Wanting advice
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi I am 38 and have been told by my orthopaedic surgeon that I have the arthritis of a person aged between 50 - 60 years old. I have had ultrasounds, X-rays, MRI, and a number of steroid injections. The surgeon is looking at mid foot fusion surgery. I recently saw a rheumatologist and he has asked me to use an air cast for 5 weeks to see if this assists in reducing the swelling and then I need to have a bone scan done.
Does this sound familiar to anyone would love to hear your thoughts.
1 like, 7 replies
krista4435 leanne44561
Posted
What kind of arthritis? OA or RA?
Where is it located to warrant the fusion?
I got OA at about mid-40 after a foot fracture many years earlier.
leanne44561 krista4435
Posted
Hi Krista
At this stage that are unsure of the arthritis as I have it in both feet at the same time they are thinking it's a degenerative type of arthritis. The fusion I have been told will where the toes join to my foot. I have never fractured my feet at all.
Did you use a walker boot as this is also causing me such pain and I have approximately 4 more weeks of the boot before my bone scans and trips back to the surgeon
Thanks for your reply
Leanne
Hellofagal1 leanne44561
Posted
Leanne
I also am wearing the boot for 12 weeks. At times it's fine when I take Advil and Tylenol but otherwise it's definitely painful I take it off at night sometimes so I can sleep
leanne44561 Hellofagal1
Posted
Hi
I don't sleep with it at lol at the moment I am just worried as I am in so much pain now and I haven't even had surgery yet.
I am hoping that the bone scan shows some improvement though I Have a feeling it hasn't as it's so hard to walk without the boot during the night to go to the bathroom
Hellofagal1 leanne44561
Posted
Hi Leanne
I had midfoot fusion surgery 6 weeks ago. I waited 5 years before I decided to go through with it taking anti inflammitories , numerous X-rays ad infinitim The doctor said that if I didn't have the surgery my walking ability would be limited
The after care is difficult because you are non weight baring for 3 months and need constant help and attention to live a normal life. My husband has been my lifeline with that
I think in the long run that it's a good idea to go thru with it so you can have a normal life for years after. It's only a few months of your life and it will beneficial to you. Good luck with whatever you decide Helen
leanne44561 Hellofagal1
Posted
Thank you for your response at the moment the pain is horrific and all I am using is the air cast boot. No pain meds as they bring on my asthma and then I can't breath properly as well as walk.
I am also worried as after the surgery I will have to take time off work and I am worried about my financial situation as I am a single mother of two.
Leanne
krista4435 leanne44561
Posted
Hi Leanne,
If cortisone shots don't help anymore, did you try the Gel shots? Synvisic or soemething like that? Apparently it can be hit or miss but I've heard that it works for some.
I used a lot of self-modified and self-created insoles under the ball of my foot so that my toe didn't bend when walking, and this helped me. The rubber insoles you can buy anywhere and actually cut up my yoga mat (firm sponge rubber) and fitted that in my shoe. Completely flat shoes were the only thing I could wear - any type of shoe where the toe of the shoe with even a slightly natural upturned toe at the sole, I couldn't wear. I used my flip-flops a lot.
A good orthopedic surgeon is your best bet to determine the issue and how to fix it - but make sure they are a foot specialist. Most orthopedic surgeons do knees and hips, etc. but not as many seem to specialize in feet...at least not around me.
If your issue is your MTP joint (which mine is) then a Lapidus or mid-foot fusion helps by making more space for joint to move. I had that, but also had a Cartiva put in the MTP at the same time to replace the cartilage I'd lost and make the joint not rub bone-on-bone anymore (to relieve the pain). This is working for me already. I of course stubbed by bad toe slightly when getting out of the shower and it didn't hurt,Pre-surgery this would have been quite painful.
I had to have someone look after me for the first 2 weeks after my surgery as I couldn't even get out of bed for the first week.
I'm a healthy and very active person that does a lot of sports ortherwise which is why I didn't want to do the fusion of the MTP joint, but the mid-foot doesn't move that much anyway, so it was as good choice.