playsharp
09-28-2006, 11:48 PM
I've been diagnosed with HR and the doc wants to do surgery. He suggested Chielectomy and said maybe later I'd have to have a fusion or a joint replacement.
My foot doesn't hurt all the time, and when it does hurt, I can stand the pain. Is there any rush for surgery? Is it better to have something done now or wait until the pain is unbearable? Also, I've read that chielectomy doesn't always work.
Thanks - Sue
My foot doesn't hurt all the time, and when it does hurt, I can stand the pain. Is there any rush for surgery? Is it better to have something done now or wait until the pain is unbearable? Also, I've read that chielectomy doesn't always work.
Thanks - Sue
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BioAdoptMom3
09-29-2006, 12:33 AM
I can't really answer your question, but have something I believe to be the same thing as you have. At least I have been told it probably was that and what I found on the internet seems to confirm it. I am interested in the answers you are going to get here. I have not yet been to the doctor. My pain is severe, but only when I bend the toe in certain directions, swim in the pool (I guess its the resistance of the water against it) or when the top part of my foot bends down and the bottom part is up (like having part of my foot on an area rug and the other part not there). I have been in tears when it ends up getting bent too much or in the wrong direction. I am never in pain when I am at rest. Do you notice those same things? Did you go to a podiatrist or an orthopedic doctor? Good luck!
Nancy
Nancy
Titchou
09-29-2006, 12:36 AM
Well, mine turned out great. Depends on your doctor. Hope you have a good sports med foot specialist. Shaquille O'Neal had a cheilectomy in 2002 and was back playing basketball in about 6 weeks. The cheilectomy is the first surgery. It can last a number of years - depending on the extent of damage at the time of surgery and your level of activity afterwards. THe next repair is an implant...like a joint replacement. If/when that fails, a fusion is the last option.
Question is - if I may be so bold - if it doesn't hurt all the time and the pain isn't that bad, why did you go to the doctor in the first place?
Be sure whoever does the surgery also shaves off the top of the bone at an angle where the bump is so that the toe moves up and down properly. Do your exercises afterwards - religiously or it will all be for naught.
It doesn't show where you are from but I suggest two places to find a proper doctor. If you are in a city with a pro basketball or football team, call their front office and ask who they use for this condition. If you are near a MAJOR college athletic program, call their athletic department and ask who they use.
All will be good at this.
Keep us posted.
Question is - if I may be so bold - if it doesn't hurt all the time and the pain isn't that bad, why did you go to the doctor in the first place?
Be sure whoever does the surgery also shaves off the top of the bone at an angle where the bump is so that the toe moves up and down properly. Do your exercises afterwards - religiously or it will all be for naught.
It doesn't show where you are from but I suggest two places to find a proper doctor. If you are in a city with a pro basketball or football team, call their front office and ask who they use for this condition. If you are near a MAJOR college athletic program, call their athletic department and ask who they use.
All will be good at this.
Keep us posted.
playsharp
09-29-2006, 07:24 PM
Thanks for the responses. Sometimes the pain is very bad, but that is after I've been walking for awhile. It's only kept me from sleeping one time. The reason I went to the Dr. was because it had been going on for a year and I was worried I had a stress fracture or that I was injuring it more by walking on it or something.
I went to an ortho at a sports med clinic. I was already seeing someone for a shoulder problem which required surgery last March (along with cubital tunnel surgery) and to me that was a far bigger problem, as I play piano for a living!
The foot surgeon was pretty nonchalant about doing surgery, but I'm not! Is it bad to wait until the pain is unbearable?
Sue
PS - I'm in the Chicago area.
I went to an ortho at a sports med clinic. I was already seeing someone for a shoulder problem which required surgery last March (along with cubital tunnel surgery) and to me that was a far bigger problem, as I play piano for a living!
The foot surgeon was pretty nonchalant about doing surgery, but I'm not! Is it bad to wait until the pain is unbearable?
Sue
PS - I'm in the Chicago area.
Titchou
09-29-2006, 08:02 PM
Well, it can be bad to wait as there could be more damage. If you waited too long, a cheilectomy would no longer be an option and you'd have to go straight to the implant....or maybe even fusion if the joint is badly damaged from the wear on it. It's a very common surgery which is probably why the doctor was nonchalant about it. I'd call the Bulls or the Bears front offices and see who they use. Or, you might try Celebrex or Mobic and see if they help. THat could put it off for a while - Vioxx did for me. But when it quit working, it was time for surgery.
nino
10-01-2006, 07:23 PM
Hi, Titchou, playsharp, and BioAdoptMom3. I just read your stuff playsharp! I was a frequent reader/user a few months ago and have just jumped back on, saw this and can't resist...I was diagnosed with HR late 2004, had a bilateral chielectomoy 3/05. Didn't work! Left foot got really bad. Lost all the cartiledge. Right one is not so bad in comparison. 9/22 had arthrodesis/fusion of 1st mtp joint. Sitting here in a cast as I write to you'all. 2morrow I get the stitches and cast off and will be able to shower like normal again. They put a boot/brace/aircast thingie on it but I am not remembering for how long.
You say the pain is not that bad? I am no stranger to the OR and I would suggest you avoid surgery if you can or atleast put it off. Shoes are important. I lived in dankso clogs for the past 6 months. Could not do barefoot for past year. Sandles/Teva and any kind of shoe really was out of the picture for me for the past 6 or so months. I am a 54 yo female who was fairly active and I have not been to the gym since before the chielectomy and feel much like marshmallow at this point. I am PWB after only a couple days of NWB. ditched the pain meds after two days, nasty side effects. If any of this is helpful good. I could go on for pages but I'll spare you.
I remember some of the docs talking and being very non challant about this stuff and some even had that snakeoil approach. Do your homework, manage your pain as best you can before considering any invasive procedure. Its not their body, its their livelyhood.
whatever you decide, take care and all the best to you.l
Nino
You say the pain is not that bad? I am no stranger to the OR and I would suggest you avoid surgery if you can or atleast put it off. Shoes are important. I lived in dankso clogs for the past 6 months. Could not do barefoot for past year. Sandles/Teva and any kind of shoe really was out of the picture for me for the past 6 or so months. I am a 54 yo female who was fairly active and I have not been to the gym since before the chielectomy and feel much like marshmallow at this point. I am PWB after only a couple days of NWB. ditched the pain meds after two days, nasty side effects. If any of this is helpful good. I could go on for pages but I'll spare you.
I remember some of the docs talking and being very non challant about this stuff and some even had that snakeoil approach. Do your homework, manage your pain as best you can before considering any invasive procedure. Its not their body, its their livelyhood.
whatever you decide, take care and all the best to you.l
Nino
fooie5
10-11-2006, 12:46 AM
Hi, I had HR and had a chelicectomy done in June. WHAT A MESS. I am in so much pain everyday. My Dr had orthodics made for my shoes and said that they would help me a lot. WHat a joke. I have been going through PT and this is my last week. And I see no improvement at all. I have swelling everyday and severe pain all day long. Most days I have ice on my big toe joint and nothing helps me at all. I go back to the Dr tomorrow and I want some answers NOW. I am 39 and feel like Im 89 most days. I would tell anyone if your not in pain dont do the surgery. But not all cases are like me. Maybe theres people out there that have a good out come. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find some answers from us on here.
Lisa in Ohio
Lisa in Ohio