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Saw an orthopaedic consultant yesterday who confirmed, after an xray, that the osteoarthritis in the big toe joint is getting worse. He suggested two different types of surgery: a fusion of the bone or a replacement of the joint. I am leaning towards the latter although I don't know much about it and the consultant admitted the success rate isn't great! Has anyone had it done or know more about it?
Thanks
Graeme
1 like, 60 replies
miss02428 gmac1975
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julie89879 gmac1975
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gmac1975 julie89879
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julie89879 gmac1975
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gmac1975 julie89879
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julie89879 gmac1975
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gmac1975 julie89879
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julie89879 gmac1975
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Robertsonlylady julie89879
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I know it's been over a year now. I was wondering how your toe and we're doing? I've been putting this off 3 years because I'm so worried about surgery.
rosalyn7 Robertsonlylady
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Loukelly gmac1975
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Hi. I've just had a joint replacement for my big toe and removal of bony spurs on my left foot. Prior to op this was painful to walk short distances every day. I was offered the option of fusion aswell but as I'm only 35 I didn't want to go for this as it is so final. I'm only on day four so I've got to keep my leg strictly elevated for at least 10days. I'm remaining positive I think I made the right decision as couldn't go on the way I was. Have you gone for surgery? Please keep us updated.
jkeffy Loukelly
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Loukelly jkeffy
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Hi
I'm doin better than I was thanks. I do find towards the end of the day my foot is swollen and aches but this is manageable with ice and pain killers if required. I do put it up when I get home from work. It's a catch 22 as advised to exercise it regularly aswell so doesn't stiffen up! You do need to be careful at your stage that you rest as much as possible as will probably be swollen still. Keep us up to date. Thanks
jkeffy Loukelly
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Loukelly jkeffy
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nancy0814 jkeffy
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HI, I had the surgery on July 19, probably right around the time you did it. I can fit in my gym shoes and I am walking outside 2 miles a day now. I do come home and lay down with ice on there right when I get home. But I find after exercising I can get my toe to move a bit. Otherwise it is frozen and I can't get it to move at all. It really doesnt hurt per say. Just hurts when the shoe rubs on the area where the stitches were. Are you feeling the same??
Loukelly nancy0814
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Hi
I would say if you only had the surgery done under 3 weeks ago you are doing too much. My consultant certainly didn't advise me to be going to the gym or walking 2 miles a day at that stage. I only had my bandage taken off at 3 weeks then was advised to do gentle exercise and gradually build up strength. Have you had any physio yet?
nancy0814 Loukelly
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I got my bandages off at 2 weeks and my doctor said get out there and start walking. I don't go to the gym. I walk around the neighborhood. I was walking four miles a day before the surgery so for me 2 miles is nothing. He does not recommend physio to his patients. He gave me exercises to do and that was about it. I could even go swimming if I wanted to at this point. My scar is beautifully healed. Just a small amount of scabbing along the incision line. There were no stitches to be removed. My doctor advises his patients to walk and walk. He wants us to get the movement back in our toe as soon as possible. Mine is definitely swollen around the area so bending it isnt so easy. But I have no pain whatsoever. The worst part of this surgery for me was laying on the couch for 2 weeks straight.
jkeffy nancy0814
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Wow! I was advised to weight bear but would not be able to walk that far! I have been to corner shop, bus stop etc- ten minutes walking only. I was not able to walk four miles pre-op due to pain. I have been doing simple Pilates at home to build up hip and back strength and some heel raises etc. If I totally rest I don't need painkillers. I can walk in sandals, but if I've done too much my foot lets me know. Had surgery on 17th
nancy0814 jkeffy
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jkeffy nancy0814
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No shoe with post- just crepe bandage over big dressing, toe in neutral position for two weeks. Shoe was sandal type thing with velcro- was too loose by the end.
Now just in ordinary walking sandals.
Went for a short drive today- with daughter, in case I struggled!- managed fine. Didn't go far but it was OK
jkeffy nancy0814
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Haha just re-read your post- you didn't mean shoe with toepost- you went post surgery lol
Loukelly nancy0814
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I had the post op shoe too, I couldn't wait to get off crutches and get rid of it! I had the night splint too but yes it was a pain with bedsheets. I tried to keep mine elevated as much as poss when not exercising to reduce swelling-which was boring!! I've been on my feet all day waiting at airports so need to get mine up and ice it when I get home
jkeffy Loukelly
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I didn't get crutches- physio made me walk along the corridor and up and down some stairs on the day of the surgery so I could go home! Hope you are home with foot up and ice on
Loukelly jkeffy
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Physio had gone home by time I came round so had to stay in overnight 😡 Yes just got back now thanks. I had mine done in a April but consultant said could take while for full recovery, possibly up to a year!!
nancy0814 jkeffy
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Here is the toe thingy I have to wear. It is more annoying than anything.
I wear this around my entire middle of the foot and that holds that toe strap in place.
I am supposed to wear that velcro surgical sandle too but it gives no support whatsoever and I feel my achilles tendonitis coming on so I have been wearing my gym shoes instead with the orthoditic in there when leaving the house just to be safe.
I found some really good exercises to do online so I am slowly trying to do those. you stand with your toes on the stairs only and try to lift up on your toe area. Its hard but I do it very gently. 10 x and hold for 5 seconds each time.
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nancy0814 Loukelly
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Dont you feel like full recovery won't happen until all the swelling goes down in the foot and then the joint can move freely again. I feel that the reason I can't move my toe at the moment is more from the swelling in the joint space than anything else.
Loukelly nancy0814
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To be honest my swelling depends on what I'm doing. Some days are better than others. My consultant was honest that I won't get 100% full range of movement again but I have got good movement now and I would rather this than fusion. Moving the toe does take time but gradually will get better. Yes you're still early days, just takes time.
jkeffy nancy0814
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Not sure. Not that much swelling now- just around the operation site and the joint itself. My "morning" op was delayed till 4pm so I opted for a spinal so I could get home! At 9.30pm!
Loukelly jkeffy
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Ha you're brave! I wanted to be under. I didn't get one wink of sleep though and when the anaesthetic wore off omg!!
nancy0814 jkeffy
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Oh. They did an ankle block on me. Five shots all around my ankle and boy did each one of those hurt. Then I had twight sleep in OR. Surgery only took 20 minutes so I was awake after about an hour being under. I did walk out of there about 2 hours later. My leg was numb and nothing hurt until about 1 am when the nerve block started to wear off. I can't take codeine so I was stuck taking tramadol and tylenol or ibuphrophen. It was painful on day 2 and 3. But after that I didnt need pain pills any more.
jkeffy Loukelly
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The range of movement now is reasonable- preop the joint had fused itself- so hopefully it'll be fine even if it doesn't progress from here.
Great to chat to folks who've had the same thing done!
Loukelly nancy0814
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I had the blocker too and yeah mine wore off about 1am then I was on dihydrocoedine and morphine😬 Long days like today when on feet a lot and doing tons of walking hurts but that's not everyday.
nancy0814 Loukelly
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can you imagine the pain. I only took 600 mg of ibuprophen on day 2 and day 3 to knock out the pain. Since I cant take morphine or tylenol with codeine. But thats over. I like you had no range of motion in my toe pre surgery. The arthritis was so bad that my big toe was frozen. If I don't get much motioin back now after the surgery that will be fine too. I just want the pain to go away in the toe. Right now none of my shoes even fit. It's like I have a huge bunion on that foot. That's the area that is all swollen. Dont know what shoes I will wear to work. My crocs are the only shoe that is fitting me right now.
Loukelly nancy0814
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I've lived in Skechers for over a year and the insoles hospital had made didn't help. After the op I treated myself to new Skechers as my others were a bit worn 🤣 Did you have any extra bone? I had bony spurs formed on the top so had that removed too. I'm not overly bothered about not having full movement either cos the pain was horrendous pre op. I'd like to be able to wear nice shoes/boots on special occasions again soon
jkeffy Loukelly
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jkeffy Loukelly
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jkeffy nancy0814
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It won't show me it 😢
I'm just in sandals with a mepore dressing on- gonna get wet today as tipping down, but can't bear the thought of boots or shoes!
I found some stuff online too.
I guess we're all advised slightly differently according to each surgeon's preference and the pre-op state of our feet. Gonna try and drive my own car today!
Loukelly jkeffy
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jkeffy Loukelly
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