OA Feet and Big Toes

svalentine60

Hi all :)

I've just joined after getting a little confused re my diagnosis a few months ago. I was getting pain in my right foot and assumed it was because it was broken some years before. Then I started getting a worse pain in my big toe. I was x rayed and told I had some OA changes in my foot and toe. That was all I was told. Then a few weeks later the big toe on my left foot also started hurting. Mainly on walking but also on rest. The left foot was x rayed and I was told I had OA changes in the left foot and toe.

The text simply said 'OA changes found in left foot. ' That was it. Nothing saying what that meant for now or the future. No actual call just a short text. Would it get worse? Could it get better etc. I knew nothing about OA and still don't. There has been no ongoing discussion, no explanation and no help. I didn't even know who called me. The problem I have is that I presume this means it is in early stages? If so then why are my two toes already so painful that it makes it difficult to walk on some days.

I know a big toe sounds petty and daft but it really is affecting my walking. They literally throb some days even when sitting and i have had to adapt my walking to try to not let the toes touch the ground and have fallen more than once because of this. I am really looking for advice. Before the left foot xray was taken to look for it the man on the phone said something about if found he wanted to inject my toes with something (can't remember what it was but i did look it up and it sounded really painful). I don't want that to happen. Bit of a coward. I was hoping to discuss other options. Either way the outcome is that short text explaining nothing and offering nothing. Is that usual? Am i being a huge baby and should just adapt my walking to accommodate the pain. Will it get worse? Can it be cured? Those sort of things. Sorry for the yammer but am 64 so am worried what it will be like when I'm 74 etc.

ChrisG9

Hi svalentine60, Perhaps a conversation with your GP is required. You may be also able to self-refer to see a physiotherapist.

I was diagnosed with OA in both feet in my fifties. After discussing with GP, I was sent to see a physio and also had custom insoles made by my local hospital which provided support to how I walk and reduce pain. Further down the line, I had surgery on one of my toes when the OA became bone on bone. I'm now nearly 5 months post surgery, working with an NHS physio and hope to start running again by Easter.

svalentine60

Thank you I will contact them but they don't seem too interested

Lizebeth

I'm another one whos voting for Go see the GP svalentine60.

I know they are not at all proactive these days but you still matter and deserve treatment instead of suffering in silence.

Also walking is a physiologically complex action involving many different tendons, joints ect and adapting your walking gait around pain will I am certain cause stress on other areas of your body, stress that will turn in to more pain/inflammation/and wear and tear so its vital that if there is something they can do medically you should be able to access it.

Plus there is such a risk of falls and I had a fall a couple of years ago, landed on one knee, cracked my knee cap and now I have a slight limp when walking, and why'd it happen, because I didn't want t take my walking stick with me as I said at the time, oh its such a phaff dragging it around with me everywhere when I hardly need it…famous last words eh.

I now carry a fold up walking stick with me everywhere, one fall taught me that we don't bounce we crumple and I'm not simone biles I can't just turn a fall into a back flip for a fun finish.

Be assertive about your needs now and future you will thank you so much.

Hope all goes well for you.