for 5 more days. My husband exercises my toe two to three times a day moving it back and forth and massaging and stretching it. The inflamation has lessen but the soreness has settled in making it hard to walk on my foot. Has anyone had this problem.
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Hey I just wanted to give everyone my own experience. I am 31 and active (running, cycling, swimming, weights etc). About one year ago I jumped off a platform (barefoot) and landed straight on my big toe. My foot was perpendicular to the floor and most of my weight (205 pounds) went on my big toe as it curled under my foot. I thought I had broken it and limped around for some time (about 3 weeks). It was black and blue and painful. A few months after this incident I resumed most of my regular activities including running and biking. Then a few months after working out my big toe started to hurt when I put weight on it or curled it. It got to the point that in October 2009 I went to my doc who sent me to a podiatrist (UCLA). The doctor taped my toe up and told me not to workout etc and that I need to let it rest. I followed up with the doctor for about 3 visits with the same instructions to tape it and not workout. On the last visit the doctor put me in a cam walker boot which I wore for about a month. Then I was sent to physical therapy. By January 2010 I was in great pain and could barely move my toe or walk around. I finally got an MRI and there were loose bone fragments in the IP joint (joint closet to the tip of the toe) and a lot of scar tissue. The toe also had signs of being arthritic. An operation was called for and the doctor was going to “clean out” the joint by removing the fragments and shaving/reshaping the joint. I had the surgery on February 10th, 2010.
The first days after surgery were very painful and I had to miss 2 days of work (office job) to keep the foot elevated. I used Vicodin and ibuprofen for the pain. Taking both at the same time (directions from the doctor) helped with the throbbing pain. I wore my cam walker for the first 3 weeks then switched to the little medical boot that was given to me after surgery. The stitches remained in for 3.5 weeks as my toe was very swollen. I began gently stretching the toe (bending it down and pulling it up as well as massaging and icing it) at about the 3.5 week mark. It has now been 6 weeks post op and I am still in my little boot and still have pain if I flex the toe down. The swelling is considerably less and I almost have full range of motion when I passively stretch it, but if I walk normally or flex the toe without the use of my hands then I get a really sharp pain at the bottom of the IP joint. I am nervous that I will have pain the rest of my life and will be limited in the activities that I do as it really has not gotten better (the actual surgery pain has subsided tremendously though). I still cannot twist or plant with my foot or even grip with my toe. I was told prior to the surgery that by week six I should be back to normal. This is clearly not the case and at this point I don’t know when I will be able to run or even walk without thinking of my toe. I am hoping that it will get better but who knows. It’s kind of depressing as I just want to wear normal shoes and run again. I don’t know exactly what the surgery consisted of as the doc just “cleaned the joint out and reshaped it” but I am hoping one day I will be back to normal. I will post with a follow up in another few weeks with things get better.
The first days after surgery were very painful and I had to miss 2 days of work (office job) to keep the foot elevated. I used Vicodin and ibuprofen for the pain. Taking both at the same time (directions from the doctor) helped with the throbbing pain. I wore my cam walker for the first 3 weeks then switched to the little medical boot that was given to me after surgery. The stitches remained in for 3.5 weeks as my toe was very swollen. I began gently stretching the toe (bending it down and pulling it up as well as massaging and icing it) at about the 3.5 week mark. It has now been 6 weeks post op and I am still in my little boot and still have pain if I flex the toe down. The swelling is considerably less and I almost have full range of motion when I passively stretch it, but if I walk normally or flex the toe without the use of my hands then I get a really sharp pain at the bottom of the IP joint. I am nervous that I will have pain the rest of my life and will be limited in the activities that I do as it really has not gotten better (the actual surgery pain has subsided tremendously though). I still cannot twist or plant with my foot or even grip with my toe. I was told prior to the surgery that by week six I should be back to normal. This is clearly not the case and at this point I don’t know when I will be able to run or even walk without thinking of my toe. I am hoping that it will get better but who knows. It’s kind of depressing as I just want to wear normal shoes and run again. I don’t know exactly what the surgery consisted of as the doc just “cleaned the joint out and reshaped it” but I am hoping one day I will be back to normal. I will post with a follow up in another few weeks with things get better.
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What isn't clear from all the posts is the condition of each individual BEFORE surgery. That's got to influence on the results. In December I had surgery for hallux limitus secondary to a large bone spur. It was supposed to be just a cheilectomy but when he got inside the joint, it had too much degeneration and he had to put in a titanium joint implant. The immediate postop pain was not as bad as I thought it would be as long as my foot was up. Standing and walking caused significant pain but it got a little better every day.
When they took the stitches out at 4 wks, I went back to work. The pain was tolerable, however, I was only walking short distances and sitting as much as possible, preferably with my foot up. I am now 3 months postop and the swelling has continued to go down. However, there is still enough to keep me from wearing any of my old shoes. The burning pressure pain that I had after surgery is gone but the aching arthritic pain is still worse than before surgery. The pain is moderate when standing but when the toe attempts to bend, I get a shooting pain that's 8 out of 10 on the pain scale.
Right now I am still functioning worse than before surgery. I don't think I'm a wuss. I went through this whole thing without pain meds and I've had two children without drugs. However, I'm starting to be a little afraid that it's not going to get better.
When they took the stitches out at 4 wks, I went back to work. The pain was tolerable, however, I was only walking short distances and sitting as much as possible, preferably with my foot up. I am now 3 months postop and the swelling has continued to go down. However, there is still enough to keep me from wearing any of my old shoes. The burning pressure pain that I had after surgery is gone but the aching arthritic pain is still worse than before surgery. The pain is moderate when standing but when the toe attempts to bend, I get a shooting pain that's 8 out of 10 on the pain scale.
Right now I am still functioning worse than before surgery. I don't think I'm a wuss. I went through this whole thing without pain meds and I've had two children without drugs. However, I'm starting to be a little afraid that it's not going to get better.
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Here ya go! My horror story is 6 months old and still going.
It's been 6 months of hell since my surgery by a Podiatrist to remove a bone spur from the top of my right big toe for Hallux Rigidus.
The Podiatrist also did a osteotomy.
I was injured from the intubation - my throat was scratched and my uvula was stretched and bruised. I was put on steroids and an antibiotic - I suffered oral and intestinal thrush from the antibiotics.
I couldn't put any weight on it for 6 weeks. I was in a wheel chair and used crutches.
My toe became infected - more antibiotics, more thrush.
My body was allergic to the internal stitches - forming abscesses. It actually spit out the stitches.
My osteotomy became a non union after three months showing no bone growth on the x ray.
In my surgical notes the Podiatrist called my surgery a Bunionectomy. It was a Cheilectomy for Christ's sake!
My Podiatrist lied to me and said at several visits while looking at xrays - LOOK at how nicely it's healing!
I sought a second opinion Orthopaedic surgeon who wanted to put in a plate and 4 screws (skrews - why does this site edit this word) and wanted to know why my
metatarsal was cut for a bone spur removal. He says the point of the screw is poking into my big toe joint. The head of the screw is rubbing from the inside out and has caused numbness and a neuroma.
I went back to the Podiatrist and confronted him.
Podiatrist prescribed a bone stimulator machine to stimulate the non-union join.
I got another opinion and this Doctor also wanted to know why in the world the podiatrist cut my bone in the first place.
It was straight to begin with. He is now my current doctor and wants to remove screw in a few weeks.
He thinks the screw is too long and is poking into my big toe joint preventing me from walking right.
I was told to continue to use the bone stimulator machine. I can't walk correctly. I've been in physical therapy for 4 months.
After the screw comes out I will need more physical therapy and recovery time.
I have suffered from depression (add an antidepressant), weight gain - causing me to become pre-diabetic.
I am now on Metformin (another pill) and test my blood sugar 7 times a day. My back and hips ache constantly from limping.
My blood pressure is up and I'm on medication (third pill) for that too.
The emotional and physical pain from this surgery has taken a toll on me.:cry:
I can't be on my foot for more than a couple of hours a day.
My new doctor is certain that removing this screw is the answer. I pray he is right. I can't take much more of this.
I used to walk 2 miles a day. This has been hell.
It's been 6 months of hell since my surgery by a Podiatrist to remove a bone spur from the top of my right big toe for Hallux Rigidus.
The Podiatrist also did a osteotomy.
I was injured from the intubation - my throat was scratched and my uvula was stretched and bruised. I was put on steroids and an antibiotic - I suffered oral and intestinal thrush from the antibiotics.
I couldn't put any weight on it for 6 weeks. I was in a wheel chair and used crutches.
My toe became infected - more antibiotics, more thrush.
My body was allergic to the internal stitches - forming abscesses. It actually spit out the stitches.
My osteotomy became a non union after three months showing no bone growth on the x ray.
In my surgical notes the Podiatrist called my surgery a Bunionectomy. It was a Cheilectomy for Christ's sake!
My Podiatrist lied to me and said at several visits while looking at xrays - LOOK at how nicely it's healing!
I sought a second opinion Orthopaedic surgeon who wanted to put in a plate and 4 screws (skrews - why does this site edit this word) and wanted to know why my
metatarsal was cut for a bone spur removal. He says the point of the screw is poking into my big toe joint. The head of the screw is rubbing from the inside out and has caused numbness and a neuroma.
I went back to the Podiatrist and confronted him.
Podiatrist prescribed a bone stimulator machine to stimulate the non-union join.
I got another opinion and this Doctor also wanted to know why in the world the podiatrist cut my bone in the first place.
It was straight to begin with. He is now my current doctor and wants to remove screw in a few weeks.
He thinks the screw is too long and is poking into my big toe joint preventing me from walking right.
I was told to continue to use the bone stimulator machine. I can't walk correctly. I've been in physical therapy for 4 months.
After the screw comes out I will need more physical therapy and recovery time.
I have suffered from depression (add an antidepressant), weight gain - causing me to become pre-diabetic.
I am now on Metformin (another pill) and test my blood sugar 7 times a day. My back and hips ache constantly from limping.
My blood pressure is up and I'm on medication (third pill) for that too.
The emotional and physical pain from this surgery has taken a toll on me.:cry:
I can't be on my foot for more than a couple of hours a day.
My new doctor is certain that removing this screw is the answer. I pray he is right. I can't take much more of this.
I used to walk 2 miles a day. This has been hell.
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Okay-my first post here...I was absolutely terrified going into the surgery four days ago. Before surgery, I was in almost constant pain for a very large spur on top of my foot (behind the great toe). I reviewed the posts on here several times before just going ahead with it.
Post-op, my surgeon said afterward that my foot was in very bad shape, probably one of the worst he'd ever seen, but that the surgery went well. I wasn't in any pain because of the anashesia, I guess, but I was bracing for the med's to wear off. He prescribed vicodin every 4-6 hours, as needed. I've been religious about taking the pills every four to six hours since then (four days, now).
I have to say, I don't know if he just did an awesome job, if the pain meds are that effective, or what, but this has been an absolute breeze. I am in virtually no pain...certainly less than before the surgery. I have stayed off the foot for the most part, as directed, and kept it elevated a lot and iced it quite a bit, but I can actually walk with this sandle they gave me with out any pain. I am taking it easy, because I don't want to risk overdoing it or anything.
I go in to see him again on Tuesday (6 days after the surgery) and he will then take the bandage off. I don't know what or when he'll be doing about the stitches or about physical therapy.
So far, though, I can't believe my good fortune. I would almost say that I'm euphoric about the situation, now that I'm finally out of pain.
I'll post again, after my appointment on Tuesday. Until then, I'm just planning on chilling out and relaxing at home while I heal.
Post-op, my surgeon said afterward that my foot was in very bad shape, probably one of the worst he'd ever seen, but that the surgery went well. I wasn't in any pain because of the anashesia, I guess, but I was bracing for the med's to wear off. He prescribed vicodin every 4-6 hours, as needed. I've been religious about taking the pills every four to six hours since then (four days, now).
I have to say, I don't know if he just did an awesome job, if the pain meds are that effective, or what, but this has been an absolute breeze. I am in virtually no pain...certainly less than before the surgery. I have stayed off the foot for the most part, as directed, and kept it elevated a lot and iced it quite a bit, but I can actually walk with this sandle they gave me with out any pain. I am taking it easy, because I don't want to risk overdoing it or anything.
I go in to see him again on Tuesday (6 days after the surgery) and he will then take the bandage off. I don't know what or when he'll be doing about the stitches or about physical therapy.
So far, though, I can't believe my good fortune. I would almost say that I'm euphoric about the situation, now that I'm finally out of pain.
I'll post again, after my appointment on Tuesday. Until then, I'm just planning on chilling out and relaxing at home while I heal.
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I'm a scheduled to have this procedure done in late June. I am dancer too and now am concerned after reading all these comments about it. I was told I could walk on it right after the procedure too. It is interferring with day to day activiities and my ability to wear certain types of shoes due to discomfort so something has to be done. It is also not allowing me to get up on my toes the way I should be able to. Did any of you experience the same type of symptoms prior to your surgery?
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I too am having this surgery later this month. After reading all of these responses I'm getting a little scared of the surgery, I was told by the doctor that I'd be fine after a few days... Any dancers out there that have had the surgery and regret it? Although I've been out of dance for a bit now, that's the cause of this and it's something I'm planning on starting back up very soon so I was wondering how the surgery affected your dancing.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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I have been limited to wearing wide athletic shoes with a high toe box OR sandals that do not touch the top of my big toe. A bone spur on the top/inside of my big toe is apparent. My doctor at UCLA advises that removal is simple, recovery is minor, and the only difference I will notice is that I have a greater choice of shoes to wear post-op.
After reading posts, however, I am terrified to have this operation. I can walk enough if I wear the two types of shoes. If I try to walk far, it hurts and I stop. My life is fine and everyone understands that I cannot wear stylish shoes.
If I were certain that the surgery would be okay and I would then be able to wear more types of shoes and not have any pain, I would do it gladly. The pain from the surgery would be worth it.
However, it appears that most of the people have MORE pain afterwards.
Any advice?
After reading posts, however, I am terrified to have this operation. I can walk enough if I wear the two types of shoes. If I try to walk far, it hurts and I stop. My life is fine and everyone understands that I cannot wear stylish shoes.
If I were certain that the surgery would be okay and I would then be able to wear more types of shoes and not have any pain, I would do it gladly. The pain from the surgery would be worth it.
However, it appears that most of the people have MORE pain afterwards.
Any advice?
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I had a bone spur removed and cartliage replaced from my right big toe Dec. of 09 and my doctor gave me no time off knowing I worked 8 hours a day walking.I went to work in a wheel chair.Thankfully my bosses are great people and helped me to make it work.Almost 2 years later I can not bend my toe.Now I am having pain again and found out I have another,I am seeing a different Doctor this time.My incision broke open and the doctor didn"t tell me when he looked at it a week later.I didn't even get atibiotics from him.i got perkacets and took none.I will not have the surgery again,It made it worse,to force my toe to mend hurts more then the spur.Good luck to all.This is my opinion and my Doctor sucked.
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