My pinky toes tend to get swollen (I didn't have surgery on them) so ignore them along with my homemade pedicure.
Overall the toes I had surgery on are bump free. Huge improvement from my before photos.
4 Years Since Surgery!
12 years ago
Can you bend your toes now? Or are they still stiff? Did they cut the joint out of the middle of your toe? If not how was it done ?
ReplyDeleteNo, I can't bend them. The ends / tips are not as stiff but I can't by any means bend them, especially in the middle. I believe the doctor removed the bone where the bump had formed and left a very small micro space in it's place. If I force my toe to bend using my hands, I can see where there is a space on one side.
ReplyDelete(sorry!) one more thing, do you walk strange or do you walk as well as you did before surgery? If so, how long did it take before your walk returned to normal? Also what type of shoes do you recommend for recovery? Do you think birkenstocks (flat clogs) would be good?
DeleteIf you use your hands to bend your toe, does it cause you any pain? Would you recommend having both feet done at the same time? Can you wear high heels (such as 4inch and up)? Do you feel any pain or stiffness from not being able to bend your toes? If so, does it bother you alot? Do your toes feel loose or can you control them? I know I am asking alot of questions (please dont think im strange) but i am really considering getting this procedure done and these are the type of things i would like to know before i make my decision!!
ReplyDeletewhy does the third toe on your left foot bend outward toward the left? Hopefully you don't take this as being mean or anything, I'm just curious because it looked straight in all of your other pictures.
ReplyDeleteMichelle - No offense taken at all. My toe does lean outward, that's a fact. That's what I've been saying all along in that this was by no means a perfect solution. I wrapped my toes for MONTHS and still, they shifted some. You can't see in the picture, but that same toe on the right side is a little longer and the tip leans to the side too. I don't like that. As I healed, some of them did not stay as straight. There's no bumps, but they are not perfect by any means. So that's something a person would have to weigh in their decision.
ReplyDeleteHi Hopeful",
ReplyDeleteI answered your questions below. Everybody's different, but this is my experience:
Do you walk strange? NO
or do you walk as well as you did before surgery? YES, sometimes I think my balance changed because I can't rely on my toes to catch my weight.
If so, how long did it take before your walk returned to normal? I THINK 4/5 MONTHS
Also what type of shoes do you recommend for recovery? FLIP FLOPS / SUPER WIDE SHOES / SANDALS
Do you think birkenstocks (flat clogs) would be good? ANYTHING WITHOUT MUCH OF AN ARCH
If you use your hands to bend your toe, does it cause you any pain? IF I FORCE IT YES. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BEND SO IT'S LIKE TRYING TO FORCE A BONE TO BEND. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
Would you recommend having both feet done at the same time? PERSONALLY I CANT TAKE THE PAIN TWICE
Can you wear high heels (such as 4inch and up)? ONLY FOR A NIGHT, NOT REGULARLY.
Do you feel any pain or stiffness from not being able to bend your toes? NOT ANYMORE
Do your toes feel loose or can you control them? THEY DO NOT FEEL LOSE. I JUST CAN'T BEND THEM.
Thank you for answering my question. Your feel still look awesome! it looks like you have no scarring. I had bunions removed from both feet at once a few years back and now I want to do the hammertoe/toe shortening surgery. I should've done it all at once but I never realized it was a problem until recently.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. My doctor cuts from the side, not on top, so you can't see the scars at all. Only the woman who does my pedicure can tell I had surgery.
ReplyDeleteHello. I am thinking of having a toe shortening procedure and I was wondering where did you go to get your surgery. It looks like your doctor did an amazing job! I hope it's not a weird question but I am really curious. Also, how painful was it after?
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I refer to it anytime I need the truth on my progress because the drs response "it's coming along well don't worry" doesn't do it for me smh. When did you return to work and when did you get your first professional pedicure. I did the bunion surgery and had corns removed on feb 2. I'm dying to workout and get pedicures. My doctor said it was ok to do both but the way my feet are feeling and based on her response to everything I don't trust her. It's been 6 weeks. I'm thinking of returning to work April 2. My doctors also sending me for physical therapy. She tried to move my big toe and I almost cried because of the pain. I had both feet done and I'm getting to that moment where starting to feel the regret especially since its so beautiful in NY right now. I'm stuck at home :-(. I'd greatly appreciate any input :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm going through the same thing as you. I have 2 toe shortenings, and 6 hammertoe removals and I too live in NY and the weather has been outstanding. I can't walk without looking like a zombie, i can't get pedicures, my life revolved around heels and I'm just so depressed. It's been 7 weeks since surgery. The doctor lied about the healing time. I hate him.
DeleteQuick question, if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteThe shortening part of your surgery, is that medical or cosmetic? I have that same issue with the same toes being long and they are a nightmare to deal with, especially in shoes. I want to get them shortened but I have not inquired with my doctor just yet, and I just want to know if that would be considered cosmetic since I don't have hammertoes or anything else to justify it during a single surgery.
Thanks in advance!
-Jason
Jason
ReplyDeleteI would think if it caused you pain your doctor would talk to you about it being medical. My shortening was done as a preventative measure because if not, the condition just comes back. But if it's just that the length is a nuisance to you, I personally don't think there's a justification to call it medical.
If you dont have pain I personally would never recommend this surgery. Because you may be replacing perfectly healthy bones etc with permanently sore joints. That's my personal opinion. - Tootie
Sheenah
ReplyDeleteI returned to work after 2 months. It was painfuly obvious I'd had surgery because of my intense limp. I walked at a snail pace, yep even 2 months later.
I think I got a pedicure 5/6 months later. I didn't do it before because having my toes handled was too painful / uncomfortable. There's alot of sensitivity around the incisions. Imagine how sensitive feet are, even to be tickled lol So imagine then being cut. So I waited a while.
I hope your healing speeds up. It seemed like my body wasn't healing and then suddenly healed in super leaps and bounds. I woke up one day and thought, "wow I've healed almost overnight!" I hope this happens for you!
Hi, I am 7 weeks in after my toe shortening/hammertoe removal procedure on 6 toes! Which creams/ointments did you put on your feet around that time? I'm concerned with the scarring a whole lot. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi Tootie! I just recently had the hammertoe surgery on 3/16/12 and my toes still look super long (Still maybe 1/2 over my big toe)! Is that normal? I'm just nervous. I see how your toes have shrunk from your 3 weeks post pic to now, but I'm just nervous because if they aren't short enough then I may get the surgery again somewhere else...I dread this experience because that would be pure heck! Thanks for your help...
ReplyDeleteHey tootie,
ReplyDeleteCould you possibly post the video of you trying to bend your toes so we can get a better idea of what it will be like to not be able to bend your toes? Also can you stand on your tiptoe without pain and can you crouch down also with no pain in your toes? When i say crouch down i mean with your knees bent and bearing weight on the ball of your foot as well as your toes.
How long did it take before your feet looked decent in a pair of flip flops? I know it may sound like a vain question.. but I may be doing this surgery in the beginning of the summer.. I would hate to have to be in closed shoes every time I step out for fear that people may be squeamish seeing my bruised up feet.
ReplyDeleteMichelle- I don't remember, it may be here on my blog somewhere but I recall being able to stop using my "wraps", which are like bandages, after about 5 months. But my toes were so swollen still and they would "float". They would not touch the ground and looked really strange, Supposedly that's common and it did go away after a while. But it seemed to take forever. Months upon months for that floating to disappear
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteSorry if this may be inconsiderate..but on average how much would you say the operation cost?
I am having the same problems and I am not financially comfortable to simply put down a great wad of cash for a confidence boost in my life.
I don't think it's worth paying out of pocket for. But to answer your question, I believe the charge is per toe. And for the amount of toes I had done, if I paid out of pocket I believe I could have bought a car. Somewhere in that ball park...
DeleteHi, my name is vicki (this is my daughters google account!) and I hammertoe and tailors bunion surgery 5 weeks ago and I have to say that all the things you have described (and I ready everything you wrote!) is so true and exactly what I am going through now. I literally have been elevated for the entire time and am feeling stir crazy! I do what I can in small increments of time and then down I go again. I had hammertoe surgery on my right foot 5 years ago and I must say that it is NOW the best decision I made....it looks great, I can feel it and I can run better because of it, at least until I had this left foot surgery. I will not be able to run for another 4 months, if even then. I know that this is all worth it and I know that in a year, I will be rejoicing that I did it! thanks so much for your perspective, it is nice to know there are other people out that have been through the exact same thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicki, sometimes keeping the blog was the only thing that kept me sane. Good luck on your healing!
ReplyDeletehi i had surgery on july 12 on my right foot hammertoe surgery on two toes 3 and 4 and toe shortening on toe 2 and 3 with pins in all.had my bunion removerd too.couldn't walk or get out of bed for about three day and if i did i would hop to the bathroom and back in bed.after two weeks the pins were removed didn't hurt at all.but was still in pain. its been 4 months my toes are still stiff i can move them they feel stuck together on the bottom. i walk but not as fast as i would like i wear sneaker just about everyday.just went back to work about two weeks ago.i can jog up the stairs. i was able to run to catch the bus.also had surgery on my right foot in august but no pins.only thing is my big toes are a little sore when bending them, need alot of treatment with getting them to bend only bends upward a little
ReplyDeleteHi there. I had surgery 10 months ago on a mild bunion and tailors bunion. They have both been a nightmare. My toe seems to be heading in the right direction now even though it is still swollen and tender. My concern is my pinky..it is about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the ground and i can barely move it. It feels "floppy" and i can no longer flare it out. It is like it is glued to the fourth toe and has very minimal movement. How long did you "floppy" feeling linger around for?
ReplyDeleteThe weak floppiness definitely went away fully. It took a while and I wish I could give you a time frame but I can't recall exactly. My healing went from very slow and worrisome to considerable. It seemed like one day I just woke up and was healing drastically.
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