Chiropodist says my foot is broken???

[tigercat]

I have had a really sore foot for 3 months. I still kept on going though because I went to my Dr. and she barely looked at it and told me that it was plantarfasiitis?(sp) even though there was not pain at all at the bottom of my foot. There was a spot under the toe beside the big toe on the ball of the foot that really hurt. It has been getting worse. My Dr. had told me to get something for her diagnosis but when I went to get it they were really confused. It would not have helped me at all because of where the pain was. The Dr had also said that if it didn't get better she was going to send me to a Chiropodist. I finally went myself today and she told me I have a hairline fracture and have to have a cast on. I am to keep my foot up and not to be on it at all and will have to wear the cast for at least 3 weeks. To get the cast and the crutches that I need I have to go back to my Dr and get a prescription. Not sure what she will do as everything is "stress" for her. I am also dealing with a bad rash that she has no idea about. So now I am itchy hurting and can't walk or even more importantly drive. I am going to go insane.
tigercat

 

[LoriABil]

Was there ever an X-ray taken? I'd be wary about anyone who said it was a fracture without an X-ray. That said, stress fractures may or may not show up on X-rays if there is swelling! But it is true that plantar fasciitis doesn't usually present at the toes. Are you talking about the soft part between your toes (like if you were in the space between your toes and went down to your actual foot on the bottom?) Sometimes a neuroma can form there, which is very painful, but usually treatable with shoe inserts.

I would think a walking boot would be fine, instead of an actual cast. I didn't even know people casted feet anymore, except to make an orthosis!

If there is any question at all, get a second opinion (from a different doctor). Is there a walk-in clinic around you could try? I would check into options before committing to a cast 3+ weeks.

 

[diznygirl]

Sounds like you need a new doctor. Hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[tigercat]

I have asked my massage therapist as well as 2 different chiropractors about my foot. They all said that they thought it might be a small fracture. I had an xray taken at the very beginning and they couldn't see anything. The Chiropodist had a test that she used. I think she was as surprised as I was at the problem. The place that it hurts is on the pad of the foot. A small area just under the second toe which also really hurts. I called it a cast but I think it will be a walking boot. I have never had anything like this. My foot is still slightly swollen and my own Dr. can't see it. I almost have to wear 2 different size shoes but she thinks my feet look the same. No one else looking at my feet would say that. It seems that a small fracture will sometimes not show up at all until it is healed. I have a small foot, a size 5.
tigercat

 

[minniecarousel]

Sounds like it's time to have it re-x-rayed. It's true that some fx don't show up until it starts to heal (the bone forms callus that shows up more dense on the x-ray).

Good luck.

 

[golfgal]

Sounds like it's time to have it re-x-rayed. It's true that some fx don't show up until it starts to heal (the bone forms callus that shows up more dense on the x-ray).

Good luck.

I agree, it isn't uncommon for hairline fractures to not show up on initial x-rays. There are a lot of things that it could be, cyst, neuroma, etc. I would get into an orthopedic doctor and skip the chiropractors.

 

[tigercat]

The chiropractor did not say I have a fracture. The two of them said that it was not plantar. It did not present in any way for that. They were the one's who told me to go back to my Dr. I did and she said that it probably would heal whatever it was. She did not look at my foot but did say that if it was still a problem I should go to a chiropodist. That is a foot specialist. I did. I have called my Dr. as I need a prescription from her for the cast and crutches in order to get my money back from my insurance. If it is done at the hospital it would be free but I hate going there. I am still waiting for a call back as to what she wants to do. It is frustrating because I did what she told me to do. I have had so many xrays in the last year that I am not really wanting another one. My Dr also said that the last time I was in to see her. I had pnumonia 4 times last year as well as a couple of other things that needed xrays. More xrays than I have had total in the many years I have been alive.
tigercat

 

[Jennasis]

How timely! DH is going to his Podiatrist (the American equivalent of the Canadian/British chiropodist if I understand chiropody correctly). He saw his regular doctor about two weeks ago with severe foot pain after kicking something. They x-rayed but saw no fracture, though the doctor said it could take up to 10 days for a hairline fracture to be visible on an x-ray. So watching him gimp around got to be a bit much so I made him make an appointment with a podiatrist for a new x-ray.

I hope whatever it is can be addressed quickly. We leave for WDW in 7 weeks!

 

[tigercat]

I have been walking on my heel for almost 3 months now waiting for it to get better. I had planned on walking a lot this summer as last year was a real bust but I can't. We are going on a cruise and then Disney in Jan. and I had really hoped to lose some weight and get to the point where I could walk at Disney instead of using a scooter. I can't wait any longer for it to get better.
tigercat

 

[threecrazykids]

I have had a really sore foot for 3 months. I still kept on going though because I went to my Dr. and she barely looked at it and told me that it was plantarfasiitis?(sp) even though there was not pain at all at the bottom of my foot. There was a spot under the toe beside the big toe on the ball of the foot that really hurt. It has been getting worse. My Dr. had told me to get something for her diagnosis but when I went to get it they were really confused. It would not have helped me at all because of where the pain was. The Dr had also said that if it didn't get better she was going to send me to a Chiropodist. I finally went myself today and she told me I have a hairline fracture and have to have a cast on. I am to keep my foot up and not to be on it at all and will have to wear the cast for at least 3 weeks. To get the cast and the crutches that I need I have to go back to my Dr and get a prescription. Not sure what she will do as everything is "stress" for her. I am also dealing with a bad rash that she has no idea about. So now I am itchy hurting and can't walk or even more importantly drive. I am going to go insane.
tigercat

This is not plantar fasciitis it's a neuroma. I have been having cortizone shots in my foot for this for quite awhile. I will put $ on it it's not a fracture...it's a neuroma. Extremely painful and a somewhat long process to "fix". There are tests that a podiatrist can do on your foot (pressure points) and you will damn near come off the table when they hit the spot. Then they can do the injection into the neuroma which actually kills the nerves. It hurts like heck but it feels soooo much better a couple days after. May need multiple shots, or surgery to remove it if the shots don't work. Best of luck.

 

[bookgirl]

There is a reason most doctors people see on a regular basis are called general practitionors. It's becuase they have a general knowledge of a wide range of problems. They can treat routine stuff and try a few common treatments for a standard set of symptoms. They don't specialize and can miss problems that are not seen commonly in their practice. That's why they send you to a Chiropodist (had to look that one up, it means a podiatrist) for your feet, or a dermatologist for your skin rash when their general treatment does not cure or relieve a ailment.

So honestly I would not fault her for missing a pretty specific diagnosis, however if she's a high maitenance doctor who is too stressed out to do basic care, then I would definitly look for a new GP. Not becuase she didn't diagnose a problem that it would take a specialist or a radiologist to diagnose but because high maitenance and stress are not two words I want to associate with my doctor.

Of course I would also never let a massage therapist or a chiropractor diagnose anything, no medical degree and not being a radiologist, pretty much means even if your kinda educated but not qualified guess is right, I'm not taking a chance. 1st to the GP and then if it doens't resolve they have always sent me on to a specialist.

 

[geffric]

well i broke my foot beg of august.. so join the club..

first of all - if you walked on it , it maybe something else, as noway could i walk on my foot...

if it is broken - i have a roll a bout and get around with that ( flunked crutuches) .. no driving is an issue as keeping the foot up... so i am a prisoner.. but such is life.... learned to knit so all is not lost..

sad part i had a cancel a wdw vacation, i was gonna run the mickey 5k 10/3..oh well maybe next year..

 

[tigercat]

Well the office has phoned and I went for an xray. Nothing was saiid about my rash though. I think I will tell the chiropodist to wait on the cast until the xray but if it is a neuroma it will not show up on an xray so again nothing will be wrong with my foot according to my Dr. I think at that time I will be making an appointment and having my husband go with me. She listens to him. They think it is a small fracture not a hugh brake. She said that's why I have been able to walk on my heel. But there are a lot of times that my foot is just so sore I can't walk on it at all. Sorry for the vent but it is all just getting too much. I thought this summer would be a much better summer and it didn't turn out that way. As well with the vacation in Jan coming faster and faster I just had wanted to be able to do so much more.
tigercat

 

[threecrazykids]

Well the office has phoned and I went for an xray. Nothing was saiid about my rash though. I think I will tell the chiropodist to wait on the cast until the xray but if it is a neuroma it will not show up on an xray so again nothing will be wrong with my foot according to my Dr. I think at that time I will be making an appointment and having my husband go with me. She listens to him. They think it is a small fracture not a hugh brake. She said that's why I have been able to walk on my heel. But there are a lot of times that my foot is just so sore I can't walk on it at all. Sorry for the vent but it is all just getting too much. I thought this summer would be a much better summer and it didn't turn out that way. As well with the vacation in Jan coming faster and faster I just had wanted to be able to do so much more.
tigercat

No, a neuroma will not show up on an x-ray but a podiatrist WILL be able to find it quite easily if that is what it is. There is a "popping/slipping" type of feeling between the toe bones when they test it. Everything you are describing is exactly what I went through with a neuroma. I actually just went yesterday for another shot. And don't be surprised if the pain "moves" from one part to another of your foot if it is indeed a neuroma. You will change the way you walk to compensate for the pain and may cause another area of your foot to hurt.
And I truly feel for you...it IS the most nagging, frustrating pain to deal with and until you at least go to a podiatrist I think you may be wasting your time with your regular doctor. They don't have the knowledge that a foot specialist does.

 

[tigercat]

I am in tears right now. I don't know what to do. My Dr called and said that she didn't see any broken bones. My foot is fine. I have a very small heel spur and just maybe that is the cause of the pain. I don't know how many times I have to tell her my pain is no where near my heel. It is right under the start of the toes. I can feel the inflamation there. She won't even see me because it is a waste of her time for something that doesn't hurt. Still nothing on the rash. If I could change Dr.s I would. I called the Chiropodist and told them what the xray said. Asked about the heel spur. If it would not cause my pain I am going to have my husband call and get the appointment with the Dr. and come with me. He knows what kind of pain I am in so maybe she will listen to him. I am going to ask the Chiropodist about a neuroma and see if that is what it could be as well. Thanks for the advise.
tigercat

 

[scrapquitler]

I am in tears right now. I don't know what to do. My Dr called and said that she didn't see any broken bones. My foot is fine. I have a very small heel spur and just maybe that is the cause of the pain. I don't know how many times I have to tell her my pain is no where near my heel. It is right under the start of the toes. I can feel the inflamation there. She won't even see me because it is a waste of her time for something that doesn't hurt. Still nothing on the rash. If I could change Dr.s I would. I called the Chiropodist and told them what the xray said. Asked about the heel spur. If it would not cause my pain I am going to have my husband call and get the appointment with the Dr. and come with me. He knows what kind of pain I am in so maybe she will listen to him. I am going to ask the Chiropodist about a neuroma and see if that is what it could be as well. Thanks for the advise.
tigercat

Can you find a walk-in clinic of some sort in your area to go to? If the doctor didn't want to see me and I was in pain, I would be INISISTING that I be seen.

 

[bumbershoot]

You need to see someone else. I don't understand the point of seeing a specialist if you have to go back to the GP to have anything done. Why can't the specialist "take over"?

Go to the ER, go to a clinic, get something DONE, and fire the GP.

 

[tigercat]

My husband convinced me to call the Dr and make an appointment. I have one for tomorrow afternoon and he is going to try and make it. I am going to show her the sores I have from this rash as well. The secretary when I called said that she didn't really mean that the pain came from the heel spur. She did say that but I will deal with the Dr. tomorrow. If I go to a clinic here in town they will look at it and then make a suggestion for my Dr. to follow up on. They usually won't go any further than that. If you have a Dr. you had better keep him/her because the other Dr's won't take you on. I guess I just have to wait until tomorrow now and hope things go better and I get some answers.
tigercat