Fractures, Fusions and Friends

Dear Eileen---I have had 5 surgeries now in my feet due to OA.  The first 3 were on my right foot, and I've done well with them.  I'm only 2 days post-op on the 2 most recent surgeries, so I don't feel good enough (YET) to be objective!!!  I do know that I'll permanently lose some flexibility, but at my "old age" of 65---no big deal (besides, I'm the one that with 2 artificial hips and all of the other surgeries on my right foot, managed to spend my 65th birthday about half way up Mt. Kilimanjaro, a life-long dream).  For me, I've had to choose a surgeon I trust, and go for it!  I'll let you know how my foot is doing after a couple of months.

pattye

Thank you for that. Would it be possible for you to tell me exactly what you had done to your feet? I was diagnosed with nerve damage 15 years ago and my feet have been very painful since and find it hard to walk a long way and can not stand on them for very long at all. I had new nerve test done this year and they say i have no nerve damage, go figure. My feet are full of  O A. I am interestered in any information on feet and surgeries on them. Hope your post op goes well for you. Thanks.

Eileen---I've found, over my years of surgeries on my "OA feet" (6 operations), that sometimes, I have to get a second opinion---or keep nagging the first doctor until I get more concrete answers.  I'm sure you are like I am---I can deal with darn near anything as long as I'm living in a solution and NOT the problem!!!  I have lots of OA obviously, but have never been diagnosed with "nerve damage".  So far, on my right foot/ankle---I had to have a steel plate put into my ankle because artificial ankles were not very successful---then I had the base of my big toe replaced with a titanium joint---then, because my toes began to grow crooked because of the steel plate in my ankle---they removed 9 joints from 2 toes and permanently bonded those toes together---they also later had to go back and sever the tendons on the undersides of my toes---the surgeries I just had---they replaced the base of the toe on the left foot  and bonded it permanently---then they severed tendons under 2 toes, straightened the toes and put in surgical pins to hold them in place---recovery will be at least 2 months without walking (except for bathroom stops)  These surgeries have definitely NOT been fun, but I'm a professional nature photographer, and my feet are very vital to my work (by the way---both hips are artificial too!!!).  Don't be afraid to get at least 1 second-opinion---in my case, I study the situation a lot before going into the doctor to be as informed as I can---life's tooooooo short to be confined to a wheelchair at this point for me----------GOOD LUCK and keep me informed!!!!!

pattye

Pattye, Thanks for the info on your feet. You must have had a lot of pain in them.

What country are you in ? I am in Australia. Eileen

Eileen---yes, I've had quite a bit of pain in my feet, as well as ankles, hips, knees, and 1 shoulder.  I live in the USA where modern medicine (particularly good orthopedic)- help is readily available.  I had already endured similar surgeries that I just went through, on my right foot---I also have a steel plate in my right ankle. I've also had total hip replacement on BOTH hips.  Because of my work (I'm an international professional nature photographer)---it's extra important for my legs and feet to be in "good working order"!!!  In fact, I tell my family and friends that I only return to America to get new body parts as needed!!!

In fact, God willing (and my surgeons agree), I will be returning to my volunteer work in a prison for teen-age street kids in Tanzania, E. Africa this Fall!!!

Good luck on your upcoming decisions-------

pattye