Re: Hands and Toes

[Guest guest]

This might help.  Check www.google.com and type in cosmetic surgery for hammer toes or laser surgery for hammertoes which would eliminate sutures. Deborah  http://www.empowereddoctor.com/hammer-toe-surgery

On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 3:32 PM, helen flatau <hlflatau@...> wrote:

 

Can anyone give me input on the incidence and treatibility of hammertoes in RA? I thought it was just my big feet, but recently has become a big problem. Further problem is that the last surgery I had, I had severe allergic reaction to sutures, two different kinds. How do I isolate what I can use in the future?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

I had bunions on both feet and all 8 hammer toes two weeks ago. I

elevated my feet, iced with minimal walking. My pins and stitches are

due to come out in two weeks. The only set back I had was the

infection. For ice, use reusable gel begs and apply it on your ankles,

because putting regular ice in the zip lock can lick onto your bandage

and cause the infection. Infection causes swelling, blueish-redish skin

tone and painful, burning sensation which continued for a week. So my

doc gave me Cephalexin 500 mg twice a day for 10 days ( I got four more

days – finish the course even if it clears infection early). Keep your

bandages dry at all times! Pain was manageable the first night and ice

and elevation helped a lot! I only needed pain medicine for a few days.

The most important thing is the surgeon you choose. I live in Chicago,

but I travelled to New York for this surgery. My feet had a complete

makeover. I had ugly corns on all toes, wide feet due to tailors

bunions, with long second and third toes gave me shoe size 11 W, I have

had enough of physical pain, not being able to enjoy the beach, wear

normal open toe shoes, always having to hide my feet in public, at

home, from my husband. I never showed my feet to anyone, I was

embarrassed. My husband of seven years never saw my feet. I have two

kids I hope they didn’t inherit this from me. After this surgery – I am

a new person.

Before going with New York option, I interviewed six different, very

experienced surgeons in Chicago area, and met no one who knew how (or

would agree) to make incisions on the side of the toe. Those with 27

years of experience only knew how they did it back then and they make

incisions on top of your foot and toes making ugly permanent scars.. Dr

Zong was the only one I could find who did such a beautiful job with

side incisions. Big toes and tailor bunions and all four toes were cut

on the side. My foot is 30% narrower now. It is amazing. I keep opening

my bandages just to look at my new feet every day. I am so excited and

pleased with my toes.

All the scars are hidden on the side of my toes and feet. My doc said,

the extra skin will naturally pill off along with the corns over the

course of six months, so there is no need to cut the corns out scaring

your toes.. I cannot believe my feet look so good just two weeks post

surgery. I walk with slight discomfort due to the pins and virtually no

pain. It takes a little adjustment with first two steps and walking is

getting more comfortable every day. My bunions have internal,

self-dissolving stitches on a side of my foot. All of my toes have

normal parabolic descent as all those beautiful, normal feet out there,

(all of my toes were shortened straightened to accomplish that). I

cannot bend my toes because I have pins in all 8, but I can feel them

all and move them all at once up and down along with my big toes. All

of my toes are stitched to the back of my foot to prevent them from

lifting up during the healing. So when I walk, one discomfort is the

stitches pulling in those areas on the back of the toes. My tendons

were released as well with dot-like incisions to keep my toes in laying

straight down position.

I have read so many bad stories and most of them gone wrong due to the

surgeon’s negligence. I can highly recommend my doc Oliver Zong in New

York foot care. His office is on 80 maiden lane. Google him and see his

website. He will do the surgery and Dr Dina (his right hand) will be

like your mother, always there to answer all of your questions. He and

his staff were amazing. My insurance covered everything, I only had to

pay $250 out of pocket + travel and hotel (which I have also submitted

to insurance). He did my right foot first on Friday and three days

later, on Monday was my second foot, and three days later on Friday

same week I flew back to Chicago. My husband traveled with me. United

airlines has a free wheelchair service from the cab to the plane and

back to the cab - take advantage of it! Even though I could have walked

on my crouches - I loved the priority boarding, and skipping the long

check-in lines at both LGA and ORD airports. Everyone was extremely

accommodating and understanding.

For those who have any doubts about the surgery – I can assure you – no

matter the state of your foot – it can be made over – the key is your

surgeon. Everything else is time & healing. I was able to walk one

week later. With so much work being done on my both feet- I could not

believe the recovery time was so short. I am still in state of shock

that after 30 years of suffering and pain, personally, emotionally and

physically – my feet could look and feet like this.

Good luck to all of you. I share your anxiety. My best advice is - do your homework on the surgeon! Its 99% of your success.On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 10:51 PM, Deborah Bargad <dbargad@...> wrote:

This might help.  Check www.google.com and type in cosmetic surgery for hammer toes or laser surgery for hammertoes which would eliminate sutures. Deborah

 http://www.empowereddoctor.com/hammer-toe-surgery

On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 3:32 PM, helen flatau <hlflatau@...> wrote:

 

Can anyone give me input on the incidence and treatibility of hammertoes in RA? I thought it was just my big feet, but recently has become a big problem. Further problem is that the last surgery I had, I had severe allergic reaction to sutures, two different kinds. How do I isolate what I can use in the future?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

I finally got a hearing date not until march for my disability.

From: helen flatau <hlflatau@...>Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Fri, July 30, 2010 2:32:06 PMSubject: Hands and Toes

Can anyone give me input on the incidence and treatibility of hammertoes in RA? I thought it was just my big feet, but recently has become a big problem. Further problem is that the last surgery I had, I had severe allergic reaction to sutures, two different kinds. How do I isolate what I can use in the future?Thanks