I am experiencing terrible piercing pain through my big toe joint up the front of my foot. A fusion of the joint is going to be performed but the wait for the surgeon is a long one. Saw one ortho that specializes in foot surgery but she is sending me to someone else to do the surgery.

Meanwhile the pain is keeping me awake at night and pain relievers are not effective. This is not the steady pain of an arthritic joint but rather shooting pain like a nerve being pressed on. I noticed during this last flare up that a bruise surfaced beside the joint. I cannot recall anything that would bruise my foot.

Any ideas about the bruise. I thought that perhaps I have a spur that has broken a blood vessel but that is just me trying to deduct what it could mean.

Meanwhile did any of you have this piercing whincing kind of pain when your big toe joint was totally destroyed. It has almost fused totally on its own but not in the correct spot.

Thanks

I had that pain both pre and post op...I have it every once in a while out of the blue when I am walking now. But, no bruise. Before my surgery though, the bunion would just absolutely throb and ache no matter which direction I was laying. Now, I don't have any pain in the bunion, but pain in other places.......go figure! :D

Anyway, have you tried icing it?? Also, taking a hot bath and massaging it and then icing it seem to help me. But, really until you have the surgery, there won't be much you can do to reduce the pain....I know how you feel. That's why I chose to get the surgery.

There is one other option you can ask your doctor about. Prior to my surgery, about three years prior, I started getting cortisone shots in the joint. I got them once a year until the last year when I got two (6 months apart) and then they no longer worked. Cortisone shots can eat at the joint if you get too many, but maybe one just to get you to the surgery might be helpful? For me it relieved the pain quite a bit so that I could continue to be on my feet until I decided on surgery. It was only when the injections no longer had any benefit that I did the surgery. So, you might want to inquire about it. Some people don't like to get them, I only had positive benefits with them....so you have to decide. And my joints were not effected at all. Since my surgery I received one injection into the scar, under the skin, to help reduce the inflammation in the scar itself.

i never had the bruseing, but had the horrible pain. why is your dr sending you to someone else?

The ortho surgeon I saw does not do fusions and that is what I require. Also I do not have a bunion only osteoarthritis. I am disabled due to my back and not able to walk any distance, only around my home. I use a scooter and cane.

The last week I have been feeling good and as a result I have walked around my garden hence the flare up of my foot.

I probably would have been pressing for foot surgery earlier had I been less disabled. Seeing as my walking is so restricted the need for surgery has not been that urgent. I do take nerve pain medication but it sure hasn't helped with the shooting joint pain in my foot.

i am also waiting for fusion which is scheduled for may 1 second foot surgery and having anxiety over level of pain following can't stand the pain now so i guess its time anyone out there who has had a fusion recently and can give good advice on how not to crazy 4 weeks non weight bearing thanks

Hello everyone:

I just had my right big toe fused four weeks ago. It hurt like heck but I am hoping the result will eventually be "no pain". I have advance arthritis and this was my only alternative. Next year the doctor wants to do my big toe on my left foot.

Any questions . . . I will be happy to try and help you out?

Kimberley:

Hello:

Prior to having my big toe fused, I had horrible shooting pains in my toe. Now my toe hurts because of the recent surgery, but hopefully the end result will be good. My toe is a little shorter than before, not too much.

Kimberley

I don't have any pain in the toe itself only running from the large joint up the foot.

I am new to this board and scheduled for a bunion fusion on my right big toe in two weeks. it sounds like a perfect solution for me - i have a severe bunion, untreated for many, many years, unable to wear most shoes. i have a very active life, horseback riding and dancing and need as little down time as possible. Doc says i will be a ble to walk with a boot immediately and go back to most activities by 9 weeks.

can anyone comment on the procedure and also on how accurate that prognosis is?
Maxine

Hi Pooby,

Sorry to hear about your pain level. I hope the fusion eliminates it! I have had three midfoot fusions and I had to wear a cast for about 6-8 weeks. Yes, I had to elevate my leg most of the time. Otherwise, it would swell a lot. I know my fusions were in a different area of the foot than yours, but just let me know if you have more questions.

Diane

Hi Pooby,
Sorry I replied to the wrong post. I wish you luck and hope your pain is relieved soon.
Not sure about the bruising, although, I had something similar when I was recovering from my fusion.

good luck on the fusion. it should alleveiate the pain and that should be your goal.