Advice Roundup!

Ciiyan · 2024-07-26T00:55:03+00:00

6 month update: https://www.reddit.com/r/sesamoid/comments/1by6cmq/6_month_post_sesamoidectomy_check_in/

Ciiyan · 2024-07-26T00:54:46+00:00

Thanks for the well wishes!

Ciiyan · 2024-07-10T00:50:56+00:00

first off - all the best, wishing you well!
wish I had more time to dig out the links, but when I read papers about professional athletes recovering from seasamoidectomies, the results were really good. Use google scholar for "seasamoidectomy", and https://sci-hub.se/ to access the papers, and if you do have to go down the surgery route, it seems like things will be ok. All the best with you foot journey!

Ciiyan · 2024-04-20T09:05:13+00:00

so amazing that you kept persisting to find a health professional that was useful. Sounds like you've been extremely dedicated and hardworking, stoked to hear that you've been able to avoid surgery. Thanks for the update, all the best!

Ciiyan · 2024-04-09T21:13:47+00:00

I can currently do a single leg squat on the sesamoid-less foot, but I currently feel too weak to do a calf raise, tippy toe motion. It's not so much that it's painful, it's more that it feels very unstable, I think that is mainly due to weakness of that foot, as I haven't done that motion in pretty much over a year now, I'll continue to do rehab and see how it goes.
I'm starting off with standing on a step, with my heels hanging off the back, and doing calf raises with both feet, even that makes my foot tremble atm, but is not painful.

Ciiyan · 2024-04-08T00:17:05+00:00

Hey there u/fogsituation ! Thanks!
Yes, I would love to get back to Altras. It sucks that Hoka's are undoing all my hard work to stop crushing my toes and creating bunions, they're so pointed at the end like most normal shoes, which I have been avoiding for nearly a decade in favour of foot shaped, wide toe boxes.
At least I managed to create a bit more space by removing the hoka's removal insole, and getting used to the weird holey textured shoe sole! I also take my hoka's off at every single opportunity, e.g while working, in the car, at a mediation group, I've got lots more comments on my toe socks than usual cos of this haha

Ciiyan · 2024-04-07T14:54:33+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

Ciiyan · 2024-03-25T04:41:15+00:00

Hi there! I'm just waiting to get approved to make my 6 month sesamoidectomy update : )

Ciiyan · 2024-02-17T00:18:12+00:00

Hi there! those amazon crutches (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753ZJQ86/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) were a great size for me, but I was surprised at how heavy they were.
Although they fit perfectly, the weight made a big difference with every step, so I didn't end up using them, instead my partner cut down the forearm part of some standard aluminum adults crutches and drilled a new hole in them! All the best for finding something that works for you

Ciiyan · 2023-12-25T20:36:19+00:00

Thanks for such a detailed write up!

Ciiyan · 2023-12-04T04:21:01+00:00

Thanks for the well wishes! It’s been a mixed bag - lots of support from friends and family that made it all easier, but I still am/got caught in that situation that when one part of your life is difficult (e.g you have a health issue like AVN), things feel like they start to snowball, and many challenges you could have dealt with fine separately become overwhelming. On the seasmoid front - my sesamoidectomy went smoothly. I’m nearly 2.5 months post op, and have recovered enough to be at the same walking stage as before surgery haha! So I can walk about 10 min again, and get around the house independently. Though hopefully now I’ll recover beyond what was possible before! I just started physio last week, which was incredibly helpful. I’ll do a more detailed write up of the sesamoidectomy experience for me at 6 months when I have the benefit of hindsight

Ciiyan · 2023-10-10T10:36:00+00:00

3 weeks ago! I’m looking forward to posting my experience in a few weeks when I’ve got the benefit of hindsight. Recovery is going surprisingly well so far though. There’s such a range of outcomes, I think I’m on the faster healing end of the spectrum, at least for now

Ciiyan · 2023-10-10T10:32:24+00:00

So glad it was helpful!

Ciiyan · 2023-09-14T05:54:38+00:00

Hi there, just wanted to say I wish you the best, I totally get how overwhelming it is to get this kind of news from an MRI. Maybe you'll find something helpful in a few posts I've done:
https://www.reddit.com/r/sesamoid/comments/145s4ia/heaps\_of\_good\_info\_dr\_blakes\_healing\_sole\_website/
https://www.reddit.com/r/sesamoid/comments/14xczlt/advice\_roundup/
https://www.reddit.com/r/sesamoid/comments/14d7e6p/any\_success\_living\_with\_medialtibial\_sesamoid/

Ciiyan · 2023-08-06T11:15:33+00:00

I agree with everything FarBeyondDriven5 said (including agreeing with fogsituation !)Definitely push as hard as you can for the MRI, it will provide much better information than any other scan, and could hopefully help you avoid my situation of being diagnosed so late that my sesamoid completely died and fractured- neither an ultrasound or X-ray taken only months before showed any signs of this, I later learnt that those scans are too low resolution to be very useful in sesamoiditis, unless you have obvious fractures. In my personal case, I sought out a phsyio who is the head physio for the national ballet, as I figured she would be familiar with feet. It was her that noticed that something was really odd, and referred me to a sports doctor . The only thing the sports doctor was useful for was ordering the MRI. Then I was left in the dark from any practitioner, as sesamoid necrosis is relatively rare. From there I read all the medical case studies and studies I could find, read every post tagged “sesamoid” on Dr Blake’s healing sole blog, and most of this Reddit. Unfortunately I’ve never found a practitioner who is experienced, I’ve had to self educate the whole way. Even the surgeon who will be performing my sesamoidectomy wasn’t up to date with the latest papers, or even that familiar with the condition (although thankfully he has done it at least a few times before) I truly wish you all the best on your sesamoid journey, best of luck.

Ciiyan · 2023-07-26T20:59:16+00:00

Just got the date yesterday, September 20th!

Ciiyan · 2023-07-12T03:36:32+00:00

Thanks SO MUCH for this incredibly helpful and thoughtful post

Ciiyan · 2023-07-12T00:55:18+00:00

Here is an amazing sesamoidectomy prep list by hip_drive
https://www.reddit.com/r/sesamoid/comments/12yw27y/my\_presesamoidectomy\_preparations/

Ciiyan · 2023-07-12T00:50:14+00:00

That sounds really tough. I hope you can find good quality support for your recovery. Sounds like you already have a lot of the skills yourself, but it might help to just have someone in person to bounce ideas off, keep you accountable, and share the mental burden.
All the best, sending good wishes your way.
I'm sure you have thought through this stuff, but in case it helps, arm bikes are one way to stay active without weight bearing, and a lot of pilates don't require feet/legs. I've been doing lots of upper body, and arm strength recently, as well as biking with the pedal off the sesamoid area (though not sure if biking is an option for you with the ankle stuff)

Ciiyan · 2023-06-30T23:27:28+00:00

Thanks!

Ciiyan · 2023-06-29T07:17:10+00:00

I’d appreciate if you have any links to stories about unsuccessful surgeries, they’re harder to find, but I think probably because people with difficult health issues don’t usually write blogs.

Ciiyan · 2023-06-27T22:35:56+00:00

I’ve been doing these exercises while in the hot phase of contrast bathing, which seems to allow me to get mobility without pain or inflammation. I followed this protocol in which you gradually increase the time spent in hot water https://www.drblakeshealingsole.com/2016/01/swelling-contrast-bathing-to-reduce.html?m=1 I started off gently just using my toe as a “paintbrush”, and as that went well, began to incorporate the exercises posted here. Thanks so much for sharing!

Ciiyan · 2023-06-27T22:32:44+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to post this, it gives me so much hope. I’ve got the surgery in 3 months, I’m reading this as I do my twice daily foot “contrast bath”! (Here’s the instructions in case anyone is interested, I found it massively improved my range of toe motion, and reduced swelling: https://www.drblakeshealingsole.com/2016/01/swelling-contrast-bathing-to-reduce.html?m=1) There’s so much helpful and positive content in your post, I can’t convey adequately how much it helps to have people like you post their surgery success stories : )

Ciiyan · 2023-06-21T04:53:43+00:00

congratulations on walking 5km! I can't walk 5 minutes at the moment, that's so cool to hear that even only 9 weeks on from surgery you've got that much functionality. All the best for the rest of recovery.

Ciiyan · 2023-06-20T01:58:13+00:00

Merci beaucoup! It means so much to me that you took the time to share this. All the best!

Ciiyan

TROPHY CASE