Re: Foot injury--please help


You might like to investigate a phenomenon called Reflex Sympathetic
Distrophy (they changed the name recently, but I can't remember the new
one). You should have no trouble finding it on Google.

Andrew


<wtrnshade@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1152902006.917247.85340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,

I'm new to these groups, and b/c the podiatry groups have very low
activity, I am posting here--hope that's appropriate, b/c I really need
help.

Last September I suffered a foot injury. While working, a coworker
lowered a truck lift gate onto my right foot, crushing the top. I was
taken to an urgent care clinic where the Physican's Asst. (never saw a
doc) thought the XRay revealed a fracture on the top of the foot. Days
later, the radiology report did NOT confirm this and I was told that it
should heal fine if I restricted to light activity. As this was a
worker's comp claim I needed multiple doc visits to my case was
transferred to a clinic nearer my home.

Well, my foot did heal about 60% within 2 months, but in the last 8
months it has not improved. I still have bruising on the top of my
foot, (red, orange and brown) and I have developed nerve damage that
radiates to my big toe. The outside of the toe is always numb as is
the top of my foot, (although it hurts if pressure is applied to the
bruise) and if a certain area of my foot is touched it shoots pins and
needles to my toe.

Here is the treatment I have received so far:

Ultra sound--beginning 3 months after injury, lasting 2 months (2x a
week) to break up bruise. When it had no effect they re-Xrayed the
foot and still found no fracture. The PT said since the treatment
wasn't helping to see someone else.

Lawyer referred me to a doc. He took yet another set of Xrays and
confirmed no break. CT scan and MRI were done. The results were that
I had a bone spur, but he said that it was no big deal and was totally
unrelated to my pain/injury and told me that with time the crush injury
would heal itself. I assumed the spur was not in the location of my
injury. When 5 more months without imporvement passed and I questioned
his lack of treatment he said I probably need surgery to release the
nerve, that the surgery might not be effective, the bruising would be
permanent, and that I should get another doctor. I agreed, as this guy
was a tool.

Lawyer sent my to a chiropractor. (I know, it's ridiculous, but he's
just going to write the report, I'm going to be sent to an ortho
surgeon) When he Xrayed the foot he saw the bone spur at the sight of
injury. He said it probably WAS causing my problem, (nerve pain
started 4 months after injury) b/c it was prob. fractured in the first
place and the spur developed when the bone wasn't healing properly,
thus causing the nerve pain. I have to wait another week to have these
results confirmed with a radiolgist, but since prior tests revealed the
spur, I think it's a no brainer.

Here's my question: If all of this is true-- foot WAS fractured after
all, spur developed, which damaged nerve, etc.. what should I be doing
with my foot? Should I stay off of it as I would have if the fracture
had been diagnosed in the first place, or is it too late? Will they
most likely perform surgery to remove the spur and free the nerve?
After 10 months, what kind of recovery can I expect--full, parital?
How long will I have to stay off the foot after the surgery? (which I
will only have if there is a good chance of success.) How big will the
scar be? I've heard that if nerve damage lasts beyond 3-6 months, the
chance of recovery goes way down, which upsets me to no end. Also,
could that be causing the bruising? The spur is small and the bruise
is several inches across.

This has greatly reduced my pleasure in life. I can't wear most shoes
comfortably, can't wear fins (used to SCUBA, now I can't) have gained
weight b/c I can't exercise like I used to, and it just plain hurts.
And, of course I'm furious at all the people who misread the Xrays,
esp. the doc that did nothing for me for 5 months, even after the spur
was found. It's going to take weeks to be referred to an ortho-surgeon
(worker's comp sucks) and so I'm trying to find out what I should do in
the meantime. If anyone could answer some of these questions I'd be so
grateful. I just haven't been getting good medical care and it's so
frustrating.



.

Relevant Pages

  • Foot injury--please help
    ... and b/c the podiatry groups have very low ... Last September I suffered a foot injury. ... I had a bone spur, but he said that it was no big deal and was totally ... nerve, that the surgery might not be effective, the bruising would be ...
    (sci.med)
  • Nadal injury updates
    ... Injury is in the same spot on his left foot as his stress fracture last year ... Injury appears directly related to playing too much on HC ... Plans to cut back on clay to prove himself on other surfaces as an investment in future ... When it comes to next year, Nadal plans to cut out some tournaments, ...
    (rec.sport.tennis)
  • Re: Does the fact that the MSM have not reported...
    ... arthritis", in the form of inflammation of the instep of his left foot, the same foot in which he suffered a stress facture last year that kept ... The Mallorcan tennis player Rafael Nadal has to have complete rest and follow a course of treatment during the next two weeks to recover from the problems he has been carrying in his left foot, which means that he is doubtful for the Spanish Masters that will bring together the top Spanish players in Valladolid from 16th to 18th December. ... the daily evolution of the injury. ...
    (rec.sport.tennis)
  • Re: Hazelwood is a mother fucker and blow job artist - Re: Nadal missed AO because of shoes?
    ... the old injury, it would be distributing the force elsewhere on the foot. ... People thought I was perhaps nasty or something when I criticised ... He might still be playing ...
    (rec.sport.tennis)
  • Re: kicked in the foot
    ... and two of them had fairly young horses that they hadn't had very long. ... but got my left foot. ... I had a March fracture once, ... injury out, while applying minimal stress to the foot. ...
    (rec.equestrian)