Hi everyone!
I was just wondering if any one else who had a 1st MTP fusion and had to use the cam walker and walk with their foot to the side, had some discomfort when sitting down while wearing the cam walker? I am fine when I am walking, but when I am just sitting down with it on (i.e. driving) it is so uncomfortable for my toe. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Liz

Liz, not sure what your CAM walker looks like, but if it was like mine, try playing the tightness of the straps closest to your toes. You don't want it too loose, but maybe you have just a bit too snug through there right now.

Good Luck! -eko

Eko-
Hi! My CAM walker, goes almost all the way up to my knee and it has one strap that goes over the toes, two that cris-cross across my ankle and three that go up my calf. I leave the strap across my toes pretty loose because it makes my toe so uncomfortable. It makes the bottom part of my toe the most uncomfortable. Did you have experience that?

Thanks :wave:
Liz

Hi Lizzy,
My cam walker is considered a short boot (I used it for my November surgery). It goes 1/2 way up my leg (mid calf). I have 2 straps that go across the top of my foot and 2 straps on the calf part. No crisscrosses.
My fused big toe sits up high and my 2nd and 3rd toes are exagerated in a position that sits much lower than all of my toes. This makes the big toe sit much higher until all pins are removed. When I first wore my cam boot it hurt like the dickens. Now 7 weeks out it doesn't bother me as much. I only wear my camboot the minute I exit the house. I don't wear it in the house (just use my crutches or desk chair). The boot makes my foot hot. The boot is heavy to keep up when using the crutches. I do use my foot to steady on my heel. When I get up in our boat I have to cheat even more by using my heel weight. Hopefully this doesn't compromise my healing?????????
My big toe throbs and feels like pressure all the time so even in the cam boot I feel the pressure.......Geez, talk about rambling!
Janie

Hi Janie!

You aren't rambling at all! I feel the same way! Whenever I am at home, I don't wear the boot, b/c it isn't comfortable to sit in; it really hurts my toe. When I am walking and just applying pressure to my heal it doesn't hurt. The boot is really hot and a pain in the butt!

How is your recovery going? How far in are you? I am 5 1/2 weeks in so far and really wish I was already finished.

:wave:
Liz

Liz and Janie...Are you both NWB? For how long? I am still in the surgical dressing (day 5 now)...as you know...and go for my post op on Thursday. Why are you not wearing the boot in the house...is that your choice? Did the doctor agree to it? I will have a fiberglass cast and I am fine with that. My doctor says absolutely no movement while healing....The cam walker is heavy and cumbersome. Since the cast will be molded to my foot...I'm hoping not to have the pressure on the big toe issue. What do you think? I have spasm issues now but am HOPING that will subside soon. Watching your recoveries and learning....wishing you the best!! Sophie:angel:

Sophie-
Hi! How are you doing? It sounds as though you are in good spirits this far :)
I am pwb right now, only weight on the heal w/ my foot to the side. My doctor says it is okay not to wear the boot at home as long as am I just sitting around and not moving. For when i want to get around the house, I can either use my cam walker and walk with my foot to the side and pressure on my heal only or use a little shoe that has a rocker soled bottom w/ my crutches.
Good luck with your post op on Thursday! Let us know how it goes. I'm praying that you have a fast and painless recovery!

Janie-
Are you pwb yet? If not, when will you be able to?

Liz

Lizzy-
I will be 6 weeks tomorrow. I see the doctor on the 18th. Still NWB but steady myself on my heel at times. Anxious to see what happens next week.
Not anxious though about the pin removal (3 pins to be removed from 3 toes) Dread that!! Remember the other 2 pin removal times and they aren't fun times :eek:
Janie

Hi, Everyone.
My boot is the big one, 2 foot straps and 3 calf straps. I'm to wear it 24x7, permission granted to remove it only for bathing and stretching. The weight of it pulls on the rod in my leg, very incomfortable, and the shape of it makes walking weird. I'm to walk stright, heel-to-toe, but my ankle is healing, not mt or toes. Most of your instructions are likely different because of the location of your healing.
Lizzy~ Did they give you some small pads when they gave you your boot? My nurse gave me 5 pads, and for awhile I used 2 of them under the foot straps. Now that the swelling isn't so bad, I don't use them. And, too, I have not been okayed to drive. If you're driving, be very careful not to slip!!! I'm not sure, but I think if you have an accident, you could be cited. You mentioned a shoe given to you, maybe it would be easier to drive in?
Janie~ Your desk chair is good, but when you use crutches, you probably should wear the boot! I've fallen often enough to be really afraid of what would happen to my PRECIOUS foot if I fell without protection! Be careful! Kim