If a person believes he has a hairline fracture in his foot, but works a job that has him on his feet and thus can't get it put in a cast, is there anything he can do to aid the healing process? Right now, he's been implementing a plan that involves using arch supports and aggressively icing it. And he's off his feet as much as possible outside of work. Does he have a shot at healing this?
Thanks.
Could someone please help?
I hand one on a metacarple a few years ago but couldnt really do anything about it because I hand my undergrad finals - and I worked too damn hard to spend the next year doing resits.
So I used a compression glove. But it healed out of place leaving me with a potato fist. Eventually, I ended up doing a lot more damage, keeping me off strength training for six months and gained about 40lbs which I am still trying to shed four years later.
Its not the answer you were looking for but believe me you want to avoid the crap I went through. And when the orthopaedist has to rebreak the bone in order to set it right - you'll know you've been tango'd.
Should you not get insurance from an accident that caused you to miss work? Im not sure how the US system works.
crunion, thanks. The person in question will have health ins coverage in March. Right now, the goal is to minimize any damage till then, if possible.
any other ideas on what can be done to minimize the damage or get the healing process going without a cast or other expensive treatments?
ttt
Bro- that's a lousy place to be. Thing is, you gotta get weight off that foot as much as possible. That could mean crutches for getting around, standing on the other leg (or shifting more weight to it), more padding for the affected foot - including a floor pad if you are stationary while working.
Because your other leg will take so much more stress, it's important that you keep tension from building up too much, and get the occasional massage or chiropractic adjustment to keep your spine and muscle tension balanced. Daily stretching is a must.
As soon as you have coverage, get your butt to a doctor and pray you haven't messed it up too badly. It will have set by that point and rebreaking may be needed if it healed wrong. All you can do is minimize the damage and hope for the best... or spend the money to see a doctor now before it's too late. Sometimes it's money well spent, my friend.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your post.
OK, I'll cut it out with the stupid third person. This is about me.
One frustrating thing is that this isn't showing up on an x-ray, so it might take a bone scan to really get a fix on it. Needless to say, the $$$ for that just isn't there. Do you know if the dr can put this in a cast without knowing where exactly the break is?
The only things is that no way can I do my current job in a cast or crutches.
Not sure if this helps but they have a shoe boot that immobolizes your foot. It goes up to your calf. You can still walk around but you can't run. It keep your foot from bending and you can take it off when you go to sleep.
Ricky, do you know what it's called?
ttt
I dont know if this helps, but some stress fractures can be treated with walking casts. My rec...see an orthopedist.
Thanks man. Can they do it without a bone scan or MRI to show them where the fracture is?
I'm actually starting to question if I was right about it being a fracture. It hurts when I walk fast, run, or dorsi-flex my foot, but it, strangely, DOESN'T hurt during calf raises. Shouldn't a foot fracture hurt during calf raises.
Thanks to everyone so far who gave input and advice.
Unlikely to diagnose a stress fx without an image of some sort. However he may give you the news that he doesnt think that it is a fx and take you along anothe path. Happened to my wife. Found out that there was no break (by his opinion only)...she stopped sweating it...she got better and now she is running again with no pain. Just an anecdote.
Did your foot pain come on suddenly or gradually? Did anything in particular happen before the pain started?
Ashetarov, thanks.
It came on somewhat suddenly. The only predicating event I can place on it is getting issued these HORRIBLY-fitting and damn uncomfortable military dress shoes. I might've been wearing these shoes for a day or two when I starting feeling the pain. This day or two was filled with a lot of marching (think military-type drill/parade practice).
I ignored it because I thought it would go away. A dr thought it was plantar fascitis, but it doesn't hurt on the underneath part of the foot, it hurts on the top, in tarsals/metatarsals that run behind the left big toe. I got to thinking it was a fracture because that's a common injury from marching and also because the area hurts when I press it directly.
Thanks again man for your posts here.
Buddhadev