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Old 08-06-2006, 05:01 PM   #1  
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Default I knew food was dangerous

but I didn't know how much. I told everyone last Tuesday how I had a large pack of frozen ribs fall on my left ankle. It was very swollen and bruised and had a large skin tear. I was happy to see that I could bare weight on it and figured this meant it wasn't broken. I stayed off it til Thursday when I took my DD shopping for 4 hrs. at the mall. It swelled up more and the bruising looked much worse. All day on Friday, it felt like it was asleep. I was having a difficult time walking in the house. By Saturday, it was still numb. I now realize that I am dragging a foot that is numb about halfway to my knee. The swelling is gone. I can't flex my toes or my foot. I don't know for sure what is wrong. Maybe nerve damage? Maybe torn ligament? I haven't been to a doctor but am going to see one in the morning. I am now just trying to stay off it. I have it immobilized. When I did try to walk, I was unsteady and felt like I will fall. Does anyone know what the problem might be? I am getting pretty worried.
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Old 08-06-2006, 05:09 PM   #2  
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Oh my gosh that sounds so painful! I don't know what is wrong but I'm sending good thoughts your way and hoping for the best (that nothing is broken but just needs time to heal). Have you used ice packs and taken an antiflammatory (advil or something)?
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Old 08-06-2006, 05:38 PM   #3  
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Thanks Idrial, yes I used ice packs and took ibuprofen at first. It hurt the first couple days. Now, I feel no pain and it is numb. It just hangly limply like someone with "foot drop". I don't think it is broken. I have had a broken ankle before (the same one) and couldn't bare weight on it at all. I must be the most accident prone person in the world.
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Old 08-06-2006, 05:51 PM   #4  
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Okay, I had a similar problem. A laptop fell on my foot. The right foot was bruised, hurt like ****, and the MD just figured it was broke. You can't do anything for a broken toe, she said. MONTHS later, I found out those three toes were NEVER broken and it was a bad contusion (bruise). That wasn't the bad part. Because it was sore and hurt, I was limping, walking on teh side of my foot, or using my foot but lifting my toes, or leaning on my good foot and walking funny. I did this for 4 months! The result of all the bad walking, I ended up with Morton's Nueroma which is a tissue growth on the nerve between the last 2 toes of EACH foot. The same thing can be caused by narrow shoes. I've been doing ion treatments (to get meds in my food by a physical therapist 3 times a week), cortisone shots (THOSE HURT LIKE ****!!), and had to invest in much better shoes. It won't go away without surgery but many people if they can get the swelling to go down (including with ibuprofren) and ice pack therapy. I also recomment wearing a post-op boot and walk NORMALLY. It has a rocker bottom and this can help. Make sure they do an x-ray regardless so you'll know where you are coming from. Hope it turns out, and God Bless.
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Old 08-06-2006, 05:59 PM   #5  
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That sounds scary, Lily. I'm glad you are seeing the doc tomorrow. Let us know what he/she says.

Kel
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Old 08-06-2006, 06:07 PM   #6  
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Thanks everyone. I have an immobilizer boot that has a rocker bottom and I am wearing it. I feel like it needs to be kept in the correct alignment. Without the boot, it just drops. I can't lift it without using my hand, when I move my hand it falls. The swelling is gone now, but it is still bruised. I feel like I am dragging it when I walk. I can't walk normally at all , no matter how hard I try. I feel no pain in it or in my calf, it is just totally numb.
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Old 08-06-2006, 07:26 PM   #7  
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I bet the swelling has compressed a nerve. Hopefully things will get right back to normal once the swelling goes down, but definitely see your doc to see if this can be alleviated more quickly.
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Old 08-06-2006, 08:47 PM   #8  
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Also, if you haven't already, maybe make sure you actually speak to your doctor...make sure this isn't something that needs to be addressed immediately (requiring ER visit)...I would think that the less time the nerve is compromised the better the outcome, but I'm not an orthopedic surgeon, and don't know for sure.
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Old 08-06-2006, 10:31 PM   #9  
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Thanks for the suggestions and help. I live in a very small town and the Dr. isn't available til tomorrow morning. I haven't went to an ER. I don't want to go with a week old injury. I will go tomorrow and I am sure he'll probably send me to an orthopedic doctor. I kept hoping it would get better but it hasn't. It is no longer swollen at all. I am staying off it and keeping the boot immobilizer on. It actually feels a little better to just be keeping it in proper alignment and not 'hanging down'. I sure hope it heals well and is nothing major wrong with it.
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Old 08-06-2006, 10:41 PM   #10  
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It will probably heal without complications. No need to go to ER. Just make sure you use care to keep from further injuring you foot and use basic first aid (which you are already doing) and ask the doc to do an xray and go from there. I only said what I did about Morton's Neuroma because it was not the toes that caused it but my own over compensation. The fact that you got a boot already and are seeking advice means you are further ahead than I was. I didn't go for at least a month. Sad huh.
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Old 08-07-2006, 02:14 AM   #11  
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I did consider going to ER when it happened. But, I knew the only thing they would do until the swelling went down is immobilize it, ice it and tell me to stay off it and give me pain pills. I had all this treatment at home already. I hate ER's. I wait hrs.and being a nurse am bad to want to avoid them and treat myself. Not always a good thing. I will get an X-ray tomorrow.
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Old 08-07-2006, 09:09 AM   #12  
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I hope everything goes well tomorrow with your ankle.
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Old 08-07-2006, 10:06 AM   #13  
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You mean your ER wouldn't x-ray it right away? When DH went in after he twisted it (playing kickball!) it swelled up and turned purple. They x-rayed it to make sure it wasn't broken....and then said it was sprained, wrapped it and away he went. But at least they x-rayed it. That sounds strange that yours wouldn't. Well, hopefully your doc DOES x-ray it to rule that out. Hope all goes well!!! Let us know how it goes!
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Old 08-07-2006, 11:23 AM   #14  
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Brenda, sorry. They probably would have X-rayed it if I had went to the ER when it happened. I did not go. I was able to bare weight on it and knew that it couldn't be broken. It was very swollen. I didn't think ahead to the possibility that I wouldn't be able to feel it or move it once the swelling left. I am sure he will X-ray it today. I have had this ankle broken before and had foot drop with it then that resulted in a series of 5 different casts and hobbling around on them for almost a full year. That time they did an MRI, but not sure what they will do today. I just hope they figure something out.
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Old 08-07-2006, 11:51 PM   #15  
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Hi everyone. I saw my doctor today. Had X-rays and CT scan. No break found on X-rays. Don't know CT scan results yet. The doctor said I have "definitely have nerve damage and foot drop" and he's not sure if it is "permanent or temporary damage". I have an appt. This Friday with an orthopedic physician. Maybe he will be able to tell me more. My foot was so limp that they had to tape it to the other foot for the CT scan to get the proper pic's. I sure hope it is temporary or at least surgically correctable. I don't know, it's scary. I am to wear the immobilizer anytime I stand up to keep it in proper alignment. I have fell against our furniture and walls several times from this being so numb. I'll let everyone know what the orthopedic specialist says.
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