by Jane
(PA)
I have a bone spur on the top (off to the side) of my middle toe. I thought it was a corn or wart until I showed it to my PC doctor. I had been using corn removal pads and filing it with a nail file until I had it infected. It gets really sore at times, depending on the shoes that I wear. I would like to know if bone spurs continue to grow. I am inclined to ignore it but I have read that sometimes they break off and cause other problems. If surgery is the answer, what is the recovery period? Do you have to wear a "boot"? I hear that it is quite painful. I would appreciate any info you can give me.
Hi Jane,
Generally bone spurs that occur on the side of the toe are really just a hypertrophy (enlargement) of the normal "flare" of these small bones.
Shoes that tend to be too narrow for the individual will press this enlarged bone into the adjacent toe and you may either develop a corn or perhaps an inflamed bursal sac .
So, the chances of this bone breaking off is about zero.
Your bigger question here is how much does it hurt? If you are reasonably young and in good health and it hurts enough, have it removed. Yes, it is surgery, but it is not major foot surgery. My patients leave the hospital with that "boot" you refer to, but I see them 2 days later, put on a smaller dressing and they can generally get into a large sneaker or if it is warm they can wear a sandal.
Sutures stay in for two weeks, the toe generally has to wrapped in a compression wrap for a few weeks, because one of the side effects of toe surgery is excessive swelling and if it is not controlled the toe may stay permanently swollen. During this period you will not be out on the tennis court but you will be functional and depending on your job may be able to return to work in a few days after surgery.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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