Holy Hallux Valgus Batman

Translation: Sorry my genes code for jacked up feet. The picture below is the last one I took in 2006 before I had my first bunion surgery to correct my right foot. It was the more severe case, which you can sort of see from the pictures. Well, the surgery went great however, I was in a cast for 2 months not allowed to walk, which made me go bonkers. Yet, over the past year, I was having some issues with the big toe joint of my right foot again, not to mention the left foot surgery needed to be accomplished. Now the photo below was taken today.

ON THE LEFT: You are looking at a 10 day post-op photo of a bunion-ectomy. The left foot required two screws to be positioned in my first metatarsal. I was walking on my feet (limited time with crutches) immediately.

ON THE RIGHT: This surgery is the second surgery on this foot. The first surgery included a major reconstruction of my right first metatarsal including 3 screws and a metal plate. Well, over the last four years the toe joint has become very flexible and formed some scar tissue which collectively made the toe start moving out (see prior post x-ray). SO, the two surgeons who operated on my feet made two incisions: One is obviously on top to re-fashion the allignment and hardware. The second is hard to see, but it is actully on the instep of my foot where they went in and cut a tendon that was pulling my toe out of straightness. Finally, they placed a pin in the joint which will remain there for another 4 weeks or so.

Below: Close up of the left foot (he cut that callus off with an x-acto knife after this pic was taken).

Below: Close up of the right foot, round two. Funny thing is that I wasn't ever expecting to see the pin sticking out of my foot, nor did I realize there would be two cuts. I just thought it was some little simple thing. But, the Dr. didn't want to commit to anything concrete with me until he "was in there."

The good news is that I'm walking around. I'm limited in my time on my feet, but thankful I'm not in a cast like last time.

4 Years and 2 Metatarsals Later

It is time to have the left foot operated on. I had the right bunion removed exactly four years ago. It kept me off of my feet for 8 weeks. It was super frustrating to have a one year old that didn't walk along for the recouperation too. Now, I'm having pretty uncomfortable nerve pain everyday in my left foot, so I know it is time. Here are my most recent x-rays:
You can see that the right foot still has the hardware in the otherwise straight bone. Now, the top of that big toe has shifted because of scar tissue, so my doctor is going to actually do a "little procedure" on my right toe joint to make it straight during the same time next week when I have the left bunionectomy. Wish me and my family luck. I will be in a cast for Christmas - time - cheer.