Knee & Hip Replacement Community

Dear Tammy: I have not had a fusion of the big toe joint but have had several fusions of the foot joints and most of the recovery times I think are the same. It's too bad that you went to a bad Podiatrist because we have a Podiatrist in a town next to us that has been doing a procedure that I will be doing when an appropriate amount of time has passed. That is a partial joint replacement. The procedure is just being done by OS within the past little while as a new procedure while this Podiatrist has been doing them for over 2 years with pretty good success. I don't think you would be a good candidate for this procedure if you've already had procedures done and had them fail and your doctor thinks you would be a better candidate for fusion. A fusion just takes the joint and fuses it together so it no longer moves. You no longer have any pain or swelling or any of that stuff. I assume they do the same thing for toes as they do for feet. But, if they don't at least you'll have my experience. They put a cast on for 6 weeks, non-weight bearing, 4 weeks partial weight bearing then take the cast off put on a boot for 4 weeks. Then you should be okay. It's a long procedure. The reason I know is because I had 4 of those on my right foot and one on my left hand. Two of the ones on my right foot failed and had to be redone. It was not fun. And then to have the surgeons not believe you even reading the CT Scans and having the CT Scans telling them the surgery failed, was not fun. So, between each surgery I spent a year living with the pain because my surgeon wanted to make sure. I was miserable. There is always a possibility of a fusion, failing. I don't know how much with a toe joint but I didn't have any problems with my thumb joint. That one turned out fine. So, you just have to go through it and let the chips fall where they may. They will probably do a knee block so you can't feel the surgery and then sedate you. But that is up to each anesthesiologist. They will discuss it with you before surgery. Personally, if I was in as much pain as you are, I would do it. That is what happened with my thumb. I had just had it with the pain and just told him to get it over with. The recovery will be a bit long but it should be worth it. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Linda Kennedy

Thanks lushdoc, Thanks for the reply, the new procedure your talking about could it be called resurfacing? This is the other procedure the doctor was talking about. The problem with resurfacing, that I have researched is, they do nothing with the bone as far as scraping to remove the arthritis,they add a thumblike screw to the end of the bone, to give you mobility, but do nothing with the arthritis. From what i have read is it makes you a candidate down the line for a joint replacement. I'm the type that wants to just get it fixed, not do a procedure and continue on down the road with arthritis to have a joint replacement. All I know is I am always in pain, have tried arthritis meds.,steroids and still continue to be in pain. Have to ease up on long standing, cut in half my routine due to the arthritis. I know right now I can't work because of it. I want to get back to a normal as possible life(a job, and to be able to do some of the things I use to do). Thanks for the info., I am seriously looking at doing the fusion. Sounds like what I have read about the fusion as far as recovery and casting. I expected it to be a long recovery. If it get rid of the arthritis, pain, swelling, I think I will be able to handle the recovery! Considering the surgery the podiatrist did, didn't fix the problem and was a six month recovery, that did nothing!!! Thanks for the info. and advice, I will definitely let everybody know. I see the doctor on Mon. to let him know how it'"s going and what I have decided. Will let all know.

Tammy

Hi Tammy I was reading this old post and wondering if you had the big toe replacement. I have been in major pain for 2 yrs and was told I need it replaced. My dr. said it was like a piece of wood no mobility just red and swollen! I had both feet down because of hammer toes and tendons and have had knee surgery due to arthritis and cortisone shots in elbow. I also knee a knee replacement. Many success stories about the knee but I've never talked to anyone that had the big toe done.

I had joint replacement surgery on both of my big toes six years ago...put titanium joints in. The reason I had to have surgery is because I had arthritis...the surgeon gave me two options: titanium joint replacement or fusion. I chose the titanium joints. I have had pain every since the surgery...never had to wear surgical shoes, no orthodics prescribed, but did have to go to therapy. The therapist ended dislocating my big toe on my right foot!! I've been walking on the outsides of my feet for six years because of the swelling in the bottom/top of my feet...felt like I had "marbles" in the balls of my feet. Either the surgeon put too large an implant in (said I was between sizes so she put in a larger one) which irritated my tissues or my body simply rejected the foreign objects. Since I reached a point where I could not go for walks because of the pain, I opted to have the titanium joints removed and am now going into my third week of post surgery on my right big toe (1/2/13). The surgeon said my bone had grown into every nook and crany of the implant! He did not replace the implant with anything....so my toe is attached with ligaments and tendon. I had to sit in a chair with my foot elevated for two weeks and just got the stitches removed after 2 1/2 wks.. I'm walking in "Crocks" (most comfortable) and trying to teach my toe how to bend. It is still swollen and I'm taking Ibu and am weaning off the pain meds. I really don't know what to expect? My toe is now 1/2" shorter from having two surgeries. I'm very active and ride horses. I may put off the second surgery on the left big toe until late Fall and see how this works...it's very "pliable." I have a friend that had her toe joint removed and not replaced with anything, but it wasn't the big toe...she has been doing fine. Has anyone else had their implant removed on htheir big toes and had nothing put in place of it???

I have partial joint implants in BOTH big toes (hemicaps). I had these implants due to severe pain in my big toes from arthritis. I have been in pain since....the implants failed. I just had the implant in my left big toe removed on March 20, 2013. When the implant was removed part of my joint was destroyed in my big toe. The "orthopedic foot" specialist took bone from my hip to replace the destroyed bone in my big toe. He also put a plate to secure the "new" bone in place and that will remain there to keep the "new" fused joint from breaking. I have to tell you.....after the surgery....compared to the pain I felt before....my "new" fused big toe had NO PAIN. I am 3 weeks post surgery....no weight can be on the surgery foot....kind of a tough deal. Where they harvested bone from my hip hurts like heck....but that will heal. I am VERY anxious to get the other foot fixed....I will keep you posted on what it's like to bear weight on the bit toe with the hip bone in it.