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What do you think I should do?

Posted , 8 users are following.

whitefishbay
whitefishbay

To make a long story short I went away for the weekend and walked 22,000-26,000 steps per day.  I returned and the next morning when I woke up it was very painful to walk. I have extensor tendonitis in both feet anyway but this was different and in a different area.  One of you lovely experts suggested I had a spontaneous metatarsal fracture. I waited a week and then went to A&E.  The doctor told me to get an xray which I did.  The x ray did not show a break but she said sometimes they don't show up for 3 weeks.  Well it has been over 4 weeks and the foot is still painful (esp coming down steps).  I guess it will be painful for while and even if it was broken what would they do for me?  Of course I do not want foot problems for the rest of my life (I need my feet) but what should I do.  I do wiggle them around and wear good trainers.  I am wondering as I am back to work on Monday (after summer off - I work in 2 schools) and my new office is up six flights of stairs (and I go up and down a lot in the day).  I love getting my steps in but I do not want to make a problem worse.  

Do I just ice it and rest my foot at the end of the day and do some wiggling exercises or do I go back to A&E to have them re x ray the foot?  (or am I being a pain in the ...). 

Thanks for all the great responses I know I will get.

Happy weekend.

Whitefish

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • Anhaga
    Anhaga whitefishbay

    Posted

    Even good trainers may not give you the support you are needing.  Specialty retailer should help you find a shoe that will give you extra support, or a podiatrist could give advice on whether you need some sort of insert.  My son recently was hobbling around like a cripple because his foot was hurting so much,   I just bought him the best arch supports I could find at the pharmacy and apparently it did the trick.  Of course he is only in his early 30's so I would expect those of us who are older would need more specialized care.  It took a few days to really sort him out, but the initial relief was excellent.

    • whitefishbay
      whitefishbay Anhaga

      Posted

      Thanks.  I have written to my GP for a referral to a podiatrist.  This may take time.  
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga whitefishbay

      Posted

      Ah, the joys of a clunky system.  Here podiatrists are not covered by our "universal" medicare, but I do have coverage through our additional insurance, so very short waiting time.  In April I visited one for the first time, and she left my foot in more pain than before and basically implied there wasn't much she could do for me.  So I went to a different one last week, actually an associate of the gp practice I go to, and he did a much better job (although I found the process painful) and magically I don't hurt any more!  Both of these visits should be covered 80% by our insurance, but at a certain point, quite soon I think, the coverage will run out, so at that point one wishes it were covered by medicare.

    • Silver49
      Silver49 Anhaga

      Posted

      I pay privately for my podiatry and now that I have been 'sorted out' I only go every 10 weeks or so.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga Silver49

      Posted

      Ok.  Thought I'd ask as every country seems to be different!  in Canada every province is different rolleyes

    • EileenH
      EileenH Anhaga

      Posted

      The "National" Health Service in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales differs too! 

  • Silver49
    Silver49 whitefishbay

    Posted

    I found a good podiatrist who has been extremely helpful and I have insoles which have helped so much. A good podiatrist will be able to tell if you need to go back to your GP or have any further treatment which they are unable to provide.
    • whitefishbay
      whitefishbay Silver49

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply.  I have asked my GP for a referral to a podiatrist.  Just waiting now.
  • EileenH
    EileenH whitefishbay

    Posted

    Honestly don't know - but I think you should check with a doctor. I used to need really solid shoes because of PMR foot pain  - trainers were no use, I wore leather hiking shoes - not what you'd call smart but nothing hurt!!!!

    • whitefishbay
      whitefishbay EileenH

      Posted

      So hard to get a GP appointment....back at work and no time.  I also cannot wear trainers to work....

      thanks so much Eileen.

  • brenda69464
    brenda69464 whitefishbay

    Posted

    You are not being a pain in the....

    I think we all have lots of questions and sometimes no answers. I am learning that this illness is very unpredictable and I think the pain is sometimes transient,I know mine was before i was diagnosed. 

    Do not hesitate to go back for a repeat x-ray.

    Good luck!

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee whitefishbay

    Posted

    Okay I have arthritis in my metatarsal bone and so I speak from knowledge and experience. First thing I want to ask you is did they do the X-ray while you were standing on your foot or was it while you had the foot laying on a surface on outs side? Reason I ask is because mine did not show up until the podiatrist had me do a standing x-ray. Secondly you need to get some arch supports in your shoe because the reason it hurts when you step down is that your arch falls slightly and that causes movement in that bone on the top of your foot causing pain. Obviously you want to ice it to keep down any swelling and if you can take some ibuprofen.
    • whitefishbay
      whitefishbay amkoffee

      Posted

      Thank you.  I am seeing a GP tomorrow and will suggest a new x ray ( standing).   I have arch supports in my trainers.  I am asking for a podiatrist apt.  Thanks for all the great tips.  
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