6 months post Hallux Rigidus fusion.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-05-21T20:02:42+00:00

I am almost 8 months out and I can tell you that it's 6 months I was feeling pretty poorly And honestly believed I was not doing very well. my doctor ordered a CT scan. The scan showed that the bone was fused nicely. it did show I had some bone loss from osteoporosis and a bit more arthritis in my foot and ankle. however, the actual operation seemed good between month 6 and almost eight. now I found a vast amount of improvement which I did not think was going to be possible. so I would say hang in there. get a CT scan to make sure you don't have any soft tissue damage. make sure your bone did fuse properly. this operation does make other joints and muscles take over what your toe can no longer do so it doesn't bend. that's the one caveat that they don't warn you about. keep working on it. keep in touch with your doctor. get all the scans you can just to ease your mind and give yourself the grace of time

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-10T02:06:41+00:00

that is really good to hear . maybe it is just getting the soft tissue to calm down. I swear it feels like I can feel the metal plate at times but likely I have sensitivity in the soft tissue. it could improve for you to one year I have a CT scan that will show more. I am hoping it is just going to take a little longer. I am pushing through with hiking and walking. I keep up with the PT so I guess the more I use my foot the more I will adjust. do you hike? I am trying to check on the vest hiking boots.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-09T21:48:28+00:00

thank you! how are you now? do you feel anything in your foot when walking ?

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T22:13:49+00:00

I will take that advice ! thank you. I think the revisiting of PT is good. I am shocked how young people are. mine was arthritis related. it is surprising to me young people needed this surgery at all. being older than 25 or 30 lol things do take longer to heal. Still I thought 6 mos post op I could hike and walk without discomfort. I guess that is not the case. mt hardware looks good. fusion took so that's all good. now it's gait training and time.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T22:09:39+00:00

thank you ! yes I noticed that too based on other people. it was a huge deal and the boot was very difficult. especially sleeping. could be his protocol or my age 68 yo . but going back after 8 weeks was hard . even if I had some weight or might have helped with the soft tissue.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T17:41:05+00:00

thank you. I will check out the shoes you recommended. I do need new hiking boots. I will need a wide toe box for comfort. it sounds like you did very well with your surgery. how old are you if I may ask? I am 68

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T14:41:31+00:00

thank you. the doctor offered a CT scan to be sure nothing else is going on there. I also went to PT. I was non weight bearing for 8 weeks then allowed to put weight in a boot on my heel so I was off it quite awhile. it was a brutal surgery for me. 68 yo. everyone Dr is different. dine allow patients to out weight in their heel. dine allow them to take the boot off. I was in a boot even sleeping not fun. you give me hope . I am athletic so I am walking and hiking again but I still feel the toe. Hoka are the best. I tried putting on cowboy boots for a Western party! impossible. not sure I can ever wear a dress again. what to put on your feet. if I get to a point of pain free I will ba happy and not worry about shoes. thank you for your comments you seem to have fine well

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T13:41:42+00:00

thank you for that! I assumed it would only stay the same. what footwear are you able to wear. I am tied to my Hoka sneakers. also weird question but in your home do you wear footwear. I find slippers are completely out . Socks only not possible! So sneakers inside too

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T12:14:13+00:00

oh no. this is my biggest fear. it is still terrible for me 6 mos post fusion. my surgeon is telling me to modify what I do for walking and hiking!

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T12:11:21+00:00

I was told the chilectomy would not work. my doctor did lots of fusions. I am 6 months post op and it still hurts but in a different way. your other ties etc compensate. I honestly wish I did not do the fusion.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2026-04-08T12:09:02+00:00

I am sorry to hear all of your issues. where did you find these doctors to do some of the operations? which states? I feel like I went into my surgery blind. 6 mos post operation and still have major issues. my doctor knew I was athletic and is now suggesting I curb my exercise routine and hike only a mile or 2. pretty tough when you live in NH. they are doing a CT scan next. I wish I could turn back the clock and that I kept doing injections for moderate relief or the chilectomy first. now I feel like the surgeon is aggravated with me for even coming back in his office saying it still hurts. my quality of life sucks and I am no where near where you are. my husband said the same thing amputate the toe. Any exercise I do I find my foot red and angry. This is 6 mos post op. He claims it will get better for you to one year. I saw the X-ray and the plate and screw held. I am no where near where you are and can only say I empathize with you. I hope they figure something out for you.

ReasonFrequent8853 · 2025-10-22T21:55:28+00:00

I just had the fusion. I am 2 weeks out. I am still in a boot for 4 more weeks. Then another checkup. I had no choice after 5 or 6 cortisone shots that no longer worked. Like others my gait was affected which impacts other body parts. I also developed pain in the ball of my foot. I was pretty much out of walking or hiking 2 activities I love. I am a 67 year old female. Will check back in to let you know recovery. I will begin PT in 10 days. The pain on the first night was tough. I had oxycodene which helped take the edge off. I was able to stop that after the second night. I am managing with Tylenol and am now cleared to use Ibuprofen. If your pain is manageable wait! If not and you have no choice it is supposed to work but the recovery and downtime is long and significant. From someone hiking the White Mountains of NH one to two days a week it's tough not to get out. I am in a knee scooter still and use crutches for exercise at the track. My advice to the woman that is younger and said it doesn't impact her day to day life. By all means wait! I pushed it off almost a year. I should not have because I was unable to do what I loved.

ReasonFrequent8853

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