Posted on 01/25/2019 7:19:47 AM PST by Tennessee Conservative
I seldom post and never post vanities but I'm desperate. In November I fell and twisted my foot under me. The foot swelled but swelling was minimal a week later. A month later I went to the Podiatrist for x-rays because I thought it should be 100% by then. Nothing was broken but he said I had torn all of the ligaments and tendons in my foot and ankle. He told me then that exercise would aid with healing but DO NOT fall on it again and if it hurts stop doing whatever was causing the pain. I have been using a cane when necessary and wearing an orthopedic boot outside on unlevel ground on his advice. Except for the first two weeks there has been very little pain, except when I try to put a regular shoe on, so I don't. It's mostly just extremely tired at the end of the day.
At two months I called and asked why this foot was still swelling some and I couldn't walk normally by now. He said that it could take up to six months to heal.
At three months post injury I'm still wearing hiking sandals with firm soles because it still hurts to flex the joint behind the big toe, not as much but painful enough that I don't want to do it. I walk better but I have a slight limp because I can't flex the toe area without pain and I walk slowly. I can't get a regular shoe on. I tried yesterday and after the pain subsided the toe swelled. The foot randomly swells in random areas. It's minimal and wouldn't be noticed unless compared to the other foot. It's also still slightly blue. It's never swollen in the morning. Sometimes it doesn't swell until after lunch. Sometimes it swells immediately. There is not much pain, just swelling in different areas of the foot and inflexibility in the joint behind the toe.
He said I could ride the stationary bike as long as the pain was "tolerable" so I have been doing that. It doesn't hurt unless I raise the resistance and even then the pain is minimal. He said I could even get the road bike out as long as it didn't hurt but I'm afraid to try that right now. He said pedaling a bike would aid with healing as long as I don't crash.
He said I could use muscle heating rubs on it but they make the swelling worse. Ice makes the swelling less. I walked all over the Wal-Mart super-center yesterday and had minimal swelling. Today I haven't done much and the swelling is worse than yesterday. Socks, even loose ones, make it swell more. I have to wear the hiking sandals without socks and it's freezing outside. The stationary bike doesn't cause swelling.
I need advice and encouragement from Freepers that have gone through this. When I complained about it not healing fast the doctor laughed and said a break would have healed faster.
I am very discouraged because I'm an outdoor person and sitting around is driving me nuts and causing me to worry about the fate of the foot.
You’re hurt....not sick. Be happy.
Swelling in random places on the foot as well as the big toe sounds like gout to me. I had it a couple of times and the pain was unbearable. Like pins and needles in the various joints in my left foot.
She ended up getting the tendons in her ankles stapled. 30+ years later and her ankles are still as stable as anyone's.
Herbal remedies will not reattach torn tendons.
Torn ligaments and tendons DO NOT HEAL.
They must be surgically reattached. It’s possible that you do not have torn ligaments and tendons - just severely sprained, bruised and inflamed as you say. And even light walking and standing on a daily basis is not helpful.
In any event - seek a second opinion. And try therapy.
First of all, you need to see an orthodepic surgeon PRONTO, or sports medicine doctor. This is WAY beyond a podiatist’s expertise, and I am shocked that they didn’t recommend you to go to one, let alone gave you the directions he/she did, which probably worsened the situation.
Is there a more accurate and precise diagnosis?
If ligaments and tendons are actually torn, I think it’d take surgery to correct. Even with that, no quick recovery time.
6 mo sounds right for ligament sprain. Could be longer.
Discoloration and swelling this far out seem odd.
My only experience with this was midplacing my foot and tearing the cartelige off my ankle. I hobbled around on crutches with a flex wrap around my ankle gor several weeks (maybe longer on just one crutch) and tried to limit pressure in that foot.
The doc who saw me had this happen himself and was healing some injury of his own. He said I could expect it to happen more frequently after the one time but it hasn’t in 20 years hence.
X-rays at the time showed no break or fracture.
You need another opinion. if you really tore all the ligaments and tendons, I doubt the treatment you were advised is the right treatment. You sound like someone who, like me, hates going to the doctor, but you need to get to a big city and see a specialist.
I haven’t been through what you describe, but the fact that your foot is still slightly blue makes me wonder if you have a circulatory issue. Is your foot cool or cold when the other foot is warm? Regarding the swelling, have you or your doctor conducted a pitting test? You might want to get a second opinion.
Do exactly as the Dr. says. Nothing more, nothing less.
It takes a while to heal.
not to hijack the thread or anything but i have a med question as well...
Why have i been feeling dizzy for the last 2 weeks...like being on a boat in rough seas?
otherwise i feel ok, no fever or anything.
Get a second, or third, opinion. Doctors are not miracle workers, far from it. They often make quick decisions with incomplete information - and are wrong.
Ask around a little bit who is “the best” in your area. The cream usually rises, and you can find out who the specialists are with a little investigation.
My wife dislocated her heel about six or seven years ago and tore all of the tendons and ligaments. She went through what you are going through now. It was a full year before she had for flexibility with her foot. Otherwise, from what you posted, the situation is almost identical. She said just wait, because recovery will take a long time. She enjoys being outside and hiking, and it just took time.
Try an Orthopedist instead of the Podiatrist.....
People that I know who have had foot injuries and or foot surgeries have told me that it has taken over a year to 18 months for the foot to recover and not be swollen.
There is a cluster of nerves on the sole, just behind the big toe connection that is unbelievably sensitive to pressure, and can be extremely painful. Also, I have just recently discovered that tendon injuries can take forever to heal. I would recommend an orthopod rather than a podiatrist.
I used to bounce back quickly, but after 60, something changed. Not in my mind, but in my body, and my mind hasn’t caught up yet. It hilariously thinks that I am still 35 and hot chicks dig me.
Low oxygen. Go get a check up and don’t lie to the doctor.
Low oxygen. Go get a check up and don’t lie to the doctor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.