Can you help me with my Foot problem?!


Question: Can you help me with my Foot problem?
I just came back from a swift clinic having had an x-ray. My right foot has been giving way since last week. I think I injured it while walking upstairs where I miss stepped and felt like I crushed my foot, it was agony initially but the pain went and I continued walking/driving on it with just minor discomfort. Then at night or any time really if I got up from a chair and stand on it It goes from under me I cant weight bare on it at all. I had today off so decided to go to a swift clinic to save time as if I had gone to my Doctor I may not have got an appointment til later in the week and he would then have referred me to the hospital for an x-ray which in my local hospital can take anything up to 10 hours before you are seen. I got the xray and the doctor tells me the bones are all fine. So what next? I'm still in pain cant walk properly and obviously need an ultrasound or MRI scan. I have sprained/strained this ankle so many times in the past that I want to know if I have done some permanent damage to the tissue or muscle. The doctor said the tendons seem ok as I have full movement. I have a little area of numbness and pins and needles behind my big toe and when I stretch/flex the toes I feel a tight pulling like an elastic band about to snap. Can you advise me what to ask for next? Do I need a referral to a specialist? and any idea what injury this is? I am in Dublin, Ireland.

Answers:

As the x-ray has shown no broken bones I am wondering if you have wrenched some of the muscles in the foot. Coming down from the anterior tibial to where the big toe the tendon splits into two and is attached either side of the proximal phalanx you may have severely strained this. (The big toe has two bones whereas the other four toes have three bones each.) The structure reflects that of the thumb and fingers.

Any muscle damage much as you have described takes a long time to repair especially because you are weight bearing. I would be inclined to speak to a chiropodist/podiatrist or a physiotherapist specializing in sports injuries. GPs know quite a bit about the feet but it is rarely a specialist subject for them. Otherwise I would suggest that you get yourself referred to an orthopaedic specialist at the hospital.

In the meantime providing you do not have any contraindications take an anti-inflamatory such as Ibuprofen for at least one week, try to walk on the heel when you do have to walk and elevate the foot to hip height at times of resting. Do not totally rest as you will stiffen up and then have other problems.

By the sounds of it because of early damage on this foot you may have a weakness and I would suggest that you only wear footwear that will support and protect your foot and not high heeled shoes. A good quality trainer is a good substitute for the old fashioned well made lace up.



Had the similar problem as yours and it wont go away. Now my doctor says i have a weak ankle. It gets painful after walking to much and sometimes i limp and it siezes up all the time. So i started wereing flat comfortable ankle boots as the back of my ankle and around it gives way from time to time.



You may have pulled or torn a tendon in the foot or caused a light fracture in the foot which is causing the pain, best thing is to have an x-ray done and get referred to a specialist... do not let the problem fester



sounds like it just needs to mend you've obviously badly sprained it again .A sprain can be just as painful as a break sometimes.



As you are said that u think is a minor thing before its becom a big problem,everything is clear to GOD.my only advice for u is this if u are a christian or muslim or whatever religion u may be pls keep on praying then u can also goes to abalist or spritual hospital may God answer ur prayer AMEN

Idris from nigeria oyo state



I have had painful foot problems recently- I got to the point when it was really starting to depress me, as I just couldn't enjoy anything. I went to my GP who referred me to a podiatry clinic, and whilst waiting to see them, the doctor prescribed pain killers. I found it helpful to know that the way I have always taken pain killers is ineffective- you have to take them regularly throughout the day, at whatever the prescription is (eg: 2 every 6 hours). Previously I'd just taken 2 when ever I had a headache. When I went to see the physio at the clinic, he diagnosed plantar fasciitis, made me some special insoles to wear at all times, and taught me how to tape up my feet to take the pressure off my joints a bit. I wear the bandages up to 3 days at a time, now only if I know I'm going to be on my feet a lot. I also got an exercise sheet, to do twice a day. It's really helped, the pain is gradually easing off. I don't know if it's the same thing with your feet, but just to let you know there are specialists out there who can help...Hope your feet get better soon!

personal experience.



I`m a podiatrist and the advice from stef is spot on. The likelihood is that you have just sprained one of the tendons perhaps a tear. Possibly extensor hallucis longus or tibialis anterior. Rest is the best thing with gentle massage and movement. Reduce any swelling with something cold ie bag of frozen peas and take ibuprofen. It is possible that you could still have fractured something and it just hasn`t shown on the x ray so if it doen`t settle in a week or so you could try another xray. You doctor is unlikely to refer you on until it has time to settle.




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