Saturday, June 06, 2009 Scrizzy asks

Q: Help me...PLEASE! Not even MD's can answer my question.

A Simple Question

WHERE can I find detailed information on foot surgery and recovery with the RA patient? I have exhausted my search, even after requesting published information from MD's on this matter. The best I have received? Pamphlets with two paragraphs for my particular interest.

Ra surgery is complicated with delayed recovery time, whether it is your shoulder, hip, knee, wrist, fingers or other structures. I have found plenty of published material on the aforementioned. Yet I had a neurectomy (surgical excision of a neuroma in the forefoot), which is a benign tumor - often described as an "irritated bundle of nerves" - lurking in between our metatarsals - waiting to send electric SHOCKS from impinged nerves. Metatarsalgia is the common diagnosis, while Morton's Neuroma is often overlooked. It is a pain indescribable to anyone who has never experienced it. Combine this with RA, and you will find TWO Forums: one for RA, and the other for Neuroma sufferers. Then add on Post Surgical RSD and I become a popular Forum groupie!

Neuroma surgery, even all aspects of foot surgery - performed on the RA sufferer, lacks publications that are more readily available for more common surgeries and the RA sufferer. I would be incredibly grateful for anyone who could help.

Thank you! Ms. Morton.

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Answers (2)

ronie

6/ 8/09 6:53pm

There is not a lot of info on surgery for RA patients because the answer is individual depending upon the surgery and the progression of you RA. Having been through many surgeries in the last few years, the only thing MD's actually worry about is getting you off your meds for about one to two weeks before the surgery, especially if you are on any bio chemical meds such as Enbrel or Humira. This is only because you they suppress your immune system.

Our bodies heal a bit slower than most people's but we get through medical procedures fairly well. Your surgeon will probably prescribe higher doses of antibodics and maybe prednisone right after the procedure and will have you come in for follow-up a little more than the average Joe. Other than that, you will be allowed to continue you meds within a few days of your surgery. You will be advised to keep the wound clean. And if movement is permitted then you will be asked to exercise to keep from getting stiff or causing any kind of flare up. Physicall therapy may be prescribed to keep scare tissue from being an issue.

Good luck to ya. Hope this helped.

mom of 6

6/17/09 10:11pm

I have mod to sever Ra in a matter of years I have had two knee replacements and surgery on my left had that had to due with ra nodules pressing on my nerves, the pain was so bad that it sent shocking pain from my finger tips to my back it took about a year for the damage to heal but I no longer have pain in my left hand I will soon have to have surgery on my right hand with removal of larger nodules and repair of my carpal tunnel, due your research on surgeons and ask for referrals from doctors and other patients have second or third opinions if it will help you to feel at ease I know how much this disease sucks I am not yet 50 and there are days when I feel like I am 90, baby yourself when you hurt and don't hide from life it won't wait for you.

Q: Help me...PLEASE! Not even MD's can answer my question.

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