Need some help with an injury

[minkydog]

I have injured my foot, the post-tibial tendon to be exact. I don't know how i did it. A week ago I did a lot of walking in New Orleans, but it didn't hurt then and I don't remember injuring it. But I"m telling you, this thing is really painful. The tendon is swollen and the skin is warm, red, and very tender to touch.

I"m a nurse, so I'm not inclined to go to the doctor until I've run through my bag of tricks. It's been 8 days now and it waxes and wanes, but mostly it is burning and hurting all the time. I ice it several times a day and take Tylenol, which is pretty much useless(I'm allergice to Advil, so no NSAIDS.) I tried an ankle brace which only made it worse. At this point I've put myself on crutches and a rolling chair that I use in the kitchen.

I've got an appointment Wednesday for some follow-up lab work so I"m trying to hold out until then. If anybody has any other ideas for treating this I'm all ears. Ow~

 

[Disney Doll]

Are you sure that's what it is? Could it be a DVT? Realistically, you've been treating it the way they'd have youtreat it and you should be seeing some signs of relief by now.

I'm a nurse too, so I understand the whole doctor thing, but sometimes we have to go.....

 

[JR6ooo4]

All my knowlege consists of: my uncle hurt his wrist, and did not get it looked at. By the time he did, the tendon had shriveled and could not be fixed. he lost partial use of the wrist, forever.

ice and pills do nothing but help with pain, when there has been damage.

mikeeee

 

[M5ward]

I think that after eight days you should be seeing some relief. Time for a visit to a doctor...you may be reluctant, but as a medical professional you've done what you can. Good luck!

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Could it be gout? I had injured a tendon a couple years ago and had surgery, which worked great, no more pain. Then my ankle started hurting in the same area, and when I went back to the podiatrist thinking it was related it turned out to be gout. I was surprised that gout is a form of arthritis, and fortunately haven't had a repeat and it's been a year now. The gout "fix" was simple, a prescription (forget now what it was) and it was all better soon. Anyway, those were my syptoms, swollen, red and tender to the touch. Hope you get better soon!

 

[JessicaR]

You need to get in and get looked at. That tendon can tear and rupture. When you break out the crutches and rely on a rolling chair you have to tell yourself it's time! I hope its nothing and you start feeling better.

 

[C.Ann]

No one hates going to the doctor more than I do, but I have to agree with the others.. After a full 8 days - and still no permanent relief - you should get in there on Monday, if possible.. If you have damaged something, the delay could cause permanent problems - or complications you might not have otherwise had..

Hope you can be seen soon - and it's nothing serious..

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Another vote for the doctor!

 

[bumbershoot]

If a patient came to you and said what you said...what would you say to them????

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you are getting no relief from a brace your damage may be serious. See the doctor!!!!

 

[golfgal]

It sounds a lot like tendonitis and like you said, Tylenol is worthless in this case. You might want to get to a sports medicine clinic where they can help. They can do ultrasound and some other techniques to get the swelling down. If it is tendonitis and you wait too long it can take MONTHS to heal-like 6+ months. Also, for now I would recommend not just icing it but putting it in an ice bath. Find a 5 gallon bucket fill it with ice and water and stick your foot in the bucket. It isn't going to feel good for the first 3 minutes or so but gut it out. Once it goes numb it won't hurt. Do this as much as possible, like 5-10 times/day if possible (for 15-20 minutes at a time). That will help with the swelling MUCH better then putting an ice pack on the area. If you are using an ice pack, don't put a towel between the ice pack and your skin or it won't get cold enough to do anything-the plastic from a zip lock bag is enough.

If the ice bath doesn't help at all in the next 24 hours, get to the dr tomorrow. You should notice some relief after 2 or 3 times.

Oh, and if it is tendonitis, a brace will make it worse because it puts pressure on the tendon making it harder for it to move in the sheath, which is what is causing the pain and swelling to begin with.

 

[minkydog]

If a patient came to you and said what you said...what would you say to them????

Well, there's a point. This thing is really limiting me. I went to the mall today and had a very hard time keeping up with my youngest son. I"m going to call in the morning and see if they can go on and see me, rather than waiting until Wednesday. This is the same tendon that I ruptured about 6-7 years ago, so it sure enough may take a long time to heal.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. We have a saying in the field, "Nurses make the worst patients."

 

[addicted2dizney]

My 15 year old daughter just is recovering from a post tibial tendon tear. It's not picnic. She did it tumbling and cheering but the best thing for it is REST. She was actually hard casted for several weeks since a walking boot did not help her. ( it was too bad for just that) In the past the boot worked well. You HAVE to get to a Dr and see what's going on. You're a nurse, you know that!


Got to a foot and ankle dr or an ortho dr. and get an MRI. At least then you will know for sure what you are dealing with and your recovery time will be much faster! Hope you feel better soon! good luck!