Midfoot Arthritis Surgery: Fusion (Arthrodesis)

In response to @njp515 ….i have severe midfoot arthritis (fusion surgery, (only minimally helpful), and Morton’s neuroma. What kind of surgery is being recommended? I am in pain everyday but usually try to ignore it and still walk daily and alway look forward to sleep. The podiatrist I see has no real suggestions for me. I’ve done physical therapy (and still do the at home program) and also exercise in a therapy pool occasionally.

Perhaps check with a physical therapist to ask what their experience is in treating people after the surgery, length of time, degree of success. I would think they have a good handle on outcomes.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm scheduled for fusion surgery of the left foot first, and then 6-10 weeks later for the right foot. I have a very large spur on top of both feet and it limits the kind of shoes I can wear. I'm in pain (maybe level 6 out of 10) everyday as well, but generally have no pain while sleeping. I'm about 15 pounds overweight and in good health. So, are you saying that you had fusion surgery and yet you are still in pain? How long were you non-ambulatory and how long was the complete recuperation? (The additional problem I have is that Medicare has not confirmed authorization for the surgery in an outpatient ambulatory facility). I'm inclined not to go through with the surgery. Thank you!

I had a midfoot fusion along with bunion repair Nov 2023. I am still struggling with foot soreness with walking. I do walk 2 miles most days. I cannot walk barefoot at all. I just want the soreness to go away. The surgeon says the foot is fused. I want to hear from someone else that has had the surgery and the outcome.

I am recovering from my second hammertoe surgery on my right foot. Two toes this time. I had one toe done on my left foot 5 years ago. I am full of osteoarthritis in my toes and have bone on bone. I too am a walker and really need to get out there again. I am 83 and in pretty good health. Next January I hope to get another toe done on my left foot again. Also on my left foot I have pain on top of my foot and have trouble wearing shoes with laces. I think this is from all the years of wearing those high heels with points. I was in retail and wore them every day. I had very narrow feet so had to wear a AA width and I bet that's what caused all this. I had no problem until five years ago. Before that I could walk up to 6 or 7 miles on the weekends and a couple of miles every day during the week.

I posted the original question about surgery. I ultimately canceled the procedure just weeks before, because I didn't feel it would substantially improve my QofL. I also went to get another opinion, and I was told to try steroid shots (which had never been administered). The first time I got the shots, it was miraculous, but only lasted about 4 months until the crippling pain came back and my feet swelled up again. I went in at 8 months for a second round, and although the shots helped, it was not as effective as the first time. Nonetheless, I have been active and do not regret not doing the surgery. FYI, the second opinion ortho guy said it may be inevitable that I have to do it eventually, but for the foreseeable future I will get shots two times a year.

The only arthrodesis (fusion) involving the foot that I think works well is for the big toe. I had this procedure on both big toes, along with removal of bunions. The fusion of the big toe joint, and the removal of the bony bunion, straightened the big toes and allowed me to wear regular dress shoes without pain. It's a pretty common surgery now, there is very little loss of mobility - I don't even notice, just some stiffness from the titanium screws.

But anything else involving the foot, like joint replacement for any of the toes, or mid foot fusion is a bad idea, imo. I understand how painful it is to have these problems in the feet, and that was just from my bunions. I'm sorry for you and others suffering from mid foot problems.

I get cortisone shots for my shoulder and I've had them in my knees. When they work, pain relief is possible for up to four months. For some reason, every shot has a different outcome, at least it did for me, from no relief to 4 months of relief. I don't know if the effect of the shots diminishes with each shot.

If your surgeon says that surgery is inevitable, hopefully that means less pain than what you're experiencing. That's not very comforting, I know. It does sound like you have a thoughtful surgeon though.

All the best to you and others suffering from this malady. Hopefully medical science makes some advances that will help all of you.

Joe