Continuing Saga of my Broken Foot
Over 2 years ago I fractured the 2nd sesamoid bone in my right foot – along with breaking the 2nd toe, in three places.
I’ve had to stay off the foot as much as possible, so that the sesamoid bone could heal – which it has – YEAH!
BUT – the breaks in the toe were another matter all together. Because the breaks did not get diagnosed when I had the first x-ray done, they healed in a really bad way. My kids and grand kids call it my Candy Cane Toe. It has caused constant pain, but the surgery to correct it is quite tricky, so I decided that I’d live with it. BUT – a couple of months ago, I managed to bash that same toe, into the same door jam, that cause the breaks in the first place. OUCH! I couldn’t take the pain any longer, so last Thursday, I went back to see the surgeon, (who properly diagnosed the damage – after the first radiologist missed it – and who treated me with cortisone injections), and another x-ray was taken. WOW – that was a run on sentence. My English teachers would be so proud.
I am so special…I managed to totally obliterate the joint between the middle and distal phalanx. When the doctor looked at the film he said that it looked like I had taken a sledge hammer to the toe.
This is actually an “easy” fix, but I have to have the toe straightened out, in order to move the toe back into it’s original position.
So, this is what’s gonna happen – as best as I can explain it:
1. A slit will be cut horizontally across the toe where the joint used to be. This mess will be cleaned up as much as possible, and then a hollow screw will be inserted into the distal and middle phalanx. Hopefully the bones will fuse together.
2. Another incision will be made – this time in the middle phalanx.
3. A wire will be inserted into the hollow screw and be pushed down through to where the incision is made in the middle phalanx.
4. The tendons will be cut on one side, and the other side will be tightened up with stitches.
5. That wire will be pushed farther down, and be attached to the metatarsal.
6. The wire will be pulled tight, until the toe is straightened out.
7. The wire will then be attached to the distal phalanx and the tip of the wire will be snipped off (jutting out of the top of my toe).
8. The incisions will be sutured closed.
9. My toe will be bandaged, and my foot placed in a boot.
Woo-hoo, I get to wear the boot 24/7 (yep – I have to sleep with it on) for at least 6 weeks. If the wire should pop before the 6 weeks is up, they go right back in, and do it over. Once the wire has been in place for 6 weeks, I will have the wire pulled out. NOW – there is a chance (about 50-50), that the toe will not stay straight. If this is the case, the doctor will go back in, and remove the middle phalanx, and then instead of having a Candy Cane Toe, I’ll have a Floppy Toe.
Doesn’t this sound like loads of fun?
I am thrilled that I won’t have to go under General Anesthesia. A Local and Heavy MAC sedation will be used.
I’m not thrilled that I am now very physically limited on what I can do. I had just gotten a script for RXercise, and was going to start working with a specialist in exercise and nutrition. I was already really overweight when I first broke my foot, and I’ve continued to pack on the pounds for the last 2 1/2 years. I hardly recognize myself when I look in the mirror. I hurt everywhere, and I’m miserable. Hopefully there will be light at the end of the tunnel. I have to have patience, but it sure seems like it’s going to take forever, for me to take back my health and well being.
I do have a few things to take my mind off the wait for the surgery (in mid March).
I’m going to Florida next weekend, for my father’s 90th birthday. Then I’m going to Cancun (post coming up soon), in mid February. When I get back from Cancun, I’m heading to Utah.
My life is just so exciting, I can hardly stand it – pun fully intended:-)
This truly is a “toe” saga. I hope the surgery in March will be successful. In the meanwhil I hope you will not have too much pain from it.
Ouch! What a long, drawn out injury! Hope they fix it up good.
I am going to want to see that toe when we are in Cancun, ya know? 🙂
All I can say is OUCH! I hope it goes well and that when they pull the wire out it stays straight. Best of luck!
Wow. I can imagine all you’ve been through. Hope it heals quickly!
You have some wonderful trips coming up – to see your father on his 90th birthday(God bless him) and then Cancun. Enjoy.
Oh my stars! You have had quite a run of rotten luck! Happy healing and stay well!
Ouch – that sounds painful.
I had ti to wear a boot for quite a while and it was no fun. I feel for you sister
Oy, I hope you heal well.
Wow, I never heard of all these complications – and then re-injuring the same foot in the same way! I hope everything goes well this time around and you are soon up and around. Good luck on all your trips – and have fun!
Gentle reflexology may be helpful, ask your doctor. Hope you recover fully!
yikes! sounds terrible!
That does sound like a lot of fun!
ouch! I hope they manage to fix it for you!
Ouch, ouch, and ouch. Loss of mobility affects so many aspects of our lives. My knees and back have slowed me down. You can’t exercise enough and put on weight, then your knees and back hurt more, and the cycle continues.
I hope the surgery and recovery are successful. In the meantime, enjoy your travels.
I hope the surgery and recovery are successful.
Youch! That sounds painful! I’ve broken some of my toes so many times (I’m a major klutz!) and some of my toes are all twisted and cause me a lot of pain. I’ve been putting off seeing a surgeon, but I’m thinking I’ll have to take care of it sooner or later. Keep us posted as to how the surgery goes and your recovery! I wish you well!
OUCH!!! My husband got his foot fan over by a forklift at work in ’07 (If I remember correctly) but luckily nothing was broken. The big toe was dislocated and he tore his skin in between the big toe and the one next to it pretty bad. They did say that if there was breaks in the little toes at the end, that they wouldnt be able to do anything about it.
We were VERY lucky that he did not wear his steel toe boots that day (which he could have gotten in big trouble because he was wearing his sneakers), but because he was not wearing his steel toes (because they were rubbing his feet raw), he still has his toes.
After 3 months of having him home, yay *sarcastic*, he went back to work and apparently they had done an experiment with an old steel toe boot, some type of veggie and the forklift. It cut the veggie right in half. So after that we went out and got boots that would protect his toes but will not cut them off if the weight is high enough.
Hope all goes well!