went for my 2nd post-op dr appt today after hallux varus surgery. so far i am healing fine. i can start pt in 2 weeks for my big toe. i hope this can possibly be the end of a very long foot saga story.
Awesome to hear. It sounds like Kill Bill (Good Movie) when she wakes up after being in a coma for 5 years and can't move well and keeps telling herself to "Wiggle Her Big Toe"
My goodness, Debbie! You're still going through this stuff?! What is hallus varus? I, too, hope that this is the end of the surgical road for you! I can't imagine still going through it. I'll be sending good thoughts your way!
went for my 2nd post-op dr appt today after hallux varus surgery. so far i am healing fine. i can start pt in 2 weeks for my big toe. i hope this can possibly be the end of a very long foot saga story.
Hope you continue to heal and have pain free walking!
thanks you guys-we are the oldies, but goodies! hallux varus is usually caused by a bad bunionectomy. its not that uncommon. the big toe deviates away from the 2nd toe toward the outside. when you cant wear shoes because the big toe is rubbing against the shoe-its time to have it fixed. still the bone has to be cut and the healing resembles that of a fracture. i never saw kill bill!
thanks you guys-we are the oldies, but goodies! hallux varus is usually caused by a bad bunionectomy. its not that uncommon. the big toe deviates away from the 2nd toe toward the outside. when you cant wear shoes because the big toe is rubbing against the shoe-its time to have it fixed. still the bone has to be cut and the healing resembles that of a fracture. i never saw kill bill!
Debbie, I know you had a fusion because of a bad bunionectomy. I may have to do it and am scared. Can you tell me what your recovery was like. Right now, I can't stand or walk for any period of time. Don't care about wearing high heels anymore. Those days are gone and probably contributed to my bunion problem. Thanks!
dont be scared because it should take all the pain away. everybody seems to have a different toe fusion surgery. i was nwb in a cast for 12 weeks and then a walking boot for 4 weeks. i then fit into xtra wide gym shoes. i takes a year or more for all the swelling to go down. even if you have toe fusion, you can still probably wear 2 in heels. just go to an ortho surgeon and then get another opinion. fusion is the last step and you should not have pain after that. let me know what you are going to do and by the way, what does your dr say about your pain?
The podiatrist who did the surgery recommended removing the fibial sesmoid bone. I went to Dr. LaPorta in Binghamton who has a pretty good reputation as a podiatric surgeon and he recommended fusion. He said feet can only take so many surgeries and the sesmoid thing might not do it. He said I would be nwb for at least 1 week, if not 2. He uses a metal plate to fuse the joint. Do you have it fused by metal or a bone graft? Thanks for answering my question. I am going to a foot and ankle orthopedic doctor closer to me next week. Also, can you run and dance? I want to be able to be active again. I can bearly walk now.
Last edited by Chubstercat; 10-08-2009 at 10:16 AM.
Reason: Added sentence
i had a metal plate and 7 screws. the hardware had to be removed because it was hurting my foot. the plate was too big for my toe. i can do everything with the fused toe. it takes time to get used to. glad you are seeing the ortho.
My trainer makes us do lunges with the big toe pointed up! So I don't see that would be a problem...in fact, it's bound to be easier with it fixed because it sure isn't with it flexing!
i wish i could wiggle my big toe, but it just stays in place. as far as lunges go, why would the fused toe prevent one to do lunges? i think the biggest limitation would be if you were a ballerina and you need to point you toes or go up toe shoes-you couldnt. if you find the correct shoe to wear you can do pretty much everything. the whole basis for a toe fusion is to get rid of the pain. thank goodness it did for me. i still would like to be able to wear high heels though! i miss that.
Thanks Debbie. Part of the reason I thought of the lunges is that my toe interferes with them now. I do some yoga classes and also curl, and have noticed that the reduced range of motion is a problem.
I have not worn high heels for so long, it would not matter to me. I am 5'7" so do not need the height. Being able to wear even 1/2" heels would be nice.
I now have a surgery date of October 28th. Now I know some timelines and all that. That helps.
That's one reason it is fused at an angle rather than straight. If you find afterwards that the angle is still an issue, a "rocker bar" can be added to the bottom of the shoe just behind the toe area that will help your foot "roll" when walking, exercising, etc.
That's one reason it is fused at an angle rather than straight. If you find afterwards that the angle is still an issue, a "rocker bar" can be added to the bottom of the shor just behind the roe area that will help your foot "roll" when walking, exercising, etc.
I have already adapted by flipping my foot so the top of it is on the ground, rather than the ball when I am curling. I also tend to do lunges that way in yoga too. Since yoga is done barefoot, I will continue to do that if it is an issue. I suspect it will be better though because of the lack of pain. It is most likely the pain that stops me.
A rocker bar is a strip that goes across the bottom of the shoe across the metatarsal pad behind the toes. It allows the foot to simulate the rolling up on the toes action.
