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nisha1984
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 07:15 pm |
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| Its hard trying to figure out which surgery really to have. Ive seen pics of some people who had the one stage, and Ive seen pics of people who have had external device with Drs other than Dr Lee..and they are all fabulous. Lol. I honestly dont know .....well for convienance, Dr. Lee's one stage surgery is better. No device to bump again a wall or ...have someone to step on, no turning..no skin stretching and....all that good jazz. But for those of us who cant afford to travel to AZ for a week, the external device is also an option that actually has been having good results. Ive had the external device and since now I have kids, Im scared to try it again for the sake of my son stepping on my foot like he often does NOW! But one stage surgery seems so out of reach financially. California is in a budget crisis and most of us are getting laid off and our hours and wages are being cut. So...for now, it looks like the external device is back at the top of my list. At least Im happy to know that there is hope for us who have to have the external device. Good luck and congrats to all my brachymetatarsia survivors. LOL! Last edited on Fri Jun 12th, 2009 07:16 pm by nisha1984 |
immetimes2
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| Joined: | Sat Jun 6th, 2009 |
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| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 04:48 pm |
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| Hey nisha....girl it seems like im debating between the two. too.I am 23 years old and feel like I need the surgery now. Which one is better in your opinion? With the one stage I have read a lot of people saying that the toe is still a little short. what do you think?
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brachybratt
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Posted: Sat Jun 13th, 2009 06:46 pm |
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Hey Nisha!
I think your making the right choice for you. You just need to find the surgery that works best for YOU, AND the right Dr. Make a little list of the "pros" and "cons" and see which one wins. It is very costly to see Dr Lee, and you don't want to go broke getting this surgery, but atleast going with him your almost guaranteed to have wonderful results. That doesn't mean you wont with another Dr though. Obviously there are many good Dr.s out there, I think finding them is really the hard part. (Have you found a Dr btw?)As far as the 1-stage goes, your obviously going to have to still be very, very cautious with your kids, but your not going to have that external sticking out of your foot, but youll be fine with that, your a pro, youve already had that done! You actually have an upper-hand, because youve had the external surgery before, and know what comes with it. Atleast if you have to go to another Dr for the surgery, (and most likely will have to get the external fixation) you know what to expect. I briefly considered having another Dr do my surgery on the other foot, but then I decided not to, because I only have one foot left, and figure Ill just save up for the expenses a head of time, and just go see Dr.Lee and get it over with. Plus, for me, Im already used to him and am so comfortable and very confident in his work, I personally couldn't imagine starting all over with another Dr to do my surgery. But, I don't have kids like you do, so Im positive, if I did, things would be different. I just wish there was a way that Dr.Lee's patients didn't have to stay out there so long, I think thats what holds people back. But I know he has good reason for it. Dr.Lee is very, very cautious of his patients care, and just wants them to heal 100%perfect. I just feel bad for the people who cant see him because of that, a week or so is very long! Anywhoo, I just wanted to say good luck,and whatever choice you choose is going to be the best for you!
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nisha1984
Member
| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 15th, 2009 05:26 pm |
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immetimes2,
Im always debating ...Id rather do this surgery with Dr Lee so that I can see immediatley results, but the only problem is the length of stay in Arizona. With 2 small children, a job, and a fiance with a job, we cant get away to Arizona for a whole week and financially still have our heads above water when we get back home. California is so screwed up economically, and everyones hours are gettin cut, blah blah....its just hard for me to think about being able to go to Arizona and shell out a bunch of money when I can try to have the surgery here where I stay. So to be honest I dunno which surgery is better. It always depends on who is doing it, I say. Dr. Lee is very experienced with this condition, but there are also other doctors who can do the external device with success also. So....I dunno. But I will always say, Dr. Lee would be my first choice if I could afford it.
Thanks BrachyBratt,
I understand your point of view also. Im telling you, If I had of had the surgery when I first found this site (This was before I had ANY kids) I would have definetly went to AZ with no problem..its just harder when you have other financial obligations. Harder for parents with children to travel so far and stay a week. I mean, its do-able, but....I dunno. Thanks for listening though.
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nisha1984
Member
| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 9th, 2009 05:14 pm |
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| So..my podiatrist called last night after reviewing the Xrays that I just had done. I missed his call, but when I listened to the message I was kinda dissapointed to hear the doctor say that my toe bone was short also. I didnt think it was, Dr. Lee hadnt mentioned that, oh no...maybe he did. Im not sure, Id have to look through my notes. But the doctor said he could do the grafting method (Which I dont think I will be going through with)..but he said that this wont give me as much length as gettin the external device, Said he could only get about 1/2mm or however you say it. Lol. Im like..I need more length then that so I think Im gonna go ahead and do the external unless he can talk me out of it. What do you guys think? I should go take a pic of my foot.
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happee_feet
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 17th, 2009 |
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| Posts: | 102 |
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Posted: Thu Jul 9th, 2009 08:01 pm |
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Nisha-I think you should get the external fixator, especially since you already know what to expect. Since you've already done it once, you should go for the route that will allow you to see the most length.
If you do get the fixator will you get Dr. Lee to do it or this podiatrist?
I wish I were not so afraid of that d*mn fixator. There is a doctor in Baltimore that will do both feet at once and allow for immediate weight bearing! DOH!
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nisha1984
Member
| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Fri Jul 10th, 2009 05:03 pm |
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GOSH!!! I called and left the doctor a message saying sorry that I had missed his call, and to give me a call back. Well he did and of course my phone was dead so he left a message and didnt sound so happy. GOODNESS. I guess I will just have to wait for him to give me a call later on.
Happee..I am gonna just go for the external fixator. It will give me the best results. And I am going to have the procedure done by a podiatrist where I live, not Dr. Lee. I am having a bbay in September and doubt I can make it to Arizona for the surgery now.
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LHR32
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jul 17th, 2008 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 59 |
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Posted: Fri Jul 10th, 2009 08:16 pm |
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| honestly i would say do the external fixator its really not that bad i promise! and happee feet for sure you should do it. You have to look at it this way. a couple of months of discomfort to enjoy your feet for a lifetime! If i could peer pressure someone into doing anything it would be to get this problem fixed via an external fixator! lol Good luck! Last edited on Fri Jul 10th, 2009 08:16 pm by LHR32 |
nisha1984
Member
| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Fri Jul 10th, 2009 11:30 pm |
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| Yeah...External Device to me...is the way to go. I mean, I hear so much about the one stage and the bone grafting not getting enough length. Even the podiatrist that Im seein now, he offered to do the grafting but said that Id still be short..so why even do it? Ima go head and do the external device again. Its perfect because I will be off work for maternity leave anyhow...I can hit 2 birds with 1 stone..have my baby and then get the external device within the time that Im off work. I will be back at work with a new foot, new shoes, new body without a huge belly AND a new attitude. Lol
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happee_feet
Member
| Joined: | Tue Feb 17th, 2009 |
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| Posts: | 102 |
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Posted: Mon Jul 13th, 2009 03:59 pm |
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lol, I actually wish I could be peer pressured into doing it! I just get queasy thinking about all that metal sticking out of my foot. And then turning it myself! *cringes* I'm a big baby though, so maybe I'm over dramatic about it all. I don't know!
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brachybratt
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Posted: Wed Jul 15th, 2009 04:12 pm |
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Hey Nisha,
Aww dont worry about that short toe bone, from what I hear, ALOT of people with brachy have it. Dr.Lee never mentioned that I had it during my phone consultation, and it may be, because it is so common. I had to ask him about it, after reading through these posts, and basically learning about it on this great forum, it was a major concern of mine. And what it comes down to, is that if its going to be short in the end, its going to be short, no matter what surgery you have. If Dr.Lee can do the 2nd surgery, Im defiantly having it done when I go back for my right foot, I figure I makes sense while Im there, and then I could get the right foot's 2nd surgery done whenever.
Did you notice that your toe was shorter after your first surgery? If you didnt, then I wouldnt worry to much about it. Do you only have the shortening in 1 foot?
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nisha1984
Member
| Joined: | Fri Apr 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Sacramento |
| Posts: | 122 |
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Posted: Wed Jul 15th, 2009 04:19 pm |
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BrachyBratt...
I meant to say ...well I didnt know I had a short toe. Dr. never mentioned it with my first surgery and neither did Dr. Lee. He only mentioned that I had hammertoe on my brachy toe..so....I dunno. But what I meant to say is..Im not having that grafting that my podiatrist is talking about because he said I would only get so much length. Which I think is even shorter than what Dr. Lee's one stage surgery would have got me. So I dont want to do that. He said that the external device would give more length..thats why Im gonna go with that. I just dont see goin through with the surgery and the foot still looks the same..I mean the floating would be gone and I think thats my biggest problem...hmm...Now that I think of it...I need to talk to the podiatrist cause I keep missing his call. I have a billion questions. And yes I only have brachy on one foot, 1 toe. I never thought the toe itself looked short but..who knows
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