Hallux Rigidus - Foot Problems Message Board

playsharp · 09-28-2006, 08:48 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

BioAdoptMom3 · 09-28-2006, 09:33 PM

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

Titchou · 09-28-2006, 09:36 PM

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.

playsharp · 09-29-2006, 04:24 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.

Titchou · 09-29-2006, 05:02 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.