Question
QUESTION: My right foot started swelling a year ago in November/ December.  I had slipped and banged it against a wall while wearing socks but didn't realize that I had damaged the foot as it didn't bruise.

I thought the swelling was due to varicose veins which I had removed in Feb. of this year but the swelling continued.  I had some acupuncture & saw a herbalist but still the foot was swollen. I had a lymphoscintogram & nothing showed up.

Eventually I was told by a 'holy man' that I had a bone out & to see a bone setter.  I had an x-ray to be sure & the report said it showed that there was some abnormality in the 5th metatarsal & indicated a possible stress fracture & a scan would be recommended.

I was sent to an orthopaedic surgeon who said there was nothing wrong with the foot & told me to get a pad like an insole with a sponge support on the middle of it to keep pressure off the toe bones & to buy a bigger shoe & basically learn to live with it!!

I then decided to see the bone setter & he agreed there was a bone out of place & manipulated the foot & put the bone back in.  A week later my foot was still swollen & the small toe was sore as it takes the flak from wearing a shoe with swelling in the foot & also the toe was out of place from wearing a tight boot earlier.  I went back to the bone setter & he put the small toe in place however the original bone was out of place again so I went back a 3rd time & he put it back in but that evening I could feel it out again.  

I feel a hard lump/ bone at 4th metatarsal in ball of foot but also at base of 4th toe.

What do you recommend? (sorry this is such a long story - I'm a year trying to get to the bottom of it)

ANSWER: Hi Sharon,

I would be sure to have an MRI. If you have had pai for this long there may be a dislocation in your foot that requires more than just setting.  There also be non-healed fractures and soft tissue injury to the foot.  I would see a podiatrist for a proper diagnosis.

Good Luck

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Marc

Thanks for the advice.  My G.P. sent me for a bone scan & the result came back normal, she suggests seeing a 2nd orthopaedic surgeon.  I still have swelling in the foot & it gets worse if I walk a lot.  Should I skip the orthopaedic surgeon & go to a podiatrist??  (I haven't had an MRI as I would need to be referred by my G.P. & she would only recommend me for a bone scan at this stage).

I feel like doctors think I'm making it up when the bone scan came back normal.  Is is possible that there is an injury that is not showing up??

Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Sharon,

If you had a fracture or swelling of the bone that would show on a bone scan.  However, a bone scan gives little information.  An MRI would far superior and a podiatrist would be your best choice for your next exam.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.