How Can Something so small cause so much pain? - General Health Message Board

tiggerwoo · 12-31-2004, 12:20 PM

I don't know whether anyone can help me but am really worried. 6 and a half weeks ago I trod on a wire brush and got some metal splinters in my foot. I had a couple of docs manage to get a few bits out the first week but despite being on antibiotics it rared up again. In the middle of this I was admitted to hospital after collapsing with a temperature of 102 and chest pain to be told my white blood cells and phosphates were low and they thought I had caught a viral infection such as pluracy. Out of hospital I went a week or so more or less pain free. I started weight bearing again and my foot started playing up. I have also got stabbing pains in my thigh, calf and knee with burning heat and muscle twitches, which the docs are thinking could be RSD after limping and being on crutches with my foot. Only thing is can cope with that, but my foot really hurts when I walk on it and keep getting small red marks as if I am walking on bits of wire on my foot. I have had an Xray, Ultrasound and CT scan and the docs are saying that if there is anything in there it is too small to do anything about. Please help I have seen private and NHS doctors and have spent money trying to get well but nothing is being done. Any advice please?

Thanks Clare

feelbad · 01-01-2005, 08:37 AM

It does not sound to me like RSD,which is really a good thing for you.I have it in my knee on down through my foot and it is the most excruciating torturous pain ever.I really don't know what could be causing the continued pain.i would however stay the heck away from any MRI testing on it until you know for sure that their is absolutely no metel in that foot,or you could have huge problems during the test.

It could be that the docs are right in that you have some very small specs of metel left in there that your body will just have try and expel on its own.It sounds like maybe that is what is actually going on now.anytime there is something that gets in our skin such as a splinter or what you are dealing with here, it will work steadily to try and work it to the surface so it can be pulled out.It is the normal reaction that you would see in this instance.I have a friend who was in a car accident many many years ago,and she is still having glass work itself to the surface in her forehead.She will have symptoms such as you describe and a week or two later, a bump will appear on her forhead,she gives it a few squeezes when it looks red and ready to pop,and out will come yet another very tiny piece of glass.unfortunetly, you may just have to wait until it gets to the surface.I would try soaking the foot daily until something pops.just a suggestion.i hope it gets better soon.

As for the other symptoms you are having, it could just be stress and anxiety over this situation that you have been dealing with,or it could be something totally unrelated.sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.I hope you feel better soon.Marcia

tiggerwoo · 01-01-2005, 09:04 AM

Hi Marcia, thanks for your advice. Has cheered me up alot. Managed to get another small bit of metal out today after having a bath so thats one less... ha ha!

Meanwhile spoke to my doctor and he has said he will try and scrape some of my skin on my feet off early next week to help any metal work its way out easier as I have hard skin on my feet anyway which doesn't help. Hopefully that will work. As for MRI scanning will def keep away. Will probably get the magnets sticking my foot to the top of the scanner! Anyway will keep cheerful with my predicament and will always wear slippers in the house. A Happy And Healthy New Year to you and your family.

Take Care, Clare

tiggerwoo · 01-25-2005, 07:53 AM

Hi, I posted on here about four weeks ago and am still in pain. Despite doing everything the doctors have told me to do by weight bearing now, I still feel like there is stuff in my foot. Two and a half weeks ago I had four more bits of metal removed locally from my foot, but they were small and were done under a local anesthetic, but now after seeing so many specialists, no one knows what to do or if there is anything left in me cos scans, xrays and ultrasounds haven't shown anything up, despite there having been bits of wire brush in my foot. If anyone can give me any advice I'd really be grateful, or if anyone could put me in touch with a good doctor/surgeon in the UK that would be most welcome.

Thanks, Clare

kerry1 · 01-25-2005, 06:53 PM

Just some thoughts: Your feet have more nerve endings than any other part of your body - really and truly. That's why feet hurt SO BAD when they hurt.

Have you tried a drawing salve? I know of a good one called Epsal - it's made of epsom salts and a base ointment. You can find lots of drawing salves in a health food store that you can put on like cream, or you can soak your feet in epsom salts and warm water (you can buy the salts very cheaply at a drugstore). This will help draw the foreign bodies out of your foot, and will help prevent infection (salt is a germ-killer).

ALOE VERA PLANT is another really wonderful salve. You should use a live plant, and cut off one leaf, split it with a knife, and put the gel side down onto the wound, leaving the leaf skin intact. You can tape it to your foot with a bandaid or just sit there for 15 minutes. I've used it for beestings and it's miraculous. I'm very allergic and the sting area will swell up immediately, but the aloe plant "sucks" the poison out within 5 minutes and the swelling disappears. I've never seen anything like it.