Anyone ever have a toe removed?

[snowveil]

I had an accident with a lawn mower when I was 4 and received a toe-thumb transplant. The big toe on my left foot is now the thumb on my left hand.

Yes, my balance is (and always has been) fine. The one thing you'll notice is increased strain on the ball of your left foot directly below where the toe is removed. I work 10 hour days on my feet, so my feet are already pretty calloused, but this area in particular seems to catch the brunt of it. Of course, maybe it' s just how I carry myself. Occasionally my foot goes numb during rigorous exercise and repeated motion (long bike rides, etc), however it's not severe.

I grew up with this injury, so it didn't really take a lot of "getting used to."

I'd say definitely go with what your podiatrist recommends.

 

[passedpawn]

I had an accident with a lawn mower when I was 4 and received a toe-thumb transplant. The big toe on my left foot is now the thumb on my left hand.

Yes, my balance is (and always has been) fine. The one thing you'll notice is increased strain on the ball of your left foot directly below where the toe is removed. I work 10 hour days on my feet, so my feet are already pretty calloused, but this area in particular seems to catch the brunt of it. Of course, maybe it' s just how I carry myself. Occasionally my foot goes numb during rigorous exercise and repeated motion (long bike rides, etc), however it's not severe.

I grew up with this injury, so it didn't really take a lot of "getting used to."

I'd say definitely go with what your podiatrist recommends.

Wow, very cool. BTW, I get numb feet occasionally too, but that's normal on long rides.

I appreciate the response. I doubt the pod will get on board with the removal, but if it's the easiest route I'm pushing for it. I hate all this stuff, docs and such.

 

[cannman]

Just be prepared... bring your own mason jar.

 

[passedpawn]

Good riddance to that MFer. I hate my left big toe. I hope it burns.

 

[snowveil]

I appreciate the response. I doubt the pod will get on board with the removal, but if it's the easiest route I'm pushing for it. I hate all this stuff, docs and such.

Certainly if he's willing to recommend the procedure, I wouldn't be fearful of it being done. A missing toe won't affect your balance like a large portion of the public seems to think it will.

Plus, as an added benefit, you can mess around with little kids like when I played "got your nose" and "you got my toe" with my 4 year old nephew. He was very confused, and his mom was unsure whether to be upset or laugh about it.

 

[Homercidal]

Ok, I still don't get this. Why wouldn't you opt to have some kind of scan performed and find out exactly what's going on? It could be as simple of cutting out a fragment of bone, or fusing something together! There is likely a good chance of it being no big deal to correct WITHOUT amputation!

 

[GHBWNY]

It's been this way for SEVERAL YEARS?? And you've had annual doc visits and he doesn't know about it? Whoa, bro. Since you're asking everyone's opinion, my VERY amateur one is that a GP is going to look at it and send you to a specialist. Though painful and semi-non-functional, I doubt a specialist is going to agree to remove it on that basis alone. There are a lot of things that can be done to correct, alleviate discomfort, heal, cure, etc., besides removal. And a lot less risky infection-wise.

P.S. I don't like going to the doctor either.

 

[Quadrupled]

Ok, I still don't get this. Why wouldn't you opt to have some kind of scan performed and find out exactly what's going on? It could be as simple of cutting out a fragment of bone, or fusing something together! There is likely a good chance of it being no big deal to correct WITHOUT amputation!

Whoa whoa whoa...that's some LGI-like advice there. There's no place for outside of the box logic when it comes to toe amputation.

 

[passedpawn]

Saw a podiatrist today. Got x-rays. Seems that when I kicked the curb I damaged the joint. I now have an arthritic joint; that means that the space that's normally between two bones in my toe isn't there any more and the bones are rubbing together.

The ultimate solution is to fuse the bones together (screws). Doc wants to fit me for a custom orthotic insert for my running shoes. Of course, that doesn't make this problem go away, so I'm not sure what that is meant to accomplish. In fact, I am usually in sandals or barefoot most days since I work at home.

I mentioned the idea of just removing the toe after the joint. He says that most patients don't want stuff removed, but I got the impression that it might be a sensible solution. I have another appt in a week, I'll dig more into this and see what he says. BTW, while toe amputation might seem like a radical thing here on HBT, it's pretty common in a podiatrists office. They get tons of diabetic people who need toes removed. They don't blink when the subject of amputation comes up.

 

[jhoneycutt]

I just can't imagine life without all of em ya know. I've grown attached to the little suckers over the years.

 

[Homercidal]

A damaged joint might be expensive to repair, and I think the technology for a permanent joint replacement is not there yet. Amputation seems reasonable in that case. Arthritis might be a constant pain in the you-know-what (big toe) and not worth the appendage.

Diabetes is a whole nother thing. Amputation is warranted based on the fact that the problem could spread up the leg if it doesn't heal, and healing is severely affected in people with diabetes. For them, it's often a matter of general good health, or even life or death.

Just be thankful it's your toe and not your hands. I don't know what I's do if I lost my ability to grip things...

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Here you go PP...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_integrity_identity_disorder

 

[GHBWNY]

This is a pic from 3 years ago when I hurt it.

So, which is the bad one?

J/K bro!

 

[passedpawn]

So, which is the bad one?

haha, I'm no foot model.

 

[passedpawn]

Here you go PP...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_integrity_identity_disorder

Close. My condition is referred to as Hatred of Throbbing Pain Disorder.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Close. My condition is referred to as Hatred of Throbbing Pain Disorder.

Unless it's all in your head. Which, of course, would mean you are crazy and in which case, see above disorder

 

[Quadrupled]

Saw a podiatrist today. I mentioned the idea of just removing the toe after the joint...He says that most patients don't want stuff removed, but I got the impression that it might be a sensible solution.

I honestly thought you were jesting until I saw the appointment reference in your space station thread. Good luck and hope you are soon pain free.

 

[W0GWT]

they don't blink when the subject of amputation comes up.

snip, snip, snip

 

[shelly_belly]

Ask your doctor about diclofenac. I've been taking it for a few years for Rheumatoid arthritis and it also makes my mangled toe (crushed) not hurt.

 

[passedpawn]

Ask your doctor about diclofenac. I've been taking it for a few years for Rheumatoid arthritis and it also makes my mangled toe (crushed) not hurt.

Interesting! Any idea how it compares to Aleve (naproxen)?

 

[shelly_belly]

When I run out of diclofenac I take Aleve. I'd say Aleve is around 60-70% as effective, for me.

 

[benco]

Have you decided on what your going to do? I think you will regret having the toe removed. It would have to be a last resort.

 

[passedpawn]

Have you decided on what your going to do? I think you will regret having the toe removed. It would have to be a last resort.

I have another appt this week to have some sort of custom orthotic made. Doesn't fix the problem though. Only real solution involves surgery, either fusing bones with screws or amputation. The latter sounds simpler, but I'm going to get the straight dope from the doc at the appt.

 

[Airplanedoc]

I have another appt this week to have some sort of custom orthotic made. Doesn't fix the problem though. Only real solution involves surgery, either fusing bones with screws or amputation. The latter sounds simpler, but I'm going to get the straight dope from the doc at the appt.

FWIW

My mom has had both her big toes fixed. I had forgot about it until she mentioned it to someone yesterday. Each of them has been taken apart and screwed back together in the proper alignment. She had quite a bit of discomfort before, and her big toes were at a much worse angle than yours. She has no issues or pain at all with either of them now, and it has been 5-10 years since she had them corrected.

 

[passedpawn]

FWIW

My mom has had both her big toes fixed. I had forgot about it until she mentioned it to someone yesterday. Each of them has been taken apart and screwed back together in the proper alignment. She had quite a bit of discomfort before, and her big toes were at a much worse angle than yours. She has no issues or pain at all with either of them now, and it has been 5-10 years since she had them corrected.

How'd her toe problems occur? From trauma or normal wear/tear?

 

[Airplanedoc]

How'd her toe problems occur? From trauma or normal wear/tear?

The root cause would be women's shoes. Her shoes caused the toe to turn in much as yours, and wore the joint angle causing all the same problems you have.

 

[Roadie]

Interesting! Any idea how it compares to Aleve (naproxen)?

Be careful with NSAIDs as OD'ing on them can lead to Chronic Kidney Disease (don't ask me how I know) which is no joke!

 

[cannman]

Be careful with NSAIDs as OD'ing on them can lead to Chronic Kidney Disease (don't ask me how I know) which is no joke!

My understanding is that that if you are a moderate drinker.... (and um, this is HBT) you should probably choose ibuprofen (a lot of it) as your drug of choice.

I had a tooth knocked out back in the day and IBU took care of the pain until I could get a bridge.

 

[Roadie]

My understanding is that that if you are a moderate drinker.... (and um, this is HBT) you should probably choose ibuprofen (a lot of it) as your drug of choice.

I had a tooth knocked out back in the day and IBU took care of the pain until I could get a bridge.

Ibuprofen was my go to until I OD'd on it over a 4 month period. Blew both my kidneys out. YMMV.

 

[Mongrel]

You'd probably get much better toe removal advice on one of those amputation fetish sites.

 

[Quadrupled]

I have another appt this week to have some sort of custom orthotic made. Doesn't fix the problem though. Only real solution involves surgery, either fusing bones with screws or amputation. The latter sounds simpler, but I'm going to get the straight dope from the doc at the appt.

Not the same situation but relatable. My grandfather tore his knee up in WWII and as a kid one thing that was regularly reinforced was that I had to be VERY careful around his knee due to unrelenting pain. After multiple knee surgeries over several years he finally said eff-it and fused his leg (cut out the knee and fused what was left). Although I never learned the specifics of the fusion surgery, I do know he was much much happier and pain free with what would sound rather extreme to most people.

 

[cannman]

Is this thread the most subscribed thread on HBT yet?! Damn, your toe is a superstar, PassedPawn :fro:

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I just can't imagine life without all of em ya know. I've grown attached to the little suckers over the years.

Really? Mine have been attached since birth.

 

[LAHammer]

From the webz:

The great toe is considered the most important of the toes in functional terms. Nevertheless, great toe amputation can be performed with little resulting functional deficit.[3, 4][/I]

Why would they call it great if it's not so great?

 

[passedpawn]

Why would they call it great if it's not so great?

Grate. Grate toe.

As in, "The big toe bone is grating on the other toe bone, and I want to cut it off with loppers".

 

[brew_ny]

I want to cut it off with loppers.

bolt cutters may work better

 

[VegasJ]

The ultimate solution is to fuse the bones together (screws). Doc wants to fit me for a custom orthotic insert for my running shoes. Of course, that doesn't make this problem go away, so I'm not sure what that is meant to accomplish. In fact, I am usually in sandals or barefoot most days since I work at home.

Hope you aren't talking flip-flops or those sandals have a heel strap...

 

[passedpawn]

Hope you aren't talking flip-flops or those sandals have a heel strap...

Haha, I hate flip-flops (they've always reminded me of the shower shoes in the marine corps). I do the full jesus sandals. No thongs.

In truth, I hardly ever wear footwear at all. I don't leave my house much, work from home, and in FL there's just no reason to put on shoes. I haven't worn shoes/sandals of any kind since this wkend when I brewed.

 

[boydster]

You need to ask yourself: WHMLGTDFML? (For those not in the know, What has my left great (or grate) toe done for me lately?) I'd be willing to bet it's a nagging, lazy, good-for-nothing mooch. A parasite on your existence, leaching vital nutrients and only offering you pain and suffering in return for your sustenance. Cut the bastard off. That'll teach it. You'll naturally have to preserve it in formaldehyde, in order to deter the rest of your toes from going rogue. Fear is a powerful motivator.

I'll offer that I've had some rum this evening and perhaps may be a bit rash. But I'm thinking about cutting off my left great toe now. That lazy little effer.

 

[negativereaction]

Since we've had brewmaster beard-yeast beers and whatnot before, is there a chance of passedpawn toe beer? No? Are you sure? Hey, don't ban me, it was just a joke! nooooooo