Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
Elldee
I had my right toe fused last Feb 4, 09. After literally years of pain and indecision, and doctors telling me to fuse, i finally found a very good ortho surgeon who specializes is feet that i felt i could trust, had the fusion and couldn't be happier. The pain is gone! If you've got bone on bone there is nothing else you can do except fuse. I will be glad to go into the whole recovery and all if you are interested, but the bottom line is it was a necessary evil but one year later i'm very glad i did it. I would tell you to go to my guy if you are in my area because he is the best. Take care and just do it!
Brenda
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
I just read your post and I am new at this. I had my great toe fused and hammer toes fixed on the same foot. I am 8 weeks post op. I am 53 years old and I to have always been very active and in pain since I was about 25. This is my third surgery. I am in a great deal of pain still not sure if the fusion took yet the doctor said it was to early to tell. I am walking with an air cast boot which seems to cause me more pain due to the incision on the top of my foot and I think I have some kind of nerve damage. Did you have your toe fused and how did it go for you?
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
Hi 53. I hope you are feeling a bit better today. I still have not had the surgery. My surgeon wants me to wait as long as possible as I am still in my 30s and I do have some cartlidge left. But he is willing to do it when I say it's time. I'm just hesitant still. It will be hard for me to be off my feet for 3 months, so I keep delaying. I get around with orthotics and steel shank rocker soles built into my extremely attractive orthopedic shoes and running/hiking boots (I truly am the height of high fashion these days!). But it's still a major problem and unfortunately I try to compensate with every other part of my body, which throws everything off. So mostly I ache from nose to toe. Let me know how your healing goes. Not sure if this will help you, but when I had my chilectomy I also could have sworn I had nerve damage since I couldn't feel anything on the outside of my foot (plenty of screaming pain on the inside though) , but most of the feeling in the skin came back in about 3 months, although there is a small spot that remains numb 3 years later. I hope you have an OK day reading book and watching many movies. Take care and post back. I really would like to know how it goes for you.
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
I just read all the posts here and it was interesting hearing the different stories and experiences.
I had my right big toe fused on Oct 28, 2009. It was a really hard decision to make. I got new orthotics the year before, and spent a ton of money on comfy shoes. I had a steroid injection into the joint, and that helped for a few months. The shoes didn't really help. It is very depressing to have a sore foot even when wearing Keens, and Merrells with good orthotics. My doctor referred me to the surgeon in March, and I saw him in June. He told me my two options were cheilectomy and fusion. He figured fusion was the best option. I was dumbfounded, because I thought there was something in the middle, based on what the podiatrist had told me. I was able to make an appointment for a couple of weeks later and do more homework inbetween. I made the decision to proceed when he told me the foot would not fuse on its own and that it would become more painful.
I had the surgery on Oct 28th and went home that day. They used a spinal and some drugs to make me groggy. I would skip the groggy drugs if I were to do it again, because I believe they made me sick. He put a plate with five screws in it, and my toe is fused at a 20 degree angle. I was able to heel weight bear as pain allowed, from the beginning. I was able to start walking normally at six weeks. Now I am walking almost normally, three months later. I was though, accused of waddling (by a pregnant lady!) the other day. My foot is mostly painfree. As others have said, I only needed the pain meds for four days. I am not ready to start any tap classes, or to start jogging yet. If I do walk a little much, my foot gets a little grumbly, but it is manageable. It still swells a bit, but that is not a big problem.
I did have a scare a couple of weeks ago. I had another x-ray and it showed something that could indicate a bone infection (osteomyelitis). I had a bone scan and the tech said there was "activity". I was scared until I saw my doctor. Apparently the activity is more likely a sign of healing. I will be getting another x-ray in a week or so to monitor the process.
I live in northern BC. It snowed and snowed on Oct 29 and 30, and the snow stayed. I stayed inside for two weeks, with small outings. I put a plastic bag over my foot, and used crutches for support. When I got the stitches out at two weeks, I was able to put my foot in a Birkenstock sandal. A few weeks later, I was able to put my foot in a tie-on Merrell and that was the best option. I was being chauffeured around, so got dropped off in front of doors, so the snow really wasn't the worst problem.
My surgeon told me that I will be able to jog after it is healed. That is kind of funny, because I have not jogged in a long time. Never-the-less, if I could jog, then I could be active. I decided to have the surgery because this one little joint had really altered my lifestyle. I am hoping to reclaim my life soon. I am 52 and plan to have many years left. It is scary to think of having a fused toe, but I think it is well worth getting rid of the pain!
Good luck.
__________________
Life is too short to wear tight shoes. ~ May you have happy feet in 2012.
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
I had my fusion in 04 and I was the best thing I did. I started with surgeries in 99 and the dr wouldn't fuse because I was only 29 at the time. I suffered thru 2 surgeries before the fusion. I am looking at another fusion on my root foot and I have no reservations about it. I am able to almost everything that I want.
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
Hi,
i had a toe fusion in 2007. I have a job where i am on my feet
alot. My toe joint was totally destroyed and the doctor
had no choice but to do a fusion.
I was off work ten weeks and was non weight bearing for six weeks.
It took several months to adjust, but i am doing fine now with
no pain. However i cant wear real fashionable shoes or run but
i can walk fine.
I am concern now because my toe on my other foot is hurting
me now. I do not want to go through another fusion!
If anyone has had both big toes fused, please respond! I would
like to know how you are doing.
Short stuff::::
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
My husband is having VERY successful recovery from toe fusion on January 25, 2010. He has written a blog about the whole process. Unable to post blog name here but if you google 'toe fusion blog' you should be able to find it.
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond
I know a woman in this town who has had both toes fused, about two years apart. Her last toe was fused over a year ago. I am not sure how the process was for her. She did say they took about a year each to heal. I know she is extremely happy with them now.
I am at five months and plan to start a boot camp fitness program in a couple of weeks. I have been walking more lately, and walked a few miles on Sunday. It is so nice to be active again. I can't remember the last time I walked several miles without paying dearly for it later.
__________________
Life is too short to wear tight shoes. ~ May you have happy feet in 2012.
Re: If you have had your big toe fused, please respond 
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