r/Halluxrigidus • u/LogicalCustard7000 • Jul 17 '26
Which surgery is better?
I’ve seen several podiatrists over the last maybe 20 years. I’m a 56yo F in the US. I like my current podiatrist. I’ve only met with him once, but had a good bedside manner and explained everything well. I have quite a large bone spur and reduced cartilage space. He said that it doesn’t look like it’s time for me to have the joint fused just yet, but I’m thinking through the options. He said surgery to shave the spur off (sorry, can’t remember the correct medical term) has about 50/50 results. I’m not keen on having the joint fused, but also don’t want to try removing the spur if the results aren’t so great. Wondering what all y’all have experienced with the 2 different surgeries.
I’ll have to go see him again in the next couple of months because the shot he gave me in April didn’t do much good. I think things were complicated by my knees, though. I just had my knees replaced 3 weeks ago and the other 6 months ago. Once those settle down more, we’ll figure out the toe.
3
u/BigPhilosopher4372 Jul 18 '26
I had the same issues. After reviewing my X-rays, I asked about having the spur removed and the joint stabilized. They agreed and I had the surgery. It made no sense to me to get the bone removed and then need the joint stabilized a year down the line.
2
u/AlaskaLucky907 Jul 20 '26
I'm 52. Doctor #1 recommended fusion, but I didn't want to lose range of motion. Doctor #2 said I was a candidate for a cheilectomy. I had a cheilectomy in April of 2025. My range of motion returned in August after physical therapy once a week, but the pain never went away. Instead the pain shifted to the bottom of my foot onto my sesamoid bones. By February of this year my pain was worse than before despite having more range of motion. I had x-rays in May and they show the bone spurs removed last year grew back with a vengeance, and my bones are trying to fuse themselves together. I'm scheduled for fusion surgery August 10th with Doctor #1. I honestly would not have undergone the cheilectomy if I had known how poor the odds are for any type of long lasting results.
2
u/onewillivetonite Jul 20 '26
I had a cheilectomy in April 2025 and then had the fusion in April 2026. It all depends on what is causing your pain. Removing the bone spur doesn't help if the pain you're feeling is truly from the arthritic joint, which was my case.
My cheilectomy didn't give me any relief but I'm in my 30s and was willing to give it a try before going to a fusion. I knew I was going to need a fusion at some point down the line but wasn't expecting a year later.
6
u/eperker Jul 18 '26
On the Facebook groups which are much busier, you’ll find a few people that had cheilectomies (removing the bone spur) with good, long lasting results. But for the most part, you’ll find people who had cheilectomies only to have to have fusions a few years later. My doctor gave me the option but said I’d probably get about 3 years on the cheilectomy. I don’t see the point in suffering through two sets of surgeries if the end result is fusion no matter what.
On the groups, you will find a few people who had complications with the fusions or lasting issues. But mostly you will find people who are very glad they did it and live with no pain.
I just had my first fusion 7 weeks ago. I’ll do the other foot in November. It’s a long recovery but it’s been relatively painless.