It’s been a little over 3 years since I had my cheilectomy for hallux limitus. You can learn more about the surgical experience here. Here’s a quick update on how well the hike has gone since the cheilectomy operation. It’s fair to say that over the last 3 years my hikes have improved significantly and some major hikes have been completed:
- In 2021 – about 6 months after surgery, I completed the John Muir Trail. This was the first major check-up after the operation and it went very well. The 240 mile hike went well with no major issues or pain. The only reason to have this surgery was to reduce foot pain. This was a major success so quickly after surgery.
- In 2022 – Keenan and I hiked about 100 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail – we actually pushed that to about 20 miles per day – which was a little above a comfortable level. My foot held up much better than my calves!
- Every year I continue to do many hikes around Mount Hood – both day hikes and overnight trips. This was all very successful and I didn’t notice any pain in my toe.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the results of the operation. I continue my hike in Altra Lone Peaks. I tried switching to rocker shoes (HOKA Speedgoats) for a while but found them much less comfortable. There’s really no pain. If it’s cold in the morning, it feels like it’s taking a while for the joint to “warm up” – but it’s more a case of stiffness than any kind of pain.
I’m pretty happy with the range of motion I have now. It’s not as good as my right toe – but it’s probably in the 90% range.
When I had surgery. the surgeon said it was likely it would last about ten years and then I would probably need a fusion. I think a lot of the cartilage damage is due to my toe getting stuck in the front of a ski boot for many years. I reduced a lot of my downhill skiing activities in favor of cross-country skiing. Hopefully this will help alleviate continued degradation of the seal. In the meantime, we hope that joint replacement technology should improve.
Overall, I am very pleased with the results of the surgery and have no complaints – as they say – your mileage may vary.