Hello

17th February 2014

I'm new to this and not really sure how it's done but my daughter suggested I write a blog as the information may be of use to someone who is waiting to have cheilectomy surgery which involves trimming the bone at the base of the big toe.

I have been researching this on the internet and read a blog by a man in the USA which I found really useful. It was really positive and worked out well for him so I thought I would do the same from a ladies point of view as it is easier for a man to get back into shoes and even find shoes that would fit (not so easy for a woman who doesn't want to wear old fashioned shoes)

My operation is due to take place on the 14th March 2014 with my pre-op appointment on the 25th February. My aim is to write a dairy on my recovery and progress after the operation which I hope may be useful.
 

The story so far...

It all started about four to five years ago, I'm not exactly sure when.  At first I would have a very painful sort of burning sensation at the base of my big toe on my left foot during the night.  Then the pain changed and it felt like my toe kept locking and I felt I wanted to 'crack it' like you do knuckles.

Over time I also became aware of a bony lump appearing and thought it was a bunion.  About three years ago it became quite painful wearing shoes as they all seemed to rest on the lump. I went to the doctor who told me it wasn't a bunion and referred me to the podiatry clinic.

At my appointment they told me I had a hallux limitus which was probably caused my an old sports injury. They told me a hallux limitus is where the cartilage was wearing away in my big toe joint and my body was trying to repair itself by growing extra bone at the base of my toe to form a splint.

They said the options were steroid injections or surgery and that it was best left alone as long as possible.  As  I was managing it ok I said I would leave things as they were and contact them if it got any worse. I then saw it as my mission to find shoes I could wear but still look fashionable.

This was an almost impossible mission.  I was living in flip flops whenever I could in the nice weather, Ugg  boots in the winter and for the in-between  weather I found one pair of pump style shoes from Clarkes which fitted higher on my foot and didn't hurt as much.

Sometimes the toe would feel 'locked' and be really painful but I was able to cope until the end of summer last year when after wearing flip flops I had to put my shoes on.  This became far more painful over the weeks.  I couldn't put any weight on the ball of my foot under my big toe and had to walk on the outside of my foot which then caused all sorts of other problems.  I had pain in my hips and shoulders, backache and cramps in my calves because I wasn't walking properly. 

I decided to go back to the doctors to see if he could refer me back to the podiatry clinic so I could talk to someone about how to manage it when I had a flare up.  The doctor gave me quite strong anti-inflammatory tablets which helped and referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon.

The x-ray showed that my condition was now quite advanced and the surgeon recommended a cheilectomy operation. This involves trimming away the excess bone at the base of the toe so hopefully I will be able to wear shoes without them putting pressure on the toe which causes the pain.  I was hoping for a miracle pill but it was too advanced and needed surgery and in my surgeon's words "it's a lovely operation!"

My thoughts and feelings.

I am feeling really apprehensive about the operation, even though my surgeon has told me it's a 'lovely' operation.  He said the recovery should be about three to four weeks although reading information on the internet it seems to take longer.

The recovery and success rate all appear good and I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will be ok without any problems.

One of my main worries is that it will be worse after the operation.  I love walking and enjoy city breaks where I walk all day.  I'm going to New York for seven days with my daughter in October so hopefully I'll be ok by then.

I'm also hoping I'll be able to wear nice shoes again. I don't mean really high fashion shoes, just normal pretty shoes.

By the way I'm nearly 55, very active and work as a teaching assistant with 5/6 year olds so I need to be as fit and active as I can.

Things at present

My toe is not too bad at the moment. I have lived in Ugg boots all winter so have had no pressure on it.

The inside of my right ankle started to feel sore and bruised on the bone around Christmas. I don't know if it's because I'm not walking properly and putting a lot more weight on my right leg or whether it's through something else.  My big toe is now arthritic doesn't bend upwards very well.

Three weeks ago I started taking glucosamine and chondroitin tablets and I'm hoping these will help.

Pre-op

25th February 2014

My pre-op was quite uneventful. I was told to be prepared for a wait of up to 3 to 4 hours but it only lasted about an hour.

I met the anaesthetist who was lovely and full explained what would happen to me but unfortunately it would not be her as she did not work on the day of my operation.

I  was asked a lot of questions and had a MRSA test as well as the usual urine and blood pressure check and was given a clean bill of health.

I was able to ask questions and  was put completely at ease by the nurse as well as the anaesthetist and have come away feeling really positive.

I just want it over with now

Operation day

14th March 2014

I had to be at the hospital for 7am.  I was told which bay area to go to on the ward with the other patients on the day care ward.

I was soon seen by the nursing staff who took my details and did all my checks.  The physiotherapist also came and gave me crutches and showed me how to use them and told what exercises to do. I was also seen by the anaesthetist who explained that I could either have a general or local anaesthetic.  I asked him what he would recommend.  He said the local anaesthetic would involve having injections in my calf ankle and foot and would leave my leg feeling numb for a while and suggested a general anaesthetic for me as I don't have any heart or lung problems.  He also said he would give me an injection in my foot to numb it so I wouldn't be in pain when I woke up so I went for this option.

At 12 noon they came for me and wheeled me down to theatre.  Funnily enough I felt calm all day and not at all how I thought I would feel like.

When I got into the theatre they put needle into my hand and inserted some anti sickness drug.  At the same time they put an oxygen mask on and told me to breathe deeply as the anti sickness drug could make me a little light headed which it did.

 I don't remember anything after that and woke up with a lovely warm heated blanket on me and was told that everything went fine but my temperature was a little low so they warmed me up before taking me to the ward.

Once on the ward I was given a lovely cup of tea and some sandwiches.  Nurses constantly checked my progress and I felt thoroughly spoilt and looked after with more tea and biscuits.

The was only a light amount of pain in my foot which just felt a little sore.

Before leaving I was given my painkillers and fitted with a shoe that fitted on my bandaged foot and then allowed to go home.  I was home by 5pm and felt absolutely fine.  I was told to take my medication four times a day, at mealtimes and bedtime.  I was told to take them even if I wasn't in any pain as it was best to keep the pain at bay rather than wait for it to come on then take them.

I just hope I get a good nights sleep and it doesn't keep me awake.

Day one - post op

15th March 2014

I've had a comfortable night sleep with no pain at all and slept with a pillow under my leg to raise it.

I'm getting used to using my crutches and I'm not too bad at going up and down the stairs. I'm walking flat footed with all the weight on my heel as I was told and it's not too painful to walk. However I do need the crutches as this takes a lot of the weight of my foot.  It is quite painful otherwise.

I'm taking my painkillers as I've been told after every meal and I'm not in any pain at all. The only slight pain I get is when I walk but that's because a bit of weight is going on it but it's minimal.  I'm resting my leg all of the time higher than my groin with a cushion under it.  I'm hoping maybe after tomorrow I'll start reducing the painkillers and see how I get on.

I'm sure it's not going to be an easy recovery as this, but we will see.

I have to go back to the hospital in two weeks to have my bandage removed and the stitches taken out.  Goodness know what shoes I'm going to wear.  I'm sure my foot will be swollen and possibly be sore so I don't know what to take with me at the moment.

But so far, so good!!!