Hello,

I have recently had my big toe joint fused (on Feb 7th this year), after
many years of arthritis pain in that joint.  The op went OK, although there
are a few things that are still worrying me.

1. The toe has been fixed pointing slightly upwards (as expected), but also
significantly to the right, so that it overlaps my second toe.  This is
causing discomfort to the second toe, and makes it difficult to walk
"normally".

2.  Related to this, the ball of my foot and my smaller toes get quite sore
when I walk - almost as if  bruised, and I attribute this to putting too
much weight onto these parts (because my big toe is no longer taking any
weight).  Will this improve?  Is it normal?  (At the moment I'm feeling that
the arthritis pain has just stepped aside to let other pains in!

3.  My big toe is still very numb and swollen, nearly 3 months on. Will the
feeling come back and the swelling go down?

If anyone can offer advice, or point me elsewhere, I'd be really grateful.
And, especially re. point 1, if anyone who has had the op is prepared to
email me a photo, I'd be really interested.  I just get the feeling that the
toe is not set in the right position.

Thanks in anticipation,

Dave.