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leepodiatry
Administrator
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Posted: Sat Mar 12th, 2005 03:23 am |
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I encourage you to talk with others and offer support and experiences.
Dr. Lee
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pceanluv
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| Joined: | Thu Mar 24th, 2005 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Thu Mar 24th, 2005 07:29 am |
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| My experience is not pleasant! I inherited it from my mother, she's fine with it, but it's embarrassing for me. I have 3 daughters as well, they are fortunate enough to not have developed the deformity. Now that I have learned that it can be corrected, this is something I really want to have done. It is so hard to find Sandals that don't show all my toes, it gets so frustrating. I will definitely be making an appointment soon to see if I am a candidate. This is something I believe will complete apart of my insecurities. The only thing I see beautiful about myself, is my personality
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princess72
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| Joined: | Wed Jun 1st, 2005 |
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Posted: Wed Jun 1st, 2005 04:48 pm |
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| Hi< I was wondering if you know of any doctors in Florida that deal with brachymetatarsia? I am 32 years old and I have had it since I was about 7 years old.I just found out what it was about 3 months ago, but I am very embarrassed to go see someone about it. I also do not have insurance.
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princess72
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Posted: Wed Jun 1st, 2005 04:53 pm |
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| I know how you feel. Always having to hide your feet. I am still doing that at 32 years old. My Mom never had my problem addressed by a doctor. I hate not being able to wear pretty sandals in the summer. I live in Florida, so we have a pool and all our family comes to our house since we have the biggest house. I never go in the pool unless I waer those ugly surf shoes. I feel like a fool having to wear those in the pool. I never knew what I had until a few months ago, when I got on the computer and tried to search what it was. I would like to have it fixed someday, but I'm not sure if that will ever happen.
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strennifer
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Posted: Wed Jun 8th, 2005 05:10 pm |
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| since i have been on this site I kind of feel alittle better about it. I'm 31 so I know what you feel like.
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gmherrera
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| Joined: | Fri Jul 8th, 2005 |
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Posted: Sat Jul 9th, 2005 12:25 am |
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i live in naples FL and i'm ninteen years old. i suuffer from this deformity in two of my toes in addition to both big toes suffering from bunyuns as well. i had become immune to the stares and constant interrigations from my swim team as a child but now i have made a committment to do something about it . I am a summertime server and the pain I endure is ridiculous, i can hardly balance and i have finally decided to do something about it. For those of you who still hide your toes....DONT. it is part of your body and you should always love them. Give yourself pedicures and take constant care of your feet, with or without the surgery your toes are a part of you
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2short
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| Joined: | Mon Jul 11th, 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Jul 12th, 2005 03:13 pm |
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I've heard of some risks involved in the surgery where the toe could collapse later. How probable is this?
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leepodiatry
Administrator
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Posted: Fri Jul 15th, 2005 03:59 am |
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| If the surgery is performed properly the toe will not collapse. Collapse of the toe could happen it the bone has not healed properly. Either walking on the foot too soon or the bone ends never sealed.
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2toes
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 3rd, 2005 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 3rd, 2005 07:49 am |
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| Hello I'm new to this site. I just found out what my deformity is called tonight. I read alot of the messages and I feel all of it. The pain and embarrasment.I'm a 48 male who is very into outdoor activities. I have went to great lengths to hide it. I blame at least one divorce on this. I hid it from my second wife for seven years. She never knew or if she did she never said anything. My adult kids 18 and 20 do not even know. I would not go to the beach or the pool. I would not shower where it might be seen. No hottubing etc... Man it has been hard. I am so glad to have found this sight I need to get this procedure done. I have both 4th metacarpel in the hands and 4th metatarsals on the feet. I know this will change my life totally around.
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brownie
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Posted: Tue Aug 9th, 2005 06:27 pm |
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Welcome to the site 2toes.
It's amazing to know that this condition has a name and can be corrected. Even more so to know that there are others out there (myself included) who share in the shamefulness and embarrasment of it. You were never alone. I just had the one step procedure done 4 weeks ago with Dr. Lee and I already feel better about myself. I, like you and many others, share in the many experiences that have such an emotional effect on so many aspects of your life. Blah, blah, I'm glad you found the site. Good luck to you and God Bless you.
brownie
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2toes
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Posted: Wed Aug 10th, 2005 02:03 am |
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| Hello Brownie Thank you for your reply and support. You know what? This is even kind of hard to do, I mean to talk with someone besides a doctor about this. I have felt so alone with this and kept running into walls with the professionals when I tried to seek help besides amputation which was the most common response. I am waiting for an appointment with my doctor right now to get the info Dr. Lee requires and I almost can't wait. I have already been dreaming about walking on the beach on some Island somewhere with out worries that someone will see my feet and point or something. The first time I emotionally realized they were different was when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I was at the city pool and was going up the high dive ladder and some girls that were coming up behind me started to point and laugh and make faces. Needless to say that was the last time I intentionally let my feet see the light of day or even go to a public pool. That was a long time ago. Like I said I almost can't wait. I would like to have some details if you or anyone else would not mind, on the costs- where you stayed-I live way up in the northwest an will need to stay, apparently for a couple of weeks.I would like to make arrangements way ahead of time I am single and really have no one I can trust to help me with out revealing it to others. So I will be traveling to the surgery by myself. Thanks again for responding
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ministry
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 12th, 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 01:49 am |
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Hello Everyone.
I am new to this site as of tonight. I recently found out what the condition was called last week. I have always wondered why my right foot, 4th toe was different and now I finally have a name to put with it. It is very embarassing and very uncomfortable to go shoe shopping and feel like nothing can fit you because of " the well kept secret". I like many others endured years of torment from kids in school and was and at times still very insecure about it. I am older now and the one thing that bothers me is when I began dating and I am my mid twenties, can I ever be comfortable enough to reveal my well kept secret to my significant other, and to go even deeper than that my mate???? It is a topic I often find myself holding my breath about...
I agree with all of the notes. Believe it or not I even shed tears while reading some of them. I caught myself saying THATS THE WAY I FEEL, THATS WHAT MY FOOT LOOKS LIKE. However, through the mist of tears, it is very comforting to know that you are not alone, and that just when you think your situation is aweful, someone else is just a little worse. I think the site is a excellent way to form a support system with other people who can relate and understand what its like waking up everyday and feeling NOT normal. I really appreciate one e-mail encouraging people to CLAIM your feet and keep yourself up because like or not, fixed or not, your feet are indeed apart of you. At this particular point in mylife I don't have a high pain tolerance and I am BLESSED not have endured any physical pain over the years with my foot. Now emotionally thats a different story. I think it is normal to wander what it would be like to have one foot look like the other. For those who get the surgery I commend you. For those who are glad to have a support system, I would like to say I am grateful that there is someone who can relate to me.
God Bless and remember to TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FEET!!
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ladym28
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| Joined: | Mon Sep 12th, 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 03:03 pm |
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Hi i'm 28yr old female living with fact that i have brachymetatarsia I thought for the longest that i was the only one in this world with this problem until i went online just to check on lamsil tablets and i decided to explore more on my feet. I felt that someone was really looking out for me because my feet can now get corrected. I use to cry all the time because my feet aren't just deformed on the two 4th toes but they are also brown. Which i know i had inherited from my grandmother and father. I know the feeling of wanting to wear open toed shoes or go to the beach without hiding your feet in the sand i too feel everybodys pain. I talked to my boyfriend last night about it and he tells me i shouldn't worry it's not that bad. In all fairness to me he doesn't have to live with this I do and it's embarrassing to wear any type of shoes that shoe your toes to the point socks and tennis shoes have been my best friend and i can't wait to get the money to actually afford this operation.
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ladym28
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Posted: Tue Sep 13th, 2005 03:34 pm |
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| This message is for ministry what i did when it came to my feet I waited until I found someone that i knew not only that i could trust letting them see my feet. But someone that i knew loved me for me and wouldn't let the fact that my feet were deformed let that get in the way of our relationship. Believe me i turned down a lot of dates with guys who had foot fetishes because i knew once they saw my feet that the relationship would be over. Even the guy that i'm with now i knew him for 8yrs and he just saw my feet for the first time about 5mts ago and the scary thing is he actually think their cute. So just keep your head up and everything will be alright in the long run.
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finally_others
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| Joined: | Tue Sep 13th, 2005 |
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Posted: Wed Sep 14th, 2005 03:12 am |
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i am 23 years old and it is great to know that i am not the only person out there with the "short toe". both of my feet have been this way for as long as i can remember. probably since the age of 7 or 8. but i look at pictures of myself from like 3 or 4 years old, and they look pretty typical. so i don't know when things changed. over the years, i have seen two other people with feet like mine, but i never bothered to talk to them about it. and both of them were the type of people that didn't care what people thought and would strut around in thong sandals. i just sat back and wished i could have been more like that. i'm not sure who i inherited this from. so far, i'm the only one in my family that has brachymetatarsia, that includes parents, sibs, aunts, uncles, cousins, the works. my mom has always told me "be happy you have ten toes cause there are people out there who don't even have that." but she has ten normal length toes so she has no idea what it feels like to hate going to the pool and feeling the need to hide your feet. swimming class in school was always torture. i managed for 7 years of swim classes in middle and high school to master the art of hiding my feet. no one ever noticed. i feel so jealous when i go shoe shopping with my sister, because she can find cute little flip flops or strappy sandals, while i search all summer to find relatively cute sandals that only shoe my first three toes. that is no easy task. my immediate family (mom, brother and sister) are the only people i feel comfortable walking barefoot around. my ex boyfriends and best friends have no idea about my brachymetatarsia, because none of them have EVER seem my feet. but now that i know it has a name and there are lots of others out there like me, it feels like such a weight has been lifted. i feel way more "normal" now. 
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brownie
Member
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Posted: Thu Sep 15th, 2005 11:17 pm |
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Hello 2toes.
Regarding your travel to southern California, it's a good idea if you can know ahead of time which hospital your procedure will be performed in and then get a hotel close to where it is. That is what I did, and planned on using a cab to get to and from the hospital (you really won't be able to drive). At the last minute one of my friends accompanied me and drove me to and from the hospital (though she did not know exactly what procedure I was having, she just knew it was a "foot" procedure. She believed it was an old foot injury, I said nothing to contradict). Dr. Lee took bone out of my heel (or ankle, can't quite remember) and put it in the top of my foot to lengthen that bone, thereby lengthening my toe.
Regarding the cost, well the hotel can be a little expensive in and of itself. Dr. Lee takes PPO plans only, so I switched my insurance over to Blue Shield PPO. I believe the total cost of the procedure was around $6,500.00 . However my co-pay and deductable totaled $1,000.00. RX about $30.00 for the pain meds.
My procedure was done on a Friday. I was back to work that following Tuesday in a cast and on crutches. I was driving by that weekend (I am blessed because I only had my right foot affected by this condition). For a couple months I drove with my right foot in the passenger seat. It becomes second nature after a while. Now I drive with my right foot tucked under my left calf. You do get a form to take to the DMV so that you can get a handicap placard.
The pain stayed with me for a good while, however after about 6 weeks, I experienced no pain at all. I have two weeks to go in my cast (out of 12 total weeks, and you switch the cast out every 3 weeks). I will then go into a walking boot for about a month. It has been a long summer, but more so because I am anxious to have a normal looking foot. And I will say that the times my cast has been changed out my foot looks amazingly near normal minus the swelling. The length is perfect, Dr. Lee was right on with that. I can wiggle my toes (but not the 4th one because the tendon is still pretty tight, I can only move it with my fingers for now). ABSOLUTELY NO PRESSURE for those 12 weeks though.
Sorry for the long post, but just wanted to answer some questions that I had, and you may have about what to look forward to. If you have anything else, let me know.
brownie
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fixmytoes
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| Joined: | Sun Sep 18th, 2005 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 12:42 am |
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| Hello everyone, i cant believe they have a website for this! i just found out what i had 6 months ago and decided this weekend to search more on it and the pictures they have posted i look like the bottom left one the guys foot! i just cant believe so many people have this. i remember i got it around 10 years old and the teacher wanted us to trace our barefoot and i was sooooo imbarssed. can anyone fill me in on how much the surgey may be and is it common for doctors to perfom this. i would love to get it done! lately i just been wearing flip flops but it is still imbarssing trying to cover my left foot with my right!!
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JahJah
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| Joined: | Mon Aug 22nd, 2005 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 19th, 2005 12:49 am |
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Hi Everybody,
I'm 17 years old and I had the callus distraction on right foot (fourth toe) in June. So far I'm satisfied with the results, I just want to know is there any body who had the surgery and was satisfied with the results.
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littletoe
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| Joined: | Fri Oct 7th, 2005 |
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Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 06:04 am |
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June 8, 1987. I was 13 and it was the most traumatic day of my life. Last day of school and I was registering for junior high marching band when the band director looked down at my right foot (also the last day I ever wore flip flops) and declared "wow...you've got a little toe!" My life has never been the same sense (mentally speaking). I can't believe I had ever noticed it before, but I truely hadn't! After the first comment the band director went on to tease me saying that all the kids would call me "little toe" tyler. Back then it wasn't at all as noticeable as it is now. Also, now I have pain on the ball of my foot constantly but I don't do anything about it because of the embarressment of having to show someone. My husband doesn't even know! This "little toe" has tried to ruin my life! It's the first thing I think about when I wake up and it takes up a large part of my private thoughts during the day. Only a handful of people have ever seen my bare feet. It affects my quality of life on a daily basis! Until tonight I didn't even know there was a name for my condition. I am so thankful that I found this site and FINALLY I know that I'm not the only one!!!! Bless all of you that have posted and shared this very secret part of yourself. Thank you Dr. Lee for this space! I cannot wait to be able to have the surgery done...I don't have insurance, so I'll have to figure out how to come up with the money.
p.s. My short toe is the 3rd on my right foot.
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finally
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Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 09:41 pm |
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| I'm 52 and reading these with my jaw dropped open. All these stories and feelings are mine. I can't beleive I have discovered what this is all about! All my life, the self-consciousness, sandals that cover the right spot, dreading pools, and mostly, thinking I was the only one and wondering how that could be. My parents were aware, but just ignored it, so I did, too. I was too embarrassed to even discuss it. I only have it on the right foot, and it's not even the worst case, butI hated it like the rest of you. I don't think I would go through the bother of the surgery at this point, but I feel so "freed" anyway, just understanding what it is. Boy, oh boy.....
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finally
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Posted: Thu Jan 12th, 2006 09:42 pm |
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| You took the words right out of my mouth.
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pretender
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 24th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sat Feb 25th, 2006 05:10 am |
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| I feel every one pain. I just found out tonight that i have Brachymetatarsia, WOW. My mother told me the samething. I am tired of people asking me why I wear swim shoes in the pool, Why don't you wear open toe shoes. I just want to be close to being normal. I am happy that i found this web site. I am also looking into getting surgery.
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ChainGangBling09
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 30th, 2005 |
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Posted: Tue Mar 28th, 2006 06:18 am |
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| I know exactly how everyone here feels and am very relieved to know that I'm not the only person w/this condition.I've lived w/brachymetatarsia for 15 years of my life and I absolutely dread it. And I am the only person in my family to have this condition,nobody else that I know of in my family has had this.I hate when spring and summer come around and all the girls my age are coming to school wearing those rainbow flip flops and cute little kitten heels w/those spring dresses while I have to sit back and where those flats that cover the front part of your feet.I only feel comfortable walking around my house barefooted around my mom,dad,brother,my grandparents,my aunt,and my best friend.Not even my brother's girlfriend knows about it b/c I'm too afraid to tell her,she might think I'm some kind of freak or something.Everytime I go to the beach,I always end up bringing those ugly aqua shoes to wear to the pool and down to the beach and always trying to hide my feet.I've talked to my mom about this and she said nobody cares about your foot but you,but it's kinda hard to avoid it when people sit there and stare at your foot the whole time.I'm always upset when I go to pick out cute spring dresses and I find the perfect open toe sandals to go w/it and I can't get them b/c I'm the type of person who worries about what other people think.It's also dreadful when I'm at the beach and all my friends and family are wearing flip flops and I'm stuck having to wear tennis shoes or some other sort of shoes that cover up my feet.But my parents have promised me that when I turn 16,for my birthday,they are going to let me get my surgery and I can't wait.I have it on the third toe on my left foot.I'm so glad I'm not the only one living w/this problem.
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kap18
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| Joined: | Wed Mar 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Mar 29th, 2006 08:51 pm |
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| Hi im new to this forum! I'm 18 y/o and from St.Petersburg, Florida. I have this on one of my toes, and i hate it! I only have one pair of flipflops that i could find that cover it. I surf very frequently so it gets me very frustrated not being able to flaunt my feet. Whenever I go to the beach to surf or just to lay out, I make sure my toe is burried in the sand. I cant enjoy most of the activites that teenagers my age do, because of this. I really want to get it fixed, and really soon. I have insurance but haven't looked into it to see if it would cover this type of surgery. I live on my own and work full time, and go to college part-time, so I really dont have the type of money to get this done. If I could, I would love to make payments of some sort. It would be a dream come true to be able to show my feet in public! Dr.Lee's before and after pictures make me want to come to him and get it done. Does anyone know of any doctors here in Florida that do as good as a job? Thank You.
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flapatsfans
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Posted: Thu Apr 13th, 2006 03:13 am |
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hello kap18,
i live just south of Sarasota and recently have gotten one of my feet fixed. I did one stage lengthening, and have a short toe bone too so it really is two stages. If you are interested in seeing my doctor just contact me and ill give you the information.
hope i can help
Last edited on Tue Jun 6th, 2006 05:29 am by leepodiatry |
Fresno
Member
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Posted: Fri Apr 14th, 2006 10:53 pm |
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I am a 36 year old who has Brachymetatarsia on both feet. Wow... I didn't know there was a name for this or that other people have it also. I have seen many doctors that could tell me why it was happening, but no diagnosis and no realistic treatment options.
I am experiencing more foot pain in my 30's than ever before. This may be because I am more active or because I am older. Either way, the discomfort is motivating me to do something. Having normal feet would be nice, but I have never tried to hide my feet. I take great care of my feet (because of my deformity), so they are actually quite pretty considering...
I am discouraged... haven't found a local doctor who is familiar with one stage lengthening. I would also need my insurance to cover a good portion...
Lisa in Fresno
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bluemarleycat
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Posted: Thu Apr 27th, 2006 09:55 pm |
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| Hello everyone! I am new to this site, and like many others I just found out that I am not the only person in the world that suffers from this! Although I am saddened that other people have had to endure the same sort of feelings as I have for nealy 30 years, I am also comforted by the fact that I can share many of my experiences and actually have someone understand them. I have this deformity on both feet; my third toe on my right foot and my second toe on my left foot. I relised I was different from the age of about 5 when my brother and sister started making fun of my feet. I felt so ashamed, so embarassed that I went to great efforts to hide my feet ever since. I thought of every excuse possible to get out of going to the beach, swimming, why I don't wear sandles, etc. I was married for nearly 2 years before I revealed my feet to my now ex-husband. My current boyfriend of 4 years still hasn't seen them or if he has he hasn't said anything. I have suffered so many years with this condition and the pain, embarassment and frustration of not being "normal" has been practically unbearable at times. I know I am missing out on so much b/c I am so ashamed of my feet. I have tried to overcome this a million times, but just can't. I am seriously thinking of having the surgery, but don't know if I can afford to stay off my feet for 8 weeks let alone pay the cost. Does anyone have any info on the external fixator? That sounds like a good option instead of going under the knife. Does anyone know how much it is able to lengthen the toe? I have one very, very short toe. I thank you in advance for any info you can provide.
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shorttoescanada
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Posted: Thu Apr 27th, 2006 11:40 pm |
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| <DELETED BY USER> Last edited on Sat Feb 16th, 2008 04:17 pm by leepodiatry |
bluemarleycat
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Posted: Mon May 1st, 2006 06:46 pm |
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Thank you for your reply Shortoescanada! I really appreciate the information you provided. May I ask how much the surgery cost? Did insurance cover any of the surgery, hospital, etc.? I do have a lot of pain in my feet, but I've always had pain in my feet so I guess I've just b/co used to it. I was hoping that maybe the pain would have some impact of getting my insurance to pay some for the surgery. Without help from insurance, there is no way I can do anything. I have an HMO plan and have to go to my primary care doctor to get referred to someone. Would you first get referred to a podiatrist or a surgeon? Was there any kind of pre-test involved before surgery? How painful is it?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I can't tell you how nice it is being able to talk to someone about this. I never share how I feel about my feet with anyone. So thankyou from the bottom of my heart.
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shorttoescanada
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Posted: Fri May 12th, 2006 10:10 am |
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| <DELETED BY USER> Last edited on Sat Feb 16th, 2008 04:18 pm by leepodiatry |
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