It's been 5 months since my surgery and I still wrap my toes in bandages and wear compression stockings to keep the swelling down (my doctor said this helps them heal much better). I don't have pain, unless of course I trip which I seem to do a lot of lately! My toes bend on the joints near the tips but not in the middle joint, oddly. I think eventually they will bend because at one time the tips wouldn't even move. The only "pain" I have is soreness in the joint if I try to maneuver my toes to the side. They still look different week to week and really, compared to how they were before, anything would be an improvement! I still can't wear heels but that's the compromise to cute future feets :)
Hey There,
ReplyDeleteI had surgery 8 weeks ago and a little worried about my second toe (which seems to be leaning to the side. I did notice that the new fused bone is a big bump. Did you experience this? I hope its only induration). I was wondering what your feet look like now and if you do/dont regret the steriod shots.
Thank you and hope you are completely healed!
I will comment on your blog
ReplyDeleteI had hammertoe surgery on my right foot, toe next to pinky toe, 2 months ago. I just got back from yet another checkup, and I found out (yes, *found out*) that the doctor fused two of the bones in the toe. WHAT? I had no idea he was going to do that. All I had been told before was that it was a simple procedure, one of their easiest (they didn't stress *their* and not *my* before or anytime after the surgery either), and my toes would be good as new, I'd be able to move them and use them.
ReplyDeleteWell, when I hear "good as new," " simple procedure," "be able to move them and use them," I somehow conclude that it will be "simple," pretty easy, not a lengthy recovery (boy, I should have read your blog before my surgery!), and that my joints would move after the surgery ... ALL of the same joints that worked before.
Today, 2 months later, the doc informed me that the last joint will move, but the next one up my toe will never move again because "its' been fused." What?! Honestly. I can't believe it.
Now, that said, everything is going fine healing wise (similar to your story); it's just taking a long damned time to heal, which I wasn't prepared for. But I have a pretty good outlook, and that nonmoving second joint shouldn't be a problem. Of course, that's according to the doc, too, and what can I believe or expect now?
Just to add to some things you've said... yes, the compressing helps. I notice a lot less pain walking when my toe is wrapped. I started this after a month, after my boot and other wrapping was taken off, when walking was too painful because my toe (& foot) swelled up. I have been instructed, and do, take it off for the night now, but it's elevated, so I'm sure it gets nowhere near as swollen as it would if I just let it go.
Also, according to the doc, and common sense, the less trauma to the toes/feet, the quicker healing. So, if you can afford to sit around and elevate your feet for half a year, go for it. However, most people have lives they have to live that include walking, etc. My doctor assured me that at this point (I was just released to full activity today, including running, if I so choose - I don't!), I won't do any damage to the toe and healing by doing my normal activities. It will just slow the healing process.
That being said, it would make sense to me to be off my feet as much as possible; however, that so goes against being active for a healthy body. So I'm gonna try to be active but also try to rest, elevate & even still ice, when swollen, my feet when able.
Ummmm, there are so many things in your posts that I wanted to comment on, but I forget now.
Thanks for posting all of this! You made a comment that probably nobody is going to read this, but there are probably thousands of people gleaning good information from this, helpful stuff that we toe people benefit from you having shared with us. So again, THANK YOU!
I, too, would love to see recent photos, having been two years from your surgery now, and me just being two months out. I would love to see and hear about how you recovered and anything you can think of to comment on.
All the best!
Val