Janesfoot
07-25-2008, 01:21 PM
I need your support. I went to my PCP today because a new bump showed up at the end of my first metatarsal bunionectomy scar. I'm 11 wks post-op double bunionectomy/osteotomies on the right foot. My pod discharged me at 7wks weeks because I was doing so well, and that is why I had to go to my PCP. My doctor wanted an x-ray and when we looked at it together he said my bump was the least of my problems, my fifth metatarsal was broken, and I don't think it was even at the osteotomy site. Of course my pod doesn't have office hours on Friday. I'm going out of state tomorrow for a week. I had my surgery in May (I'm a social worker at a High School) and didn't return. School is back in session in a month. I'm beside myself. I can't take more time off from work (I used it up). I thought I was having a great recovery, but my foot was a bit ouchie on the outside. Thank goodness for this board. I came home from the doctor's in a daze and wondered who I should call to tell my tale of woe. I realized that only the people on this board would truly understand how I'm feeling right now. Thank you for letting me vent.
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forevergimpy
07-25-2008, 02:15 PM
Oh no!:( What did your pcp do? Do you have a cast and directions for NWB? I completely understand the work thing......remember if you try to take it easy now you'll hopefully be feeling better by school. Are you still planning on leaving town with these new results?
Janesfoot
07-25-2008, 02:31 PM
Well, my PCP first wanted to call my POD, but I told him the POD didn't have office hours on Friday. My PCP actually said "I would be pi**ed if I were you". Of course I then said "Should I be pi**ed?" and my doctor backed down a bit, but he was upset. I fly out to Michigan for my 30th High School reunion, so the trip is on. I don't feel any different physically than I did before, so off I go. I've been walking two miles a day, and yes it is tender, but what did I know? This was my first surgery and first osteotomies/broken bones. When I return home on the 4th, I'll call my POD for an appt. I'm still in a daze. Apparently the only way to fix this would be another pin, which means surgery. My fear is if I wait, could it get worse? I'll know more in a week. What I needed most was to share this on the board with people who totally understand where I'm coming from and what I have to look forward to, so thank you so much for your response and support.
Tracie1204
07-25-2008, 03:20 PM
Wow-----I am so sorry you are facing this new challenge. All I can say, is try to enjoy yourself at your reunion-----and just take care of that foot the best way you can. Keep us posted on your return, what you find out with your POD.
debbie g
07-25-2008, 05:37 PM
i cant believe this happened. but i wont say i am shocked. is it necessary to have a pin? it would be a minor surgery. also, what did the dr say about the bump? have a wonderful time at your reunion and try to forget your problems. focus on the people you havent seen for years. i am sure there are people you want to see badly and there are people you will make fun of! i know you have to come back and face the problems. but just have a good time.
itsanewme
07-25-2008, 06:03 PM
OMG Jane
I am sooooo sorry
I am sooooo sorry
Janesfoot
07-25-2008, 06:05 PM
After all the stories I have read here, I guess I'm not shocked either, though I'll confess I used to think I was one of the lucky ones. I will have fun at the reunion. It will be a great for distraction to be sure. My doctor said the bump was a calcium deposit, how it got there is beyond me. My doctor was very annoyed with my broken bone, he said my POD will handle the bump. In fact I think my doctor is upset with my POD (of course he referred me to him). I like my PCP and my POD. The only thing I wish had been done differently would be a second set of x-rays further along in my recovery, and not to have been discharged at 7 wks. Who knew? I certainly didn't Thanks for all the good wishes and empathy, it means a lot. :)
emmie54
07-25-2008, 08:38 PM
After all the stories I have read here, I guess I'm not shocked either, though I'll confess I used to think I was one of the lucky ones. I will have fun at the reunion. It will be a great for distraction to be sure. My doctor said the bump was a calcium deposit, how it got there is beyond me. My doctor was very annoyed with my broken bone, he said my POD will handle the bump. In fact I think my doctor is upset with my POD (of course he referred me to him). I like my PCP and my POD. The only thing I wish had been done differently would be a second set of x-rays further along in my recovery, and not to have been discharged at 7 wks. Who knew? I certainly didn't Thanks for all the good wishes and empathy, it means a lot. :)
Honestly, jane, I can't understand you being discharged WITHOUT the POD getting a final x-ray first. That just seems beyond negligent. even with the x-ray seven weeks seems awfully early. Try to have a good time at your reunion anyway. how frustrating for you. I am sooo sorry.
Honestly, jane, I can't understand you being discharged WITHOUT the POD getting a final x-ray first. That just seems beyond negligent. even with the x-ray seven weeks seems awfully early. Try to have a good time at your reunion anyway. how frustrating for you. I am sooo sorry.
itsanewme
07-26-2008, 12:19 AM
Jane - were you discharged without a 2nd set of xrays? I had a 2nd set done a few wks ago (when i saw him last). I have another appt in a few wks. He hasnt released me yet.
emmie54
07-26-2008, 01:43 AM
I have some other questions, Jane. Has the outside of your foot hurt all along? prior to surgery or immediately following surgery? Is it a stress fracture? Is the walking two miles a day a new activity? Just wondering if the fracture occurred after surgery. I had a stress fracture twice after two different surgeries. One was due to my stupidity but the other was because my foot was moving in a totally new way.
It makes sense you would still be able to walk on it, although painful, if it is a stress fracture. A complete fracture would be difficult to walk on I would think.
It makes sense you would still be able to walk on it, although painful, if it is a stress fracture. A complete fracture would be difficult to walk on I would think.
footsiedee
07-26-2008, 05:07 AM
jane, my first reaction was OMG! glad you can have a place to vent here. now this is just speculation on my part, but when i was healing (still am) of course being on crutches we aren't putting weight on our foot. so the muscles get a little weak and more stress is put on the heel and side of foot so i can see that being part of problem. also, any time a bone is broken like they did in my surgery the bone trys to heal itself. couldnt that perhaps contribute to calcium deposits.??
i was very lucky to have home and cell numbers for the doc. does your doc have voice mail? perhaps if you left a message he would return your call?
what a distressing time to find this out. i hope you can hang in there and have a good time at your reunion. just goes to show we aren't 18 any more?
i was very lucky to have home and cell numbers for the doc. does your doc have voice mail? perhaps if you left a message he would return your call?
what a distressing time to find this out. i hope you can hang in there and have a good time at your reunion. just goes to show we aren't 18 any more?
footsiedee
07-26-2008, 05:09 AM
i have appointment on tuesday, so might leave a day early to try and get xrays, as i never would have thought of this if i hadnt read about it here.
Janesfoot
07-26-2008, 07:14 AM
I know everything you all said is true. The first thing I thought was he should have done another set of x-rays before discharge. I was so clueless. The only post-op x-rays he did was at twelve days. I don't know what a stress fracture looks like, but the x-ray looked like the bone was broken clean through. I guess I can still walk becasue it is the fifth metatarsal. The bump is on the first metatarsal side. I'm trying not to panic and be philosophical about this. At least I have a foot, I can walk, this will get repaired etc. I'm also gaining more empathy for those who don't have a good outcome from surgery, though I'm very disappointed to have joined the club! To answer emmie54, yes my foot has hurt all along, but I thought that was normal. I have never had surgery or a broken bone before. I just thought my foot was getting accustomed to its new configuration. If I walk at a normal pace it doesn't hurt. My foot isn't swollen either. I can't thank you all enough for you help. I'll be off the Board this week, but I'll give you an update when I'm back home. By that time I will have at least spoken to the doctor. I'm calling him next week while I'm away because I want an appt. as soon as I return. Thank you again!!!:)
e265rho
07-26-2008, 11:39 AM
jane - your were my Idol. I always enjoyed hearing your wonderfully positive recovery stories as I am a few weeks behind you in recovery. Can't you extra time off through the family medical leave act even if without pay. My understanding is you are entitled to 12 weeks per year (year starting when first medical leave began)
Good luck
Good luck
walleye77
07-27-2008, 08:38 PM
Janesfoot, OMG this is what happen to me its terrible. Pain that shouldn't have been there thinking it was normal. A doctor not taking an x-ray or MRI or even listening to the fact you told him you had pain.
Are you in a cast yet? It is the best way to go. The boot unless super tight wouldn't hold your foot in place the way it needs to be. I tried the boot 1st trying to avoid the cast. I'm Casted now.
I feel for you, Big hugs!!!!!:angel:
Are you in a cast yet? It is the best way to go. The boot unless super tight wouldn't hold your foot in place the way it needs to be. I tried the boot 1st trying to avoid the cast. I'm Casted now.
I feel for you, Big hugs!!!!!:angel:
badfeet51
07-27-2008, 10:07 PM
janesfoot, from what i understand from reading a 5th metatarsal fracture is one of the worst fractures you can have. you have to be in a cast much longer than for any other foot fracture. it is because it is out the outside of the foot. check on the board and if you can't find it put 5th metarsal fracture in your search engine. that is where i read about it. after a previous surgery i had sev. years i went in to see the ortho b/c the top of my foot was hurting. my 2, 3, and 4th metatarsals were fractured due to the displacement of the big toe during surgery and healing. had to wear cast. But, do read up on 5th met. fx. I think you might have to take some extra time off. I am so sorry to hear about this though. It really sucks....I can't believe your pod didnt do x-rays. I had them every visit. I have not been released (initial surg. 3/21 but had problems). But, with no problems I would have been seeing my doc for at least sev. months.
janewhite1
07-27-2008, 11:13 PM
I think it's the break of 5th metatarsal head, Jones fracture, that's really hard to heal.
badfeet51
07-27-2008, 11:21 PM
janewhite, you are probably 100% correct. it has been awhile since I read it but I knew it pertained to the 5th metatarsal. I apologize if I gave out erroneous information. I will look it up again and re-read. Might be having Sr. Moments. lol
Janesfoot
08-04-2008, 07:47 AM
I'm back from Michigan. I have good news. After being told a week ago last Friday that my foot was broken, I went to Michigan the next day. The weekend was full of anxiety, anger etc. On Monday I called my Pod who had not heard from my pcp. I told him my pcp said my foot was broken. My pod said he was not in panic mode yet and would check my x-rays and call back. My pod sent his receptionist to the pcp office to get the x-rays. My pod called back to say the foot wasn't broken, and was healing well. He said he could understand why my pcp would think it was broken because the bone was intentionally off-set (to move it into the correct position back to the inside of the foot). Badfeet51 is correct that it does take a long time for the bones to heal on the outside of the foot. My first metatarsal bunionectomy has healed so well my pod said you would not know it had been broken. My pod said my foot should hurt now and then for the first four or five months. He said I shouldn't be walking the two miles yet, just daily activites. Thank you for all your support. I was in such a tailspin, absolutely devastated. I hadn't even considered that my foot may not be broken, so I felt I was given a new lease on life when I learned it was healing well. This has been a great opportunity to count my blessings.:)
footsiedee
08-04-2008, 09:45 AM
janesfoot...glad to hear your news. what a relief. that must have been hard for you all weekend believing it was broken. congrats! Dee
footsiedee
08-04-2008, 09:50 AM
oops! sorry, i just reread your post on the other board where you had already told me about the walking being too much. i think though i will try a little of the treadmill tomorrow. i am a couch potatoe, so quite sure i wont overdo it LOL
but i NEED to do something to move the muscles as i get restless leg from all the inactivity. moderation in all things , right.
but i NEED to do something to move the muscles as i get restless leg from all the inactivity. moderation in all things , right.
debbie g
08-04-2008, 01:51 PM
jane, what good news! do what the dr says and i hope you at least had a good time at your reunion.
emmie54
08-04-2008, 04:29 PM
great news, Jane. I have had freakouts myself that turned out fine:D, so I know how relieved you feel!