please advise/ surgery

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

This winter to early spring I posted a few messages in regards

to transitioning to AFOs. I felt that the advice and experiences

shared were so helpful to me as I worked through some of my

emotions in accepting another life change. I did want to

tell you that I did go to get fitted for them and have had

them since February. I cannot bring myself to wear them all

the time as of yet, but I have gotten more comfortable with

the idea of them. I have been wearing them mostly for long

walks, and short day hikes (that I wouldn't even have

dreamed about doing a year ago). Thanks to the encouragement

I received, I have begun to open new doors in my life, taken steps

closer towards accepting myself (with CMT) more openly with

others, and can see the benefits of waering AFOs.

I am much more conscious of the daily damage or wear and

tear on my body that I have been tolerating for quite some

time. I imagine with time, I will grow even more, and get

over wearing them day to day, especially in these

warmer months.

Anyway, a new decision approaches in regards to sugery on

one of my toes. I am turning here because it seems to me

that many (or some) of you have already dealt with many

experiences I am just encountering, and I trust anyone who

has lived it more than I trust a physician, although the

doctor I have scheduled surgery with does seem credible and

somewhat aware of my concerns.

So, I do not know the name of this surgery, but I will try

to describe it. Apparently it is a process of fusing two

bones in your toe together in order to straighten painful

hammer toes. Because I broke this toe a year ago, and

because I have CMT, my toes has healed crooked. It always

is sore and red, even though many of my shoes are roomy

enough not to put pressure on it. However, my tennis

shoes, which I have been wearing with my AFOs to hike, cause

severe pain. Since I am all about " opening doors " these

days, I was looking into the surgery versus quitting my new

found pasttime. I just got scared when I went in to

schedule the appointment, since I have not

really ever had surgery before. My point is that I would

love to hear from anyone who hasundergone this type of

surgery/ procedure before. I would like to hear how and of

it helped you with foot pain in any way, and also the

realistic effects of going through with it.

Perhaps it is too drastic of measures for me to go through

at this point, and hearing from others who understand and

know better will help me either gain confidence that I am

doing the right thing, or help me see that I could put this

off for a little while yet. I am interested in your insight.

Thanks so much....I'm sure we will be in touch!

Take care,

Mamie

(25, Denver)

[Guest guest]

You'll be fast to learn never give up walking and hiking. I personally

haven't had this surgery but my daughter has. She walks normal and doesn't

have any discomfort. I wish it were that easy for me; I can't even walk around

the block with my AFOs.

Stout