Toe Fusion/Fusions experiences please?

[Elisbetta]

I've been advised that I need all but my two little toes fusing at the end (nearest the nail) and the middle joints, my big toes need fusing at all three joints.

Has anyone had an experiences of this surgery, what happens and how long does it take to recover?

The surgeon wants to do both feet at the same time and I know it sounds silly but found it difficult at the time of the consultation to ask questions. Simple things like can you walk on them immediatley after surgery, will have 'k' wires, will I be in plaster afterwards.

So I would love to hear from you if you've had similar surgery.

Thanks

Elisbetta

[anilorac]

Hi Elisbetta,

I will probably need to fuse my big toes too fairly soon, also more than one joint, so I would very much like to hear how things go from you. I did a cheilectomy in October of last year and it failed so that it's a lot worse now than pre-op and the doctor I went to for a 2nd opinion said I have nothing to lose from doing a fusion Given the lousy result of the cheilectomy I am now having problems also in adjoining joints.

I wish you the best of luck and please let me know what happens!

Carolina

[kirstyann]

i have had all the toes in my left foot fused, was due to go and have right foot done but various other more urgent things have come up (such as double mid foot fusions on both feet ) so the right foot is still to be sorted>

do not have both feet done at the same time if you can help it! it was extremely awkward for me to have 1 done, walking is possible (with the aid of crutches) as i was told to only 10% weight bear for quite a while. i had the end joint and middle joint fused in all my toes. it was very painful for first week or two post op, but the pain soon settled and it was nothing i hadn't expected.

i had pins sticking out the four smaller toes and two screws put into my big toe. the pins were removed but the screws remain.

i definately found it was worth it although the bottom joints now need doing as they have twisted too because of the way i walk but i wouldn't refuse to have them done! i have definately seenthe benefit from my surgery, any more questions, just ask xx

[Elisbetta]

Thank you so much for the info Kirstyann.

I've now got a date of 3rd July. Can I ask one more question?

Was you in a cast? I keep getting conflicting answers. Some say yes you are and then another states they just put elastoplast around the wounds. I'm just a bit worried about catching the wires. I've had them before for thumb fusions and know its not painful to remove but I did spend around 4-6 weeks in plaster.

All you advice has been really helpful.

Thanks

Elisbetta