Bone fusion/foot/great toe - Foot Problems Message Board

tweety711 · 10-24-2007, 11:25 AM

I barely know where to begin. My foot problems stem from arthritis in the large joint/big toe. I have undergone four surgeries in the space of two years: (1) reconstruction of the joint, (2) joint implant, (3) bone fusion with external fixater (I was on crutches/non weight bearing for six months), and (4) removal of the plates and screws a year after surgery. As far as I'm concerned the bone fusion surgery is a failure. I am in more pain now than I was to start with and would go back to the joint implant in a heart beat. The reason the joint implant failed was due to my development of fibrosis in the surgical area which resulted in pain because the joint was unable to move. These surgeries took place between 1999 and 2001. Throw in surgery for a ruptured disc/cervical and 3 months/24 hours a day in a hard collar, among other health issues, as well as the loss of both parents and a brother during that same time frame, and I suppose it's no wonder I'm suffering from depression. I have tried series of injections in an attempt to help with the nerve pain in my foot to no avail. I am currently taking Lyrica but can only take it at night because it makes me drowsy/dizzy. It is difficult to walk, my weight (what there is of it) is thrown to the outside of my foot which has resulted in a painful ankle, sore foot, painful spasms in my other toes, and the list goes on and on. Shoes?!? I would love to find a pair of shoes that aren't painful. I can't even wear sneakers. I am stuck wearing clogs which have recently started bothering me -- atrophy of the foot has progressed to the point where I can't keep an open shoe on my foot. I walk right out of it. And clogs are so chic -- try figuring out what to wear to a wedding, etc. when you can't wear shoes. I know that my problems are minimal compared to what some people go through in their life, but that thinking doesn't help me. It only makes me feel worse. I'm tired. I've been from doctor's office to doctor's office seeking help. And I suppose my question is, has anyone gone through what I have and is there any surgery that would improve my condition. Can I go back to a joint implant. I already know what the answer is. There is no help for me and I have to face the fact that I will live with this pain the rest of my life. Any suggestions to alleviate the pain?

dbgoalie · 10-24-2007, 01:41 PM

Tweety, I am really sorry to hear about your story. I am a little bit behind where you are; next week I have my great toe joint fused together with a bone graft off my hips. If you search by my name, you should be able to find the thread I started.

I can understand your depression, I would imagine that everyone here can identify with it. I don't have any advice for that, it does help to talk about it, and I have enjoyed posting on this site and reading the responses I get. There was a time after I had my implant put in where I stopped going to doctors, just because it got to where I wasn't getting any new answers, just the same old stuff, and you get tired of hearing it after a while.

Are you currently under anyone's care? If not, I can suggest the ortho doc where I am going, he seems to be pretty good.

debbie g · 10-24-2007, 02:06 PM

hi tweetie, depression is a normal way of living after foot surgeries you had. its so sad that is has to be this way, but there are other options to try i think. i also had toe fusion after 2 failed surgeries. we use our feet to get around. i hope you are seeing an ortho now and trying pain management. i wish i knew what your dr told you. plus, i dont know how long it has been for you. there is no going back after fusion, but something else has to be done and maybe its a new fusion. i would seek several opinions. this board is a wonderful place to vent. maybe there are other people in your area that you can talk to. i cant stand not to be able to wear cute shoes, but i am walking. that i am walking without pain in sneakers is wonderful, but sometimes i would like to burn them. if you didnt have the pain, you would see things differently. i hope there is a dr outhere who is listening now. keep posting. debbie g

lyndie19 · 10-25-2007, 09:12 PM

I had bone fusion of my right great toe 7 weeks ago and I'm still in a lot of pain. The doctor says everything looks great and alignment is correct. Wondering if anyone else has pain this long after surgery. I have quite a bit of redness and some swelling yet under all the toes and it burns quite a bit. Is this my foot rejecting the pin. I see the doctor this coming Tuesday and he will do an x-ray and says I might be able to start walking. How can I with so much pain?

dbgoalie · 11-05-2007, 10:26 PM

Tweetie, are you still out there? Have you made any progress in the last two weeks? So far so good with me, I will be happy to recommend the place I am going if it would help you.
Lyndie, sorry to hear you are still in pain after 7 weeks. I am 1 week post-op; next week the stitches come out of my foot and I get a cast for a few weeks. Hopefully I am not in the kind of pain you are in after 7 weeks. We would like to hear from both of you, don't give up.