Need Freeper help and advice on medical issue.

[MarvinStinson]

Arnica Montana

tablets under the tongue

Arnica Montana tincture on the foot and ankle

DON'T ride the bike--Give it a rest to let it heal

[Grampa Dave]

About 6 years ago I had complex foot surgery on my left foot to repair a severe Hammer Toe and a huge bunion on my big toe.

I had 140 stitches and lots of bone surgery, and my RN wife labeled my foot, the Franken Foot. Xrays looked like an Ace Hardware ad for metal screws and other metal devises. My Ace foot still sets off metal sensors alarms at airports and to get into pro football stadiums (that is not a problem any more). I a knee walker for about 2 months.

6 Months post op,and I was still healing and had limited use
on my foot.

I contacted along time Orthopedic Doc friend via the internet.

He said with serious foot bone surgery to add 1 month extra healing time for each year I was over 65. I was 74 at that time. This is due to poorer circulation with age.

Also, he told me to throw away my cane as a very dangerous tool for me to use and to go to the two walking sticks designed like ski poles.

Besides being more secure while walking, the walking sticks basically neutralized the weight of each arm and shoulder, that put less pressure on the damaged and recovering foot.

I got the sticks quickly and threw away the cane.

Within a couple of days I could easily walk from my truck or wife’s car and get up a ramp into my home. After another week, I was walking on level ground a couple hundred yards at a time, two to three times per day.

A month later, I was going a 1/4 of a mile, twice a day with no pain.

I saw my foot doctor about 2 months after using the walking sticks. His X rays showed basically 90% healing.

2 months later with a lot of level walking, the doctor discharged me with checkups if I felt the need. He was amazed at my final healing X Rays. He now recommends the walking sticks after about 2 months post op. I have not returned to see the doctor.

[PAR35]

I’d get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon. You’ve done what this guy says, and thinks haven’t gotten better. Time for a second opinion.

[DouglasKC]

Get a different doctor and check for gout as well.

[Tennessee Conservative]

Thanks for all the wonderful replies. Sometimes pictures are better than descriptions. Here is my foot on Nov. 22, the day after I twisted it.

This is the other side, same day.

This is on the 25th, only three days later. Most of the swelling is gone. It's still bruised. The redness on the joints around the big toe should have alerted me that those joints were damaged but it didn't.

Since I went to the doctor a full month after the fact I took several pictures with me on my tablet for him to see. My feet are so thin that the hurt one now looks more like a normal foot and you don't notice the slight swelling until you put it next to the other one. The area around the ankle is still slightly swollen by noon and it's very slightly bruised when it's swollen. There is seldom any pain at all unless it's around the ankle where it is more swollen or I'm having nerve healing pain. Those were bad!

[alexander_busek]

Need to know your age and dietary habits to make a definite diagnosis.

Regards,

No, I'm not a physician - I just play on on Free Republic. But seriously?! Asking for medical advice online?!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

ObozoMustGo2012:" First of all, you need to see an orthodepic surgeon PRONTO, or sports medicine doctor."

If you are in proximity of a State or private college,
contact their sports director
to see who they use for sports medicine for their athletes.

[Tennessee Conservative]

Already got a diagnosis from the doctor, twice. I mostly want to hear similar stories and how they turned out plus advice. Doctors never give you enough information.

BTW, I’m extremely fit and active. I’m 120 pounds and before the accident was riding a mountain bike off road in the mountains 20 miles or more. :-) I’m 64.

[Faith65]

I tore my Achilles tendon a few years back. It was not a complete rupture, but torn I was told after a MRI was done. The specialist wanted to do surgery. I was told that you are 6 x’s more likely to have a complete rupture if injured badly again after having reattachment surgery so I opted instead to try something else. I did EPAT treatments over a several months and during that period of time I was told NOT to take any pain medication as it would interfere with the bodys natural healing. It hurt a lot! I wore the ortho boot about 2 weeks only at the beginning and never again because my foot hurt more wearing it. I was also in physical therapy during this time period. And No ice only heat on the area. It took about a 1 1/2 years to heal up well but I am glad I did not have the surgery.

Each person is different. Each injury is different. If you haven’t had a MRI to see whats going on you should. See a specialist.

Prayers up for a complete healing!

[WASCWatch]

If they were torn, you wouldn’t be walking anywhere. Severely stained ligaments will take at least six months to mostly heal. Not unusual for it to take an entire year to totally heal.

[TheConservativeParty]

I have a hand injury that is over 2 years old.
The fingers and hand were slowly pulled on (horse related) and there was no pain as injury was happening.
Next day hand swelled, stiff fingers.

It is now 2 1/2 years later.

Tendon pulls and tears in microscopic things take a very long time to mend.

Doctor was no help.

It is slowly improving.

I had to hold my hand high, elevate while sleeping etc.

Was very painful.

Is now to point of being stiff fingers but not bad.

Tendons are a long term healing process.

I did if course REST the injury.

It concerns me that your doctor said to do so much on an injured limb.
Sounds like a bad idea to me.

[Tennessee Conservative]

Thanks so much for that! What you had was MUCH worse than what I did so I have hope. My doctor told me the same thing about pain meds. The foot is so stiff in the morning that if I have to go to town I will take one ibuprofen in the morning but only one in 24-hours. It helps get the foot moving. Most days I don’t have to take even one. They are learning a lot about this kind of thing. They used to think that ligaments and tendons couldn’t heal but now they know they can, in time, if they aren’t ruptured.

[Mears]

We just had a carbon monoxide scare in my building——just a suggestion,not a diagnosis.

.

[Tennessee Conservative]

If they were ruptured (completely torn loose) you won’t walk anywhere. If they are just torn they are not ruptured. As long as they aren’t torn away from the bone or muscle, they can heal. That’s what he explained to me. None of mine were ruptured.

[Faith65]

Yes, it takes a lot of time to get better. I would say my heal is about 98% back to normal. I am so much more careful now with my body after that injury.

The physical therapy helped me sooooo much. It enabled me to walk again while undergoing treatment.

I did listen to the specialist and did not take anything for the pain. She stressed to me that if I did it would undermine the EPAT treatments and render them useless and that I would have to have the surgery. They hurt like h*ll but well worth it in the end.

I used to soak my foot and heal in warm salt water a few times a day. It really seemed to keep things moving better and helped the swelling.

My best to you!

[Fightin Whitey]

Why have i been feeling dizzy for the last 2 weeks...like being on a boat in rough seas?

Don't be concerned, it's to be expected.

That's just what it feels like when the greatest republic in all of human history begins to crumble.

[Tennessee Conservative]

When I asked about activity he said not to wear the ortho boot inside the house because it restricted movement too much and the foot/ankle needed to move for the ligaments and tendons to heal properly. I asked about riding the bike and he said the stationary bike would be best and they they actually recommend low intensity riding to work the damaged areas and promote healing. He made sure to tell me not to do anything that causes pain. I asked about the real bike and he kind of looked at me for a minute and said that when the foot feels strong enough, that it would be OK as long as there was not chance of me crashing and injuring the foot. Since I ride off-road in the mountains it will be a while on that. He made sure I knew that I needed to use the foot but don’t fall again. That’s why he wants me to wear the ortho boot outside on uneven ground for a long time. I’m on a farm and we don’t have manicured lawns. :-)

[EQAndyBuzz]

“First of all, you need to see an orthodepic surgeon PRONTO, or sports medicine doctor.”

I would see a sports doctor who specializes in foot and ankle injuries. Personally I think you are walking on it too much. You aren’t just stepping on it, but you are putting your full weight on it. The limp you will develop from using a cane will become the norm as new muscles develop memory to support your new limp.

Stay off it for a week or two/or minimal movement and take ibuprofen or something else for the pain. If it’s swollen, put ice on it. Keep the leg elevated. If after a week or so, if nothing changes, get yourself to the doctor.

[Delta 21]

Trying to get back on my feet and this damn cold is not helping one bit!

[Tennessee Conservative]

Same thing here! I’m wearing sandals in January without socks. LOL