hallux ridgidus

boo2kitty

Hi all
I have come across this site today and read some posts and posted myself. It looks a nice friendly site so thought i would join. A bit about me and why i thought i would join.
Im a 41 year old female and mum to 4 teenage boys (WHO ARE ACE). I was having trouble wearing shoes so lived in flip flops (i love them) but its not good in winter!!! It started when i was 16 and what i think was ill fitting shoes but my parents wern't in a position to afford decent shoes. I also have flat feet (big time lol) its been a gradual process over the years and ended up unable to wear stilettos (sobs uncontrolably ) Then at christmas i was suffering from hip pain due to walking wrong as my toe doesn't move upwards. I was x-rayed and it confirmed Hallux ridgidus (hallux meaning toe and ridigus meaning stiff) I was refeared as the doc said cortisone injections wouldn't work as it was too far gone. Met the consultant and he did more x-rays and confirmed my toe was too damaged with arthritis that i would need surgery or just put up and shut up!! Not an option otherwise i would end up with a hip replacement too. I don't know which procedure he is going to do till he opens my foot. First option is to chizzel off the bone spurs and take a wedge out of my toe to give me movement or the other option is to plate it so it doesn't move at all.The consultant told me if he opens my foot up and its knackered (his words not mine) then he will just have to plate it but wont know till im there but he said i only have a small amount of cartilage to work with. I have been trying to research which option is best. The consensus is if i have the first one it can come back and i will end up going back for the second op later in life (dont fancy having this done again as i know it is going to be very painful) Im currently taking naproxen twice a day to ease the pain but cant walk far or wear anything other than flip flops as anything that covers my foot hurts. I struggle with the pain medication as i had h_pilory last year ( a bug in my stomach causing pain) and i was treated for it but still have gastritis so i have to take omaprazole to protect against NSAIDS.
I was wondering has anyone had this condition and have they had surgery? what was it like? how long did it take to recover?. thanks

Numptydumpty

Hi there,
sorry I can't help, but I'm sure someone will be along soon who can. Just wanted to say welcome to the forum, and wish you all the best.
Numpty

elnafinn

Hi there

It is nearly one year since I had an op for a severe hallux valgus with dislocated 2nd, 3rd MTP joints and hammer toe deformities of the 2nd and 3rd PIP joints,whatever all that means

I had a wire in the second toe, removed after three weeks. I had to wear the special shoe provided for a number of weeks. I had a great deal of swelling for a long time too. I have no pain but find that one year on, my foot is wider/larger than the other one. I cannot wear quite a few pairs of shoes now that I could before the operation. I was told it was a difficult operation. I believe some of the problem is because of scar tissue, but I am not in pain so that is great.

I was able to get around quite soon after the op, when the stitches had been taken out and the bandaging removed, wearing the special shoe.

Elna x

barbara12

Hi Kitty
Sorry I cant help with any advice, but I just want to add my support and wish you well with whatever you decide.
You stay on the forum them when you do have it donbe we can all jump in your pocket...

Folara

Heya kitty

Can't help, I'm afraid but just wanted to say welcome and you are very right, this is a lovely friendly and supportive forum.

Fols x

boo2kitty

Thanks Elna, its interesting to read, i have read other sites but they are mainly from people that are runners or very sporty, as this condition is usually caused by that. Im not sporty as i have asthma (exercised induced) all the excuse i need Like i said before the consencus is dont do it!!! i dont have a choice in my book because if i leave it its going to cause other problems. I will stay on the forum as its nice and friendly and you never know i may be able to help someone one day. thanks to you all for your kind words and warm welcome

dreamdaisy

My advice would be get it done ASAP. The last thing you need is hip trouble/other joint trouble caused by everything being thrown out of kilter due to a big toe. I know that big toes are CRUCIAL for walking but thanks to the 'gripping' required by flip-flops you have probably caused yourself more trouble than you wanted - I empathise with that. Thanks to my arthritic toes, ankles and knees my days of flips, heels, wedges, mules and anything else remotely feminine one cares to mention are long long gone. I am left with Crocs for colour and nice sensible lace-ups or Mary-Janes for anything else. It's just as well I don't care! I too have very flat feet but have found some orthotic insoles very useful - this too could be an optioon for you? You would be better to seek proper, medical opinion on that. I wish you well. DD

boo2kitty

Thanks dreamdaisy, yes i agree the flipflops wont of helped but i have been unable to get my foot in a shoe for about a year now. I wear flipflops but the tone up ones as i find i can walk better and have a bit of bounce I have boots but after a day they kill me and i suffer and end up stiff around the hip. Im struggling to get my head round not wearing pretty shoes as im having insoles made it was confirmed at my consultants appointment. These will also help with pains i have in my legs which i have had since i was a child, doctor said it was growing pains but at 41 dont think im growing anymore 2 of my boys have it too and they both have flat feet. thanks for the info im grateful for any. xx

elnafinn

Hi again,

I realise it is a bit of a stab in the dark as you have not gone into any great detail about the pains in your legs which started as a child or the pains in the legs that your two boys have. Is there any possibility that this could be Restless Leg Syndrome RLS) or have you been told it stems from having flat feet?

Elna x

emsjane

Hi there,

I have Hallux Limitus in my big toe on my right foot! The only shoes i can wear now are Hotter shoes, which are lovely and may be worth you checking out!

I have an appointment this Friday to see the orthopaedic surgery for my toe and im hoping he will be able to do something to help ie go in and smooth of some of the bony growth!

I saw a podiatrist who made me an insole for my shoes and they have really helped and i asked him about having the joint fused and he warned me that having that done makes you walk completely differently and can have an adverse effect on other joints ie knees and hips!!!! So i may be worth you discussing this with your surgeon!!

Anyway, good luck and I will let you know how i get on on Friday!

sturge8

try having the toe joint resurfaced instead?

http://www.footsurgeryservices.com/a-joint-resurface.html

please do not consider fusing your toe joint. You need it to bend in order to walk normally.

Pherstun

Hi Boo

I have a similar problem but not as bad as yours from the sounds of it.

I have been told that both my big toes have seized, my right is worse than my left. My right toes often crack like you get with arthritis. I often feel like I'm walking on stones. I also have tailor's bunions on both feet (which are on the little toe instead of the big toe - not as common!) and am severely flat footed.

I'm pretty sure I've had these problems since childhood, I had to have specific Clarks shoes as a child and have had foot and joint pains for many years. Shame it's only been picked up now for both of us, who knows what they might have been able to do for us before now? Ah well, no point in dwelling on it.

I've not been offered an operation but haven't yet been able to see a specialist, I'm on the waiting list... I suspect they will offer but from what I've read I won't do it, I'm not doing too badly considering and I consider it could make things worse. I'm not going to be able to wear any different shoes and I'm kind of used to the pain, maybe in the future if it changes my mind will too!

I know what you mean about not wearing pretty shoes, others on here will also empathise with you whether due to knackered feet or other joints! I have some lovely ones I just can't wear because they aren't comfy any more and when you're in pain anyway you want to make the rest of you as comfortable as possible. I have NHS made custom orthotics, they make a massive difference once you've got used to them but you can't normally use them in standard shoes because they push your heel too far out of them, so the shoe falls off your heel if you're not careful. Best thing is to wait until you get them then go shopping with them. I find I have shoes for work that I can't wear outside (I work in an office with carpeted flat floor) and when I'm out and about have to wear walking boots.

Fit Flop shoes are wonderful, I wear the sandals and am quite wide footed, may be worth trying but maybe the flipflop type are better for you. The soles are nice and thick, and bouncy as you say. The other thing to consider are men's shoes - they can be as stylish as women's if you're wearing them with trousers, for example. Doc Martens shoes have wonderful soles, you don't feel a thing!

One thing I do which helps both the bunions and the flat feet is I strap them with cohesive bandage. You can get the stuff from Boots (although it's blue) or you can get it online in different colours. It's like a normal width bandage but it sticks to itself so you don't need a safety pin or tape to keep it together. I don't do it tightly, just enough to hold it all together - I think a lot of pain comes when the muscles and joints aren't working together and the foot moves in an unnatural direction. I make it so I can take it off and on, so not really tight.

I don't know if you have bunions but I use sticky padded bandage, cut like a bunion plaster with a hole in the middle and stick it to the inside of the cohesive bandage, it works pretty well.

Keep us updated and if you want to PM me feel free

Debbie

boo2kitty

Thanks guys for all your support,
in answer to most of the questions here goes; I have RLS as well as growing pains lol its due to flat feet and
i only get the pains if i walk alot or my feet have been in boots all day, or i have done too much, same as my boys really. I just take a couple of painkillers and its gone. I do know what my kids are going through though which is good as i can help them. My mother never did anything and i spent many a night crying with sore legs. When i get restless legs it feels like ants are running up and down and i wiggle them alot it takes my mind off it but i cant sleep if i have it.
As for surgery i have seen my consultant and my toe is knackered (his words) so he is going to remove the spurs and drill holes to create bone growth but if there is no cartilage then he will have to fuse it. I have done my research and its got better reviews in the long run than the first procedure. He said i only walk funny coz it painfull to walk properly, if its fuzed i wont feel the pain so i will walk ok. If i have the first procedure then i still
have the condition and it could ( MORE THAN LIKELY) spread to my other toes and i will end up going back and having it fuzed in the end. As i see it whatever i have done i DONT want to be going back to have it done again as i know it will be very painful.
Emsjane i sympathise with you, i have a bunnion on my other toe and the surgeon was surprised it didnt bother me. It doesnt.
I remember seeing someone as a child and he told me to walk on the sides of my foot and tap the bone with a hammer regular (i didnt lol) but never had insoles, maybe that was protocol then? who knows.
My mother-in-law has her toe fuzed and has had no problems so maybe its the way to go!! i dont want to end up damaging my hip as im too young for hip replacement!! Iam a grandma but nobody would know to look at me im a young minded 41, body tells me different but im in denial Im so glad im not alone in this and thanks for all the feedback i appreciate it, Im going to hobbel to bed now as i have seized thanks again xx