We had a lot of foot-related questions come in to our blog this weekend, so instead of responding to our readers individually, we thought the responses could make a good blog post. If you have a question for Dr. Silverman, submit it in the comments below. Below are some questions from our readers.
Q: Five weeks ago I tripped while running and bent my foot backwards. I nearly passed out the pain was so great. I haven’t endured pain since, only tenderness and soreness. I kept my foot raised and submerged it into cold water every two hours. I bandaged it to give it support. It swelled like a barrage balloon and then my heel started to turn black and along the foot on the ankle side.
The top of the foot went yellow, falling short of the toes. I went to ER and I had three x rays and it wasn’t broken. They bandaged my foot by pulling my toes towards my leg and told me to leave it on for three days. I was also told to keep off it for a further two weeks. I can clench my toes and move my foot backwards and forwards and I have also given it some hydro therapy in the bath by having the air jets on it which I can now do as before it was far too sensitive.
It has now been five weeks and I haven’t put any weight onto my foot because it is still bruised by the heel. I have been gently massaging the foot with arnica which I have only started doing in the last couple of days. I am concerned that it still swells when I am up. The toes swell and it is still swollen round the heel and the ankle but no where near as bad. I would say it has reduced by at least 80%. Can you please give me some advice because I now feel that after five weeks I should be able to use it or at least ease myself into putting some weight onto it? I have been reading other articles which advise you to use heat treatment too. I suppose I am scared to use it and damage the scar tissue further. The ankle still feels sensitive and round by the heel.
Dr. Silverman
A: Sorry to hear about your condition. In my professional opinion, I believe you need to go see an orthopedic specialist. An ankle sprain isn’t always just a sprain. Original X-rays may not show all fractures, there can be non-displaced fractures that worsen and nerves can be injured and require physical therapy. There could be a number of diagnosed issues in your injured foot.
The advice you were given was to keep off of it for two weeks. Now you’ve been off it for more than a month and you haven’t had much help from your current treatment strategies. I am glad you are reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear about your troubles, but I really believe your best course of action is to seek the in-person counsel of an orthopedic surgeon. Best of luck with your recovery.
Q: Hello,
I am a sophomore at Seton High School researching ankle and knee injuries and would like to know if they are more common in the summer?
Thanks
Dr. Silverman
A: Sprains aren’t really correlated with seasons as much as they are correlated with playing sports. That said, in states that experience all seasons, more sports tend to take place in the warm summer months. This means that you would expect an increase in ankle sprains, but not from the weather, rather from the increased number of players at risk. Best of luck with your research!
Q: Hi Dr Silverman,
I would like to ask your thoughts on my problem. I have just undergone my 3rd ankle reconstruction 3 months ago due to falling over at work, now about 3 days after this I could barely walk on my ankle and had pains where the previous surgery was done and also in the area of the peroneal tendon with pain shooting up the side of my leg. I told my surgeon about the pain numerous times before the surgery and was only sent for an ultrasound before my operation. I had the operation done was in a cast 6 weeks and boot 2 weeks have been doing physio for 4 weeks now and the more weight bearing I do, the worse the pain gets in that area, I had my physio hold her fingers on it yesterday so she could feel it and she said its popping (peroneal ligament subluxation). It’s very swollen in the area as well, I get pain resting as my foot is still very stiff from the operation and cant bend my foot forward yet. What would your thoughts be on this as I have to go see the same surgeon who has done all the operations on my ankle again at the start of June? I’m worried he is going to dismiss this problem again. Could you give me some advice as to what I could say to my surgeon. Thank you.
Dr. Silverman