Mid foot fusion.

Thanks you all for your replies so far.  What is RX Mary? As Kathleen explained, consultants are the top of the tree in the hierarchy of doctors.  I'm an NHS patients which means I don't have insurance which is common in England.  For those of you who have has the mid foot fusion, are you pleased you had it or do you have regrets?  

I live on on my own and I'm 54 and work full time in the NHS.  My fear is whether I would be able to cope on my own with the recovery as well as whether the pain would eventually go.  If I knew for sure that the pain will go a year after the operation, I would definitely go for it but my fear is I'd still be in pain and if this was the case I wouldn't have it done.  Please keep your responses coming during your recovery.  I really do appreciate it.

Hello Cocobubble,

I had hind foot with partial mid foot surgery on June 2nd. My foot got so painful (crush injury about 20 years ago) that I was no longer to walk unaided, or without excruciating pain, so I did not have a choice for my surgery. That being said, I am really glad I had it done so far. I am now in a boot and able to put about a quarter of my body weight on it so far. It is uncomfortable, but not like I thought it would be. I already hurt way less than I did before my surgery. What I'm trying to say, is that you need to really be at a point where your foot is unbearable before committing to the surgery. If you just get sore or hurt every once in a while, I would say hold odd. If you cannot take the pain anymore, it is a second chance that is a Godsend. 

Regarding recovery by yourself, it will be challenging, but nothing you can't handle. Get yourself a little refrigerator (college-type) and put that next to your bed, for cold items. You may even want to move a microwave oven there too, so you can heat up foods for you. I cooked homemade soup that I froze and lived on that for a week, along with fruit. Foods high in protein and vitamin c promote healing. 

I'm not going to lie, the first few days were especially painful, however set a clock for every 4 hours to take your pain medicine, so you don't have to play catch up. 

Good luck with your decision.  Whatever you decide will be the right choice for you.  

Tracy

 

Hi,

A RX is a prescription used for meds and other medical therapies. from the dr. Are the consultants drs too? Is this medical system used in England? You are very inventive out of necessaty. Also, I'm curious, you state you are a NHS patient but, then you say you work @ NHS. Pardon me but, I am ignorant w pertaining to English medicine. I was under the assumption that everyone was entitled to Universal Healthhcare.. Nobody knows if you'll have pain or whether it will work that's the gamble. I have no pain. Still, check on the brace, it's wonderful to relieve the pain. I purchased mine @ a prostetic place it goes all the way up your leg. Highly recomend!.

Mary

Thank you for your reply Tracy. That was very helpful.  I do have a lot of pain but only when I walk.  If I'm resting it's not too bad at all but when I walk it rapidly worsens and I end up limping a bit.  Please keep me informed of your progress as I am very keen to hear how you recover.  I wish you all the best for as speedy a recovery as possible.

Hello Mary.  In England we do get free universal healthcare but private patients don't need to wait so long for appointments.  Also hospital accommodation in private hospitals are usually more comfortable eg private rooms, TV, wifi and better food.  

Hi Mary

Yes consultants are doctors.  I'm a psychologist so I work in a totally different department and a different hospital to the one I attend as a patient.

almost 7 month on I still have the same trouble , when im resting its ok bust soon as i walk i still get pain when putting weight on  it . I just hope it will get better I often sit and think back "would it have been better if i hadnt  had the surgery done and lived with a flat foot . 

Whoops, Cocobubble. Got confused about you having your surgery already. D'oh!  

No you didn't. I haven't had surgery yet - your reply to me was / is very helpful :-)

Hi d156uk. How much worse/better is the pain you have when walking than the pain you were in prior to surgery?  Sorry to hear you still are in pain.  That must be very disappointing.

Well I used to go for walks alot easier before the surgery although when i got  back my ankle ached like hell as i had arthritis in  it, This as since been flushed away while i was having surgery . Now i ache on the outside of  my foot just above and  around the ankle. I have a sick note for my emloyer up to 31st of Sep but the surgeon said dont hesitate to ask my GP for more time of  if i feel im not ready to resume work . By end of the month if i dont feel like im ready i will call my GP 

Have you needed 9 months off work?  Was your surgery mid foot fusion?

I had midfoot fusion done on May 19th, about 11 weeks ago. I am still in the boot until the end of August. Pain is minor at this point. i am able to put full weight on it in the boot only. It does get tired and sore and the skin itself is very sensitive. I have been back to work for several weeks, on the scooter until I was allowed partial weight bearing at 9-10 weeks. I am hopeful I will be able to do a trip the last two weeks of October without crutches but am planning on bringing the boot just in case I need it. I held off on the surgery until I got to the point where I could not walk on hard surfaces without horrible pain and could no longer wear a closed shoe. The downside of waiting so long was advanced degeneration to one of the bones that complicated the healing. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do. It does take patience for sure.

 

Thank you Carol for relaying your very positive experience.  It sounds like your operation has gone as smoothly as can be hoped for.  My pain isn't as bad as yours was.  The only time my pain is unbearable is when I walk down the stairs, otherwise it's tolerable although walking is still painful.  If I'm lying down I virtually have no pain.  It sounds like I should wait for my pain to worsen.

Was a tripple bone fusion between the mid foot to  the heel on the 1/2/16. Started using some herbal cream called Comfrey Cream and can be obtained from any herbalist, and its doing  me good like ibuprofen gel  but this cream  dosn't  effect ya digestive system

I'll have to keep the cream in mind. It may be useful for my other foot which has arthritis as well. Thanks for the info.

Happy so far. I had pain even when sitting with my foot up or lying down,. I called it my "ice pick" pain. It felt as if I was being stabbed by an ice pick. That pain is now gone. I do get some twinges at times, but they are few and far between and don't last long.

i found i had to apply some several days beforei could feel it working. I was told about comfrey seeds many years ago and to boil then to a paste and apply as a poultice and this was for my shoulder and it worked wonders.Now they already make in to a cream which is easier and it is a herb it as no effect on ya metabalism or digestive system unlike ibuprofen gel which once in ya blood stream can cause constipation. With the pain in ya foot  thats last thing you want lol.

I had the same icepick pain, all of a sudden it shot through my foot.  I am 3 1/2 weeks post op from fusion of two midfoot joints.  I also feel now some nerve issues, when I touch the top of my foot, it is like someone is pulling a thread through my foot and it reaches down and touches my toe.  I also had a release of a capsule surrounding a joint on my toe that was causing a clawtoe.  3 procedures done at one time, hoping I don't have to go back.