How do you decide when is right to have surgery??

josiec

Hi everyone,
I'd appreciate any advice please - at apntmt 2wks ago was told can have big toe fused if/when I want it. I discussed the pros/cons, etc have researched on the net, spoken to family and friends, etc, and I think I want it doing, but the thought of it scares me, although the fact that it's permanent and can't be reversed if unsuccessful scares me even more. How do you finally know that, despite risks, possible problems, etc, it is what you need to do? I feel all muddled and I can't quite work through it! :shock:

petmad

Hi josie, it is a terrible dilemma for you. I am having a disc etc done in my neck and for me the decision is easy, I HAVE to have it done.
I don't know how I will feel regarding other things, I know |I have looked at all the posts re fusion for my ankles which are well on the way out so to speak.
I think we have to look at what the benefit is going to be, from my point of view that would always be based on a substantial reduction in pain, but also this would have to be balanced with the over all effect on my mobility. Linda

colinone

josiec wrote:

Hi everyone,
I'd appreciate any advice please - at apntmt 2wks ago was told can have big toe fused if/when I want it. I discussed the pros/cons, etc have researched on the net, spoken to family and friends, etc, and I think I want it doing, but the thought of it scares me, although the fact that it's permanent and can't be reversed if unsuccessful scares me even more. How do you finally know that, despite risks, possible problems, etc, it is what you need to do? I feel all muddled and I can't quite work through it! :shock:

Hi Josie i know some choices are hard to make, when the pain gets so bad you cant take it anymore, or that fact that your toe is preventing you from getting on with normal life i suppose thats the time to have it done. Take care
Colin

elnafinn

Hi Josie

When you have had more than enough of the immobility, pain and suffering and know that an op is the only way forward, then you will find the time is right. You have to put your trust in the surgeon too. Only you can make the decision and that is why it is scary. I have had quite a few ops including a total knee replacement and hysterectomy and have no regrets at all and only wish I had taken the plunge earlier with the hysterectomy. The surgeon told me it was the only way forward but he had to wait patiently for me to make my own mind up.

Luv
Elna

josiec

Thankyou for your replies, you are right. I have pain which is present to some degree whether weight bearing or resting, I am definately being affected with the leisure activities I choose and work is being made increasingly difficult-I work in quite a big school with lots of stairs! Oh, bone spurs around the joint are that sore that the only possible footwear options are the trainers supplied by the hospital or crocs, but can't walk far in them without my orthotics in-I end up walking on the side of my foot. The surgeon is concerned about my relatively young age, but says fusion is the only appropriate option and if I want it he will do it. Am having the dreaded steroid injections again while I think about it! :shock:

sueandted

Well , I had my ankle fused a couple of weeks ago , so obviously don't know the outcome, but my desision was based on the fact that my ankle had started to rule my life , there were so many things I couldn't do and the pain was getting too much ,I should of had it done years ago really but I diddn't know about these fusions and actually went to see the surgeon about a replacement ! , my options were explained by my lovely lady surgeon who gave me as much time as I needed to make my mind up , but I knew I had to give it a go , despite being terrified :shock: , but I'm doing fine and so will you x

josiec

You are right-the trouble is, I know I could decide to wait 5 or even 10 years and I know I'd be asking the same questions, still considering myself fairly young (I'm 31 now). I know replacement isn't a viable option for me due to my age, and have been told they don't want to remove the bone spurs and do nothing else, as they will just come back and I'd need repeat surgery anyway, which pretty much leaves me with the options of leave it as it is and manage it as best I can with orthotics, shoe modifications and steroid injections (yowch!! :shock: :shock: am waiting for that again at the moment!!) or have it fused. It isn't the lack of movement that would bother me, it's not got much left anyway, or the restrictions of shoes (can't wear any standard high street ones now), it's the fear that it may not fuse and whether I could potentially end up worse than I am now?!! Or it could go great and make a big difference to me in terms of pain and mobility. Ho hum-wouldn't life be easier without these decisions??

sueandted

Yeah I know it's a hard desision but I would say have it done whilst you're still young , my doctor always says people always worry about operations going wrong and not on the positives ! which I know I did !, talk to your surgeon , they can also put you in contact with people that have had your (future op) done which is helpfull too , only you can decide whats best for you , good luck

lindalegs

...........imagine Josiec that you've decided to go and have the surgery and the chance of the pain disappearing with nothing going wrong and then the operation was cancelled by the surgeon....... How would you feel then :?:

Do you have to consider your toe in all aspects of your life :?: If the answer's no then the time isn't right for you but if the answer's yes, well, I would think it's time to go ahead.

.......we're a long time being old with this disease :shock:

Luv Legs

greyheron

My problem is different from yours (OA of knees) but I absolutely agree that it is hard to decide when it is best to have surgery. In the past I've had arthroscopies on both my knees - they were fairly low risk in the sense that nothing much can go wrong (I think) and I was lucky that in both instances I did feel an improvement.

But my left knee has been a problem for many years and eventually it was playing me up to such an extent that it was really taking over my life. For instance, I realised that I was avoiding going to certain places because of the stairs I would encounter there or on the way.

I knew that a replacement was probably the only way forward, I looked at a lot of websites (but tried to be selective e.g. sites like this one) to get information about techniques, recovery time, success rates, possible complications etc.

Like at least one other person has said on this thread, I just kind of knew that the time had come for a replacement, that the benefits outweighed the negatives.

I went to see the consultant (who had done the arthroscopies), he examined me and without me having said much, he said, 'I think we need to give you your life back'. He did the operation in November and I am well on the way to full recovery - with my knee already functioning much much better than it was pre-op.

As I say, my situation is different, as indeed everybody's is. But if you can try and think calmly about the various options you have (easier said than done, I know!), you will come to a decision that's right for you for now.

All the best and let us know how things are going.

Wendy

eckstardeluxe

Take it when you can get it! I have advanced OA in my spine and they will not operate as deterioration too advanced. I'd give anything to get an Op to fix my discs, they say there are too many cons but I'd take the chance just to be rid of this pain. Good luck with your decision.

josiec

Thank goodness for all you sensible peeps on here-you make some very valid points! Lindalegs (do love that!) - I would not be a happy camper if I had the op cancelled, I'd want him to do something cos am fed up of pain, so I guess when you think about it that way.........I have daily pain that limits activities, causes difficulties at work and is the predominant reason why I sometimes need a stick, so when you put all that together...I think I'm answering my own question, aren't I??!! And if it did work well and I could walk without pain only steroid jabs can do that for me now. Hmmm :roll: Thankyou!

woodbon

Hi
I suppose in the end only you can decide, but, I had a hysterectomy when I was only 30 and the surgeon gave me the choice of trying lesser surgery first and I went for the full monty and have'nt regreted it. In the end only you can choice what you want and what risks you're willing to take. Good luck with your choice, because in the end it has to be that, your choice. Sorry, I can't offer any real advice. Love Sue

joanlawson

I know just how you feel (see knee replacement worries, Page2).I am in the same dilemma as I've been told that I need a new knee and can't decide yet, even though I'm not walking very well. The thought of major surgery is daunting in case it doesn't work. I am fearful of being left worse off afterwards, plus all the usual risks. Some people are brave in this kind of situation, but my faith in doctors has been diminished by a few unfortunate experiences in the past. At the moment I have asked for time to think it over and a review in six months time. However, I know it isn't going to get any better so logically I should go for surgery. Everyone says I will know when the time is right, but I feel like a coward at the moment. :roll:
All the best
Joan

josiec

Hi Joan,
Thankyou for your reply-you are right, it is a big decision, and I don't think you are cowardly for wanting to take some time to consider things. As you say, whilst you get support from family and friends, you are the one who has to go through it, so you have to make the decision. Have been talking things through with a friend today and she said I seem to be putting forward all the positives for having it done, so I think I am just getting my head round things and talking myself through it at the moment.
All the best, Josie

woodbon

I think that you've made up your mind. If I'm right, then go for it . At a young age you've got so much to do, and you're being held back. Operations are daunting, and in some ways its a lot harder having a choice, when you're life depends on surgery, well, no brainer. I feel for you, having to make this decision, but, if you don't, well, maybe its not the right time and it, and I don't really know, as I'm no expert, then the option is still there for the future for you to have the operation. Good luck and good wishes, Sue

josiec

Hmm yes I think I may have. As you say, you have a long time to live in pain when there may be a solution, providing all goes well. I won't be going back to the consultant until after I've had steroid injections done, so that could be 3 or 4 months. The thought of surgery scares me, there's no denying that, but I suppose you have to keep the bigger picture in mind and see it as a step towards less pain. Scary though!! :shock: :shock:
Thanks Sue, regards, Josie :roll:

woodbon

Hi
Its not cowardly to make a considered choice, especially over such a big thing. You're young and have a lot to think about. You'll be happier with the result if its what you really want to do. Thats what I feel anway . Love Sue

josiec

Oh if only someone else could make some of these decisions for us!! Wouldn't it be so much easier?! :shock: Wish I could not have to think about some of this stuff for a while!! :roll:
Thanks Sue, kind regards, Josie