Big Toe Joint Arthritis -Fusion or Joint Replacement? Your experiences!

[Hisgirl]

For years I've had bone on bone arthritis in my right big toe joint where it attaches to my foot.

In march, I was stepping out of the Grand Floridan bathtub and jammed that toe soooo badly! It has been excruciatingly painful since.

Just saw the foot surgeon and he offered, to relieve the pain permanently, a fusion or joint replacement. (I trust his judgment btw...harvard, 40+ years of experience, takes care of our city's ballet team_

There are pros and cons to each.

Please share your experiences! (I don't wear high heels at all, so that's not an issue). I am active, walk, bike ride, pickle ball etc and want my feet to stop hurting!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Interested in hearing others weigh in on this!
Also have same….. have gotten rid of any shoe with a heel higher than a sneaker… And I loved some of my shoes so much! Just ached so much within minutes. The pain subsides after a few days, but if I stub my toe, that’s a few weeks of pain to just “live with”.
Have not discussed surgery with a doctor as yet, but it’s surely gonna come to that!

 

[Hisgirl]

Interested in hearing others weigh in on this!
Also have same….. have gotten rid of any shoe with a heel higher than a sneaker… And I loved some of my shoes so much! Just ached so much within minutes. The pain subsides after a few days, but if I stub my toe, that’s a few weeks of pain to just “live with”.
Have not discussed surgery with a doctor as yet, but it’s surely gonna come to that!

So sorry you're dealing with this too. It's amazing how foot pain affect ones life!

My cousin had the joint replacement and loves it! I just want to walk without pain!

 

[focusondisney]

My sister had that joint replaced 7 or 8 years ago. She followed the dr’s instructions to the letter & had an excellent outcome. She has no regrets about doing it.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

My mom had the joint fusion and like PP her result was amazing. Honestly I think both work well, it just may be personal preference by the surgeon or cost thats the deciding factor.

 

[rlk]

I am interested in people's thoughts on fusion and joint replacement because I am currently deciding which way to go.
I have been dealing with painful arthritis in my right big toe too. My doctor suggested trying a cortisone injection first. The shot worked for several months, but the pain from the actual injection was more excruciating than labor pains.

 

[Hisgirl]

@Rik yeah, that shot is like putting a bandaid on a broken arm. I'm going to be doing as much research as I can. I already walk with it as if it's fused so I'm not too concerned about the lack of bend. I'm typing with a fused pointer finger joint and it hasn't been a deal.

 

[LuvOrlando]

One puts a foreign substance in and one just attaches so I think I would avoid putting stuff in, mostly because I know a lot of people who seem to get fibromyalgia after adding things to their bodies.

Cortisone shots, you can rub with lidocaine before the shot then ask for lidocaine injection, make the Dr wait a few min then get the shot