Arthritic big toe

[Radiatorvalves]

I’ve had an issue with my foot for about 5 years. It’s painful and I can’t bend it at all. Shoes with any heel are impossible (and I loved my shoes), so I live life in trainers. I’m early 50s.

I’ve now seen a surgeon who can operate which should improve things. Question is whether he fuses the problematic joint or performs a cheilectomy (shaves top of toe joint). Both should stop the pain but I’d have less movement with the fusion. That said I think the fusion is more likely to be successful.

has anyone had any experience of either op?

Thanks!

My cheilectomy worked perfectly well. I've had quite a few procedures over 40 years, and I am in favour of as little interference as possible!

I had a lot of pain and was sure it was arthritis. I’ve previously had osteoarthritis in a hip and had one replaced. The nhs xrayed it and said “wear and tear” with no treatment. I had bupa and went private…. Another Xray confirmed localized arthritis in the big toe.

Google David Redfern. He’s a consultant and has a lot of info on his website.

Hi all - I had a flare up which was very unpleasant. The big toe was clicking a lot (has fused itself straight but starting to click out of joint) I am not sure if the menopause is related with the flare up as I have started having night sweats and when walking the soles of my feet felt like they were on fire and had swollen. I attended A&E as convinced I had stress fractures but said it was inflamation. Felt as though I was walking on bones and my feet felt bruised and broken. Spent the weekend icing my foot and resting. Becoming so depressed and desperate as only 53. Saw the GP and he just dismissed it as arthritis and offered no further support other than pain killers. Calmed down now and I did nothing different to cause the flare up. Dreading it happening again

Depends how they fuse it really. Our podiatrist surgeon here fuses them in a slightly upright position so you can wear a small heel but personally I'm having a cheilectomy. I don't want a fused toe.

Hi, can I ask where you had this done and what it cost? I also have this problem but it’s not severe yet (I’m 43) and an ex runner. Stopped running mainly due to my toe which has helped a lot with pain overall but I know it’s likely to get worse with age and I still walk a lot. I might start saving up for these injections!

@popsickle555 I had it done by my podiatrist https://www.so-podiatry.co.uk/, and it was £300 for the injection (I think normally there would also be a cost for the assessment but I'd had that as part of appointments for my other foot (I had capsulitis in that foot which after 18 months of pain was pain free in 5 minutes, I felt such a fool for not doing something about it earlier). The injection is called Ostenil so have a search for someone local to you. I'm 52 and back running again pain free

Thank you - this is great to hear and a good price!

Anyone had the big toe fusion op?
I hear quite mixed experiences, but does it affect.how you walk, balance, kneeling, dance, is it very painful?
Is it worth.it?
Due to have surgery in 3 months bit worried.

I didn’t want that because I need to bend foot a bit to get into shoes etc. having had the cheilectomy the pain has gone and I can just about wear shoes with an inch heel, but Pilates and some exercises where you bend your toes are not easy. I think they’d be impossible with fusion?

Those injections sound great - looking to see where I can get one near me. I had the steroid injection in my hip and I’ve been pain free for years since then.

Not big toe. I had my small one rotated and fused. Best thing I ever did. Until you lose mobility through something like that you just don’t get how restrictive it is when you can’t just go anywhere and wear any footwear!