Should I get a fusion?

i was told my foot fusion would improve my walking , I am more a cripple now than I was b4. live with  it don't do  it 

the implants have taken away a lot of  movement  after  nearly 2  years I'm  in n pain and affects my walking  in turn affects my replacement knee in turn affect  my back . if I could turn back  time I would in a instance, if I had  the chance  to have them removed I would in a instance

i had a fusion and implants to  the middle and heel part, if you can walk  normally now then don't do  it

I am interested in any responses you get to your question, Garet, as I am considering a fusion as well. 22 months ago I had my big toe joint replaced with an implant and it is not working well for me. I don't recommend that at all. It's only now that I read that there seems to be a lot more patient satisfaction with toe fusion. My dad has one as well as his brother so I think there is something in our genes that contributes to this problem. But they seem to be fine with the fusion. My dad is 80 and walks a lot to control his diabetes. For me, the fusion choice is a little more daunting because they will have to do a bone graft (probably from my hip) to replace the bone that was removed to place the toe joint implant (my doctor didn't tell me that part when he said we would fuse the joint if the implant failed). 

One thing you might consider at your stage that worked for me is an osteotomy. I have had problems with my toe for 30 years. I first had a cheilectomy which worked for a short while and then I regularly had cortisone shots. Then I had an osteotomy where the doctor cut part of my bone to allow more space in the joint (I was so against a fusion at that point so he offered that). That worked for me for about 16 years. There are many types of osteotomies and he called that one a "modified Moberg" not that it specifically relates to your case. Just something to consider before fusion.

The ROM wasn't as good as my other toe, of course, but I was pain free. Recently, the ROM had decreased and I started have less propulsion off that foot and I experienced pain while walking on the treadmill on an incline. So I went to the doctor and got an implant thinking that would fix the biomechanics primarily... my pain was sporadic and not as much of an issue. Big mistake going for the implant. I cannot fully bear weight, I now have the beginnings of hallux vagus, I have instability of the first ray and I have pain. On Monday I see a foot ankle specialist for a second opinion since my original surgeon says I need to have my back checked out (regarding my lack of propulsive gait).

Even though the osteotomy prolonged my eventual future surgeries, I kind of wish now that I had just done the fusion then and have been done with it. Here I am about to have my fourth surgery on this toe. 

I had fusion 18 months ago on my left foot and am very happy with results.  I am an active 66 YO and was cycling with stiff sole after 7 weeks and hiking at 12 weeks.  Every week was an improvement over the previous.  I hardly ever think of the joint now - even flexing the remaining joint feels as though I am wiggling my toe.  I am limited as to which brand of ski boots I can get on now, but nothing else.  I can rise up on my toes and have very few things I can't do.  Absolutely no change I my gait.  Impact on other toes is non existent for me.  I roll up on my foot just like the good old days.

I had a cheilectomy later on my right toe which was not satisfactory, and the end of September 2017 had a Cartiva implant. (10 weeks post op as of now)  I am not yet happy with results.  I haven't seen much improvement for the last 4 to 5 weeks.  In a follow up my orthopedic surgeon was noting the space is no different between the joint than presurgery.  I would do the fusion again if I had the choice to do over. 

?What ever you do, just make sure your surgeon has a good track record. Good luck

I gave up tennis and running years ago because of foot pain, and back, knee and shoulder issues. I did some short running after the fusion on left foot but still had too much pain in the right one. Ten weeks post Cartiva I am still a long ways from trying running again and probably won't due mostly to the knee and back issues.  Many people that post are ones that have issues with their surgery.  I know three others that had the fusion and only one had a complaint about the plate hardware but that was minor. The hardware can be removed after a year if healing is complete.

?Rarely, a bone doesn't fuse.  I was told not to take any NSAIDs for at least 6 months after surgery since the inflammation is an essential part of the healing process. NSAIDs can affect the bone knitting.  Mine did quite well.  Glad I finally did it, but I waited until I retired because of the time off issue.  Any surgery has risk, and I ended up with a blood clot. It was 2 1/2 weeks post-op in the gym doing leg presses (yes with both legs).  I was on Xarelto for 12 weeks after that.  Everything is fine now though.  Let me know if you have any other questions.