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Did I break my foot?

Posted , 4 users are following.

lindsay00846
lindsay00846

So about 5 months ago I fell off a climbing wall and thought I broke my foot, but it turns out I had just badly sprained the top of my foot. However the pain I was feeling wasn't just on the top. The most excruciating pain was on the ball of my foot under the pad behind my big toe. They x rayed the top and sides of my foot but never where I felt the most pain. They only spoke to me about the top of my foot and nothing about the ball. 5 months along the line and I'm not in as much pain but I'm still in too much pain for it to be ok. I can't climb any more, or do many other sports purely because if I knock the part I hurt I'm in agony. I've actually stopped walking on that part of my foot. Is it possible They could have missed a break in my foot? Or is there any other problem I might have with my foot?

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • devsmom
    devsmom lindsay00846

    Posted

    Lindsay,  Sorry about what you are going through.  I believe that pain is a sign of a problem.  You fell and sprained your ankle (and perhaps more).  I twisted my ankle and fell.  I went to the ER.  They took xrays of my foot but not my ankle and put me in a short boot to walk.  They had me FU with an Orthopedist the next week because I did have what looked like a little break in the bone going from my little toe to my ankle.  The Orthopedist took me out of the boot and put me in a non weight bearing cast.  I'm tell you this because if I hadn't followed up with a specialist I don't know where I would be today.  Who is the "they" that xrayed your foot?  What did they tell you to do or did they simply say oh, it's a sprain and will get better on its own?  Ask them if the xrays that they took would show a break where you are having pain.  Regardless of their answer I would get a 2nd opinion from a medical professional, perhaps an Orthodepist or other specialist.  My Jones fracture, that happened 9 weeks ago, is healed.  My Orthopedist basically would have let my walk out of his office, a week ago, without any other treatment.  I had to ask what about my ankle??  It is weak and painfull.  So he gave me an ASO (ankle support orthodic) brace to wear.  I had to ask what about my step aerobic exercise classes, biking, etc??  He told he a Physical Therapist could better answer those questions.  So he referred me to PT.  I've been to one visit and am very glad I went.  My ankle range of motion is bad.  Now I have exercises and a plan to get back to normal.  You sound young and active.  You shouldn't be limited in your activity and in pain!  You need to follow-up with professionals not just on a forum.  Good luck.  Dev's Mom  
    • lindsay00846
      lindsay00846 devsmom

      Posted

      Hi, Thankyou for your reply. I think you misunderstood slightly. I got a sprain on my foot, not my ankle. They xrayed the areas on top of my foot but not where the pain was. They then said they would send me to physio because I was in too much pain for it to be nothing so I got to physio and I was told I had a sprain. I was given a crutch to help me walk normally and the pain did go away with that but then it came back as soon as I stopped using the crutch and becoming more active. I think they might have missed something but I don't know what.
  • anna53550
    anna53550 lindsay00846

    Posted

    Hi Lindsay,

    I would follow up with your doctor again. Five months is a long time to be in pain and to not have marked improvement. I broke my foot about 4.5 weeks ago and I don't have much pain at all at the site of the fracture. My ankle, ball of my foot and toes are a different matter. Those parts of my foot are still sore and achy, likely from a combination of soft tissue damage when I fractured my foot and also non-use (I've been non weight bearing in an air cast boot). So, even if you don't have a fracture, maybe you have lingering soft tissue damage from a very bad sprain that needs to be rested for a while to allow it to heal properly. Or, maybe they'll do another x-ray and find they missed a fracture the first time. At a minimum they should be able to help you get some answers so you can get back to 100% sooner than later.

    Good luck!

    Anna

    • lindsay00846
      lindsay00846 anna53550

      Posted

      Thanks Anna, I've decided to call the doctors where I was treated tomorrow so will hopefully get everything sorted out. Thankyou for your advice smile
  • em42577
    em42577 lindsay00846

    Posted

    Hello! I know I'm terribly late, but this sound like something that happened to me. I thought I had sprained my ankle for months (about 3 months?) because x-rays weren't showing anything. I was having such intense pain that I went to get an MRI. I had severely broken my heel! I hope you've figured out the problem, but if not, you might ask for an MRI or bone scan. They're a little pricey, but they're the best way to find deficiencies in the foot.
    • lindsay00846
      lindsay00846 em42577

      Posted

      Hi, thanks for your reply, it's not too late at all. I have an appointment in a couple of weeks for a foot specialist so I will definitely suggest mri or bone scan. I'm in the uk so I get free health care so the prices don't worry me.

      Thanks again smile

    • em42577
      em42577 lindsay00846

      Posted

      Good to hear that you're getting some help! Good luck with your appointment! Hopefully you'll figure out the issue and get it corrected soon. Best wishes!
    • lindsay00846
      lindsay00846 em42577

      Posted

      Hi em! Just wanted to update you a year on! I was referred to a specialist who told my my foot had been broken all along ( clean split in half) and I had surgery in March to fix it! Still recovering from it though
    • devsmom
      devsmom lindsay00846

      Posted

      Lindsay,  Wow, so you did break your foot and they finally found it.  How long was it that you were in pain before the break was "discovered"??  Do you wonder if it had been found earlier it could have been resolved without surgery?  The surgery must have been complex since you have been in recovery for 7-8 months.  You should be complimented on your persistence!!  What a horrible and painful situation you have had to live through.  I hope your spirits are high now that an end is in sight.  Is physical therapy down the road to aid in getting back to normal.  I can tell you that when all is well again any past troubles truly become past history and rarely cloud the present.  Here's to a bright, healthy and happy future.  You are on the right path.  

  • oscar80077
    oscar80077 lindsay00846

    Posted

    sometimes the x-ray can miss small breaks. i recently sprained the ankle, i thought something broke.

    also the doctor was pretty sure about a fracture but couldn't locate it on the x-ray, they immobilized the foot and told to return for a scan and cast application.

    also prescribed to use crutches.

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