Walking Boot - Foot Problems Message Board

sad4foot · 10-01-2004, 08:21 AM

Hi. I rolled over the front of my foot back in June (toes first, then over top and twisted as I went down). The X-Ray was negative and the doctors I saw kept telling me it was just sprained. I was non-weightbearing for 4 weeks (could not even get a sock on let alone a shoe), and gradually went to one crutch, then a cane. I was using a cane for several weeks, until the pain when walking any distance (i.e. a couple of blocks) got so bad I went back to crutches with feather-weight steps on foot. Have been able to walk fairly comfortably around the house with no shoe, but I think that is because I can more easily distribute the weight in a way that does not put pressure on problem area.

I finally got to see an orthopedic surgeon yesterday (15.5 weeks after injury), who said it does seem to be all soft-tissue injury (I was thinking it might be Lisfranc, but even my weightbearing x-ray shows nothing). He said he would have put a cast on it if he had seen me when it happened (since the other doctors thought it was a simple sprain, I did not get a referral back then

).

He gave me a walking boot to wear for the next 3 months and I start physio next month. I thought the walking boot was wonderful when I first got it yesterday, but now every step is killing the top of my foot, pretty well in a direct line up from my second toe, between the midfoot and my ankle. Has anyone else here had a problem with the walking boot hurting? Is this something I just have to deal with? It is snowy and icy here now (I live up North), and the crutches were pretty well useless anyway.

Just wanted to know if this thing was supposed to help me walk pain-free, because each step seems worse, and I returned my crutches yesterday

Thanks for any replies.

eko · 10-01-2004, 12:08 PM

It has been 15.5 weeks!! The walking boot should not hurt your foot. Not sure what style you have but try wearing the top a little looser.

Did the ortho doc happen to order a MRI to really see the extent of the soft tissue injury?

I hope things get better soon, I can relate to the snow and ice thing and being on crutches.

Best wishes - eko

sad4foot · 10-04-2004, 10:07 AM

Eko,

I played with the adjustments a bit, and I have been able to make it more comfortable. Still sometimes hurts, but not too bad. At the end of the day it is pretty sore, and when I take the boot off my foot is flatter and stretched out. I am thinking this is a good thing, as since the injury my toes have not touched the floor, and now at the end of the day they do.

The doctor did not order an MRI - he seems to think that I should heal up okay. Still have my doubts, but I can be a bit of a pessimist, so I will wait and see what happens.

Thanks - sad4foot

eko · 10-04-2004, 12:23 PM

I still think it has been a long time for healing. Ask your doctor what kind of rough time expectations to have and at what point do you need to re-evalute your options. I also still believe an MRI is in order, but that is your doctor's call. If have have dounts regarding your care, maybe a second opinion would be nice to have.

I know that there are all kinds of walking boots that are used, but maybe you need a little extra padding for you foot. Just a thought.

Take care -eko

sad4foot · 10-05-2004, 10:25 AM

Hi Eko,

I see the ortho doc for a follow-up in December, so my plan for now is to wear the boot until then and start my physio next month, and see how things go. If no improvement by then (I think he is expecting there will be, as he said to cancel my appt. if I don't feel I need to see him), then I will definitely ask for an MRI. We don't have MRI here, and I would have to fly down south to get it done, so I think he will not order it unless he is sure it is necessary.

As far as a second opinion goes, we only have 2 ortho docs here and no podiatrist. They originally put me on a 6 month "routine" waiting list to see the ortho doc but I had my doctor fix that and got in within a month and a half of getting referred. I doubt I could get in to see the other one for a second opinion. I don't really have any choice but to follow his instructions and see what happens.

If I do end up going down south for any other reason, I will go to a podiatrist if possible to get another opinion.

-sad4foot