[astern]

Hi everyone!

I found out Thursday that I must have a surgery on my right foot! What I thought was an arthritic big toe 'knuckle', turned out to be a big bone spur. So big, that it's pushed a major bone in the top of my foot out of place!! Podiatric surgeon says I have no option - the spur MUST be removed. On a normal person he'd also re-position the big bone, but since my arms won't support me in crutches (or a walker, or a cane... shoot, we all know we couldn't even HOP!) for the 3 month recovery, he won't do that part. Just grind down the bone spur and clean out the area.





Fortunately, there's no arthritis in the joint (see the nice clean spaces between each toe bone). He was expecting it to be much worse than it is.

Thought this might be something to consider if a TOS surgery is in your future. Not being able to support ones' body weight affects more than just getting up off the floor or pulling yourself out of the pool.

Anne

[Jomar]

Hope it goes well for you.
It is something we can tend to forget about - if our feet or legs have something like this happen.

[LinJane]

After reading this I have had to sit back before typing!

I have had to have surgery on BOTH of my big toes since TOS. I do not know the actual physicians diagnosis but in laymans terms it is that: the joint that connects the toe to the foot, i.e. just like your x-ray, the cartilage was worn out. The toe had to be taken off, cartilage removed , bone shaved down, toe put back on. Happened with both feet. My toes do not bend any more. Make sure you have help after your surgery. You may think it is just a toe but it is major and it affects everything. Plan on having someone do everything for you. It is hard to get up at all.

Please let me know when you are having it done. I'll be thinking about you, Linda

[DiMarie]

Astern I hope your recovery is a speedy one. The two foot surgeries I had the cutting and repositioning was worse then the bone spur.
The little toe side I had both feet done pre tos, and then the bone spur down the underside of the foot they shaved down.

Make the doc understand if you take meds for chronic pain they will not cover the additional accute pain of post surgery. I had tylenol III the first surgery, then percocett the second one. Keep it elevated, Ice and if some one has a walker to use to get to the potty, that helps keep pressure off.
I had a cane, but doc wanted me to walk on my knee not use any crutches with knee surgeries. So no crutch use. THe walker helped me balance and I could put things to travel with me on it. Decorate it and have fun with it.

Keep on top of meds wake to take a dose!
Di

[redjpwranglergirl]

Oh boy, Anne....I hate to hear you're going to have foot surgery. I've had 4 different surgeries (8 separate incisions) on my left foot and it was a big pain in the *****....I've had bone spurs and a joint "clean out" on my big toe- the cartilege was gone and it was bone on bone. That didn't fix my problem so I had to have my big toe fused in another surgery- 8 wks. on crutches. The tendon in my little toe has been cut and repositioned. The tailors bunion on the outside of my foot has been shaved down twice. A bone spur has been shaved on the bottom of one metatarsal. I could go on and on. I'll be thinking about you and hoping that everything goes smoothly.

[Horizontal One]

Astern, I hope all goes well. Have to say that looks like one of a heck of a bone spur!! Poor you. Not like you need this on top of eveything else.

Best wishes and the same to everyone else.

I keep dropping by why I can, and trying to keep up to date as I can.

Take care all.

Hx

From a lovely warm/hot day in UK...it's lovely just hope it continues

[Sheri_TOS]

Hi! I understand about TOS altering foot surgery plans. I need to have surgery on my left foot, too, but it was postponed because I injured my left shoulder last July and I developed vascular TOS from the injury. I saw a vascular surgeon and he wanted the shoulder fixed before pursuing anything involving TOS since everything is so connected up there. I just had surgery on my left shoulder three days ago. The doctors are hoping that the vascular TOS symptoms settle down once the shoulder is stable.

Good luck with the recovery!

[astern]

Thanks for all the replies! This is such a great group of people!!

Linda, that's awful having both big toes not be able to bend! your gait must be causing some balance issues - and maybe even some lower back pain. Dr says I'll be in bed for 3 days and after that I can do stairs OK. He says I can drive as soon as I'm not taking pain meds. I'd been wondering why my left lower back was hurting so much!

Di, I let him know about my TOS and all the pain meds I have on board. I said, "you don't need to give me any pain meds - I have plenty." and he said He'd send me home with Percocet 7.5's. He'd better give me something for nausea too. :P I won't need a walker or a cane, I'll have one of those black velcro boots. (If I had the bone repositioned, or a bad case of arthritis to be cleaned out then I'd need a walker or crutches)

Hx, good to read you - I always worry about your condition.

Poor Red, sounds like you've had nearly all the foot surgeries there are to have! I'm lucky that I have some experienced people here to ask questions of!

I'm planning the surgery for mid July. I had planned on going to FL then as my brother will be here to watch Mom. I may still get down there for a couple of RnR days before the procedure, but will have to take advantage of having bro here to help out with me and mom. I can just see it now... mom falling down the stairs and breaking a hip just to bring me a cup of tea... yeah - that would be my luck.

[Horizontal One]

[

Hx, good to read you - I always worry about your condition.


Thanks Astern.......Hx

[finz]

Bummer Astern !

I hope the surgery goes smoothly