geek ramblings syndactyly forums

Discussions about syndactyly (webbed toes and fingers)

1. 

   Tolstoi
   Member

   Hi,

   And great to read all the messages so far and nice to hear about other people with the condition! I have webbed toes in both feet (2nd and 3rd toes); the other one is more prominent than the other, but neither are grown fully together; they separate before the last joint. My father has webbed toes (all the way up) and my great-grandmother (on my fathers side, duh) had them _probably_ too.

   Someone mentioned here that (IIRC) she also had ingrown toenails - like me. I was wondering how frequent or infrequent this is with people with webbed toes. If I have understood correctly, webbing is hereditary but ingrown nails is not. I have (or rather had ;)) very large nails in my toes to begin with and this probably somewhat contributed to the probability of them growing in the side of the toe when I grew up.

   BTW I would never encourage plastic surgery to remove the webbing, but I would advice anyone to go to the doctor if you have ingrown nails. I have high pain-threshold and managed to cut my toenails for a long time myself, but after a small operation to remove the excess nail, I've felt _much_ better.

   Thanks again,
   Respect ;).

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   Jim-Bob
   Member

   Hi There Tolstoi.
   Read you're message, so you have webbed feet as well,me too. On both feet. How can some peeps think of getting surgery done on their feet. Those who have our traits, upon their feet must be mad to get rid of them.
   So far, I am the only one who has our conditionin my family. My parents cannot think who else in my family. My mother and biological father divorced when I was 7. and father died a few years ago. We met a few time about 40 years later, but never got round to ask him about his side of the family. So Iam afraid on my father side of the family shall now be a mystery.
   Jim-Bob

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   anitak
   Member

   If anyone is considering surgery, I say "go for it". The surgery should be uncomplicated with good results. I am a nurse practitioner and always recommend finding a good orthopedic doctor (pediatric orthopedist is young child involved). Get second opinion if uncomfortable. Health insurance should cover surgery.
   I was born with extra fused small toe to great toe. Parents did not have it repaired,deciding to let me make decision. I had corrective surgery at age 21 and have been very pleased. Correction was important for cosmetic, better shoe fit, and comfort reasons.
   Neither of my children had this (hereditary) toe. Now, I am expecting a grandchild and found this site. I am wondering if we can count toes on ultrasound! In researching the net, looks like corrective surgery might be possible before children walk, which would be great. I think that it is important for children to look as "normal" as possible and avoid cruel comments from other kids. The surgery for me was uncomfortable for a few days and I was back to normal in 4-6 weeks.
   AK, nurse practitioner

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   Tolstoi
   Member

   Nice to hear from both of you!

   And I'm not about to start another flamewar about "corrective" surgery (which seems to be going on a bit in this forum), but one thing caught my eye in your post.

   I have never been teased at school or elsewhere (about my toes I mean). The problem is that unfortunately kids will probably always be teased to some degree about _something_ in school, etc. If it's not your toes, it your looks, your body, your clothes... or other nonsense like that. I don't know how good a strategy it is to try to protect ones children from the Big Bad World with surgery -- if the fear of teasing is the _only_ reason (you yourself give a few better reasons as well, which might not be issues to other people). The children are bound to confront the world and all the people in it anyway, whether we always like it or not.

   As I said, it's a difficult question and as I've never been teased about my toes I can't perhaps have a say (I have been teased from other things, though). And I don't think that being teased upon makes you a stronger, etc. person at all, but I don't know.

   My parents have never thought anything special about my toes (my father has webs too, after all) but I myself kinda think that that is _one_ distinctive thing that makes me special as a person (in some really slight and strange but positive way), and that my toes are a part of what it is to be _me_.

   Just my 2 cents.
   Love, Tolstoi.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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