My Chickens Are Gone

[Nyboy]

Sorry about your hens I miss having them. Are you ok ? Surgery can be very frighting.

 

[so lucky]

Thanks for asking, Nyboy. It has been recommended by my podiatrist that I have surgery to fuse my big toe bones on my left foot, after some trimming and whittling. The recovery is long and confining, and I will have limited movement in my foot afterwards. But supposedly pain free. Right now I have limited movement and lots of pain. The on line pics of the surgery are too gross to think about. (shudder)
I am thinking I need to get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon. There aren't many options for toes, not like knee or hip replacement.

 

[baymule]

I would definitely get a second opinion, if for nothing else, peace of mind that this is the right thing for you to do. I am a big believer in "If it's broke-fix it." But the fix can be worse that what's broke, if you get the wrong fix-it man.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree. A second opinion is always a good idea before surgery of any kind. Foot surgery...that's a tough one. Folks don't realize how much they use their feet until they can no longer do so...it's incredibly limiting.

I hope you find a good and pain diminishing solution, So Lucky.

 

[Nyboy]

Please please get 2nd opinion. My mother who was a diabetic had a wound on bottom of her foot. For 1 year she went and had it treated every 2 weeks. When I suggested after a year of no improvement a 2 nd opinion she defended her Dr. Yelled how great he was and listed all his credentials. A client who was diabetic gave me her Dr number, my mother will not even look at it. 6 months later Dr mentioned amputation my mother asked for number. 2 months with new Dr big change in healing, 4 months completey healed. No matter how much you like your dr get a 2nd opinion.

 

[so lucky]

I think amputations used to be pretty common for people with diabetes, before we knew how to treat the disease. My grandmother had one leg amputated from diabetes. She blamed her podiatrist for that, saying he ruined her toe. I didn't know the details at the time, but I doubt if she took proper care of herself. But she had to blame someone, I guess.

 

[Nyboy]

My brother had his leg amputated about 5 years ago. I wonder if he had money, would it have happened. Medical treatment is not the same for poor as rich

 

[Beekissed]

That's the truth! I know that first hand. Sometimes surgery will indicated according to your insurance....got good insurance and surgery is the more expensive option of care, you'll get a recommendation for surgery. Not good insurance and surgery is the least expensive option for care, you'll get a recommendation for surgery. On Medicare or Medicaid, your cancer will be deemed inoperable or operable, treated with chemo or not, according to how much your insurance is likely to pay for these things. If you've got good insurance, the sky is the limit on treatment options for cancer. They will treat you unto death...literally....if you have good insurance.

Sort of like when you go to a dentist about a bad tooth and you don't have insurance...they will not recommend a root canal for you, but they will tell you all they can do is just pull the tooth.

 

[digitS']

Autoimmune problems can rule out surgery that involves bones or, probably, most any tissue - at times.

I don't know if the podiatrist is using the term "pseudarthrosis" or "false joint" for your condition, So Lucky. The orthopedic surgeon was not interested in trying to correct that for me because inflammation might have just negated anything he could do. The neurosurgeon said he couldn't restore normal use, just ease pain. I decided I could live with that additional pain ... I'm not so complacent anymore but ... whatever.

Think on your reasons. A podiatrist is not a primary care person so it would be easy to get another referral from your PC. We will admire your courage whichever direction you take. Stay strong.

Steve

 

[so lucky]

I hadn't heard about pseudoarthrosis, but I had read that people who take steroids are not good candidates for fusion. You know, we are led to believe that there is always a solution to any ailment or problem, but that is not necessarily the case. Certainly I can see how a person can be told "No, nothing we can do. You are going to just have to live with it." I wonder if technology has improved to the point that you could be helped now, Steve?

There used to be a wonderfully cheery old guy who had RA since he was a kid. He walked like he was walking with rocks in his shoes. I had sympathy for him then, empathy now.