Bunionectomies and osteotomies

[Gingernaut]

How painful are multiple procedures on the same foot?

It turns out, I have a vanishingly rare bone formation which would require 4 osteotomies on the lesser metatarsals, bunion surgery and an osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of the big toe.

I've heard horror stories about bunion surgeries, but my feet are increasingly painful.

How bad is it really?

No answers for you Ginger but placemarking as I have a horrendous bunion which I’m looking to have surgery on this year.

Thanks

I had bunions since childhood (no stilettos then). Throughout my life I was told that if they weren't too painful leave well alone. Then as a 40th birthday present to myself I had them both done 'cos I thought if the first was painful, I probably would chicken out on the second. Needn't have worried. Hardly any pain, then after 6 weeks plaster cast came off and that was it. Can't speak for the other surgeries though and I would add that I now have arthritis, but that would have happened anyway.

Forgot to say - you may not get totally straight toes. That. I was a bit disappointed about.

Although I'm worried about scarring, the straightness of the toes isn't my first concern.

Is the pain of these operations, worth it?

I haven't found scarring to be a problem. With regard to the pain I'm probably not the best person to ask since I had little pain and was so relieved to have it done. For me, it def.was worth it

As to whether it's worth it, only you can know.

Only ever operate for pain, pain that's unmanageable through other means, any crooked toe or bunion can be accommodated in large enough / well designed enough footwear, if you operate for any reason other than untreatable pain, then there's a chance things could be worse rather than better....

As a foot and ankle surgeon, I'd be interested to know what condition requires operations on all the toes, it's pretty rare apart from generalised conditions like rheumatoid to need to do that.

I had a cortisone injection for an incredibly painful bunion. Four years later and I’m still pain free. I don’t expect it to stay this way forever but I feel it was the right choice for me to put off the surgery

Not me but a friend had bunion surgery, the recovery was really long for them, dosed up on really strong strong painkillers for 2 weeks and couldn’t go back to work for 6 months (job on feet)

My job is sit down and could be worked from home, at a push.

How did your friend cope @AThroneOfLies?

I've had both feet done. The first wasn't done brilliantly, but I can live with it, the second was great. It took nearly 6 months both times until I was fully mobile. I'm pain free now. I'd only do it if you're experiencing bad pain. It is brutal surgery, but I've no regrets.

The pain is bad and getting worse

I have multiple issues which are all painful and combined, they make standing and walking very painful.

I can't carry on like this and the consultant was enthusiastically talking about surgery shortly after he saw my X-Rays.

I had something similar done around 20 years ago and never looked back. It was painful at the time, but well worth it.

I had a bunion done. 1 screw plus 4 screws and a plate. Probably didn't rest it enough at the start. Tried to do too much and drive too early. Doc didn't say so but I think I'm right! Own fault. Plate and 4 screws out by LA later. Swollen foot for ever it seemed, not as good a shape as I'd like, BUT, 3 years from first op, swelling mostly gone and toes a normal size and no pain on walking. Recovery painful in parts but I'm glad I had it done.

I am so angry.

I am angry at everyone who has watched me walk barefoot, up and down corridors, everyone who has handled and manipulated my feet (often for a fee), every 'foot expert' who took the cash and chipped weighable amounts of callosities, moulded my feet for orthotics and even injected my feet under ultrasound guidance.

All telling me nothing at all about my unusual foot formation, even though the bunions were forming at a weird point and the toe bones were off scale huge and out of alignment.

Not one of them looked up as they worked on my feet and said "There's something off here, you might need an x-ray"

Nope. They just took the cash and kept schtum.

I am in such pain it's unreal.

The pain is getting worse and walking is a struggle.

I've got an MRI(!) if both feet coming up next week.

I was told I would have an ultrasound - are MRI scans normal for this sort of thing?

An mri makes more sense than an ultrasound, as it'll show the bone structure. I only had x-rays.

I've had X-rays from which the consultant diagnosed the condition.

At my last appointment, (he only recognised me after looking up the X-rays - "Ah, long bones!") he told me that I hadn't had an ultrasound and that I was to have one before the next appointment with him.

I've now been sent an appointment for an MRI - feet.

Do I need an ultrasound on top of this?

Oh op I sympathise. Poor you. Can you name the condition, I am at the early stage of surgery journey (had feet x rayed in advance of next appointment where surgery will be discussed) and I think I might have the same thing.

Weirdly, no.

It should be Morton's Toe - where the first metatarsal is shorter than all the rest. This usually causes the big toe to look considerably shorter than the second toe.

However, the first bone of the big toe grew out of proportion, almost as if to compensate. This long bone, the proximal phalanx of the first toe, now 'splints' the joint where the metatarsals end and, as a result has caused a whole host of issues, due to the fact that I learned to walk to compensate.

The annoying thing is, that before the bunions formed, my feet looked fine. The extra big toe bone made my feet look normal.

The proposed surgery is to cut down all the metatarsals to match the length of the first, cut down the proximal phalanx of the big toes and then perform the bunionectomies. Not both feet at once.

Oh bloody hell OP poor you. That's a lot of surgery.

I have Morton's toe. I'v already had a neuroma removed with only limited success and they're now offering surgery. The ball of my foot is often very sore and I have terrible hammer toes and constant painful calluses/corns. Have to DIY remove with a scalpel as can't afford constant podiatrist appts and more often than not I nick the skin, causing more pain and difficulty walking. Not sure what to do yet - the recovery time is long, the outcome uncertain - but I worry that I am already becoming significantly less mobile and that as I age this will have health knock-ons beyond my feet - weight gain, knee problems , hip problems etc.

Ironically the worst pain at the moment is caused by a weird multiple-corn on the tip of my little toe, I think caused by compensatory gait ( also causing me knee problems). I really don't know what to do - paging @FixTheBone who amazingly was on the thread earlier and is a foot and ankle surgeon. I hope she gets a notification!

I had my bunions done on both feet one at a time. I had local anaesthetic so was completely awake and had a leg block so was pain free for 48 hours after the op and could go home virtually straight away. I have a very low pain threshold and I managed ok. I did get cramps at night so drank tonic water with quinine to help.

It really wasn't that bad and now I can wear shoes and boots pain free.

@stayingaliveisawayoflife You sound badass!

It really wasn't that bad! I am a wimp pain wise and I managed it. It was weird hearing the drills but I took my phone and ear plugs in and that helped.

😱