What Can I Do After Big Toe Fusion Surgery? Run, Walk, Yoga?

This video goes through the chance of performing various sports & activities after a big toe (1st MTPJ) fusion. This surgery is usually for hallux rigidius (great toe osteoarthritis) and is known as a 1st metatarsophalangeal joint fusion. Here we will cover whether you can run, walk, play golf, play tennis, lift weights, and do yoga, after a big toe fusion.
We will also cover whether these activities are likely to be more difficult, the same or less difficult.
#bigtoefusion #bigtoefusionsurgery #greattoefusionsurgery #arthrodesis

[@AnneSloboda]

If the level of difficulty is the SAME as pre-surgery, those stats should be included with MORE DIFFICULT stats. The reason for the surgery is to have an improved outcome, NOT to have the same level of difficulty PLUS the challenges of surgery & recovery!

[@merson812]

Good point.

[@paton1831]

I had the fusion method done nearly three months ago. The numbness at the tip of the toe is an everyday & night experience painful The stabbing pain is worse than the arthritis pain I had before, Sleepless nights & the codeine tabs & its side effects 😢. Trying to get back to see the NHS surgeon who performed the procedure is another story. I cried myself to sleep many nights. I’m near age 69, fit & strong, 140 lbs normally out and about, church, shopping, exercising, and visiting other seniors. Now all my old shoes are obsolete. I can just about wear them ugly Crocs everywhere 🙁. My mental health, my confidence gone. What a mess, with some luck after begging I will see the surgeon next month. Possibly my old body might have to go through more surgery to repair the trapped nerve, but hopefully not. This is just my experience. If you're advised to go for the above do ASK lots of questions. Ps, I cannot walk properly presently or walk barefoot. My foot needs support to to avoid falling over 😢🙏🏾

[@merson812]

Useful, thanks. I’m scheduled to have each of my big toes fused in Jaunuary. I’m nearly 70, and enjoy jogging and cycling.

[@lindasmith308]

I'm 70 and very active. Have been putting this surgery off. Did you have the surgery and how was your pain level afterwards.

[@saltydog888]

Are we talking pain or difficulty? Two different things. Remember that you are doing this to reduce pain in your big toe joint. The pain is what made you get the surgery and if it’s gone you should be able to walk OK. All the other activities are a bonus at your age because you have arthritis.

[@sknuts2783]

Reducing pain in one area that exasperates another is not a solution.

[@kathbretherton2238]

I just want no pain. Its constant. Whether Im walking or have my foot raised at any angle. I honestly thought Id broken my foot a few weeks ago. The shooting pain was horrid. This prompted me to go to the doctor who sent me for an xray. This showed I have quite advanced osteoarthritis and will by pass all the easier options and go straight to surgery. I do have a high pain threshold, but I will be glad to have little to no pain soon. Obviously Im prepared for the initial post op pain.

[@knasheed8092]

Hi! Thank you for sharing. I am having this procedure later this month. I have a VERY low tolerance for pain and I was wondering what pain level (from 1 - 10) I should expect post-surgery. Also, what pain medication did your doctor prescribe, for how long, and did it help? Lastly, how did you keep that small area iced, and were you able to sleep. Any guidance you are willing to provide would be appreciated.

[@pinkspace6687]

I’m terrified of having this surgery. I need this soon too! I have severe fibromyalgia and I’m afraid my whole body will be messed up. The nerves in my foot will hurt. My doctor now will not increase my medication if needed for nerve pain. Ugh. I’m praying for the best outcome. I do know that the minimally invasive surgery are not for severe cases. Some surgeons won’t do them at all.

[@saltydog888]

Best thing I’ve ever done. Back SUP surfing, walking without pain, wearing thongs again (or flip flops if you aren’t Australian). Increased mobility means I’m getting fitter and fitter. Could not recommend this surgery enough. I’m a year in, the first 6 months was not the best but patience has paid off.

[@sylviapetricevic5592]

Wish l could pick your brain! Just had the fusion and not yet back into my fitness routine so I’m very nervous as l love my weigh training, power walking, Pilates, Cycle,dancing etc and wondering if it will limit it greatly? Did you find you had to compensate such as in your walking? I read one won’t be able to ‘ push off’ from the foot .. Want to hear feedback from more active people, thanks! 🙏🏼

[@saltydog888]

@@sylviapetricevic5592 Another 5 months of recovery so a year and a half and I don’t notice it all walking a couple of hours a day. No post pain either. I wear Hoka Bondi 8’s which a super cushioned, better than any Brooks I’ve worn and i was a fan of them. I’m definitely walking with the same symmetry. Any of your activities would be fine.

[@janeillinois9631]

I am 11 years post fusion and was as successful as possible by ALTERNATING my workouts. I never do the same stress two days in a row and I do it all including running yoga and high intensity also weightlifting and cycling. HOWEVER about 7 years post op I have a FISSURE in the skin and it never goes away these 4 years. I’m concerned about infection so I do my best with urea cream to keep it moist so the split doesn’t go to the blood. I’ve learned there’s no avoiding it because I AM active- there’s too much friction as I’m “fake pivoting and propelling “ from a non bending toe. HOW do you manage this? No one talks about it??? Thanks!

[@robglavin8287]

My concern is longer term complications. Could surgery of this nature will effect movement patterns and potentially cause problems elsewhere such as knees, hips and back. The studies presented are only a short term response. I have big toe arthritis and am very worried about this.

[@rogermatthews2760]

Sample and sub samples too small. If the same afterward, why fuse unless condition unbearable?

[@Alexander-dt2eq]

ask Lleyton Hewitt after he bet Roger Federer in 2014 (Brisbane) with a fused toe ;) - well it all depends. I find walking barefoot a lot more difficult, but with shoes and especially optimized shoes its easier than before cause you do not have pain. Running is indeed a lot easier than walking. Also i tried cross country skiing (skating) and here i would give it 100% positiv, the push-off you get from a fused toe is better maybe even better than from a normal joint (cause it can bend and you lose power). so in total. If I would not have to walk barefoot ever again, it'd have a fusion rightaway. I feel handicapped walking barefoot. you do not really see it, but it feels just awkward

[@damanpreetsingh4719]

I do mma can a fused toe be a good option for mma...I don't kick just bcoz of arthritis.

[@Alexander-dt2eq]

@@damanpreetsingh4719 sure, just check if your lesser joint has enough movement . go find good surgeon

[@PilatesandYogawithBunny]

Very interested in anyone who does yoga with this condition as I’m suffering terribly. Can’t wear protective footwear in yoga and a lot of bending the toe in lunges, planks etc.

[@almohvn33]

PLEASE PLAY MUSIC SO LOUD THAT YOU CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING... LIKE ME YELLING HERE.

[@sknuts2783]

And you are here because.......

[@musicaldramaqueen]

@@sknuts2783 To yell.

[@believeinyourself7511]

It will be 3 years since my fusion surgery December 2022. The ball of my foot hurts from the screws pushing down on each step I take. I am having fusion removal surgery next month.

[@yasminister2011]

Thank you for sharing. I have considered having this but think I’ll do whatever I can to avoid it. I know how hard it is having foot challenges xx

[@believeinyourself7511]

@@yasminister2011 You are welcome

[@mr.d352]

What other options are you considering once you have the fusion removal surgery? Implant?

[@saltydog888]

Will that be a big toe removal? Really? Please explain

[@believeinyourself7511]

@@saltydog888 No. I just had the fusion plate, screw and pins removed.

[@peterzana6260]

you should only consider the improvement of this surgery which is about 1/3. which is pretty poor chances compare to the implant surgery.

[@AlexHuntercreativememory]

I had the implant which has failed. Now waiting on fusion. I got the implant in the US and I’m now in the uk and my doc says they don’t do the implant because it fails so often. Plus now I have to get a bone graft from my heal due to having the implant first.

[@mlilledahl]

The music makes it difficult to listen to you.

[@alanduff2205]

And the accent is even worse.

[@Mooonchild711]

He talks too fast - set the video to play at .75x speed

[@sknuts2783]

Your problems aren't welcome here.

[@Mike-hg8ft]

I tried going back to work after this surgery, And man, was it painful😢😢

[@knasheed8092]

Hi! Thank you for sharing. I am having this procedure later this month. I have a VERY low tolerance for pain and I was wondering what pain level (from 1 - 10) I should expect post-surgery. Also, what pain medication did your doctor prescribe, for how long, and did it help? Lastly, how did you keep that small area iced, and were you able to sleep. Any guidance you are willing to provide would be appreciated.

[@nuttysigns7113]

Hopefully, you are not as unfortunate as I have been. A failed implant led to a fusion. This fusion is the worst thing I could have ever done. My entire foot doesn't function anymore. I can not walk barefoot, I lose my balance, I get cramps, shoes do not fit, it caused hammertoe, It's numb but sensitive to the touch. Forget about any of the shoes you already own. I have been desperately searching for someone who has performed successful fusion reversals, AND someone who won't suggest it for my second toe. I am told I am one of the few that has problems with fusions. I suggest you try something else first. It is inevitable that you will have a fusion years from now, anyway, so may as well try something else first. I have encountered many fusion happy surgeons. They will ALL suggest it because it is a super easy procedure. They will ALL tell you other options are not good ones. If you saw my foot and the way I have to walk, you would not have your toe fused.

[@Alex-lq1uf]

What other options are there though?

[@martinwitham4807]

Totally agree I'm in so much pain, buying shoes is never the same again, 10 +years ago had my toe done, it never been the same since, I looking to get second big toe removed as corns making life miserable, and keeps moving on to other toe.

[@AEK-ip3po]

@@Alex-lq1uf I had Capsular Interpositional Arthroplasty done 3 weeks ago in Sydney. Main reason is I spoke to past patients who were at least 12 months post op. After speaking to them I took the risk and tried this option to maintain movement in my big toe. Surgery went well(I even saw video of the op) and I'm hoping to be back in sneakers from next week. Like Nutty said, if this fails I can always fuse it later on. I spoke to 3 ortho specialists who were all against it and wanted to fuse, hence had to go with a podiatric surgeon who was very experienced with the procedure. Its all very messy researching which way to go. You have the fully medically trained orthos telling you fusion is "gold standard" and yet these are the same guys that used to also do the failed implants. Who to trust!!

[@Alexander-dt2eq]

actually a toe fusion is the best thing to do if your toe is in bad shape/pain. if done correctly you will have no pain and full function, in case you have movement in your lesser joint, you will not even notice you had a fusion.

[@sknuts2783]

@@Alexander-dt2eq In my case, it was the worst thing that could have been done. Four surgeons have told me everything is lined up right. It probably is according to numbers and angles. It is not right for my foot. My foot has become deformed as well as all of my toes. I can not feel my foot, I can not move my toes, and I get random foot cramps. I walk with a limp and I can not put pressure on the ball of my foot. I wish I had not taken the chance on this surgery. My life has literally been ruined. I am living proof that this is not the right surgery for everyone. Wanna see it?

[@vanessakohler319]

this is not really helpful because you talk about difficulty rather than Pain!! the reason most people do the bone fusion is to get rid of pain...like me. im hoping my surgery will let me get back out there to play beach volleyball pain free. I dont care if its more difficult. Ill keep you posted, had surgery a month ago and already feel so much better.

[@sknuts2783]

If you are someone like me, you can no longer do the things you used to. It ruined my life.

[@Cascaval42]

In Germany is an doctor who can reverse your operation and use His technique

[@sknuts2783]

@@Cascaval42 Unfortunately, I do not have the means to go to Germany. But, thank you.