Swelling and cold to the touch: In April I went... - Pain Concern

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Swelling and cold to the touch

Imagine1 profile image
20 Replies

In April I went to the local casualty department in the hospital due to my foot swelling and being cold to the touch and I couldn't walk on it. I broke it just before the first lock down and given no treatment for it and ever since I have been having difficulties walking. I was discharged having been told there was no blood going through my foot and then I went home again with no treatment. I found out today that the doctor I saw wrote in the record of attendance that I have an Arterial embolism/thrombosis in my foot and that I need to see a vascular surgeon urgently. I was not told about any of this and I have had no follow up appointment just to go back to my GP. I have read up about this condition and it has really worried me. I just hope I don't lose my foot, while the glorious NHS sort themselves out, I am worried, in agony and I don't know what else to do. My local hospital is a waste of time they have just left me since January 2020. Does anyone else know what I can do?

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Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1
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20 Replies
Trenholm profile image
Trenholm

Go to A&E

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Trenholm

Thank you for your reply. I have been to casualty numerous times staying over 10 hours each time with no joy. They tell me what is wrong and do nothing about it. All they give me are crutches and how to use them which I know because I have had lots of them. The doctors are a waste of time.

Darkin profile image
Darkin

If your blood supply had been severely compromised you would have lost your foot very quickly, from the toes up. Get a telephone with your Nurse practitioner or Doctor who will immediatly refer you directly to a Hospital flt treatment. What are you waiting for.

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Darkin

Thank you for your reply. I have contacted my doctor and hospital and they don't want to know. I have been left in agony since January 2020. I have had no treatment. All the NHS care about is if people have Covid or not, they are not interested in anything else. I am also waiting for 2 operations which one is urgent. I have been waiting for over a year and it is supposed to be urgent. When I went to the hospital the doctor was very concerned about the look of my foot, my toes were blue and my foot was turning blue but again nothing was done. The specialist? said I had a blood clot in my foot and that was it.

Nick2U profile image
Nick2U in reply to Imagine1

First of all I am not a doctor but I am very tuned into my body and know when something isn’t right. That said, I flunked zoology before I even got into medical school, so my credentials aren’t impressive.

Can you show a photo of your foot? Actually one of your good foot and one of your affected foot would be good. I just took a photo for my doctor of one of my toes that has gotten swollen and painful from having to stand all day at work, and took one of my good foot for reference.

Also, important to know if you have any other conditions such as diabetes—which would warrant a much more aggressive treatment to make sure you don’t lose your foot. Without knowing otherwise I’m assuming you do not have diabetes or you probably would only have one foot by now.

Sight unseen though, if I were you I might try to alternate between heat and cold to maybe improve the circulation in your foot. Along with elevating it and/or wearing compression socks and possibly taking a diuretic if the swelling is from poor circulation and not moving your legs. I wear the compression socks every day I have to work and be on my feet and take them off when I get home and then ice my toes followed by a dip in the hot tub. That and a really expensive pair of the most comfortable shoes ever helps me get by. Best wishes.

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Nick2U

Thank you for your reply. You are right I don't have diabetes. I am usually fit and well. Before this happened I was very active, I rode a bike which I can't do now because I can't bend my foot, I was a runner, I went to the gym 5 times a week and I did dance lessons, including salsa. So you can imagine how I feel now not being able to do anything. At night when I am resting my foot is elevated and I have to wear a tight bandage so that I can walk a bit better. The worst part of all this is the fact I can no longer do the job that I love. I was recently offered a job but I can't do it, luckily for me my boss has said he will keep the job for when I get better. I am going to get a second opinion because my foot shouldn't be like it still is after 17 months. I am not very good with technology so I can't post a picture of my foot.

Darkin profile image
Darkin

Look mate , if your foot was blue a year ago then it would be long gone . What is the address of the hospital and the name of the specialist.

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Darkin

My foot and toes turned blue recently not a year ago, it was April this year when I went to casualty. When a specialist tells me that I have a blood clot in my foot and does nothing at all about it and just walks off, I think that is bad.

Darkin profile image
Darkin in reply to Imagine1

So what caused the agony in 2020. I had to have my toe removed after it got infected. Despite antibiotics, the whole process only took a fortnight. A surgeon saw me on a wednesday and operated on the Friday.There was no agony before or after the op.

There is no way any hospital would ignore a cold foot, which was turning blue, a year ago .

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Darkin

You were very lucky. My local hospital is a waste of time, they have been put under measures because they are so poor. I had a nasty fall at home and rather than cut my head open on a radiator at the bottom of the stairs I fell awkwardly and broke my foot/ankle. Nothing was done about it even though it showed on an x ray that I had broken it, I was given crutches which I had to beg for because the doctor was not going to give them to me, saying that they don't give out crutches anymore. She said that I had to walk out of hospital even though I was in a wheelchair. My foot by this time had doubled in size, black and blue and was a weird shape. This happened in January 2020 just before the first lockdown, there was no excuse not to treat me. My toe has recently been very sore due to walking and putting all my weight on it due to the permanent limp I now have. I have recently seen a physiotherapist about this and he told me this is why my toe has been affected and the doctor gave me painkillers which I can't take due to being allergic to opiates. So I haven't had a good time recently. Obviously the hospital that you went to was a good one, not the crappy one i have. Yes the doctor did leave me this is why I am seeing a solicitor because of the care that I have not received and I have a good case.

Darkin profile image
Darkin in reply to Imagine1

I was diagnosed with a foot osteomylitis and immediatly hospitalised. They then diagnosed diabetes which requires lifelong insulin. My heel was removed and saved my foot. Took months in Hospital.(Arrow park in the Wirral). I am what is known as a high risk patient and the attention I get is great. That seems to be the main factor in getting truly first class treatment esp. when it comes to Podiatry.

What you need to do is attend a private Podiartist/ Chiropodist and ask for an opinion. They are the true experts in foot ailments and no Doctor would dare dismiss their opinion.

Take it from me. So see a Podiatrist ASAP. Do it ! Let me know the results.

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Darkin

Thank you for your reply, I am so sorry that you have had problems with your foot and I am glad you are on the road to recovery. I have already seen a podiatrist, she was appalled when I told her the treatment I had not received. After 8 months from the accident she gave me an air boot to wear and told me that I should have got this back in January when I had the accident. I wore this and it made no difference at all, it just made me walk weird. That is all she did. I can't pay for private treatment because I literally don't have any money due to not being able to work, so it is a catch 22. If I did have the money that is the first thing I would have done, I wouldn't have waited this long for it to get worse.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65

Go and book up to see a private specialist as soon as possible . Good to get a second opinion if your that concerned. Might be money worth spent.

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to rabbits65

I wish I could afford to. I am seeking a second opinion at a hospital recommended by my solicitor which is through the NHS.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Imagine1

So this awful hospital your referring to which area is it? I live in Bexhill on sea and I’ve had little help with my poorly feet, the NHS made me some shoes that weren’t fit for purpose . !!!!

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to rabbits65

It is in the Greater Manchester area. It had been under special measures because of how poor it was and it was on the news. To tell you the truth I have been to many hospitals and they all seem to be the same. It isn't much to ask for is it to sort a broken foot out when someone has an accident, if the doctor had done her job my life wouldn't be like it is today. The trouble is she still thinks that she has done nothing wrong. I haven't and won't ever go to this hospital again and I live next door to it.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Imagine1

Sorry only just found your reply. I find there is little that’s being done to help feet. I have terrible feet and don’t know where to get help.

Hope you get the help you need

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to rabbits65

Thank you for your reply. I know it is terrible how little is done for people's feet people have to be able to walk otherwise everyone would be disabled. More has to be done.

Darkin profile image
Darkin

What test did you have confirming blood sugar levels ?

Imagine1 profile image
Imagine1 in reply to Darkin

If this is a reply to me, I haven't had any blood sugar tests, I have had no tests. Oh just an xray.

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