Foot Advice

[Deleted]

I don't know what to do, please guide me.

I fell 2 weeks ago, hurting my foot/ankle. I went to the Dr the morning after I fell, he sent me for xrays, said he couldn't see a break (found an old one but no new one), said he would have the radiologist double check to be sure, declared it a sprain and sent me home with a basic compression type brace and instructions to go back in a week or two if it wasn't getting better.

I hobbled around for a week and a half, my foot bruising and rebruising, the pain increasing and the swelling down but not going away fully. I went back to the same Dr on Monday, the xrays hadn't been read by the radiologist yet (1 1/2 weeks after they were done) so the Dr asked about my pain and prodded at the swollen/painful spot on my ankle and said he is 99% certain it's broken and ordered a boot for me. I left with instructions to wear the boot for 2 weeks and go back for a recheck.

I called on Tuesday and left a message for the Dr to see if he had gotten the radiologists thoughts on the xrays yet, the Dr's assistant called yesterday to say that the radiology dept was 7-10 days behind and hadn't read the xrays yet and asked me to call again in a couple days.

I've religiously worn the boot all week but by the end of each day my foot is swollen, the bruising is still there (keeps rebruising) and the swollen/tender knot at the front of my ankle holds a dent when I touch it.

What should I do now? I feel like I'm not getting the proper care.

[ct]

as long as there aren't financial/insurance limitations, I'd go to a new doc.

[rikkiandjulie]

Feb 1, 2013 8:56:13 GMT -5 ct said:

as long as there aren't financial/insurance limitations, I'd go to a new doc.

This! I broke my foot exactly like you did. And wore a boot like you but it took a long time to heal! Although they told me that night what was wrong. You need a new Dr.


Rikki-iPhone

[twotrue]

Either look into getting a 2nd opinion, or get on the phone and advocate for yourself. You might have to be somewhat bitchy but at this point, it's okay. I'd demand the radiologist's number and call them directly. Explain the situation and ask if they can help move your xray up their priority list.

[hensmum]

Def second opinion or start knocking heads. Ouch.

[hensmum]

Def second opinion or start knocking heads. Ouch.

[seattlekari]

Ditto the others. Get bitchy or go to someone else. This is ridiculous. I'm glad they at least have you in a boot, but try to take it easy. The more you're up on it the worse the swelling will be. I know easier said than done with 4 kids, but try to do some sitting activities with them where you can prop it up.

[cymru]

Make an appointment with an orthopedist. They will probably x-ray it there and they read their own xrays. I don't go to a regular GP for any bone/ joint injury. The orthos don't mess around.

[twomoms2twins]

is it your foot or ankle .. Because i have had ankle injuries from soccer and regardless of the injury they never heal 100% unless you are 100% off the of it .. and to this day if I do a tonof walking and such its gets a lil swollen - again this is an ankle and its so prone to being injured again. As for foot I have no advice

2nd opinion for sure and if you can see an orthopedic dr that is even better !!!!

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2013 14:14:52 GMT -5 twomoms2twins said:

is it your foot or ankle .. Because i have had ankle injuries from soccer and regardless of the injury they never heal 100% unless you are 100% off the of it .. and to this day if I do a tonof walking and such its gets a lil swollen - again this is an ankle and its so prone to being injured again. As for foot I have no advice

2nd opinion for sure and if you can see an orthopedic dr that is even better !!!!

The swelling is at my ankle but the top of my foot in a certain spot painful and is a constant non healing bruise.

[ssg73]

Not to freak you out but I broke my foot 5 years ago in a similar twisting way. I was taking a foul shot and jumped about 2 inches and came down on it all wrong. Since I really didn't know how I could have really hurt myself I went home and iced and elevated for the weekend. On monday I was still in tons of pain, couldn't walk on it and had bruising from my foot up to mid calf. I went to the hospital and an x-ray revealed a broken cuboid bone in my foot. When I went to see the orthopedic doc he was concerned about the swelling on the top of my foot as well. So he sent me for a cat scan. Turns out I broke my tibia (bone in my leg), my ankle in two places, one of my metatarsals, in addition to the cuboid. I was in a hard cast for 10 weeks with no weight bearing and a boot with no weight bearing for another 2 weeks. I was on crutches for my rehearsal dinner and hobbled down the aisle on my wedding day. It took me another 4-5 months with 3 months of physical therapy to get my foot actually functional again. He was also concerned that I had what is called a Lis Franc dislocation. It is a commonly missed injury and if not treated can heal really poorly. I would get an appointment with a ortho. It is ridiculous that your films have not been seen yet.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone. I'm making my next appt with an ortho, I feel like the Dr I've been seeing is just guessing at what's going on, I don't need guesses, I need answers.

The bruising is clearing up but there are still places where it hurts to barely touch it and lots of pain/itching inside.

[mk]

I'm sorry you're in pain I hope the ortho gets it all figured out!