Second opinion or is this normal?

[LisaR]

DS fell down some stairs four weeks ago. His ankle swelled big time but he was able to walk on it. I took him in the next day when the swelling hadn't subsided at all.

He has the tiniest little bone chip on the top of the ankle bone. It isn't a weight bearing part so he can walk just fine. He was given an air cast and told not to run, jump, mow the lawn, etc. At the time it did hurt but it feels perfectly fine now but we have followed the doctors orders and not allowed him to run around or do much of anything.

I hate to admit this but he doesn't always wear the cast. He wore it religiously for 2 weeks, 80% of the time for the 3rd week and 50% at best in this last week. He has very sensitive skin and even with a long sock on, his entire calf and shin are breaking out in massive hives when he wears it.

He had another xray done and the doctor just called to say there is zero change and he needs to continue to stay off of it as much as possible and wear the cast for another three weeks. Why wouldn't there be any change? Why does he need to stay off of it if it when he can walk just fine? I get that he shouldn't go traipsing through the woods or climb a mountain but he really can't ride his bike or walk around the neighborhood with friends? Do these things really take this long to heal? He has only been to the regular doctor for this. Should I take him to an orthopedic doctor? I feel like they will laugh since this is so tiny! This is getting a little old since it doesn't seem to be bothering him in the slightest.

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I don't have any real answers but my instinct would be that he needs to see an orthopedic doctor.

Regular doctors know about basic bone stuff but something weird like the little bone piece you're talking about sounds more complicated.

Even so, a second opinion wouldn't hurt and if you're going to get one you might as well see a specialist.

I broke my ankle. The ER said it was sprained. But when my GP doc was going to send me for an MRI they said I needed ortho instead.

The ortho doc ended up putting in a plate and 5 screws. He also had to staple my ligament to the bone.

 

[FredinFL]

I'd take him to an ortho. It's what they're for.

 

[HOGFAN]

He has what is called an evulsion fracture..where the stress of the injury caused a tiny piece of bone to pull away.. Im sure the doctor is also looking for a hairline fracture in the main bone that sometimes will not show up for about 6 weeks. There is not a whole lot than can be done except trying to stay off of it as much as possible and let time do the healing.. maybe some physical therapy..

I am an xray tech and have seen this many times...Also my daughter had an evulsion fracture of the pelvis about 8 years ago..she was on crutches for about a month , did PT, but still has occasional pain in that region due to it..BTW, do u have access to a hot tub..I know in PT she spend alot of time in their hot tub to aid in the healing..

 

[Agri]

Have you talked to the doctor about the hives? Maybe they have an alternative?

I sprained and fractured my ankle when I was 9, but I was put in a real cast and told to drink lots of milk and eat more ice cream since I normally didn't have much calcium in my diet. I also stayed off it a heck of a lot, but this was in the summer, too.

From personal experience, it can feel fine very quickly afterwards, but as soon as there is a change in the weather or even so much as just putting the foot down wrong, the pain will show up again.