Hallux Valgus & Hammer Toe Surgery Gone Wrong

Hi Tracy - sorry to hear you've had such a bad time. My NHS op (Dec 27) in Glasgow was not as complicated as yours but care so far has been excellent. I'm due to have stitches out at 2wks and follow-up appointment with surgeon (presume x-ray) at 6wks. Please let us know how you get on at your next appointments.

Hi Tracy - I had hammer toe surgery in Edinburgh in January 2013 and still trying to recover. It's been a very long depressing year. My consultant doesn't give me much info at all. He didn't do any x-rays or mention any risks with foot surgery. Like you my left foot didn't really need surgery (I had one flexible hammer toe on that foot). My right foot had one rigid and one flexible hammer toe but I wasn't in any daily pain. My key concern was I struggled to find shoes that would ftr my feet and sometimes got night cramps if I wore heels during the day so thought I'd ask if I was a good candidate for surgery. I had the surgery 29 Jan then saw him again at 2 weeks to take the stiches out and again at 6 weeks for a final check up. He wasn't at all concerned that I was unabale to go back to work or drive at that stage and suggested I go see a podiatrist for some metarsal pads. I don't think he expected to see me again but I have continued to go backat 3 months, 6 months then again at 10 months. The podiatrist hasn't been able to help nor has physio. I'm not sure what else to try. I have asked to see a new consultant and have a visit lined up next week but I really don't know what he can offer. I'd really just look for reassurance at this stage that the pain will eventually go. I went into surgery as a non smoker, non drinker, normal weight, on no medication, average blood pressure and good cholestrol rating - I couldn't have been healthier. I now feel a complete wreck. I do hope things improve for you - I do believe the recovery process is a lot longer than any doctor will tell you. Good luck.

Thanks again for all the comments & for sharing your experiences.

It is 4.25am and I can't sleep as my head is thumping. I am pretty sure it is because I have an appointment today with the surgeon and I am worrying about it

I am so glad I took photos as I have printed these off with the dates they were taken and even though I knew there was something wrong actually having all the photos together, the difference is huge!

I have no idea what he will say to me, but I hope he will admit that something has gone wrong (I doubt it)

I still can't return to work as wearing shoes for even short periods of time is painful. When I put shoes on 2 of my toes actually tuck under as I put my foot in. I can't move them, It's as though they are dead toes I don't have any control of them. The way I am feeling I can't see me being able to return to my job as I have to be on my feet 6hrs a day.

I still cannot understand why no x-ray was taken, he only agreed to taking one when I asked for a 2nd opinion. I will be asking to see this today.

Beth reading your story is quite worrying as you seem to have had a terrible time of it (could it be the same surgeon :O ) Still having pain 12 months later! I was told I would only be off work for 12wks and when I told him I needed another sick line he informed me that his 'normal' patients went back sooner and made me feel as though I was a hypochondriac.

I will update you all after my visit today, hope this headache goes away soon I know its because I am stressing as I expect some disagreements x

Hi Tracey

I hope your visit went OK today. Like you I get worked up before consultant visits just in case it's bad news but come away frustrated that I don't really get any further clarification on why the pain persistes or when it's likely to go away. The consultant never appears to be concerned that it's taking such a long time and just says 'everyone's different'. What worries me most is he's not asking to see me again, I initiate each visit. I don't think he expected to see me after 6 weeks. I have been to a pain specialist at around 4 months, took Lyrica for about 6 months but decided to come off it as it simply masks the pain (although not completely). I'm still noticing improvements. although very slowly so have hope it will go eventually. I do wonder whether we have the same consultant though. :-) Stay positive and persevere.

I's in Hampshire, had op 21 November, stiches out and Xray after 2 weeks, went for 6 week check yesterday hoping to be let out of the aircast boot. Xray showed bones have not quite healed, told this is not uncommon often takes 8 weeks or more with this op.

If there had not been an Xray surgeon would not have been able to see it wasn't healing, I feel fine and foot looks good, danger is, if I weight bear too much too soon the flimsy joint could rebreak and this would mean more surgery.

I know we are all different but I do not understand how your surgeon can manage your recovery without Xrays - do they have especially special skin piecing eyes or something??

Good luck ladies hope you are feeling better soon

Hi Judy this has always been a query of mine, how can they possibly do an operation which entails, breaking bones, removing bones, staightening toes and using k-wires, then 6 weeks in casts and yet don't take a single x-ray?!! Simple answer is they can't, as you say they don't have x-ray vision. After my op the only words from my surgeon was "Everything was straightforward, no problems" I was released from hospital the next day with no instructions or health care, just told to keep my foot elevated, and doped up on Oxynorm.

I have mixed emotions about my appointment yesterday. I went in and he asked if there is an improvement I told him no, if anything its worse. I produced the photos and he said "OH you've taken photos?"

I am so glad I did, because you can see the huge difference, my foot is now deformed.

He did actually admit that he has not done the surgery properly and apologised whichI didn't expect! He then says I will need another operation (which I knew anyway) but if I still wanted to see the other surgeon for his opinion I could. I told him yes I will keep my appt and see what he has to say. I am provisionally booked in for surgery inFebruary and I have to choose which surgeon to do op.

The op he wants to do is to Fuse the bones in my big toe, has anyone had this? I don't like the sound of it. He also says if they do this my other toes "will fall back into place" I questioned this as I can't see that happening.

I am seriously looking to take this further, Have you did anything about it Beth?

Now that he has admitted it and I have photos, I think I have grounds. I told him yesterday I don't think I can go back to my old job It is only 18hrs a week, but I enjoy it and work with a nice bunch, but I would be on my feet for over 6hrs a day and I know that would be impossible.

So yes mixed emotions.....pleased he's admitted he's made a muck up and yet not happy at another op and long term damage

Hi Tracey

I haven't taken any legal advice but haven't ruled it out yet. I'll see what the new consultant says tomorrow. Did your surgeon talk about risks before he did the surgery? If I had been told that there is a possibility of being in pain for over a year there's no way I would have gone ahead. I was really naive about toe surgery, the recovery process and the risks. I've read so many forums and websites looking for answers but haven't found anything that explains why I should still have pain.

My surgeon didn't explain any risks, he told me that it was a very common, straight forward operation and the recovery time would be 12 wks. I wasn't worried at all, I thought I would be off work for 3 months and would be able to be go to xmas parties wearing high heels

Hopefully this other surgeon will give you some answers

Hi. By the sounds of it iv been lucky my surgeon has been great. Explained everything risks, recovery times, iv seen him at 2 clinics since op (I'm at 9 weeks) plus another lady at 2 weeks. At each of these three app iv had X-ray's taken and assessed. I'm even waiting on physio app to get the best movement back in my joint.

I'm no longer wearing my surgical shoe and have achy toes and ankle and very stiff first thing in the morning till I get moving!

I think my surgeon has been wonderful and I'm sure it's down to him his care and explanations not too mention the amounts of notes his has given me to refer to that I'm as mobile as I am

I feel for you that your experience has not been as good and hope you back on ur feet soon - no pun intended

X

Hi Tracey

Your experience sounds just like mine! Had my op in August bunion and second toe on one foot. Casts and pins the same. I knew as soon as cast came off it wasn't right. Said so to consultant but also told to wait 6 months! Got another appointment at 3 months but still told I was impatient ! Did mention I might have to have my big toe fused. My second toe looks like a false toe and overlaps my third toe! I have had to buy extra extra wide shoes my pre op shoes won't fit. Can walk but it soon gets painful and can't stand on it for long I also stand all day in my job. So have not been working. Have got an appointment next week so will let you know what happens. Am also thinking of asking for a second opinion.

This sounds very similar to my problems Rita. I am finding myself becoming more depressed by the day because of it. I spend most of my day in bare feet because anytime I wear shoes almost instantly I am in pain. If I do have to go out the pain is constant and my toes are swollen and red when I remove the shoes. My second toe has never felt as though it was 'attached', it is fat and wobbly and overlaps my 3rd toe, my big toe is getting worse, it overlaps the 2nd toe and now has the shape of a triangle as it is raised and bent in the middle so any shoe or sock rubs on it.

The day of surgery, a young registrar came to take my medical history and mark up the toes to be done, he marked my 4th toe as it was bending and when my surgeon saw this he tore strips of the younger man, and told him this didn't need touched. I felt that was uncalled for especially in front of a patient. As it turns out this toe is now very bent, painful and is swollen like a baloon.

I have my meeting on the 11th with another consultant for a 2nd opinion. I really do not want to have surgery in this hospital, I am so angry and upset at the way I have been left. I am worse now.

I don't know where I stand, and to top it off, my SSP is to be stopped from my work so I will have to look into what if anything I am able to claim.......and all through no fault of my own

Hi Tracey

Sorry to hear you are still in so much pain. I went to see another consultant a few weeks ago to find out why I was still in pain a year after what was a fairly simple surgery (tendon release and tendon transfer). He didn't listen at all but instead squeezed my feet to create pain around the metarasal area and said I'd need more surgery and went on to explain what he'd do. I asked if maybe some exercises would be better (since he said it was a muscle imbalance) but his reply was quite insightful - he said he was a surgeon and that's how he gpt paid so his solution was always going to be surgery! It made me realise that it wasn't a 'specialist' I had been seeing but a 'surgeon' - no doubt the first surgeon had the same mentality.

MY pain is very different to yours - I believe it is nerve damage but didn't expect it to take this long to go away. I'm still hoping.

Hi Tracey

Thought I would let you know what happened at my appointment. As usual it was the registrar that came to see me first. He looked at my foot and asked me how it was? I told him how I felt and he then asked me if I wanted it doing again! I said that is for you to tell me and asked what my options were. He then suggested

I had an x-ray and the Consultant would come to talk to me. The consultant told me sometimes the op doesn't work. I said I could see it wasn't right as soon as the cast came off- he said you have to wait 6 months for the soft tissue to heal before you can do anything! He then told me two options 1) To fuse the big toe and re align the second toe. 2) to do the op again. He then said he would like to consult with a foot specialist (he is an orthopaedic surgeon (not specialising in feet). I told him I would like a second opinion so he said he would set the wheels in motion. I am not looking forward to another op but I am glad something is being done at last. Will let you know when I have further news. Good luck for tomorrow!

Hi Rita, I can't believe he asked you if you want it done again! Is he not supposed to be the surgeon?

And the fact that he wasn't a foot specialist rings alarm bells, should he have done it in the first place?

I saw a different consultant today, I have been worrying sick about going back to this hospital for surgery as I have lost all confidence in the place, so much so that I saw my GP to ask if I was able to request a referral to another hospital if I didn't like what the other consultant said. I was worried incase he just agreed so as not to say anything against a collegue.

As soon as he looked at my foot he could see the obvious problem with the big toe being bent and raised, but he was concerned about the colour of the next 2 toes as they are a bluey/purple colour and said this looks like circulation problem and nerve damage! Also the next toe (1st guy says nothing wrong with it) is bent under and is twice the size through swelling.

He totally disagreed with everything the first surgeon suggested and actually looked angry at the state of my foot. Which I suppose is good that he did agree with me that there is obviously a big problem with the surgery, but that doesn't help me He said he would not do another surgery untill he gets to the bottom of the discolouration of these toes, so I have to go for a bone scan.

I really don't know how to feel, If the discolouration is caused by nerve damage can this be repaired? Or could I lose these toes?

Hi, Tracey

I came across your forum while recovering from my op (today's post op day 5) and just wanted to say I really feel for you and it sounds like you have found the right surgeon for the 2nd opinion.

From what you've said, I definitely wouldn't trust the first surgeon to touch the feet again. I have never liked arrogant surgeons as they tend to make mistakes (and never admit they did wrong) because they think too highly of themselves and let their guards down. It's like with any job I think. Even monkeys fall from trees and can never be too careful. Not listening to the patient is a big no-no in my books.

Fusing rings alarms bells to me. I am not a medical professional but I think fusing will impact the flexibility and movement of your toes. Googling about your symptoms and suggested fixes might give you the information you need if you haven't done yet.

So sorry to that you are in so much distress. But please don't lose hope. It looks like listening to your intuition has paid off and put you on the right path. The 2nd surgeon sounds reasonable but if you have any doubts, best to consult someone else for a 3rd opinion. You know your body best so keep listening to it.

You are in my prayers,

Jamie