How young are you? MAYBE YOU SHOULD WAIT! There is no such thing as "Minor" surgery. My "claw toes'' or hammer toes, didn't fully develop until I was in my 40's, much like the majority of the writers here. Are you still able to bend your pinky toes, even if you have to do it manually (by hand) If there is ANY bend at all, you have other routes to pursue first! Physical Therapy, exercising, orthopedics. I know you're thinking orthopedics are ugly and clumsy. They've made great strides!
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If you're doctor is a Podiatrist, also make an appointment to see an Orthopedic Surgeon. They have more schooling and aren't just limited to "FEET". Podiatrist's also tend to do all their surgeries using a local anesthesia, right in their office. This is an EXTREMELY painful surgery, requiring cutting the toe open from top to bottom, bone removal, tendon cutting, placement of a long metal pin and stitches. You couldn't pay me to be do it awake. I've worked for a Podiatrist and assisted in many "Hammertoe" corrective surgeries The doctor I worked for, prescribed his patients Vicodin 45 minutes prior, then starts the local anesthetic that burns like crazy and takes many pokes until everything is numb! Most patients say the shots hurt more than anything.
I had to quit my job as a surgical assistant because I couldn't be on my feet for more than two hours, even with the best shoes! I FINALLY found a doctor who agreed to do the surgery. I had been to many Podiatrist's, none of whom could diagnose me because I didn't fit into the criteria of "Hammertoes", which are always seen in both feet.
A year to the day I had my surgery to correct the first three digits. My surgery was done under general anesthesia and I didn't feel anything ...until the local and pain meds wore off! Yet, I was still very pleased with the outcome. I could actually see my toenails! After surgery I was monitored over night for pain control. Whoever tells you that ANY TYPE of injury to the foot will heal in no time and shouldn't hurt, is obviously uneducated. The feet have comparatively the most nerve endings in the entire body. Not to mention, they bear all your body weight, which makes the healing process longer. It's been a year and 3 weeks to the day since my surgery and my toes are still sore, swollen, and now, very misshapen. I am able to wear boots in the winter with about a 2-1/2" heel. Dressy shoes, result in unbearable pain after about two hours, before I have to change into my comfy's. Note: platform heels work the best! The higher in the front, the better! I'm so glad I was able to have it done.
HERE'S WHERE I'M ASKING FOR ADVICE:
My second experience wasn't quite the same.
I had postoperative surgery 7 days ago to correct the 5th digit, or baby toe, and was put under general anesthesia for the half hour surgery. I had requested a I was booted out of recovery in less than an hour, then literally wheeled to the curb, where my nurse left me. I had told her my ride would be a half and hour....anyway, that was the second ridiculous thing. I about an hour after I left the hospital, I started experiencing excruciating sharp pains from heel to toe, which then progressed to an unremitting charlie-horse in the arch of my foot. I couldn't bend any toes, couldn't rub it, couldn't do anything but cry and shake. My husband took me back to the hospital, per my discharge orders. Well....no one at the ER would touch me and my DR was tied up in surgery. I was there 4-1/2 hours getting the runaround. For example, after the second hour, the ER doc was going to give me shot of Toradol, but my Dr said no, because of it's anti-clotting substances. I also had a BP of 158/96 with a heart rate of 112. YES, I WAS IN PAIN. NO I DO NOT TAKE HIGH BP MEDS. Two more hours go by and the surgical nurse comes to my room to ask what is wrong. He says to the ER doc, go ahead and give her Ketorolac ( I'm in healthcare and happened to know that Toradol is Ketorolac) I said, three hours ago I couldn't have "Toradol', which I called by name", the ER doc and ER nurse leave and finally come in and say I can have 1mg injection of Dilaudid, with is a pretty good pain med. After the injection, I was instructed to wait and hour and half! I said "An hour and half?" "That's longer than my recovery from General Anesthesia was!" I ask to sign a waiver and finally went home!
Surgery was Wednesday, he asked that I come in on Thursday because of my complications. I called Wednesday night and left a message that I was too tired and would like to come in on Tuesday of next week. This was fine...until my ride cancelled on my a few hours prior. I called his nurse and apologized with my reason for canceling. She said she'd put me down on Thursday and that was that. Within the next 20 minutes his nurse calls to tell that me that he has to see me that day, period! Again, I explain my ride cancelled and and should be able to drive myself. Hello, I have a clutch and it's the foot that was operated on that I would have to use to push it in! I HAVE TO BE SEEN THAT DAY, end of story. I again explained, NO TRANSPORTATION and and even checked on taxi fares that would've been $60 one way (I live 40 miles away!) She then said I would be billed for a NO SHOW and he couldn't see me on Thursday. I would have to wait another week. (Hmm?..She just scheduled me 20 minutes prior for Thursday!)
I feel I haven't been treated with the respect I deserve. I called his office today and I asked if all the dictation had been done regarding my surgery and ER visit. She said they would be separate and I had to wait until my appointment to get any copies. In the past she's always faxed me any requested documents, following a returned faxed with my signed and dated permission.
I'm really tempted to submit a complaint(s). First to the hospital for wheeling me out to the parking lot and then lying to me about what treatment they could administer when I returned. Secondly, a complaint to the A.M.A about my doctor, for lying to me about my anesthesia, not seeing me after the procedure and signing off to give the boot into the parking lot. Also for the "NO-SHOW" charge and changing my appointment date to get even with me. That's how it would appear. His nurse did admit that he's mad at me for coming back to the ER and being interrupted during surgery and my refusal to come in the following day. "I WAS IN MAJOR PAIN THEN & I FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS ON MY DISCHARGE SHEET!
Again, I have CMSP (County Medical Service Provider) for health Insurance and it's a miracle I found this doctor to do my surgery. It took my three years of dead ends to find him and he only agreed because I had worked in healthcare with some of his colleagues. I'm not sure what to do? Any suggestions if you all are still reading?
Do I leave my mouth shut and not burn bridges? See if he was just having a bad day? Good Doctors are so hard to come by! I'll have a talk with him "mano-a- mano" or "face-to-face'"!