Hi, please help me! I have been having alot of ball of foot pain, but my bunion doesn't hurt. My big toe does lean toward second. I recently got a cortisone shot by a podiatrist who is not pushing surgery. I have been to another podiatrist who recommended surgery, but I was hesistant because I was no pain at all. Now, I am wondering if I should have had the surgery! Any advice would help!
With a bunion, the big toe is out of alignment and that whole side of the foot is not bearing weight as it should, and the four other toes and the ball of the foot have to make up for it and bear that weight, so you would see callouses under the ball of the foot. I'm not a podiatrist, but just had bunion surgery.
The ball of my foot didn't hurt, but the bunion did. When to have surgery is up to you and your doctor. They should have told you what your MT (metatarsal) angle is. If the MT angle is 15 degrees or less, it's the simpler bunion surgery. If the MT angle is more than 15 degrees, it's the more invasive bunion surgery. Some people wait till they can't bear the pain anymore, some doctors won't operate unless they feel you are in pain and it interferes with your life. Hope this helps.
Thanks, none of the doctors I went to told me the angle. When I mentioned this, they told me I was looking at the internet too muc. I live in a small town and really didn't like ANY of the podiatrists I went to. Did you have a cast with the pin sticking out or screws with removable boot?
what kind of bunion surgery are you going to have and you will find your answers. can you go to another dr and they should never tell you that you reas too much on the internet.
I really don't know - one podiatrist just said osteomy. He said I was reading too many horror stories on the web. I mean is anybody happy that did their surgeries. If this was cancer, I would be running to have the surgery. I am very afraid. I have never had any type of surgery before. Thanks for any input!
Chubstercat,
Sounds like a simple surgery involving the shaving of the bunion. Surgery of the foot is a scary prospect, but the prospect of not being able to walk without pain is also scary. Bunions don't get better, they get worse over time. I ignored my bunion and kept walking on it and enduring discomfort. Finally, I couldn't walk on it at all and the pain was killing me all the time. I ended up having to do the invasive surgery because the bunion was severe.
I never had surgery before and was never sick for more than 7 days in my life. Suddenly, I had this huge bunion surgery and was in a cast for 6 weeks.
It was very scary for me. Now, having had the surgery, I can walk without pain.
Thanks - you sound exactly like me. Never sick - I always worked out. Now, I just do what I need to do to get thru the day. My mother had bunions so they are inherited. Did you have a pin sticking out of your big toe? They must have had to break the 1st metatarsal to straighten it. Thanks for you reassurance. A doctor did recommend surgery to me over a year ago, but I keep putting it off due to fear!
I'd see an orthopedist who specializes in feet for a second opinion. If for no other reason than your podiatrist just didn't give you adequate information.
I've never had a surgery where the doc didn't draw me a picture of what he would do and explain each step. I don't allow them to do otherwise. That way I know everything I need to know - esp whether or not HE knows anything!
Sounds like what I need. My big toe itself is crooked. They must have fixated the bone somehow. You must have screws in the foot. It's funny though, the "bump" does not bother me. Horrible pain in ball of foot, can't stand long at all. Making my life miserable! I am single and live alone, but if I gotta have this surgery, I will have to find help!
There is a woman where I used to work (haven't gone back since surgery) that had a moderate bunion and she had pain under the ball of her foot also. Sometimes, she would have numbness in that area also if she stood for too long or wore the wrong shoes. She is trying to decide also whether to have surgery and has seen about four different foot doctors, all who had differing opinions. If you do have surgery, you might want to hire someone to come in to cook meals for you and clean.
I have orthonics (got them about 1 year ago) from a podiatrist. This same doc just gave me a cortisone shot about a week ago. No difference. Going to a podiatrist I saw over a year ago (when I really had no pain) who did recommend surgery. My first metatarsal is too long and it is also elevated. I need to do something because I can't go on like this, I am only 46. Thanks for your help!
If the first metatarsal ray is elevated, it sounds like he wants to do a midfoot
procedure to bring the first ray down, did he mention this? I'm just a little bit older than you.
Yes, mentioned closed based wedge procedure with 6 weeks NWB. I am just worried if they shorten the 1st met too much it puts even more weight on that second toe, which is where I am having that pain under ball of foot.
Chubstercat,
Oh, it sounds like the doctor recommended a surgery similar to mine. I'm not sure what "closed based wedge procedure" means. My surgery was called the
lapidus procedure where they move the first ray down and more parallel to the other rays, and also involves breaking the midfoot joint and stabilizing it with two screws. The toe would be straightened out by cutting the bunion off and the joint would be cut and straightened out. Don't worry about them shortening the ray too much, putting more weight on the second toe, I haven't heard anyone on these boards complain about that. This must be a big shock for you, it was for me when the podiatrist told me that I needed the same operation on both feet. I never thought my bunions were severe until the podiatrist told me.
This podiatrist said the bunion was "moderate." I have been having strange spasm-like sensations in my big toe lately as well. I am getting really worried. Scared! This pain in effecting my life in a big way! I am scared of the surgery being painful, but I need to walk. I am lucky I have a desk job, couldn't stand all day or walk much throughout the day. I am glad I joined this board and you are corresponding with me. I need support!
I had spasms in the bunion area and was icing and taking Motrin before surgery. You might want to get some crutches and stop walking on the foot for a while and see if that calms down the foot for a while. If your having spasms in the big toe, you might want to ask your primary md for some Flexeril 10mg, taken three times a day, it's a muscle relaxant. Sorry you are going through this stressful time. I know what your feeling.
I'm 11 weeks post-op. I guess I'm happy with the surgery, the bunion is gone, my toe is straight, I'm walking with a limp, but without pain. I'm still a little traumatized by it all and can't stop thinking about what I've been through. Maybe I'll calm down several months down the line.
