surgery and fibromyalgia

[Painter49]

hi folks - looking for some experience post-surgery and fibromyalgia. I have really bad bunions on both feet - toes are turning inward and lots of pain throughout my life before FM. I have the option of having the bunions “fixed” but am anxious about post surgery pain. My feet are a daily source of pain, burning etc with the onset of FM and I don’t want to make it worse. Thanks in advance.

[medway-lady]

Not with Fibro but had my foot straightened and the bony lump removed etc etc. It was fine, in plaster for 2 weeks and I had hooks as my toes were done and then a sort plastic boot and to be honest it never hurt just a bit of an ache and ts still straight and pain free 6 years later. They put a plate in and a lot of big screws which I saw on the Xray but all I have to show is a narrow scar on my inside foot arch a couple of lines between 3and 4th toe and if you look closely a series of dots and nicks over the base of my toes. Just have to be careful as they took a lot of nerves out and so water temperature is hard to judge but thats no problem at all. My foot had turned over to a degree greater 27 which is why it was operated on. Only my left foot was affected and I could wear normal shoes again so it was a good operation with great benefits for me.

[AgedCrone]

I don’t have FM….but I had both bunions done…I live alone so had to have them done separately…& I can honestly say I had hardly any pain. I had neuromas removed at the same time..unfortunately they have grown again…& I’m just deciding if I will have more surgery.

I’d had bunions since childhood…they were painful & really unsightly…but now I have really nice looking feet with no painful bunions ….& all the scarring hardly shows.

So don’t be worried about pain…these days the methods used are amazing.

[Esmereld]

I had a bunion done. Three days of pain well controlled with brufen and paracetamol. Then not a jot of pain!. Almost invisible scar.Just make sure you rest afterwards. Do as you’re told and you should heal nicely and not get long lasting pain. Good luck.

[Leics]

I realise it must be a difficult decision for you but if I was in that situation (I do have fibromyalgia and RA) I would opt for surgery although I haven’t needed it so far but I think you need to weigh up the constant pain which you suffer with on a daily basis with the chance of being pain free ? There are lots of good pain meds out there and I’m sure your team will find the one which best suits you and your condition. Sometimes you need to be brave and take the plunge better short term pain than constant daily pain. Which is why I would do the surgery you may never look back afterwards. The bunions may be making the fibro worse so it could settle that down too 🤷‍♀️

[Painter49 in reply to Leics]

Thank you for the supportive words. It really helps a lot.

[Moomin8]

Hi, I too have bunions on both feet. My feet are always really painful and I would really like to have them both operated on. I am going to ask about it when I next visit my rheumatologist in November. My joints in my feet are often swollen and painful, so I'm worried that any medical intervention might send me into a massive flare. I wear orthotics which help, but I often walk with a limp which is quite debilitating. I work full-time teaching in a primary school, so having any operation will be very difficult.

[Moomin8]

Hi Painter49,May I ask, did you end up going for the surgery route?

[Jackie1947]

I have RA and Fibro and have had both hips replaced .No problem.