Long-term foot pain after injury
Posted , 4 users are following.
I injured the ball of my foot in May 2015 . X-rays at the time showed no injury. I have RA, so my symptoms (though asymetrical) were dismissed as that originally. Unfortuantely, that meant that I did not rest the foot at all when the injury occured (the RA mentality of ‘just get on with it’ kicked in). But an MRI 6 months later revealved bone bruising of the second metatarsal head.
That was last December and almost a year later I still suffer with daily pain (ranging between a niggle and not being able to put weight on it at all). It feels like a bruise in that it only hurts when pressure is applied (which makes me think that the pain is releated to the original injury rather than the RA). So I was interested to read that a bone bruise can take up to 2 years to fully heal. But my question now is: could having RA be preventing the inury from healing? And has anyone experienced anything similar?
Feeling quite alone here and desperate, as my rheumatologist is telling me he can't see any reason for the pain as is the podiatrist (apart from swelling around the joint itself).
Vic
0 likes, 7 replies
ihavenonickname vickie3
Posted
Yup, been there...I would ld think these rheumatologist would know we injure so much easier than a healthy body!
A bone bruise is painful and can lead to fracture. Have you tried ice? and elevation? immobilization?
And yes, RA does cause a delay in healing because RA flares in response to injury...
Maybe try a sports medicine doc
kind regards
judith
vickie3 ihavenonickname
Posted
Hey,
Thanks for the reply
Just nice to know you're not the only one sometimes!
Yeah - I went to see a podiatrist who specialises in sports medicine as I do a lot of sport (usually!) and she got me a lovely pair of insoles made as my gait was off. But they're not helping with the pain sadly.
I've tried the usual RICE method, but 18 months after the original injury I'm still suffering. I even tried a CAM boot for a few weeks. Part of me wonders whether just to suck it up and go onto crutches for a few weeks - properly rest the bloomin' thing. But it's going to make work and training such a pain. Terrible reason, I know. But logic tends to go out the door for me where my health is concered!
Gloria814 vickie3
Posted
Hi Vickie
I think you need to rest it---onto crutches it is! But I hear you , I still fight the pain and keep walking long distances and then regret it always
My sister has told me to stop those walks! so I will try
The fatigue esp in the evening is huge. I mean 630 and i feel like it's time to go to bed. Hardly feel like I am able to finish the dishes. It does stink--having this disease
vickie3 Gloria814
Posted
We're terrible at listening aren't we
Maybe RA affects our hearing and logic circuits too :D
ihavenonickname Gloria814
Posted
Debkimly vickie3
Posted
I has the same foot pain with no injury along with toe pain. It did finally go away. Later I as my RA Dr if this was the start of RA. No opinion. Also I had a shoulder replacmeant in April after being told it was not RA. My RA Dr is not the best but his PA is a little better. Very frustrating that they can't experience the pain and fatigue just for a little while.
vickie3 Debkimly
Posted
Sometimes I think that the specialists see so many people that they can almost become numb to individual suffering. Not because they want to or are callous, but because it would be unbearable for them to empathise with everyone who walks through their door. But when you're the one suffering, all you want is for someone to understand. I can't bear the thought that I am going to have to somehow manage this discomfort every day for the rest of my life. I've only just tuned 30 for Gawd's sake. Even if it's only a 2 or 3 on the pain scale, those little numbers soon add up to so much more when you have to face them every day :p