Need Help!!!!!!!!! - Foot Problems Message Board

fooie5 · 01-02-2008, 02:53 AM

Hi guys it's me again. For those who know me I need help. I had a fusion done March 14th 2007 on my big toe. I had a plate and 5 screws put in and my big toe joint removed.
I was in my air cast until a month ago because I couldnt walk without pain. I have so much swelling still and so much pain. Still taking pain pills when I cant stand it anymore. I went to my Dr last week and he said I will have swelling for a while more. And I asked how long will the pain last and he said forever. I about fell off my chair. Is this true? I hope not. About 2 weeks ago I had the things made for inside my shoe to give me support and keep my big toe straight. Well I think its to much of an arch for my bad foot and I think its throwing my foot to the outside of my foot. I had so much pain I took it out of my tennis shoe. So now my bad foot is my right foot and the whole top of my foot and ankle has horrible pain. I can hardly walk now. What is going on??? I need to go back to my Dr and see what is wrong. It feels like Im going backwards instead of forward.
Before the surgery I asked when its winter will I feel the metal in my foot and have pain and the Dr said NO. Well that was not true. I live in Ohio and its so cold here now and when I walk outside I have a horrible pain from the cold.
Im just very upset and Its been 10 months since my fusion and I think I should be doing much better now.
The Dr did say last week that if I still have troubles in April he could remove the plate and screws. I asked will it take my pain away and he said NO. So why would I do it then. If its not going to help me why go through a 3rd surgery.
I hope someone can help me and PLEASE give me some tips on what I can do. I had PT for 6 weeks to help my ankle. And that did work. But as far as my whole foot Im a mess.
Please let me know whats wrong and what I can do to be pain free.
Thanks a lot
Lisa

debbie g · 01-02-2008, 04:28 PM

you need to go to another dr i think. the swelling should be way down now. when was you last xray? you also need a cat scan to make sure it fused. as for hardware removal, i had it done over 2 months ago and it has made all the difference in the world. nobody should be in pain forever.

fooie5 · 01-02-2008, 05:19 PM

Well my Dr said removing the hardware wont make a difference. He said the bone is fused. I had about 4 X rays since my surgery in March. I have no idea whats going on. But the pain is horrible. Now its my whole foot and ankle. I wish I knew what was wrong. Thanks

wakkochic17 · 01-03-2008, 01:34 PM

my mom had continuous pain after a bunionectomy. She was convinced part of it was the hardware, but the doc wasn't. She basically pestered him until he gave in and removed the hardware. She has had a lot of relief. She still has some pain as she found out she developed some sort of arthritis in the joint, but I don't know if that had anything to do with the surgery or if it was already developing because of years of having a bunion. Definitely go to another doctor either way!! Some discomfort may still be expected this far out, but I can't imagine it would be normal to be in outright pain.. Good luck!

dbgoalie · 01-06-2008, 11:51 PM

Fooie, sorry to hear what you are going through. I had the same procedure right before Halloween and I have had great success. I don't understand why you are wearing orthotics in your shoes to keep your toe straight. The fusion and the hardware should keep your toe straight, there shouldn't be anything external that needs to help with that.

No one knows your body like you do. If it feels like the hardware is bothering you, go and get another opinion from another doctor. The unfortunate thing about having this kind of hardware in your foot, especially around the toes, is that there is practically no tissue around those bones, and that is sometimes a problem for people with hardware inserted. In the shoulder or the hip or the knees, people can rehab and build muscle around those areas, but you can't do that with toes or ankles.

My ortho said he also wouldn't remove the hardware unless it needs to be removed. He said I would know when that is, and to me, it sounds like you know when that is. If the doc you are going to says that you have 100% fusion, then the hardware is not serving any purpose. (other than providing additional strength to the area) I would suggest going to get another opinion, and keep going until you get one that you agree with. No one knows you and your condition as well as you do. Are you going to an ortho or a podiatrist? Personally, once you get into working with bone and plates and screws, I think that an ortho is the way to go. Good luck.