Sesamoiditis/Sesamoid Fractures

[josuesand]

I suffered for 5 years with pain caused by a sesamoid fracture. All conservative therapies that I tried (camwalker, dancer's pad, anti-inflammatories, injections, physical therapy cold laser treatments, ultrasound treatments, orthotics modification of physical activities) were unsuccessful. I had a surgery in Jan of 07 to plane my sesamoid bone, which did not resolve the pain. I had another surgery to remove the remainder of that bone in Oct of 07. This still hasn't resolved the pain. I am struggling to decide if a third surgery is the way to go. My doctor thinks he may need to remove the other sesamoid bone and fuse the big toe joint. I just don't have a lot of confidence that this will resolve the pain, since the first two surgeries did not work. I REALLY don't want to have another surgery if it won't help. How often are these types of surgeries unsuccessful in eliminating sesamoid pain? How limiting is the joint fusion in terms of lifestyle (activities, shoes, side-effects)?

[jenniferUSAFvet]

I know it's been a while since you posted this, but hopefully you get this reply. If at all possible DO NOT get your joint fused! I was diagnosed with chronic sesmoiditis in 1991; went through all of the standard treatments for years (cortisone shots, insoles for my shoes, casts etc.) Finally I had the sesmoides removed in my left foot. (I have the condition in both feet) In 5 years I have had 5 surgeries. What the Doctors didn't tell me is that by removing the sesmoids, there is nothing to cushion the joint itself, and I started getting fractures followed by arthritis in my joint. I had the joint fused because I was told that I was too young (33) for joint replacement (they only last 10-15 yrs). Because of this I have had 3 more surgeries to fix the first joint fusion. If the joint doesn't fuse the right way, they have to go in, rebreak and refuse it again. Then a year ago I had to have a screw put straight through the tip of my toe fusing the whole toe together, due to the amount of pain and problems that arose from the first 2 joint fusions of the big joint. I am worse off now, than if I had just sucked up the pain and left it alone, remember the bones in my right foot are broken as well and I have been walking on them for 17 yrs. The pain in my left foot is also far worse then my right!
As far as my lifestyle goes, I have none. I can't walk or stand for long periods of time, I can't run at all. No more taking my boys to the park and playing ball with them, can't find any shoes that don't kill my foot... you get the idea.
If you are able to, suck up the pain you have now and don't consider getting the fusion done.