Is new pain from a Hairline Tibia Fracture worth calling the PM Doc? - Pain Management Message Board

butrfligirl28 · 12-09-2007, 04:55 PM

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, I am having problems with my pain management. I am living at a 6 to 10 on the pain scale, daily. I talked to the pm last month and they will not help me.

Now I have a new problem. My cp is abdominal. I started having severe stabbing pains in my ankle. (I had a previous serious fracture here, 3 surgeries, and thought it was just acting up). After 3 weeks, and worsening pain, I finally went to see my GP. I saw him 10 days ago. At that time, about every 10th step was a severe stabbing pain on the inside of my leg, right above the ankle. My GP is great and spent alot of time manipulated the ankle to recreate the pain. He couldn't until he pressed on the Tibia bone. I about went through the roof!

After x-rays that showed nothing, my GP said that he thought I had a stress/hairline fracture in my tibia. He wanted me to get a bone scan right away, as this can only get worse. At the time, it sounded worse than I felt, so I was not anxious. Unfortunately, due to emergencies at work, I had to re-schedule twice, and do not do the scan until tomorrow.

Here's the problem. The pain has gotten SO much worse in these 10 days. Now the stabbing pain is every 2 steps, and it hurts badly and throbs even when I am not on it. (Before it only hurt when walking and only at about every 10th step). I was adament with the GP about NO crutches, as I hate them, but these past few days I am actually wanting crutches my leg hurts so badly. The pain is so sharp I wince and suck in my breath and have to stop walking when it happens, even when I know it's coming.

My ankle was slightly swollen before, and now it's very swollen and there are blue and red broken blood vessels and slight bruising in that area. It is VERY painful, even when propped up and iced.

Here's my question. I have a bad feeling the bone scan is going to show a BAD hairline fracture. My job is constantly on the go, and I cannot stop and do a desk job while this heals. Even on crutches it is still very painful, and I feel the crutches will aggrevate my cp and fibro.

Is this worth calling the PM for? They say to call with significant increased pain, but this is a new problem, not my chronic pain. They also refused to help me with my increased chronic pain, so it's most likely wasted time and energy. I NEVER call to complain, so I wanted your opinion.

Is this worth telling the PM about, or do I just suffer this new pain, plus my cp like I have been doing?

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate you guys!

Amanda

P.S. I cannot take NSAID's due to erosions in my stomach from taking NSAID's for so many years!

stepbystep89 · 12-09-2007, 05:04 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck!
I'm not really sure what your pm will do. I don't have a lot of experience with pm, but I can tell you what my mother always says - it's worth asking. Is there anything at stake here except for them telling you no.
Keep up posted and I will keep you in my prayers.
Step

Missy14 · 12-09-2007, 05:54 PM

It's too bad you can't take NSAID's = while they won't help your pain much, they would help the inflammation caused by a fracture and decrease your pain a little. I would call your pm doc - and if they aren't helping you with your chronic pain, are you considering finding a new one (which I KNOW is easier said than done)? You deserve compassionate care and it doesn't sound like that is what you are getting my friend. Good luck - walk on the foot as little as possible. The bone scan will be very helpful. You may also need a brace on your foot, a walking boot kind of brace to stabilize the ankle as that will help to decrease the pain as well.

BrittleBones · 12-09-2007, 07:09 PM

Hi Butterfly - I don't want you to take this the wrong way....but I have to say it: I think that you need to LISTEN to what the doctors tell you and not pick and choose the advice that you are paying them for! Here you are in lots of chronic pain and you suspect a hairline fracture of your tibia....but you don't sound like you are doing what common sense would dictate: Get OFF your feet!! You don't like crutches?? Well that may be too bad!! How can you expect the pain to get better if you continue to walk on it? You say that you are too busy to bother with crutches? Well, the doctor may just suspect that you aren't nearly as uncomfortable as you are reporting. Why? Because you sound like you insist on continuing doing what you darn well please AND expect someone to help with the increased pain that is a direct result of not paying attention to what your doc is telling you!! If I am sounding very unsympathetic, then I apologize. As far as calling your pain management doc to report a new pain, you can certainly do that, but I suspect that they will want to see what the CT shows or the bone scan and would probably then refer you back to your ortho for casting, etc. My experience with quite a few foot and ankle fractures is this: Once you've gotten off your foot and had it braced, casted or a walking boot put on it, you will feel 100% better and may not need any additional pain meds. Good luck - I really do hope things look up for you - Memere

butrfligirl28 · 12-09-2007, 07:38 PM

Memere,

My GP discussed crutches if this IS in fact a fracture, but did not tell me what to do in the mean time. I am assuming I will need crutches, but until these results, I can't just go out and buy them. I have been having to be very careful at work. I have missed time from work due to pain period, nowI am limping around and having a hard time as it is doing my job. My GP told me to wear only tennis shoes to work, but when I told my boss, she stated that this was against dress code and I could not do it. Then I missed half a day Thurs, due to my leg hurting so badly. My boss called and stated that they need a note from my doctor about my leg.

Look, I am under alot of pressure at work. It has been hard enough to keep up this stressful job and schedule with my regular pain and being able to walk. If you can imagine, it will be that much harder if I am unable to walk at all. I am doing what my doctor told me to, but until I have this scan, there is no treatment (besides the shoes) that I should be doing that I am not. I thought it was okay to vent here. It's not okay to say that I hate crutches, and don't want them unless absolutely necessary?

I wish it was just a matter of "doing what I darn well please." I need my job, and I am already having a hard time doing it. There is nothing worse that having that scrutiny at work. "What's wrong with her NOW?" I have worked so hard to get here, and I am struggling to keep this up. I know I should be taking better care of myself, but that's hard to do with no proof yet, and when I am already being scrutinized. I guess I shouldn't have posted this here.