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Sunday, May 18, 2014

Cheilectomy Post Op: Email Advice

Good evening, I had the cheilectomy surgery Nov 6 2013
Dr Blake's comment: A Cheilectomy (also known as an arthroplasty) is basically a joint cleanup of the big toe joint when arthritic spurs and cartilage damage is noted. Like meniscal repairs and cleanups of the knee, it may be the precursor of a partial or complete joint replacement. 

I was making good progress I thought. Recently, I am having a lot of soreness behind the big toe actually the entire toe is sore and nerve sensations are occurring.  I limp because of this soreness. 
Dr Blake's comment: If you read the post on Good vs Bad Pain, you are definitely in the Bad Pain side of things. What can you do to help this? Some common changes you can make are: daily ice pack for 10-15 minutes three times a day, learning spica taping, wearing a removable boot or another stiff sole shoe any time possible for the next several months, trying to make yourself dancer's pads to off weight, and going to PT for advice and anti-inflammatory treatments. 

 I went for my check up 6 months  he said to get some insoles for my sneakers but I  wear a 2 inch heel at work.
Dr Blake's comment: There is some many factors involved in finding a comfortable heel to wear. You definitely want to go shoe shopping. Try 20 different pairs of 2 inch heels and you will find some much more comfortable than others based on stiffness, padding, volume, flexibility, etc. 

  He said I was pushing my toe down causing pressure from wearing this small heel. He is a Orthopaedic surgeon for the foot and ankle.  I don't have much cartilage left by looking at my X-ray.   I am very active with weight lifting and stair stepping everything bothers my foot.  Further Surgery I don't think I want.  It's been 6 months and somewhat worse than 2 months ago for some reason.
Dr Blake's comment: When you are in a flare, which is very common for this and many surgeries during the first year, it is important to figure out how to get out of the flare as soon as possible. If that means a removable boot every weekend and evening after work for several weeks, so be it. If it means icing 5 times daily, and a good dose of oral meds, and shoe changes and physical therapy, so be it. See if you can begin to experiment and find what seems to help at least some, and then take the additive approach of finding multiple things. Hope it helps. Rich

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Thank you very much for leaving a comment. Due to my time restraints, some comments may not be answered.I will answer questions that I feel will help the community as a whole.. I can only answer medical questions in a general form. No specific answers can be given. Please consult a podiatrist, therapist, orthopedist, or sports medicine physician in your area for specific questions.