mgh122
PA
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I've got a bone infection in the great toe left foot. haa anyone had their big toe amputated? What was the recovery time re: going camping. We're retired and snowbird and head to Maine in the summer, how long were you laid up. The surgeon want to cut the infectious diease Doc says treat it as a chronic condition. Anyone had this issue?
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SuperDutyFiver
Long Valley, NJ, USA
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I know someone that had it shaved down some and it became a fiasco-their balance was screwed up tremendously.
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Go Dogs
South of Pittsburgh, PA
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I'm a RN, take this very seriously. Bone infections are very hard to clear even with amputation, especially if the patient is diabetic. It is very difficult to ambulate unassisted after a great toe amputation. Take care.
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sparki27
California
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My mother had one of her big toes (been so long, I can't remember which foot)
amputated due to a bone infection. 
She had to learn how to walk all over again. But she did it. She was bedridden for about 8-9wks and then they started therepy with her. It took about nine months from the time of surgery to the time when she was able to walk without crutches. She also complained alot about her foot hurting all the time (for the rest of her life) so everybody, including herself, always gave her foot massages.
Any kind of infections are dangerous things to have. Don't delay in a decision for surgery. It could save your life.
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mgh122
PA
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TThanks for the relies, I don't have diabetes so circulation is good. I have peripheral neuropathy due to blood clot years ago ( all clear now) I'm tring to avoid amputation at all costs, the surgeon say cut (but that's what surgeons do) The Infection doc says if I can clear the ulcer that draing the infection I can treat as a chronic condition, I'll let you know how it works out
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hitchup
Fulltiming and on the Road.
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Amputation gets a bad rap, but sometimes it's the best way. My daughter works in the patient care office of a major Prosthetic & Orthotic company.
So many times, they will get patients who opted to 'save' the limb or appendage and fight for years. Then when amputation is the last option, they find relief and kick themselves for not doing it in the first place.
I had a bunion removed 18-years ago from my right foot and it changed my gait and the scar is still tight, so I move a little slow coming down stairs according to DH. I just have to take a little longer to find the correct shoes that are comfortable.
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jack0351
Santee, CA
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Losing a big toe will screw up your balance tremendously. However, much easier to lose the toe than have to go with a below knee amputation. It will take determination and a positive attitude to be able to bounce back, but it is quite easy to do so with those two things. For comparison, I'm an above knee amputee, and I learned how to walk again, then promptly went out and learned how to ride my Harley again. Since then, I've gotten certified as a motorcycle safety instructor. So since it's not a "real" amputation (insert laugh here, I'm joking) it will be relatively easy to recover from it.
As a disclaimer, every amputation is different, and we all react differently to the ampuation. What may be easy for me, may be the toughest thing you've ever done, and vice versa.
Find a good prosthetist either way. In amputation situations, they are worth far more than the doctor.
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bsinmich
Holland, MI
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Our daughter had a big toe amputated at around 8-9 years old. She had 2 though and we could not find shoes to fit her anymore after Uniroyal quit making custom Keds. She also had webbed fingers and toes so she was a great swimmer. She is now 36 and a BSN here in Holland. For her it solved a problem. Her 17th. surgery was on her 17th birthday and that was the last.
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Dog Folks
Naples, Fl. USA
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I am diabetic AND had the big toe of my right foot removed in 2007. I keep a journal of our travels since retirement, and refered to it before responding to you.
I was about 4 weeks in recovery until the surgeon released me for travel. I had no balance/walking issues except I had to wear a hard soled "boot" for the first month and that gave me a small limp which went away with time.
It was a litle difficult, mentally, losing a body part, but I felt so much better physically, getting rid of the infection in the bone.
I would ask my docotor about recovery time. He/she would have better information, but that was my experience.
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down home
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Like said by someone else only your Doctors can tell you.
BIL had same or worse bone infection of big toe and later next toe. Lost both of them. They are now thinking he's out of the woods of losing foot.
It involved Hybaric chamber every day, hospitalizations to administer and monitor strong antibiotic IVs etc. Over a year with wound left open to heal. He'll be near normal in a couple of months perhaps.
We Diabetics have to stay on top of things more than others.
It started when he pulled a little bit of dead skin from bottom of toe. Flesh came with it.Diabetics can't always feel all the pains. Infection from shoes etc???? I never wear rubber or plastic shoes. If your feet stink from shoes, they don't breathe and the odors are funguses and bacterias. I change socks and shoes daily or whenever perspiration build up.
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