Modern-Day Torture

My husband's nephew is tall: 6'7" and counting!

**Warning: if you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to stop here!!** Apparently there is a hazard to growing so tall too quickly: occasionally your bones outgrow your tendons. This is a problem.

The problem becomes particularly annoying with one's toes. If your toe bones grow quicker than your toes' tendons, your toes won't be able to extend as they should and eventually your toes will curl (kind of like making a fist with your hand, but with your foot). Fortunately, the condition is repairable, but the surgery is nothing short of brutal.

After removing ligament tissue between the second joint of each toe (which will cause the bones to fuse), a metal rod is stuck through the joint (shishkabob-style) to stabilize the bones until they are done fusing. The tendon is also partially cut causing it to stretch to the length that it needs to be.

For six weeks you get to endure pins sticking out your toes....and if that isn't bad enough...

at the end of six weeks they pull them out with a quick yank (and no anesthesia)! Ouch, ouch, and ouch!!