Quote:
Originally Posted by misfish90  Hey4four,
You sound just like I did 2 years ago. Like you, I managed with orthotics and sensible shoes for 7 years while still a stage 2. But this is a progressive condition and it eventually got worse. So when I jumped over to stage 3 and it really started impacting the way I lived, I knew it was time for surgery.
I'm now 21 months post-op and doing well. Is the toe perfect? No, but it's absolutely better than before. I had high hopes of returning to my pre-HL days but alas I only got back to a late stage 1/early stage 2. But heck, I managed that for years so if nothing else, it bought me more time and maybe a long term cure (fingers crossed big-time here especially as I'm only in my mid-30's.)
One thing I will say is that recovery is a LONG process so be realistic. I got back to 75% fairly quickly after 4 months. It's that pesky 25% that seemed to take forever. I venture to guess that my foot didn't feel truly "normal" again until I hit the 13 month mark. But people do heal differently.
My recommendation: If you're now living your life around your foot rather than just managing it, then it's time. |
MissFish, I was just reading some of your threads. I'm scheduled for chilectomy and osteotomy with a pin, plus dissolvable sutures on the 26th of Jan. (a week from tomorrow) I am now however wondering if i'm acting prematurely. I have the mechanical defect (high first metatarsal) and my pod said if we did only the chilectomy the spurs would grow back bc what is causing the joint jamming is the higher level of the bone. I understand that.
This "injury" occurred in 2008, so it will be 3 yrs this summer. But the bone spur has grown to where I cannot even wear heels without discomfort. The only shoes I can wear anywhere are tennis shoes and even after 30min-1 hour of a walk my foot is sore and inflamed (on the top, from the bunions rubbing agains the shoe, and inside the joint, feels like its on fire). I ice, wear orthotics, elevate all the time. So, I walk less. I dont dance anymore. I manage it, but i am also in a way living around my foot. I will turn 37 next month. (In a way I wish I were older bc i would not have the prospect of running around after my future children ahead of me with a bum foot!)
But I"ve read online also that people suggest not doing this unless or until you have debilitating pain. I can walk. But not on an incline and not really with heels above 1/2 inch w/o discomfort. This hallux lim was brought on by an injury (altho i have the bone structure for it)...in other words my other foot has it but it hasnt presented with symptoms yet and i have full ROM there.
My goal in doing this was to preserve the cartilage i have left (to avoid fusion or implant later). Is there a reason that, since i can walk now, i should really juts wait until this gets worse? Its such a gamble against the unknown future. I was 100% confident after walking away from the pod's office. I just read these threads (was looking in fact for info on the healing time for my surgeries, what to expect) and now am totally freaked out. Sorry - do not want to hijack the thread but wanted to comment on what you'd written above.
p.s. curious if you could walk easily at 8 weeks post-op in a roller bottom tennis shoe, for say 1 hour per day?
