Forefoot Reconstruction?

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had forefoot reconstruction?  I am being fitted with orthotics, but

given my xrays I am fairly certainly I will need reconstruction.  LOVE IT when

the doctors look at xrays and say " oh my! " .  I am concerned about having

reconstruction and having to be off of my feet.  There isn't much online that I

have seen, but what I read said that you are off your feet for 10 days??  I

might die.

Shandi

[Guest guest]

Shandi,

Both my parents had RA, and both have surgery to reconstruct their

feet. Yes, there are lots of little bones in the balls of your feet.

huh? lol RA can effect all of them! What I remember from their

surgery, and this was over 20 years ago was: It involved cleaning

the bone spurs of the bones the surgeon was going to save. Removing

some of the bones in the toes that were too far gone to save.

Finishing by re-aligning the bones and putting in a pin(actually a

wire with a loop) to keep the toes straight. The freaky part was the

wire sticking out of the tips of the toes. I think it was a few

weeks before the doctor removed the pins. My mother and I developed

a morbid sense of humor, so I will leave out the parts we thought

were too funny. I don't want to scare people too much. Alway with

the new medications for RA, these surgeries are not needed as much as

they were.

As for recooperation. You go home the same day or maybe the next

after this surgery. My mother did one foot at a time, and both were

out-patient surgery. You will not want to step down on the foot that

has had the work done. So the 10 days off your feet thing, is pretty

much self imposed. Do talk to your doctor about crutches or a walker

to help keep your weight off your foot. The ten days does not mean

you can't move, just you will not want to put weight on it, or you

will have pain! You will be able to get to the bathroom on your own,

and hobble around the house. Just no marathons, okay? Do take those

pain meds, and follow your doctors orders. Both my parents lived

through the surgeries, my mother who walked everywhere before,

returned to walking many miles. Abet with a slightly shorter foot.

And I suspect in twenty years, there have been advancements in the

style of surgery and the recuperation time!

Oh, and I understand when a doctor gets excited when they look at

your x-rays or MRIs. My spine surgeon had the same response to my

MRIs, " oh, look! You can really see the bone spurs on your disc

there! No wonder you are in pain, I can fix that really easy! " That

was in September, I tried some PT and Epidural Coritsone Shots, they

worked somewhat, but didn't get rid of the pain. Now I am scheduled

for Surgery on the 18th. So for Christmas I am getting use of my

right arm back!!! I am both really really scared, and excited.

So good luck on whatever decision you make.

--- In , " S. Pruitt " <seriouslysanibel@...>

wrote:

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> Has anyone had forefoot reconstruction?  I am being fitted with

orthotics, but given my xrays I am fairly certainly I will need

reconstruction.  LOVE IT when the doctors look at xrays and say " oh

my! " .  I am concerned about having reconstruction and having to be

off of my feet.  There isn't much online that I have seen, but what I

read said that you are off your feet for 10 days??  I might die.

>

> Shandi

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