Evaluating my need for surgery - Foot Problems Message Board

rainabow · 06-10-2007, 12:15 AM

Made my decision and I don't want to go back on it, so I'm deleting what I originally wrote!

debbie g · 06-10-2007, 12:18 PM

what a dillema! i cant answer your medical questions, but you sound extremely intelligent so all i can say is go for another opinion with another dr. whether you are 23 or 50 we would all like to wear nice looking shoes so you are not shallow. the pain after surgery is minimal. what does the dr expect in terms of this procedure? debbie g

skyhighifly · 06-10-2007, 12:36 PM

I have bunionettes too. The right foot is especially bad. The only shoes that really don't hurt, rub, and cause calluses are my flipflops and some heeled shoes. I wear the flats, but they hurt. My little toe and foot ache at the end of the day and the deformity has progressively gotten worse the last few years. My weight bearing x-rays show the bone is actually curved and the doctor said it would required two cuts to straighten it and 8 weeks casted NWB. Due to problems with my ankle, I have to hold off on fixing my foot until I get my ankle taken care of.

Good luck on your decision. My plan is ankle this summer, bunions next summer or Christmas. I'm a teacher so I have that time off.

rainabow · 06-10-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debbie g

what a dillema! i cant answer your medical questions, but you sound extremely intelligent so all i can say is go for another opinion with another dr. whether you are 23 or 50 we would all like to wear nice looking shoes so you are not shallow. the pain after surgery is minimal. what does the dr expect in terms of this procedure? debbie g

Finally a reply! Yay!

Well, this is coming from a second opinion. Originally I saw a podiatrist, but after reading a number of scary things about pods, I decided to see an orthopedic surgeon instead. Both of them recommended the same procedure IF I wanted to get them fixed. The orthopedist said that of course he can't tell me whether or not to have the procedure, but he said one good way to think about it is "Can I live like this for the rest of my life?" And honestly, when he asked that, it really freaked me out cause I can't imagine feeling this pain and frustration forever. I think I'm going to go through with it; my dad reminded me that most people with GOOD experiences probably won't bother posting here on these forums

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Basically I just went for the second opinion to see if I could have a weight-bearing surgery, but both doctors seem to be in agreement that I should get this procedure, which is non-wb for a month

rainabow · 06-10-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyhighifly

I have bunionettes too. The right foot is especially bad. The only shoes that really don't hurt, rub, and cause calluses are my flipflops and some heeled shoes. I wear the flats, but they hurt. My little toe and foot ache at the end of the day and the deformity has progressively gotten worse the last few years. My weight bearing x-rays show the bone is actually curved and the doctor said it would required two cuts to straighten it and 8 weeks casted NWB. Due to problems with my ankle, I have to hold off on fixing my foot until I get my ankle taken care of.

Good luck on your decision. My plan is ankle this summer, bunions next summer or Christmas. I'm a teacher so I have that time off.

Wow, that's a lot to handle. I hope everything goes well for you. Being a teacher must mean you're on your feet a lot so I imagine it's pretty painful.

Bunionettes are awful. I think people really underestimate how painful they can be because they're so small compared to big toe bunions. I think we might be getting the same procedure done, actually. Mine said a minimum of 4 weeks NWB, but more likely about 8 weeks. It's going to be rough so I hope it's worth it. Good luck to you!