[livingwith]

I’m 56 years old and no one ever told me that my short second toes were a congenital deformity until this week when I went to a podiatrist for the first time in twenty years. (Twenty years ago I surgery on my left foot for a bunion and Morton’s neuroma.)
My deformity affects the second toe of each foot - I also have “windswept toes” and my dr says she could have done a lot to correct my foot problems if she had seen me as a child.
I’m just going to wear toe separato...Read the full article

[toetap]

Hello! I am a 29 yr old woman with this condition effecting the second & fourth metatarsals on my right foot. I also have a slight bunion on my right foot. Brachymetatarsia also effects the fifth metatarsal (pinky toe) in my left foot, but that's obviously not as noticeable as my right foot. Also regarding my left foot, I believe that the shorten pinky toe has caused my 4th curly toe to bear the brunt of the weight, increasing that abnormality. My brother has brachymetatarsia in both of his second metatarsals. I just found out today that my dad has this in his second metatarsal of his right foot, but I never noticed because his bunions force his big toes under his second ones. I have always tried to hide my toes and I still do today, for the most part! My primary care doc has never seen my feet and I have not gone to a podiatrist due to the shame. I ALSO have my socks on, as well. Growing up, in seventh grade, kids would make fun of my crooked teeth until I got braces, so I thought FOR SURE that kids would make fun of my toes, if those ever came to light. I have noticed that my feet are becoming much more uncomfortable as I age. For example, if I go hiking, on long walks or have worn shoes all day, my feet will hurt. Sometimes my right foot involuntarily cramps up if I've been wearing heels, even if the shoes have been "broken in". It's unfortunate that I have to dress up at work, due to this condition, that's for sure! I have noticed that the 3rd toe on my right foot is red all the time now, from bearing the brunt of the weight distribution in my foot. I have also noticed that this may be causing hammer toes in some of my toes, as well!

Regarding treatment, from most of the research that I've been doing, if surgery is inevitable, it seems like the one-stage bone graft technique is the most promising. I would love to hear from people who have gone through this particular procedure and how they have progressed after a year or so. Do they feel it is worth the pain and inconvenience, etc.? Have post-op issues improved over time?

Anyway, as stated above, I am starting to worry that I will continue to have more symptoms from this, the older I get. Have you noticed any increased discomfort or pain in your feet due to this condition, as you've gotten older? Does it effect your back or your balance at all?

Thanks so much to everyone who contributes! It really helps to talk about it!

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