#720 3 reasons for Cheilectomy failure after Hallux Rigidus surgery

If you have a condition called “hallux rigidus” or “hallux limitus,” the name tells you what’s wrong.

“Hallux” means big toe.

“Rigidus” means the big toe joint doesn’t move at all.

“Limitus” just means the big toe joint movement is limited and stiff.

There are three problems with hallux rigidus, which are: 1) damage to the cartilage, 2) bone spurs around the joint and 3) restriction of the soft tissues such that the toe doesn’t move up and down the way it should.

Those three reasons that cause the condition are the same reasons that can fail if you have a cheilectomy surgery.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we’re talking about three reasons for cheilectomy failure after hallux rigidus surgery.

#719 What is a tendon synovectomy surgery?

Let’s say you have a nagging tendon injury that’s really been painful. It’s been bugging you a lot when you run.

You have had persistent pain either on the side of the ankle that just won’t seem to go away, even if you run less.

You see the doctor and she says, “Look, we tried everything. We should do surgery. Your tendon is not really torn, but we should do this surgical procedure called a “synovectomy” to get it to calm down so it will finally stop hurting.”

What is a tendon synovectomy surgery?

Well, that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

#714 Foot pain that is truly a pain in the butt

What would be worse than not being able to run because you had foot pain that didn’t get better for a year or two?

I know one thing that would be worse… Having foot surgery to treat a problem that was not actually even located in the foot.

Think about that. You had pain in your foot for two years. Then some doctor convinces you to have surgery, only to find out there was no problem with the tendon.

You stop running. You have surgery. You wait for your stitches to heal. You have to stay off your feet until the incision is all healed.

And your foot pain does not change at all.

Sounds crazy, but this can happen. And it’s most likely to occur when you have something called referred pain. The pain in your foot might be actually caused by nerve compression deep to your glues maximus…that’ right…in your butt.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast we are talking about foot pain that is truly a pain in the butt!

#513 Should a runner have surgery for a plantar plate tear?

If you are a runner with a plantar plate injury, it is pretty easy for a doctor to make a convincing sales pitch on surgery. There are a couple of reasons that you should consider surgery for a plantar plate sprain. The first reason surgery makes sense is you tried everything else and nothing non-surgical will work. But you have to be honest about your non-surgical attempts. Here are some examples I often hear from injured runners.” I used the fracture boot a little bit, but had to take it off to drive. “I “sort of taped the toe.” I used some pads, “but I’m not sure if they are in the right spot. “You have to be honest with yourself about those treatments before you can say that you failed those treatments. that. But when you have clearly failed all of the non-surgical treatments and you cannot get better, then and only then does surgery makes sense. Should a runner have surgery for a plantar plate injury? That’s a great question and that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run podcast.

#492 Should a runner have surgery to remove bone fragments?

Today’s question comes from a telemedicine visit second opinion for a runner. She was asking if she should have surgery to remove bone fragments. I said, “Well, let’s talk about what’s going on with you first.” Anytime we see something abnormal on an x-ray or an MRI, we often think that it’s pathologic. We presume something is wrong, just because it doesn’t look right. We think if something’s wrong, we should go cut your foot open and fix it. Should a runner have surgery to remove bone fragments? Well, that’s a great question and that’s what we’re talking about today on the Doc On The Run podcast.

#471 Rehab after tibial sesamoid non-union removal surgery in both feet

Today I got a question from a doctor who wanted to know what I would do with a runner after surgery to remove non-healing sesamoid fractures in both feet.

You have two sesamoid bones under the big toe joint in each foot. When one of them develops a stress fracture, it can break.

If it breaks into two pieces, it can be very difficult to get the broken sesamoid to heal completely.

If it doesn’t heal, becomes arthritic and turns into what we as doctors call a “sesamoid fracture non-union” your doctor may recommend surgery to take it out.

Today on the Doc on the Run Podcast, we’re talking about what to think about when a doctor is trying to rehabilitate a runner after tibial sesamoid non-union removal surgery in both feet.

#320 Can I run after broken ankle surgery?

A runner broke her ankle and foot in five places and had surgery. She wrote in and wanted to know if she might run again:

“I’m 34 years old. I had a bike accident 4 days ago. I broke my tibia bone at the medial malleolus, distal fibula bone, and metatarsal bones 2, 3, and 4. The surgery went well. I was a runner. I used to run  4 times a week. Is there any chance I can run again?”

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we’re talking about what whether or not there is any chance you can run again after breaking five bones in your foot and ankle, and recovering from ankle fracture surgery.

#315 How a runner with a plantar fascia rupture talks himself into surgery

A partial rupture of the plantar fascia can be a truly debilitating injury for a runner.

It’s much worse than plantar fasciitis. You take time off. It starts feel better. Then you run and it starts to feel worse again.

Because it can be so frustrating it becomes very easy to convince yourself that you need surgery.

In fact I was just having a conversation with an athlete who started to talk himself into surgery, even though he has absolutely no desire to have surgery one the plantar fascia.

His story highlights how easy it is to become frustrated, and how to overthink a mild setback in your recovery.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast were talking about how a runner with a plantar fascia rupture talks himself into surgery

#273 Do I need a surgery second opinion as an injured runner?

Today I heard a great question from a runner…

She asked, “A doctor told me that I have a neuroma in my foot and I need to have surgery to remove it because it hurts when I run. Should I get a surgical second opinion?”

There is really one clear indication of when you really need to seek a second opinion when a doctor recommends surgery.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast, we’re talking about whether or not how to tell if you need a surgery second opinion as an injured runner.

#236 Should I just try a more aggressive treatment for my Achilles tendon?

Today was on a consultation call with a runner who is had a long history of Achilles tendon problems.

She’s recently tried some new things that made an improvement.

But the problem is she’s not really certain the improvement is from the new treatments she’s been doing. Because she simultaneously decreased her activity a bit.

So now she’s in this place where she is trying to figure out what to do next.

Should she continue with some simple conservative treatments that aren’t very risky?

Or should she try to just do something riskier to try to get it to finally heal, or heal faster?

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we’re talking about or not a runner should try a more aggressive treatment for an aching Achilles tendon.