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.
try the inner ear positioning maneuver treatments at home or with a therapist.
I have always had a fear of physical therapy because of the horror stories of them doing more damage than good.
My granddaughter graduates this year in Knoxville as a physical therapy assistant. She said that they teach now that you don’t have to cause more pain to fix the problem through PT.
Sounds painful. I did that to my ankle years ago. It takes forever for those to heal. Probably would’ve been better if I broke it healing wise. My ankle pained me for 12 months after I did it, and I had to be real careful not to twist it again, or it would act up again. I would try and keep it elevated whenever I sat, which helps. I was young (25ish) at the time it happened so if you are older, it’ll take even longer so be careful and be patient. It’ll work out.
it is moderately insane to seek medical advice from absolute strangers on an internet discussion forum.
Cortisone shots. Anti-inflammatory miracle shots.
You have a sprained ankle. If you were 16 years old it would heal up but be weaker in a month or two. If you’re 60+ it will take significantly longer and still be weaker for the rest of your life.
I wish I had better news but we all have our crosses to bear.
look up Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Epley Maneuver and see if it applies to you.
Instead of working it out, I would gently stretch your whole foot. Get a good stretching or yoga book.
Also, there is some evidence far infrared can truly penetrate skin and help mitochondria work better. Amazon sometimes has such heating pads on sale. My wife and I got one last year (UTK brand) and she tells me it works far better than our old Sunbeam heating pad she was told to use by her physical therapist. In fact, her pain issues from a neck injury are now very infrequent, after years with the other pad.
Jade apparently re-radiates heat in infrared frequencies that get deepest, but tourmaline and ochre do slightly more shallow penetration and generate more negative ions (not from ozone production).
Also, try to sleep with that foot slightly raised.
Consider grape seed extract to help minimize blood pooling from venous insufficiency-related issues.
Get a second opinion.
You may have something similar to what just happened to my wife’s foot.
She had stressed her foot walking up/down stair earlier in the day. She called me crying that she needed me to take her to the walk-in clinic. The doctor said that it didn’t seem to be broken, suggested against an x-ray, and told her to avoid stairs for a few days.
Relevant history - at some time in the past she had injured the ligament/s in that foot. Earlier this week she had gone for bloodwork, and today she had appt. with primary care doc. In discussions he told her that her potassium levels (she has been taking Rx potassium) were too low, and that is likely why the pain in the foot was so bad. And he explained the mechanism regarding this.
So he is increasing her potassium dosages.
I REALLY HOPE THIS IS USEFUL - BUT DON’T TRUST ME - I AM NOT A DOC.
So just use this as a suggestion/observation.
Cheers!!
+1 to this.
And, the original X-ray may have missed a fracture. An MRI will give a lot more info.
GOUT?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
they can detect gout with a very inexpensive blood test.
but there is also pseudo-gout.
BTW - some of those statin drugs cause joint pain and other feelings of icki-ness. FWIW
I first had a serious ankle sprain as a high school freshman (1956). That ankle has remained weak all my life; without surgical repair a sprain is forever. I adapted and have had an athletic life by wearing supports and / or braces depending on the activity. But it sounds as if your injury may have been more severe than mine.
I’m with you on the getting nuts from sitting around; the heart stoppage a few months back has put me on doctor-ordered limited activity, to last at least another month.
I fell and twisted my foot exactly six months ago. Broke two metatarcals and a middle toe. No surgery, just crutches and orthopedic shoe early on. And aspirin.
I was miserable and it seemed to take forever to heal. You have my sincerest sympathy! Just three or so weeks ago I finally started feeling somewhat normal again. It DOES take time.
I think you’ll be just fine but if you’re really concerned and if you’re anywhere near Nashville, I recommend the Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance. I used their well-run walk-in clinic (rather than schedule a far-off appt).
Blood supply carrying oxygen to the brain may be diminished...see your doc now!
What he said.
Best of luck on your healing.
A podiatrist is NOT the same as an orthopedic surgeon. Please see an orthopedic surgeon who does ankles. As others have said, ask around or get another doctor to recommend one.
+1
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.