I knew of several folks years ago that ended up severing the tendons on the smaller toes to alleviate total pain from birdclaw effect..........anybody here have that done? to alleviate the constant pain?
Welcome to Parkinson Life Center of Southern New Jersey's resource on Claw Toes and Hammer Toes.
Results of Tendon Release Surgery
Tendon release surgery allows the muscle to stretch out, allowing the joint to have a fuller range of motion. Although some strength will be lost, the release will help to promote better posture and range of movement. In some cases, it can even improve the patient’s ability to walk, stand, and perform other activities.
While it may take several months before the patient is able to engage in strenuous activities –most patients experience immediate pain relief. Talk with a qualified surgeon to learn more, or to see if you are a candidate for tendon release surgery.
cheers!
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beehive23
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Hi beehive23, off topic just briefly. Are you abeekeeper/farmer? My husband of 49 yrs is a bee farmer in UK hence honeycombe3. If you are thinking of any intervention in your feet then I should think again. I had a simple op by the acknowledged expert in our area. It was a disaster which left me in pain til this dsy . I then started researching the op surgeons and patient feedback. This mostly started as a success with negativity deve!going as time went by.
Thanks for that i will definitely try everything i can , i have several friends in the past that endeed up doing this and im getting tired of THE DAMN PAIN..........whew sorry........cheers..........whew...........
Have you tried orthotic inserts? Do you have a good podiatrist in, your area? Or a neurophysiotherapist? These are some of the treatments I have tried over 16 yrs of mainly PD related pain. It didn't help that a few yrs ago a 30+ yr old foot injury sprang into life after all those yrs of minute movements had caused the nerves to be exposed. Osteoarthritis is very painful condition!
Beehive23, if I were in your shoes (no pun intended), I would thoroughly research all options before having tendons severed. I say that for two reasons. One reason is that when I was first diagnosed with PD approximately 7 years ago, the neurologist who diagnosed me was looking at my feet and said, "Don't ever let anyone cut on your feet. Parkinson's is a nerve problem, not a muscle problem."
The second reason is that approximately 25 years ago, I broke my left lower leg in two different places at the same time. Before the operation, the surgeon told me that he would have to put a metal plate and 9 screws into my leg to get it back together, and he might have to sever a nerve in doing so. Back then, I didn't question doctors like I do now, and I was mainly concerned about being able to walk again. Several years after the operation, I became aware that I had no control over the fifth toe in that left foot. The sensations were fine, but I could not move it independently of the other toes like I could move the fifth toe on my right foot. Over the years, I think that dysfunction has been a contributing factor to a domino-like progression of knee, leg, hip, and spinal problems.
So, my experience would cause me to search high and low for alternatives to severing a tendon. Of course, I know that constant pain changes things.
Now, when the Parkinson's levodopa starts to wear off, all my toes grip the floor as if the earth really is flat and I'm about to fall off! But, as soon as the next dose of levodopa takes effect, my toes relax. I have found that when the medication is on (and only when on), if I will gently massage my feet and lower legs, pull my toes out and away from my foot, and use a set of toe seperators for a few minutes while I'm sitting and relaxing, the next time my toes start gripping the floor for dear life, it's not quite so sever.
Toe seperators were recommended to me by an orthopedist. If you are not familiar with them, you can go online to Amazon and search for toe seperators. You'll find several different styles.
I had the tendons in 3 of my toes cut about 6 years ago before I was officially diagnosed with PD. I was having severe pain from constantly gripping my toes due to balance issues and I was just about begging my podiatrist to do something about the pain. It was an in-office procedure and it did help relieve the pain but I had already done major damage to the joints in those toes so I ended up having surgery months later to have the joints removed from 3 toes and screws inserted.
Most days I am not affected by the cut tendons but the toe movement is restricted when trying to stretch my toes downward. Any pain or restriction in my toes is mainly from the screws, not the loss of tendons. My balance on that side of my body isn't as good as the other side but it does not limit anything I do. I can even do yoga balance poses and easily walk 6 mile hikes.
The podiatrist never mentioned that my problem might be caused by PD. If I had known the root cause of the toe gripping I may have made different choices but I have no regrets having the tendons cut.
Thanks! ive been dealing with bird claw toe pain for years my toes are deformed....i clench my foot right side constantly, it follows the nerve line clear up my neck.......thanks for your help ...cheers!
Did not even realize that was a PD toe condition. Looks like husbands feet have just gotten wider but having trouble even finding him slippers. He also has a toenail situation. Need to find someone to cut those toenails. Any ideas?
well......with covid its sketchy to get a podiatris..i actually use a dremmel tool. you an find on amazon i use the little sanding tool end but there are dozens to choose from. cheers.
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