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Freibergs Disease

(23 discussions)

My son is 16 years old, he has been diagnosed with Freibergs Disease and placed in a full cast for 4 weeks. What are the chances he will return to playing basketball, soccer in the future? Does this disease go away in time or will he always have some type of foot pain?

23 comments

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    9 10

    Well…me too! I’m Cindy . 60 years old getting this ____disease! Having MRI today.
    First ortho put me in boot. HORRIBLE AND MADE IT WORSE..second other opinion talked of casting AND SURGERY! this is strange because I never had any problems as a young girl. Played sodtball, walked a lot. Don’t know what this outcome will be but I can tell you this….no one is going to cut on my foot!!!! There are far more horror stories from surgery than stories of healing.
    I wish you all prayers and healing

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    9 10

    Hi my name is amanda, I’m 19 and I have been suffering with Freibergs disease now for years. The first thing they did was to put my whole leg in plaster for four weeks, but it ended up as 12 weeks and did nothing. I went to see orthotis specailists which didn’t help and eventually they operated which, like everything else did nothing. I used to be very into my sport but I have had to give it up completely now. I just wish people knew more about the disease. Sorry to send back such bad news, but thats bin my experience. Amanda

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    9 10

    Hi, I had a closing wedge osteotomy to treat Freibergs, which relieved about 75% of the pain. I’d recommend surgery – all conservative treament is a waste of time.
    Mike

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      9 10

      I 100% agree with Mike. I had 5 surgeries, between my 2 feet. Freiberg’s in both. Shortening the toe bone and cleaning it up has been the only thing that has worked. I had my surgery on my left foot about 15 yrs ago and my last one on my right foot about 4yrs ago, this is the least pain my feet have been in. Definitely ask about the surgery if you’re still in pain, get a second opinion if needed. Remember this is a rare disease and not all docs know much about it. Do not get implants, they hurt worse. I still can’t wear heels, a day at the zoo kills my feet but the everyday stuff doesn’t bother me at all now. Surgery helps a lot!

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    9 10

    Hi I also have freibergs disease but I hope nowhere near as bad. I went to see the orthapedic (i think thats what its called) 2day and he said that it should go away in about 2-3 yrs. I really hope that it does because its painful but I just wanted to tell others that it isnt always as bad as amandas. I hope that I dnt have to have surgery!

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    9 10

    freibergs ruined every dream I had of playing softball in college… I was told I had it when I was in 7th grade I think I was about 13 or 14… now I’m about to turn 19 and the pain is worse than ever… it went away for about to years… and id only notice it when it was cold and damp out… kinda like arthritis… but just about 2 months ago it came back… and its back full force… I have had the special shoes I’ve been put in a cast… only thing left is surgery… hopefully ur son will have better luck with it than me… but trust me when he says it hurts… it does… it hurts so bad that I don’t like walking anymore

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      9 10

      Hannah, I’m glad the surgery worked for you. Can you please tell me what is the name of the surgery you had. My daughter is 16 and has alot of pain. She had debriement surgery last year but it did not help.

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    9 10

    I would be Very, very hesitant about ANY surgeries. My back surgery was a total failure. I was also diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my back when I was 23, so I really believe that all that stuff is somehow related. Good luck! God Bless!

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    9 10

    I was diagnosed with Freiberg’s when I was 12 years old. I am 44 now! I had to wear the bars across my shoes for a long time, but the pain did finally go away. I had written a really detailed message before, but somehow it did not get posted! The pain was very, very bad!

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    9 10

    I was went to many doctors before I finally was fortunate enough to go to none other than Dr. Freiberg! I live in Ohio! Other doctors tried everything from needles in my feet, wrapping my feet in tape, and also wanting to cut the joint/bone out of my feet!

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    9 10

    I remember the pain being so bad that even a sheet across my feet was excrutiating. I had to give up all sports and any running or jumping. I did wear the bars religously on EVERY pair of my shoes.

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    9 10

    I also prayed EVERY NIGHT for God to heal my feet! I was a meter reader for 14 years later! That was walking all day everyday! I cannot comfortably wear high heels or jump from high places, but that horrible pain has not returned. You have to take care of your feet.

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    9 10

    I honestly believe though that there is a relationship to all the joint/bone/muscle pains I have been plagued with all of my life. Docs say it is fibromyalgia. Who knows! I also notice that when I do not eat sugar for awhile my joints do bnot hurt as bad. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease when I was 23, which is really the same thing that happened to my feet.

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    9 10

    Whatever causes this has got to somehow be related because every single joint in my body has a problem. Which is why today after 32 years… I looked up the Freiberg’s. I wanted to see if there was any info on it. There was no such thing as internet when I was 12.

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    9 10

    :yea amanda I know how you feel… I used to be an avid softball player but then because of the pain I had to stop… they put me in a dumb cast which like u said did nothing if not made matters worse… they also made me wear shoes with a medatarcle pad in them which again failed… I have yet to have the surgery but I think that is going to be the last resort… mine went away for at least 2 years… and now its back and it hurts worse than before… keep me updated with your treatment…. thanks karissa

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      9 10

      I have been suffering from Freibergs disease now for about 4 years. When I was first diagnosed in the early stages at the age of about 18, they put an orthopaedic attachment on the bottom of my problem foot’s shoe. I found it did nothing and if anything, only worsened the problem. Like yourselves, I am looking at the option of surgery but am concerned with the negative responses that are coming from those who have had corrective surgery. But I am finding the longer I leave the ailment, the worse it becomes. I am now losing feeling in the 2nd and 3rd toes (the orginal joint problem on the 2nd metatarsal), of which the joints seem to have fused toegther. I also find that I get cramps in my big toe, especially when doing physical activity like swimming and that the joint has become inflamed, almost like I have a semi serious dose of arthitis. I have trouble standing on tip toes etc, so gradually it is starting to affect my everyday life stuff. I guess one of my main problems, I don’t know if you all have the same problem, but I find my doctor is not very supportive. He keeps saying oh don’t worry, it is healing, but I am sorry, I disagree. If I lose sensation and mobility in something, it doesnt mean that I am getting better.Any feedback on this would be great. Especially if you are experiencing similar problems.

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    9 10

    hi karissa! I was diagnosed with freibergs when I was 14. I had the sugery about 5 months after I was diagnosed. its been a year and a half since I had the surgery and all pain is gone! I’m a swimmer, volleyball player, and I run track. there is no pain whatsoever. the only proof I ever had it is a scar on my foot. have the surgery. youll be out of all sports for about 6 months but after that everything is back to normal!keep me updated on your progress! if you need a recomendation for a good surgeon I’ve got a few!

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      9 10

      Hi Hannah, can I please ask what Surgery you had as I have Freibergs and have had it for 2 years and I have had one op and looking at another but as no one has heard of it or seen this before they are not sure what to do to help me. I’m in constant pain and can’t weight bare still nearly a year after the first surgery.

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    9 10

    Karissa, Amanda and Teresa, I hope your ailments have eased somewhat over the last few weeks. I am glad I stumbled across this site in my search for the answer to my never ending feet and bone problems. I would like to know if each of you (and your son who has the disease) have any other bone related disorders. I know I also have problems with my knees (more though with fluid than bones) and my hips. I am curious to know if those that suffer from Freibergs also suffer from other bone degenerations or problems with specific bones in their bodies. Also I suffer from anaemia which may possibly be a contributing factor to my disease. Do any of you or people in your families suffer from this or any other possbile related disease. It is very fascinating to research all this as much as you can to gain a better understanding of our bodies and how we work.

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    9 10

    i am 16 and when I was 14 I got dignosed with freiburgs desease and when I found out I was in the second stage. now 2 years later I am in the third stage and I have constant pain in my right foot. my hospital have said that they cannot do anything till I’m 18+. I’m realy gettin annoyed now. what should I do?

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      9 10

      I have had 5 surgeries between both of my feet. I have freiberg’s in both. I had the toe bone cleaned up and shortened with 2 surgeries when I was in high school. 10 yrs later I got it in my right foot, I was living else where and this doctor wanted to try implants. Implants suck, don’t get those. The first was metal and shaped like a screw, it hurt terribly. The second was a silicone ball, better but still felt like I was stepping on a rock. I came back to the first doctor and he shorted the 2nd toe bone on my right foot and cleaned up the bone fragments and it has been the best thing. It has been about 4 yrs since my last surgery and most days I’m pain free. I can’t wear heels but I don’t need special shoes or a boot any more. On days where I’m on my feet a lot, like at the zoo my feet do hurt but as far as the day-to-day stuff this is the best my feet have ever been. I definitely recommend looking into the surgery if nothing else is working.

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    9 10

    Hi from the UK. I developed pain when walking back in early April and was diagnosed with Freibergs end of May. The symptoms are swollen 2nd toe on left foot and general swelling around that area on the sole and roof of the foot. I can’t put the foot down properly and was walking on the side of the foot. I have been given an air-cast boot which immobilises the ankle and thus the whole foot allowing me to walk through without limping. However, it’s cumbersome and doesn’t seem to be improving the infected area. The best thing I have found is sitting down, elevating the foot which seems to provide some relief. I heard it was mainly found in teenage girls, especially ballet dancers. I am male, 30 years old and the doctors haven’t seen a case in someone in my position before. When I was 4 I developed perthes – another osteocondritic (?) condition in my right hip bone – so perhaps I am predisposed to this sort of injury. And I understand it is an injury. Like most others I do quite a lot of sports – or at least did! I sympathise and empathise with all of you. This really isn’t fun and, as I have little children, I hate the idea of this last for years.

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    9 10

    Sorry, forgot to say that I am treating this with Chinese medicine – massage oil, acupuncture, herbs (which I drink – taste hideous but I’ll try anything! – what were the Chinese thinking?!), herb pills. I’ll let you know how I get on if you like. I’m also interested in someone’s comment about sugar reduction. I am going to try variations in my diet to see what happens – I think this could be the key. If anyone wants to contact me about my treatment, please feel free to email direct, although this forum is probably best and most useful for all of us.

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