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Re: FUSION
Posted by Al
2/5/2015  2:59:00 AM
Hi all, I'm not a dancer but in trawling the internet on Hallux Rigidus this came up. I enjoy hiking but the arthritis in my big toes is making it extremely painful beyond 2 or 3 miles. The advice I've received is that a joint replacement is ok for older people who are not going to 'abuse' the joint and is a much quicker recovery. Trying to define what level of use constitutes abuse is nigh impossible. The life of joints is not long and the procedure is probably in its relative infancy compared to say knees. Fusion gets rid of the pain but is a long recovery and I've not been able to get any info from anyone who's had it done in relation to hiking afterwards. Some say better to live with the pain.

It does feel like hiking will not be possible which is a terrible shame.
Re: FUSION
Posted by newsdiane
2/7/2015  10:50:00 PM
The more I look into this (and now with consultation of doctor #3), the more I think fusion and joint replacements are a lousy option. Maybe as a last resort for me, but not yet.

My most recent doctor advises waiting a full 12 months after the chielectomy & osteotomy. He says he's seen people's feet improve suddenly within the first year. I'm still only 9 months post op.

I am now working on stretching the arches/achilles/calves/hamstrings/ankles, and I am in less pain. I have been dancing a great deal the past couple of weeks, and doing private Pilates lessons and physical therapy twice a week.

Walking and dancing are a challenge, as my range of motion in my big toe is limited. I am trying to train myself not to roll on the outside of my foot.

My foot will probably never be pain free, but I am hoping that through icing the foot and exercise I can tolerate the pain and continue to dance.
Re: FUSION
Posted by Jtate72
2/24/2015  2:04:00 PM
Hi all - I just joined this forum. I was a pro dancer in my 20's and 30's but have not danced in many years. Unfortunately, it left me with lots of joint problems. I enjoy doing yoga and walking for exercise and love to take a ballet class here and there, but it got to the point this past year where I could do none of those things without a lot of pain in my feet. At age 60, I have had a knee replacement and about 4 months ago had a big toe joint replacement as there was no cartilage left and I had bone spurs. I did not want a fusion as I knew it would limit flexibility greatly and would make all those pursuits next to impossible. My podiatrist doctor sold me on the idea of joint replacement saying it was a shorter recovery time and would allow me flexibility. That is not at all how it has been! I have had almost constant pain since the surgery. I cannot get a shoe on my foot due to the swelling and the pain.

At this point I am considering having it removed. I am seeing an ortho doctor for another opinion. After some tests it appears I am either dealing with infection in the bone, rejection of the implant or something called CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). He's afraid that the bone is too compromised at this point to even consider a fusion and that the amount of scar tissue that has developed will create a "joint", so he has proposed just taking the implant out and letting it heal as is.

Has anyone else had this sort of thing happen?? I am so depressed about this.
Re: FUSION
Posted by Linda in Canberra Australia
2/28/2015  2:00:00 PM
I had my right metatarsal phalangeal joint fused in 2012. 45 min procedure, a small titanium plate and six screws were used in conjunction with a small chip of my heel bone to fuse the joint. No pain after at all - stayed overnight and was sent me home with endone but never needed it nor did I need panadol. Surgeon was Dr Brendan Klar in Canberra - lovely person, highly skilled surgeon. Hence there being no pain. Can wear heels up to about 4cms comfortably. Linda
Re: FUSION
Posted by Jtate72
3/4/2015  10:54:00 AM
Thank you for replying, Linda. It's good to hear that you had such a successful surgery. And the fact that you have enough bend in the joint to allow you to wear a small heel is encouraging. I had a "tap" of my joint this past week and am awaiting word as to whether the cultures show any infection. I too am pretty certain I am looking at fusion ultimately.
Re: anyone ever have fusion of big toe (MTP) joint
Posted by Michael
3/5/2015  2:57:00 AM
I had a left big toe joint fusion three weeks ago and the pain is still excrutiating. I had one on the rt big toe 5 yrs ago and still have pain. I do not recommend this procedure for anyone. Based on the first procedure, it was nine months before I got some relief. I get around on crutches. I am taking pain med but they said I could stop after 2 weeks but the pain is still pretty bad. The entire toe area continues to be red and swollen. The only relief I get is to stay bed-bound but they yhat is here hard to do.
Re: anyone ever have fusion of big toe (MTP) joint
Posted by sue
4/9/2015  11:13:00 AM
This is all very interesting. I am now trying to make the decision to have the right toe fused. My orthopedic surgeon was very informative and suggested to get custom orthotics and try them out for three months before making the decision for surgery. I have a desk job, got some wide toed sensible shoes, but due to the bone spurs and lack of motion in the toe, and thickness of the bone, it causes extreme pain at times. I take off my shoes, put on my runners without the orthotics and get temporary relief. I also find that when driving the pain is so severe I can hardly stand it and want to scream. Bare feet is an option at home as most comfortable but sometimes the bone will shift and then again great pain! I have read a lot of comments about the cons of having surgery, but would really like to hear from someone who has had the fusion and have had success.
Sometimes I just want to get the surgery done and over with to lessen the pain, and my walking and enjoyment of life has considerably changed, due to a couple of years of poor posture, walking on the outside of the foot, and now at times the right knee buckles. The orthotics help in ways, but it is very difficult to find shoes that are comfortable, shoes that will fit the orthotics and shoes that are some what stylish for an office work environment.
Mr. Doctor said eventually over time the bones may fuse themselves, but what then? Has anyone had this happen and if so, was surgery required to correct the natural incorrect fusion positioning of the toe?
Need help to make a very permanent decision..










Re: FUSION
Posted by newsdiane
4/9/2015  10:37:00 PM
Just a followup. I must say that my foot has indeed improved suddenly. I competed in the Arthur Murray World Dance-O-Rama a few weeks ago and I was very concerned that my foot would hinder my dances. I had trained for about four hours some nights in the weeks leading to the competition. Sure enough, my foot has held up and I am dancing mostly every night. Yes, I will always have limited range of motion. But for now I can tolerate this. I am so glad that I didn't opt for a fusion or for an artificial joint.
Re: anyone ever have fusion of big toe (MTP) joint
Posted by Ogil
4/14/2015  5:24:00 PM
I had fusion of my large toes on both feet. Have regretted it ever since. Cannot wear heal shoes. I will squeeze into a low heal for special ocasions, but very painful. Avoid operation at all costs, if not too late.My sister had same op, a few years later and had a joint put in .... much better option. Don't do it!
Re: anyone ever have fusion of big toe (MTP) joint
Posted by feet1234
4/16/2015  7:23:00 AM
Hello all here is a long running forum about fusion

http://www.epicski.com/t/112386/my-excellent-toe-surgery-adventure-hallux-rigidus-plate-screw-fusion-and-osteotomy

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