My OS still hasn't returned a call. This makes call #5 ignored. I don't know why, but I had it in my head that a visit is on the 10th, it isn't until the 22nd, and I will never make it.
I've done some reading, and I'm not sure this is a nerve related to PF. I'm NWB, so it doesn't happen when my foot hits the floor. It wakes me, and won't let me go back to sleep. It does, however, resolve after several hours of being up.
It is a gripping, burning in the heel, I've never had heel pain. My medial and lateral/collateral ligaments were thickened, and MRI showed excess fluid and suggested anterior compartment syndrome, maybe tarsal tunnel entrapment, but my pain did not correspond. They hurt, and rubbed, and clicked when I walked, the mortise was improperly seated, but I did not have numbness or nerve pain on either line. Now they simply hurt, but I don't move, and they're not that bad. None of those, to my knowledge, affect the heel.
I don't know why this Doc ignores me, but I'm losing it. I want to call the original OS, explain, and ask him to do my follow up care, but I'm not sure if it is appropriate. This is a small town, and if he called my Doc to discuss it, it could get worse. I'm not even sure he would be able to help. He is a bone man, referred me because he didn't want to cut or rebuild ligaments in the foot and I needed a specialist. But since I only had the osteotomy, he should be able to handle me, right???
Ok, I'm really going on. Any comments? Talk with you later, take care people. k

K,
So sorry you are in so much pain. :yawn: YOU NEED TO GET SOMEBODY'S ATTENTION!! If you are able, you may want to make an office call and camp out til the doc sees you or you may need to make an emergency room visit. If you are in a small town, you would think that this OS wouldn't want or need the bad press. :nono: Do you think he would respond to a malpractice suit? ;)
I don't think that you should be concerned with etiquette. You need to take care of yourself. Your current OS is the one being very inappropriate by not returning your calls. I wouldn't hesitate going to your first OS for help. You have to be strong and get the help that you need, and get it soon. :)

Is it the doctor who did your surgery who is ignoring you? Sometimes they don't like to phone because they can't bill for it. I wouldn't worry about what the doc thinks if you check in with the previous doctor. That's done all the time. In fact, after I got an opinion from one doctor, I went to 3 others, and then went back to him and told him who i saw and what they said. In the meantime, phone the doc's office again and talk to his staff. Just say you need to come in asap. Most offices will not say no. Are you in the U.S.?

RubyRedHead & Creative,
Thanks for the responses. Yes, this is the OS who cut. Doc 1 wouldn't, referred me to a foot & ankle specialist. My dad says there's no way another Doc would touch me now, "He won't mess with what's been done." I dont' want him to cut, only to do appropriate followup and help me. If it is a nerve issue, he should be capable of helping, I imagine he sees it sometimes since he does osteotomies.
Doc 2 can't bill for phone time, but he can't bill for the first 90 days of follow up visits, either, which is my gut feeling on why he ignores my calls. Doc 1 always had a tech call me within 24 hours, no matter how stupid the question, and now my Q's are much more serious!
I'm not concerned with etiquette, or his "feelings", as he is unconcerned with mine. I AM concerned now with my recovery and my pain, and just have the idea that if Doc 1 called to see what's up, and Doc 2 said, "She's a problem", Doc 1 would decline, and Doc 2 might get worse. I've tried to be patient, and have not provoked the tech or the receptionist because they work very hard, and because I don't want to be known as a problem. That's all.
I've decided to call Doc 2 Monday and if I get nowhere, call Doc 1 and ask him to do follow up for me.

That sounds like a good plan. Sometimes it's hard to be in pain and fight your own battles too. It might help if your dad calls for you and explains that he is worried about you and would like you to see the doc asap.

Let us know how it goes.

Kim,
So sorry you're going through this frustration. I know sometimes if you could just put a name on the pain, it somehow seems to help. The worrying is as bad as the pain itself! I tend to dwell on stuff, especially sitting, and sitting, and sitting...

Here's what I would do. I would spend the weekend writing down the dates and times of all unreturned calls to the Dr.'s. I would also write a nice clear list of symptoms and questions to ask him efficiently whe I got him on the phone. On Monday morning, I would start leaving polite messages with his receptionist every hour. All day. After a couple, if they don't get the idea tell the person on the phone that you intend to continue until you speak with the doctor. Not the tech. When you get on the phone with him, I would quickly tell him of the phone messages, just because the phone person knows, doesn't mean he does. Then I would go on to my symptoms and questions, and write the answers down as he runs through them. That way you can make sure of what was said later.

That way, you can-
1. Let the office know you mean it.
2. Talk with the damn doctor for once.
3. Get your answers or appointment
4. Do it quickly (wouldn't want to waste his time) and with not too much B**ching!

Don't forget that you are a customer and have purchased this service from this doctor, and he is answerable to you for your care. Don't let him treat you, the consumer, that way. He made some fine money performing your surgery, and the followup care is part of it. Also, if he is a participating provider with your insurance, he may be answerable to them for his quality of care. Call them and ask if you can file a grievance or something. They should know this, add it to his file or whatever.

That's just me, I don't have the patience to be kicked around for long. You do have rights!! Kim

I forgot to add that my Dr. said that some nerve entrapment is still normal at 8 weeks (that's where I am at) , I asked him this week. But I don't know that your level of pain is acceptable! I get tingling and sharp shooting up my arch into my toes, but it sure doesn't wake me up. Kim

Kim,
Good to hear from you, I've been thinking of you. I hope and pray you're getting some bone regeneration!!!
No insurance, I signed a note. The health system he reports to is based in Springfield, so if/when I'm ready, (Have a doc willing to take my care), I can file a complaint. Don't want to risk that until I do.
The acceptability of pain depends on the person, I guess. I have a high tolerance, but this is unlike anything I've known, and it doesn't respond to meds. If it's entrapment, it will either resolve or it won't. I just want him to find out, and alter the cast, to see if it is perhaps exacerbating. I wonder if it were wrapped like the old ace wrap technique, leaving 2 or 3" open in the heel, it might provide room for swelling, and not be so bad. But I can't find out without him.
ER will not cut cast unless there is medical risk, IE dangerous swelling or impaired pulses, some evidence that it is a risk to limb. Their only option is to offer pain meds, which I do not want, they don't work, and I'm not risking my liver for no reason. And advise a follow-up with Dr., good luck!!!
I gotta go for now. Take care, and thanks for being here, letting me grump. Kim

I don't think I read your previous posts carefully enough. If you think the cast might be too tight, that could lead to serious problems. My PT told me of cases where the cast was too tight and the patient ended up with permanent problems. If I were you, I would just go directly to the doctor's office, have a seat, and let them know you will wait to see him. It might help to know his surgery schedule - for example, I know my doctor does surgery all day on Mondays and doesn't even go to his office.

Creative~ I know it is too tight at the heel. There is room, so it won't cut my foot off, but when I properly elevate it, in bed or on the sofa, it screams, and when I get up and let it hang, it releases after a time. So I don't think is pf, I think its the nerve getting pressure from the cast. I called local ed, they won't cut it off b/c I can get my fingers in at top and at toes, and capillary refill isn't compromised. But they "might" at ed doc's discretion, cut a hole in it to release it if they think it needs it. So I will ask my momma to take me when she gets home from church. (She is my stepmom, but bless her, she has been so good to me, Mom couldn't have done more or made me feel more cared for.) Thank you for posting, it doesn't stop the pain, but it does make me feel comforted somehow just to know others are around who have been here and done this. If I hadn't had this forum to read, I wouldn't have known the difference, and I'd still be stupidly popping percocet and wondering why it didn't help. Bless you. Kim

and KIM (ESPDA)
Since you're still hanging around, post and let us know how you're doing. I'm praying for you!