Just my luck…(health update)
-
TL;DR version: I broke my pinkie toe yesterday and it hurts like hell and because of all the other problems I have with my lower extremities, everything is totally messed up.
Long version:
I know I’ve talked about this but I can’t remember how much, but I’ve been dealing with problems with my right foot/leg and knees at least a year now. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, although a cortisone shot in the worse knee helped quite a bit.Last fall I developed plantar fasciitis and tendonitis in both feet, which progressed to tendonopathy in multiple areas and eventually I was diagnosed with a bone deformity in my right heel.
During the summer, I fractured the bone in my right heel, top of the heel bone at the base of where the Achilles connects to the heel (this fracture was not from a fall or other impact but most likely connected to the bone deformity and associated problems) and I was in a boot for a while. I had an MRI, which showed severe Achilles tendonopathy (among other problems with the tendons along the side of the foot etc.).
I’ve been going to PT since January and religiously doing the PT exercises at home. Along the way, my left foot’s tendonitis and plantar fasciitis healed (yay) but the problems in my right foot have been intractable. That’s the foot with the bone deformity. My local ortho has been saying that ultimately probably surgery is probably going to be needed, but the foot surgeon in the big city (which my local guy referred me to) has suggested that I may be able to manage it with PT. So I’ve been in a holding pattern, with some good days, some bad days but mostly gradually increasing the amount/distance I can walk etc.
My main goal has been to avoid that surgery, because (besides just wanting to avoid surgery in general) it would mostly likely require 8 weeks (if not more) of non-weight bearing and I don’t think the rest of my body can handle that. (Having my right foot in the boot really messed up my back and my left foot). What they do for the surgery is detach the achilles from the heel bone, shave off the bone deformity, take part of the tendon in the big toe to augment the damaged Achilles, attach that extra tendon to the Achilles, and then reattach the Achilles to the heel bone. It’s a nasty surgery and long recovery and I haven’t looked into the stats about outcomes but it’s not a guarantee that I’d be able to walk pain free afterward.
Still, I was feeling hopeful and just being able to walk a little more has been a huge improvement.
And then yesterday morning, while barefoot (because I was getting ready to get into the shower), I lost my balance (because my right foot is not in good shape), my left foot slammed into a door frame and I ended up with a broken toe (and probably some soft tissue damage) on my left foot. The one that was supposed to be the good foot.
Now I can’t walk (again) and I’m not going to be able to do a big chunk of my PT routine, so besides the impact on my left foot, I’m worried that the progress I’ve made with my right foot is going to slide backwards. And I’m worried that having my right foot need to support more of me because my left foot is out of commission is going to exacerbate the problems with my right foot.
And of course, there’s almost nothing they can do for a broken toe. Yesterday after the x-ray, the nurse tried the buddy taping thing, but that was so painful we couldn’t get it in place. They also recommended a carbon fiber insert for my shoe (which insurance doesn’t pay for for some reason) but I don’t think my only-just-recovered left heel and arch can stand to be on that insole, so I said no (they said I could come back later if I decide I want to try it, maybe after the swelling goes down some). And other than that, there’s nothing.
And I’m not even sure whether I should be icing or not, because there’s some recent research that icing may delay healing.
If you read this far, thank you! That’s it. Just my luck.
-
So sorry to hear about your long battle with the foot problems and this recent injury adding to the misery. I've had bunion problems, a broken small toe, and a banged up knee. During those episodes I got a real understanding of what a challenge it can be to deal with lower limb problems. When your mobility is impaired it seems to affect so many other things. I've found acupuncture to be quite effective, both for acute injuries and chronic problems.
Hugs and best wishes for your healing!
-
Oh no! That sounds awful.
Hope you feel better soon!
-
I'm sorry you're going through all of this.
I think Roseanne Roseannadanna had a line for this ...
"Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it's always something — if it's not one thing, it's another."
Wondering why the buddy-taping thing was so problematic. That suggests some damage to the joint rather than just a simple break. But yeah, there isn't much they do for a broken pinky toe. Been there, done that.
-
thanks everyone!!
@wtg I definitely want to look into acupuncture now! I had it in mind, but since things were sort of improving, I thought I might wait. But now I need an extra healing burst! I think I may have written that I had acupuncture once, while in Japan, and it was like a miracle cure (this was for a shoulder injury that became a chronic problem. After several months of getting worse and worse, one visit with the acupuncturist and I was healed!)
@Piano-Dad said in Just my luck…(health update):
"Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it's always something — if it's not one thing, it's another."
it certainly is!!Wondering why the buddy-taping thing was so problematic.
I thought it was just because 1) that whole area is super swollen, and 2) my pinkie toe is so much shorter than the fourth toe, it was impossible to get it aligned in a way that was both useful and that didn't make the pain go through the roof.
I'm not convinced that buddy taping would make a difference anyway, because I'm not walk-walking and the way I'm moving my foot, I'm making sure to avoid flexing/bending the toe area at all. Maybe once the swelling goes down and I'm closer to actual walking, I'll try it again.
That suggests some damage to the joint rather than just a simple break.
This is my concern. The walk-in doc didn't say to schedule a follow up, but I will do so anyway!
-
TL;DR version: I broke my pinkie toe yesterday and it hurts like hell and because of all the other problems I have with my lower extremities, everything is totally messed up.
Long version:
I know I’ve talked about this but I can’t remember how much, but I’ve been dealing with problems with my right foot/leg and knees at least a year now. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, although a cortisone shot in the worse knee helped quite a bit.Last fall I developed plantar fasciitis and tendonitis in both feet, which progressed to tendonopathy in multiple areas and eventually I was diagnosed with a bone deformity in my right heel.
During the summer, I fractured the bone in my right heel, top of the heel bone at the base of where the Achilles connects to the heel (this fracture was not from a fall or other impact but most likely connected to the bone deformity and associated problems) and I was in a boot for a while. I had an MRI, which showed severe Achilles tendonopathy (among other problems with the tendons along the side of the foot etc.).
I’ve been going to PT since January and religiously doing the PT exercises at home. Along the way, my left foot’s tendonitis and plantar fasciitis healed (yay) but the problems in my right foot have been intractable. That’s the foot with the bone deformity. My local ortho has been saying that ultimately probably surgery is probably going to be needed, but the foot surgeon in the big city (which my local guy referred me to) has suggested that I may be able to manage it with PT. So I’ve been in a holding pattern, with some good days, some bad days but mostly gradually increasing the amount/distance I can walk etc.
My main goal has been to avoid that surgery, because (besides just wanting to avoid surgery in general) it would mostly likely require 8 weeks (if not more) of non-weight bearing and I don’t think the rest of my body can handle that. (Having my right foot in the boot really messed up my back and my left foot). What they do for the surgery is detach the achilles from the heel bone, shave off the bone deformity, take part of the tendon in the big toe to augment the damaged Achilles, attach that extra tendon to the Achilles, and then reattach the Achilles to the heel bone. It’s a nasty surgery and long recovery and I haven’t looked into the stats about outcomes but it’s not a guarantee that I’d be able to walk pain free afterward.
Still, I was feeling hopeful and just being able to walk a little more has been a huge improvement.
And then yesterday morning, while barefoot (because I was getting ready to get into the shower), I lost my balance (because my right foot is not in good shape), my left foot slammed into a door frame and I ended up with a broken toe (and probably some soft tissue damage) on my left foot. The one that was supposed to be the good foot.
Now I can’t walk (again) and I’m not going to be able to do a big chunk of my PT routine, so besides the impact on my left foot, I’m worried that the progress I’ve made with my right foot is going to slide backwards. And I’m worried that having my right foot need to support more of me because my left foot is out of commission is going to exacerbate the problems with my right foot.
And of course, there’s almost nothing they can do for a broken toe. Yesterday after the x-ray, the nurse tried the buddy taping thing, but that was so painful we couldn’t get it in place. They also recommended a carbon fiber insert for my shoe (which insurance doesn’t pay for for some reason) but I don’t think my only-just-recovered left heel and arch can stand to be on that insole, so I said no (they said I could come back later if I decide I want to try it, maybe after the swelling goes down some). And other than that, there’s nothing.
And I’m not even sure whether I should be icing or not, because there’s some recent research that icing may delay healing.
If you read this far, thank you! That’s it. Just my luck.
@ShiroKuro Oh, no. I'm sorry you've been enduring these issues with your feet. And now, a broken toe! Our toes are so sensitive, too. I hope you heal quickly and well, on all fronts.
