Still doing pretty well after 5 years
Hard to believe it’s already been a there more years since I wrote my 1-year post-cheilectomy surgery post. The pandemic’s in the rearview mirror, and a hot presidential race is in progress and will come to a head this year.
So 1825 days ago I had this cheilectomy surgery to remove some (a lot) of bone spurs that built up on my big toe due to trauma over the years as described in my previous posts.
After 5 years, I am honestly happy to provide a positive update. Yes, I would still do it all over again. It gave me (so far) five years of a better and more active life. Is it perfect, not a chance and as I said many times before, you will never be perfect or as good as you were before an injury, and for sure, not after a surgery.
Two years ago, I stated I was topping out around the 85% mark in regards to being able to bend it. Today, I am probably around 75-80% mark. A little degradation, but expected considering I still put my feet and toes through trauma. If you recall, I am active in sand volleyball, working out and golfing. Believe it or not, golfing puts a tremendous load (bend) on your toe during a good swing. And since I am right hand dominant during my swing, this toe that had surgery gets bent pretty good when performing a nice good swing. Good news, I can walk or run in shoes and wouldn’t even know I had surgery.
There are good (95% good) and bad days. Bad days are mostly after some form of sporty activity. The toe hinge (where it the spurs were removed) can throb when walking, so I cater and walk on the edge of my foot. Usually, it subsides within a day or two. But I think that is going to be part of life, unless all I do is walk. And still worth it.
It’s funny looking back. It looks like in year 2 I lost my toenail after some general stubbing trauma in Volleball. Well, welcome to year 5, I lost this same toenail again and is 75% grown back (as seen in the new and updated image below). I believe this make three times now. I think this is more common with longer “finger-toes” like mine that come from a 6′ 3″ frame.
I still prefer loafers, or indoor sandles when walking around the house
I still prefer using loafers when general walking around the hard floor in the hours. Walking without padding is fine, but I feel it’s protected more when providing the hinge some more support.
I am not sure if you can tell in the pictures, but when looking at 24 and 60 months in terms of flex, I probably lost just a bit.
Stretching Reminder (aka physical therapy going)….
I stated this before, as per my 12-month and 24-month cheilectomy surgery posts, but stretching is still important. But to be honest, My toe is about where its going to be now and I rarely perform any stretches of any kind on the toe. I think stretching is still key, especially if you feel your losing more flex then 5-10% of where you were on year two.
In summary, after five years post-cheilectomy surgery, I think I am where I should be based on my expectations prior to surgery. You will never be back to 100%. But I think if you can make it back to the 80%+ range and all activities, that is a win and success in my beak. And after 5 years, if your in the 70%+ range, still a win. The alternative is a fusion, and that will extremely limit your happiness and activities in life.
View surgery wound and flexibility 60 months (5 years) after surgery.
Did you complete the procedure? If so did your surgery/healing thus far match mine or differ somehow? Let’s hear it in the comments below.
Hi, Jace:
Thank you for the valuable information you share on this forum. I am at stage 2-3 of Hallux. My problem, like many others, is knowing whether or not I should have surgery and how long I can delay it. I always hear that pain is usually an indicator that it’s time for surgery, but how much pain? What led you to decide on surgery? What type of pain did you have daily? Was your gait altered and were you experiencing other pains like metatarsalgia, knee problems, or some pinching in the psoas area? I am unable to walk 5 km continuously without my leg “collapsing” due to all the compensation I do to keep walking.
Thank you so mucho for reading me.
cheers
Leticia
Hi Leticia, Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for sharing your experience. Deciding whether or not to have surgery can indeed be a complex and deeply personal decision. I’m glad you found the information on my blog helpful. I’ll do my best to address your questions based on my experience:
What led you to decide on surgery?
The decision to undergo a cheilectomy for me was a result of persistent, debilitating pain that significantly impacted my daily life. Despite trying various non-surgical treatments like orthotics, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications, the pain remained constant and the movement of the toe was near non-existent (due to bone spurs) and interfered both basic activities and my quality of life.
What type of pain did you have daily?
The daily pain I experienced was not only localized to the joint but also radiated to other areas of my foot and leg. I often had a sharp, stabbing pain at the top of my big toe joint, especially during activities that involved bending the toe. Additionally, I felt a constant dull ache that made even resting uncomfortable. Walking on uneven surfaces or wearing certain types of shoes exacerbated the discomfort.
“Was your gait altered and were you experiencing other pains like metatarsalgia, knee problems, or some pinching in the psoas area?”
Yes, my gait was noticeably altered before the surgery. I found myself compensating by walking on the outside of my foot or avoiding bending my toes. The degree of pain and the resulting compensation affecting other parts of your body are key indicators as they were with me. Remember, the goal is not just to reduce pain but to prevent further deterioration and secondary issues caused by altered movement patterns (walking on outside heal). I wish you the best on your decision and if you have the surgery, recovery as well.