Here they are in all their glory, or should that be gory. I never realised the bruising was so bad until I looked at this photo. 
To think, they were once a very handsome pair of feet. 
My poor tootsies: Here they are in all their glory, or... - NRAS
My poor tootsies
Written by
wishbone
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76 Replies
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WOW they look rough darling.xxxx
My left foot was like yours, my right completly normal. After the operation both normal.
Hi M-L, was it only your big toe that you had pinned and plated?
Not sure I'm ready to have an operation just yet, but if they get much worse then I'll probably have to reconsider. Presume you never had a post-op infection?
edit...I think the photo exaggerates the bruising a bit.
No all the other toes were broken and straightened. My foot hurt so much befoere the operation nothing afterwards at all. I take blood medication as have had clots in lungs and a DVT it was all taken care of at the local hospital. A simple overnight stay and no problems at all. Best thing I've had done as walking was getting worse and by straightening the toes it removed pressure inside shoes. Scaring is very minimal and I was in plaster for 6 weeks then a boot for another 4 weeks hobbled about a bit with a stick but I'd recommend getting it done as the feet as so important. Don't be fobbed off as poadatrist tried to do me. The surgeon said that often happens but in the long run an operation removes the long term need for insoles and helps with movement etc. I now can return to rambling and do keep fit. I'd suggest just asking GP about it or look it up. My GP said stress how much it hurts as its the deformity that is causing the problem not poorly fitting shoes. And most definately no post op infection, and now they even say carry on with the LEF as its no problem. My op was done at Darent Valley in Kent.
Would amputation work? 
Well, you're a braver soul than me M-L, I don't think I'm ready to go through that just yet. It's obviously worked fine for you and good on you getting it done.
I'm with Medway-lady.......I had foot surgery in 2011/12.....best move I ever made.
Ok it was inconvenient but I had minimal pain. I had both feet operated on 6 months apart,& each time I was walking around in a boot after three weeks. . When I had my left foot done I could drive an automatic.....so not that inconvenient.
Believe me....if the first foot had been that painful I wouldn't have gone back for the second. From the photograph you must be in pain every time you try to put on a shoe?
What does your doctor want to do? Even if it would only be possible to have your two hammer toes straightened that would make a tremendous difference for you.
Go on....bite the bullet & send in a photo of your new feet!
You're both putting me to shame now AC. That said, it's alright for you females, you're used to going to hospital experiencing pain having babies and stuff!
Seriously though, neither my rheumy or GP has seen my feet. I don't really complain so I don't think they have much idea of their condition.
You really should have them done before they become Inoperable .....I bet you wouldn't like that......not being able to walk at all & maybe having to have emergency surgery to sort them out after all.
Truly WB, these days they whack a load of anaesthetic into the foot that lasts a few days,& by that time you'll be so glad you had them sorted...you might even get away having the op as a day case.
Just think ...this time next you could have painfree feet!
I know I should have them done, and I really do appreciate you and M-L's thoughts.
It's not so much the pain that concerns me, I've had plenty of that to deal with over the last few years, it's the risk of getting an infection. I've had sepsis on two occasions, once following minor surgery, and I really want to avoid having it again if I can. Can't say the thought of being more immobile than I already am for a few months appeals much either. Short term thinking perhaps but there you go......
After a 3 years of uncontrolled RA , which is when much of the deformity occurred, not only in my feet but also in my hands, I have just started taking baricitinib, which appears to be working, so I'm hopeful it will stop any further joint deterioration. If not, and my feet get worse, then I'll definitely let my doctors have a look at them.
Oh, I'm blowed if I can work out how to get that VoiceNote II to work on posting here. I don't think it's possible, but I'm still waiting for one of my more PC savvy kids to have a look.
I know I'm sounding like Bossy Boots, but your first action really should be to let your rheumatologist & GP see your feet.....& tell them how painful they are & of your fear of sepsis.
Talk to the lovely Mrs WB.....I'm sure she doesn't relish her husband being in pain & very soon not be able to get out & about.
Hopefully you could be referred to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who would perform surgery as a day case & you wouldn't have to stay in a germ laden hospital
Didn't Sylivi just have surgery on her feet as a day case?
WB...... if your feet are like this now after only three years of RA....I don't think they will get any better do you?
I'm nearly 20 years diagnosed & now on a Biologic & after my foot surgery my feet look & feel better than they did when I was 35, & that was a long time ago!!!
In your next post you can tell us what your doctors recommend !!!
😄😄😄
Not bossy at all, I know you have my best interests at heart.
I think Sylvi had a general anaesthetic. I don't think her post-op period was much fun by the sound.
I've had RA for 15 years. It was reasonably well controlled until I hit complications approx 12 years ago and had to stop all immune suppressing meds. Can't recall exactly when, but my feet started to deteriorate many years ago and got significantly worse during the last 3 years when my RA was uncontrolled. I started baricitinib a week ago and it is helping. Not a big improvement as yet, but I definitely have less stiffness, which I'm really grateful for. Fingers XXXX there's no side effects around the corner.
I'll show my feet to my rheumy when I next see her in 3 months time. She'll probably give me a right telling off for not showing before now.
Did podiatrist do surgery ? In US seems podiatrists cause more problems with surgery. Last week podiatrist worked on a callous kn my foot and yesterday started with searing pain where work was done.
They cut my nails and trim my nodule formed corns. I'm not sure what else they do.
Perhaps someone who knows can chime in.
In the UK on the NHS foot & ankle surgery is usually done by an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in ankles & feet.
I think some very straight forward foot operations may be done by either general or vascular surgeons.
No in the UK only an Orthopedic Surgeon operates on bones especially feet as so many small bones apparently a difficult operation as so much at stake but when the tooties hurt that much the risk is worth it. And they alwys list worest case scenario.
I've had 4 foot surgeries.Made a big mistake with last one.I let a podiatrist do it.I now have to brace one toe to the big toe to keep it from flopping.what a mess.I don't want to do this again.
Yes I am a Bonnie too!
I am in GA, USA and agree. My podiatrist, a wonderful dr who cuts my psoriatic nails every 8 wks or so & who first recognized I had arthritis, told me that surgery “can” (quotation marks only because there is no BOLD) be done on my arthritic toes, but most times due to the possible complications and the end result being worse, that the surgery is just not worth it.
Perhaps that is only here in the US? Everyone talking here about how great the surgery is seems to be from the UK - is that correct?
What a wicked disease RA can be. I hope they aren't too hurty.
I've been in constant pain for so long now that I've probably become conditioned to take less notice of it, at least that's what my rheumy keeps telling me, and there's probably some truth to it. That said, my feet can hurt pretty bad on times if I'm not careful how far I walk, which obviously ain't very far.
Yes, you must become used to the pain to a certain extent. Have you ever been offered, or considered an op to straighten the toes? I am sure I have read that this can be done?
Ouch...you poor thing!
They look very strange as long as they do what you want them 2 it's prob worth it but they do look a bit grim what abt a bit of red nail varnish !!!!
They look very painful. Hope the Baracitinib stops any further damage. Maybe like some others on here you could get surgery?
All the best Wishbone x
Ouch. Your so brave wishbone, there is nothing worse than painful feet and not being able to move about as normal. I wish you a speedy recovery. I've had lots of cramp in my feet and they twist and distort. So painful. Thankfully, apart from removal of Mortons neuromas and an ever increasing boney big toe bunion no perminent displaced toes. Although i suspect more neuromas have developed. Joys.
Flippin 'eck Wishbone! How on earth do you get a shoe on? Walking must be agony for you. Please show your feet to your rheumy or GP. If this much damage has been done in just 3 years I don't like to imagine what they'll be like in the next 3. I can understand your fear of sepsis but, dayam. Huge sympathy
J
With difficulty! Joking aside, my wife puts them on. I can't even do my laces up properly because of my gammy hands. I'm hoping the baricitinib will help out a bit there.
They started to deteriorate many years ago, but got significantly worse during the last 3 years when my RA was uncontrolled due infection issues, which meant me having to stop taking meds.
I will show rheumy my feet when I next see her in 3 months.
Oh, and I have a nice pair of Skecher boots that are made of a lightweight soft supple leather with memory foam insoles. I haven't had them long and wish I'd discovered them a long time ago.
Oh Wishbone,
Bless you, sending huge sympathy but laughing at the idea of blue nail varnish!
Your feet are obviously on your mind else you wouldn’t have posted.
I know your fear of sepsis must be a terrible concern having gone through it you are actually talking from experience but just think of the relief that surgery could bring?
Im just back at work after a couple of months post surgery for ladies issues and have had my innards either removed, shifted and generally tugged around.
This followed 18 months of pretending pain wasn’t there when lying on my right side and that somehow it would all go away. I thought I couldnt handle another medical problem on top of everything I was already going through with RA.
Anyway after a few nasty episodes of bleeding and pain all day and night.
I bit the bullet and came off my RA meds for 5 weeks. Had the surgery and had to have antibios for wound infrction but here I am back at work. Bloody glad I was too as the surgeon found my liver was being pulled high into my body cavity his words were ‘spliced’ from adhesions from old gall bladder surgery and my bowel was stuck together apparently.
I know its not the same as your poor feet and it always has to come when you are ready but
The risk could be worth the benefit long term.
My CRP did shoot straight up and I started to get buzzy and thick round the back of my knees and my fingers started to ache but Im back to normal and my Biologic seems to have put a lid on it again.
Best of luck to you whatever you decide.
Mx
Yikes!..that certainly puts my little old toe problem into perspective!! I feel even more of a coward now.
Not sure I could have handled all that!..suppose I'd have to try though. Glad to hear you're back in work and hope things continue to improve.
If I do have surgery on these stupid toes then I'll definitely have to come off the baricitinib if I'm still on it by then. One good thing about it is it leaves the body pretty rapid, something my rheumy thought was as a big plus when she was deciding the best med to suit me.
Good luck to you, Mandalou.
Not brave at all...just scared of having them surgery on them.
I hope your feet don't get any worse.
I had all my toes broken and reset and my big toes bones fused so they no longer bend and arch’s broken and reset when I was the grand old age of 13! Partly due to Spina Bifida and partly due to Arthritis to be honest at the time I was not impressed my parents agreed to it but now at the age of 35 I couldn’t thank them enough take the plunge you won’t look back! Good luck!
I bet you weren't impressed with your parents!...I wouldn't have spoke to mine for at least a week. Great that the operation worked out for you.
I'll see what my rheumy has to say when I show her my feet in 3 months time. That's providing I don't chicken out and decide to keep my boots on.
Take care
Oh wow - I am so sorry for you...
Very like my feet wishbone, only all my toes bend under. And don't mention toenails!!!! I can only cut them if I contort myself into agonising positions and use secateurs!! Scissors break and leave the nail behind.
wishbone• in reply to
Jeepers! Have you asked your GP about referring you to a podiatrist?
@wishbone, I am so sorry. I can tell that yes, they were once a handsome pair of feet. So sorry you, or anyone, has to deal with such.
Thanks Seahorse. My wife liked them anyway.
Wishbone - what was the very first changes for the worse? I have four toes on my right one that have turned under - but it started out with just 2. And of course the - what do they call it - the bunions(?) on the side of both feet. The big toes of course lock up & won’t bend with a step (youch!).
Just wondering how yours started.
My toe joints were the first things to trouble me more than 15 years ago. If my memory serves me well, the bunions, if that's what they are, became noticeable a couple of years later, followed by my big toes very gradually turning inward . My right big toe appears to have gone under the adjacent toe. While the left big toe is pressing against the adjacent toe forcing it downward. The rest of my toes appear to have turned under only slightly, which is something to be grateful for I suppose. For whatever reason my left foot troubles me the most. I also have troublesome nodules and corns on the pads of both feet, worse on my left foot. Apparently these are due to the deformed joints forcing my footpad flesh to where it shouldn't be, hence there is less padding to protect the pressure points..at least it was something like that the podiatrist said to me!
Thank you. I guess there’s no pattern to expect since we’re all different and this mess always likes to surprise and shock us.
They are not too bad in all honesty 😌. They look more painful if anything. How long did it take for the changes to occur ? Hessie
Hi Hessie, It's the pain that's the problem. I obviously limp, and the further I walk the worse the pain and limp get, but as long as I don't over do it, and I'm pretty good at judging my limitations, I manage ok.
I'll see what my rheumy has to say when I next see her. I might be wrong, but I think she'll prefer to avoid surgery if possible.
My left foot is like your right one. I’ve had the toes straightened once about ten years ago.
I assume the op was problem free and your feet are much improved?
It was fine after the op but reverted to how it had been after about two years. I’ve finall plucked up courage to have it done again and have an appointment in October! I’m
Oh 'eck, that's not good! Still, the first op must have relieved your feet, albeit short lived, for you to have it done again. Well done there...not sure I would be so brave. Hope it lasts longer this time.
At my six week check up with the surgeon I asked him if my toes would stay the same he said probably not. He did say there was a better op he could have done but it was more painful and a longer recovery time!
Go on, don't be such a coward and go for the better op.
I would have gone for the better op last time if it had been offered. I’m definitely going to ask about it this time.
Providing there wasn't a specific reason why you couldn't have either of the ops, then I thought they would have asked you which one you would prefer.
I definitely was t given a choice. The second op meant more time off work which would have been good!
they look really sore as the rest have said they are one of the most important parts off our body,hope you get them sorted
My feet were very similar to yours after having ra for many I decided to have surgery . Have now had 3 operations and my feet are great thanks to a very excellent foot surgeon at my local hospital. This year I'm showing offwearing nice sandals and it's a pleasure to walk. Best thing I've had done.
Please consider surgery I was well looked after
Hiya Tiggy, I'm pleased for you.
Why did you need 3 operations, and what was the time period between your first and last operation?? Did you have local or general anaesthetic?
The first operation was over 3years ago, big toe on left foot and bunion done and one hammer toe which I was pleased with. Next year on right foot which was the worst one surgeon did full frontal reconstruction on it. Bunion,all toed, where the toes go crooked they remove bone to release the awful pressure on the ball of the foot.
So I now have a nice flat foot.
Meanwhile my left foot worsened and I ended up having further surgery to release pressure on the ball. On all occasions I had epidural anaesthetic which were fine
General anaesthetic is dodgy for me because I have lung condition now caused by this dreadful RA
They do stop methotrexate and biologics a few weeks before the ops. Hope I haven’t put u off
No, you haven't put me off. On the other hand, after reading your post I can't say I'm exactly relishing the thought of having them done either.
It's not so much the joint pain that bothers me, it's the pressure on the balls of the feet that hurts most, which was probably the case with you. Corns and nodules don't help matters either. I think my right foot looks the worst but it's the left that troubles me the most.
If I decide to have them operated on then I'll probably have to have epidurals as I too have a RA related lung condition, which is a bit of a concern to put it mildly.
Avoiding expletives...how long have you had this dreadful RA Tiggy?
I have had the ruddy ra for 32years I’m now 71yrs but am so much more mobile after the foot surgery. I had a knee replacement 12 yrs ago so after that op I wasn’t quite so apprehensive about the feet
I’m been on methotrexate 25ml injections for 16yrs. I do wonder if this contributes to the worsening of the lungs but they the specialists assure me it doesn’t. Also had a year on rituximab but it’s not working so hey ho I have to start something else which hate. After all these years you think I would be used to it all!!!
I had layers of hard skin on the balls of the feet before the surgery which then became infected that was agony. So many ups and downs with ra and I can think of plenty of expletives to use about it
Join me in a good rant !!!!!
Don't mind if I do join you... This`*><}{-$" ¬\x;-!#/[[ =()+*; #~l%x* disease! I'm #$}x=* well fed up with it!
I'm 67 and have had RA 15 years. After an abstinence of all RA meds, bar hydroxy, for the last 3 years because of recurring infections. I've recently started taking baricitinib, which is a fairly new med. It was during the 3 years of cold turkey that my RA went crazy and not only damaged my joints, worse still the inflammation got into my lungs as well. Keeping fingers crossed on that one!
I bet you wasn't too apprehensive having your feet done after a blinkin' knee replacement!...blow to that! Presume it must have worked ok? Infected feet must have been fun too! Podiatry are keeping check on mine, apparently ulcers can form on the nodules. So far so good though.
Enjoyed our little rant.
That made me laugh now my turn. #€_|<%?!!!!!!
So sorry. 😞
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