I will need to have surgery for claw (hammer) toe eventually, but the kind of surgery, exactly, I’m not sure about. In non-life-threatening situations, I’m a fan of doing the most conservative treatment possible, and I don’t want to do the surgery until I absolutely have to. And I don’t know really where to go for a second opinion.
I have Morton’s Toe, where the second toe is longer than the first. (Photo is not of my foot.) The tendon of the second toe has contracted, and the toe is curling under; the tip of the second toe actually sits on the floor. I stretch the toes frequently and do exercises, but it’s not helping. The X-ray showed that on my second toe, one bone is sliding under another.
I also have hammertoes on the 3 outside toes.
When I saw the podiatrist at my usual medical center (I use Lahey Hospital), he reviewed the x-rays and said that the surgeon would want to fix all of them at once. He also said that the surgeon would shorten my second toe! Basically, he would remodel my entire foot!
I think this is a little extreme.
Also, my feet would be totally different sizes if we did this.
I really, really only want to fix the curled second long toe and leave the others alone. There’s no reason to “fix” the other three toes – they are the same as when I was a little girl, and they aren’t getting worse.
So does anyone have experience with this kind of problem, and if so have you had surgery? What kind?
And how would you go about finding a second opinion on the surgery?
*ETA: Mods, please move if in the wrong forum. I flipped a coin between IMHO and MPSIMS. *
I’m curious too. I don’t have the longer second toe, but I have a bunion growing back that’s made my second toe exactly what you describe. The bunion on my other foot is starting to do the same thing to that second toe
What I do know: When something like our second toe is contracted to that extent, surgery is the only way to fix it. It’s not like you can unbend it yourself. IMO, however, I think the podiatrist doing your other three toes is a bit much. My podiatrist didn’t even mention mine and all mine roll inward and have done so since I was a kid.
Bunions can grow back? Yikes. I’ve had that surgery on both feet. It was tedious, but not horrible. I do remember that the itching from the staples and the bone re-growing was worse than the pain.
Unfortunately they can It’s not the bunion itself but the way that metatarsal tends to slant. I had mine done maybe 15-16 years ago where they shaved off the bunion then broke the metatarsal and reset it using a hook-type thing. The end of it came out of my foot and it jiggled every time I moved :eek: The podiatrist asked me if foot issues run in my family because the degree to which mine slants is probably hereditary more than anything else.
If I get it redone the metatarsal will have to be broken in minimum three places then they put it back together with two long screws. Then they’ll deal with the hammertoe which will also have to be broken then reset.
I can’t take three months off from work for all this. I just can’t.
I didn’t have my 2nd toe shortened, but another one. It was curling under. They ground down the bones and stitched my toe back up. Buy fleece lined Crocs clogs to wear post-surgery. That particular one has a very wide toe bed and will allow for completely pain free walking for the crucial weeks after surgery. Get them on the Crocs website. Relaxed fit.
How are your feet going to be two different sizes? Your surgeon is taking out bone, not chopping off your toe. You will have one toe that is shorter. All your shoes will still fit.
When they say “stay off your foot, keep ice on it and keep it elevated”, they mean it. Only walk to the bathroom and back the first few days. Lay in bed with your foot up and watch Netflix. The pain isn’t awful or anything as long as you follow the instructions because it will keep the swelling down, and if the swelling is down … so is the pain.
I’ve also had hammertoes fixed. The pins sucked. It’s a little worse recovery than the bone removal, but it’s tolerable as long as you don’t walk on your foot for a few days and keep it iced and elevated. Just watch programs that will keep you engrossed and you won’t think about it.
Bunion surgery … I was begging to be taken outside and shot for two days afterward. It was awful. My foot came out great though. It was all worth it in the end.
I have rods and pins and screws all throughout my feet.
I forgot to add he probably wants to do them ALL AT ONCE because what you aren’t thinking of is how they are going to rub together if one is repositioned or how the others are contracting.
If they start to rub together, it will be insanely painful. Ask me how I know this.
Lurker…you are brave. Brave, brave, brave. The little hook “pins” in the toes give me the heebie-jeebies.
See, I found the itching around the staples and in the bone as it knit back together to be far more annoying than the pain. But I did stay with my parents post-op, and they kept pouring the Demerol in me for a few days after surgery. The enforced boredom of six weeks off my foot drove me mental, too.
If my second toe is shortened to be a “normal” length, it will be 3/4" shorter than before. That’s a different shoe size. Do you have a longer second toe? It really does affect how shoes fit. My second toe is really discernibly longer than the first toe. It looks like someone stuck and extra toe joint on the end of that toe. Literally the last joint starts parallel to where the big toe ends.
I’m holding out for just fixing the toe that’s screwed up. I’m pretty sure they don’t need to totally renovate my entire left foot.
My mother suggested just seeing my podiatrist from Florida when I was down over the holidays. Well, hell. That’s logical. :smack:
One of the things I had to do after my bunionectomy was to soak my foot in a pail of ice water three times a day, more ice than water. OMG OMG OMG OMG :shudder: It honestly did cut down on the swelling but OMG OMG OMG OMG :shudder:
I was out of work for maybe a month? IIRC I went back before the optimal time and I had to get permission to wear an open-toe shoe because my foot was still too swollen to fit into my regular shoes. Oh, did I mention that I work in food service and I’m on my feet for 8+ hours a day?
If you have surgery on 4 toes at once, that has mobility implications. That’s how I’d sell it to the dr. Please just work on the 2nd toe this time, and I can get the others done later. If there’s a solid medical reason to do all 4 at once, this will get him to tell you what it is and why it’s important.
But c’mon, it’s **your **freakin’ foot. If you don’t want surgery on your other 3 toes, be firm with the doctor (or find another podiatrist if you have to).
I also have Morton’s toe (or “tyrant toe”, as my grandmother called it; it runs in the family).
About two years ago, I began to notice a hammertoe developing in my left second toe. I was able to reduce and control it by splinting and exercise. My mother had a more advanced case, and had surgery about three years ago - she had no major complications, but she still gets swelling in that foot (and effectively has two different shoe sizes). I am continuing my splint/exercise routine to avoid surgery.
GrumpyBunny, if your case is more advanced, or involves multiple toes, and surgery is unavoidable, do get second and even third or more opinions.
Interview a few surgeons to see what methods they use and are familiar with (K wires or various implants). There are pros and cons for each method, but IMO it’s better to not be limited by a surgeon who pushes one method only because he lacks experience in the newer techniques.
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And how would you go about finding a second opinion on the surgery?
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If I had to have foot surgery of any kind, I would look to have it done by an MD, not a podiatrist. Also, look for a sports medicine doctor (also an MD) in the area and have him or her give you an evaluation and recommendation for treatment. As one sports medicine doctor told me, too often foot surgery does makes the foot look better, however it doesn’t necessarily improve the foot’s function and that’s very important.
I like the idea of a sports medicine doctor, because they don’t have any vested interest in you having surgery or not. But they know about function of the feet very well and motion.
It’s not the bunion itself but the way that metatarsal tends to slant. I had mine done maybe 15-16 years ago where they shaved off the bunion then broke the metatarsal and reset it using a hook-type thing. The end of it came out of my foot and it jiggled every time I moved :eek: The podiatrist asked me if foot issues run in my family because the degree to which mine slants is probably hereditary more than anything else.
