Hello y'all,
I injured my ankle 36 hours ago by sprinting and coming to a complete stop on a slight incline cement surface driving a portion of my top foot and ankle into the cement. I can bear weight on it but I regret it after with just an incredible amount of pain. I do not have insurance to go get checked out. I need to know if this is something I can "walk off." It is my right foot aka my driving foot.
Thank you so much in advance for your help as I desperately need advice!!!
This scenario can cause a metatarsal fracture if you are particularly tender behind your right great toe. Initially stay off the foot, use RICE, elevation and cold intermittently, ibuprofen or Naprosyn if no contraindications, and if not improving after 3 days or so, a xray would be advisable..Best, etheral
Something like this happened to me, I did the RICE method, but I broke my ankle/foot, the doctor knew it was broken but still told me to do the RICE method. I had an Xray straight away and the doctor still didn't do anything and now I am left with a limp, I am disabled, my life isn't the same as it was, I was very fit and active and played a lot of sports but I can't anymore. If I was this person I wouldn't even bother, unless it is just me and I am very unlucky.
Wow I couldn't even imagine the life change. How did you injure your foot? No one deserves to be what it feels like being pawned off not really given sufficient treatment.
Hi Bsgatlin. I fell downstairs at home over 2 years ago, it was either gash my head open or land on my ankle, I didn't want a gashed head so I fell awkwardly on my ankle and it cracked, It swelled up immediately and i couldn't put any weight on it at all, at the time we lived next door to the local hospital so my husband carried me in and put me in a wheelchair. It was a complete shambles from going to casualty to coming out having had to beg the doctor for crutches because she wasn't going to give them me, even though I still couldn't walk. She knew it was broken and did nothing about it and because of this I am left not being able to move or bend my foot properly and I now have a condition called Complex Regional Pan Syndrome which there is no cure for. At present I am suing the NHS for the lack of care and the way I have been left. This has been going on now for 2 years and they have even admitted to what they did. They couldn't even blame Covid at the time because the fall happened before then. The NHS have just left me I have had no followup appointments, nothing.
That's so unfortunate. The lack of professionalism to treat what I would think would be simple for them. Have you seen any foot specialists? Thank you for sharing your story as I hope you recover in the long run! Has anything helped?
I have seen numerous specialists but they all said it was too late now to sort the problem because I didn't receive physiotherapy or fracture clinic appointments the ankle has now weakened and that is why I am limping. They can't strengthen it because the pain is unbearable. I now have to live like this.
I have 2 suggestions! Have you tried chiropractic work and massage therapy from a licensed massage therapist? Could help ease some pain endings?
Thank you for your advice. The problem is I have developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.So nothing will help that. My pain will always be there.
Are you currently taking any nerve suppressants and anti inflammatory drugs/supplements?
No I am not taking anything at all. The doctor just left me to get on with it. Nobody is seeing me about it, not that they did before. This is why I am suing the NHS because of the disgusting way that I have been treated. I can't bend my foot anymore and because I have been walking with a limp and walking on the inside of my foot I have now developed arthritis in my big toe joint and i can't bend that either, they have offered me an operation for that but I don't trust them. They are more concerned about my big toe than my broken ankle.
Have you taken any over the counter medicine? Advil Dual Action has been helping me with my Spinal Stenosis pain when needed. Also I hear people like Turmeric+Curcumin for inflammation. Also have you tried to go to any other walk-in orthopedic clinics? Also physical therapy if you can handle it. I only say if you can handle it cause I couldn't with my Spinal Stenosis. I do recommend an Orthopedic specialists to further evaluate your bones who then could possibly recommend a pain management clinic?
Imagine1
topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/jor...
Sorry if he is too far away or you've already seen him but he does specialize in ankle,foot,osteoarthritis and also seems to be a surgeon?
topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/ros...
This doctor is an expert in Complex Regional Pain Syndrom.
Also if this doesn't help you maybe I can keep looking for you if you'd like? I don't mind at all helping someone not be in pain 😀
I am still waiting after 2 years for an appointment with the pain management team at my local hospital. I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome due to nothing being done about my ankle/foot. They are also going to advice me what to do to alleviate the pain I am in because I am scared of taking any medication due to other reasons. I can't afford to go private and that is my only option to see a physiotherapist and I don't think they can do much about it now due to how long it has been. There are No appointments with the NHS, They have just left me.
If need to if your pain management team comes to hault sometimes they will recruit other colleagues to come in and give advice. My fiance has a severely autistic aunt that she takes care of. Her specialist goes all over the US to see people of her nature. I hope the pain management team gets their A-Game on to get you taken care of. Feel free to send me a message after your appointment as I am concerned/curious about how they treat you! Take care friend 😄
Thank you for your kind words.I will let you know how I get on when I finally get the appointment. x
Hi, Bsgatlin, I eventually got an appointment with a physiotherapist, I told her what I had been going through and the long wait I had, she wasn't interested. She examined my foot and she told me that an airboot or something to ease the pain should have been given to me to wear, I told her that they didn't give me anything and she never said anything to that? they all side with one another and are scared of saying the wrong thing. My second appointment I hobbled in the room and she said that my walking was better and that I could do more things with my ankle. I don't know what she was talking about because I was hobbling and in a great deal of pain. I never went back again because she thinks I was getting better but I wasn't. At the moment I am still trying to do the exercises that she gave me, with great difficulty.
I understand your pain, so sorry, I didn't have physio as covid was around. But I seen a private physio and he was marvelous, seeing him again, I am also having occupational therapy as I have copd and foot pain, hope you feel better soon x
Thank you for your kind words, I saw a private physio just the once, I couldn't afford the £50 a week. xx
In both the discussed cases,the metatarsal should here been pinned surgically, and a proper means of immobilization used, to prevent the ensuing deformity and pain. This is only my opinion an proper treatment would have to be instituted and performed by an orthopedic surgeon. etheral
Posting an update on my ankle for you guys to see. I do appreciate you letting me know of circumstances that should be taken when having a broken foot. Take a look at my ankle update after I post it! Thank you in advance!
Don't see any pictures? etheral
Look at the bottom of post! 
I feel for people that do not live in UK and are reliant on insurance to have tests and treatment. We might (currently) have to wait for hours in A&E but will eventually be seen and X-rays taken if required.It is impossible to know from a photo if you have a simple sprain which requires rest, elevation and ice packs. Or something more serious like a break. Yes ankle looks more swollen by picture but can’t really tell.
I do think someone medical needs to examine it.
A little jealous on how other countries take care of their people for health. My situation is only temporary as I hope to have insurance through my finances job. I know it's hard to actually sit there and be like yup that's a broken foot or yeah that's just swollen. It feels as if I tore some ligaments unfortunately. If it's still significantly swollen across the top of my foot I unfortunately will go pay an arm and leg as I hear treatment is anywhere from $700-$1400 at an ER.
It’s swings and roundabouts re health care. Yes NHS is free at the point of contact BUT most people do pay via a tax called national insurance contributions. We also may have to wait significant amounts of time to see a specialist whereas in America you can see someone extremely quickly (if you have insurance). However I am aware via Facebook that many of the medications that I am routinely given for free or for marginal costs, are prohibitively expensive in America or peoples insurance cover won’t supply the medications, which seems very cruel to me.
Insurance is about the money and drug manufacturers are also unfortunately about the money. There's no real law that says drugs should be xyz amount. The company making it determines how unique said product is and makes a judgement. Big pharma is a real problem in America.
On a side note my ankle has a nice red yellow bruise 🙃
When it comes to insurance companies and medications they do a step program… step 1 (try cheapest med first) step 2 … you get the gist.
Each insurance company has their own rules because money doesn’t grow on trees and they also have different levels of insurance cost also your employer will dictate the healthcare company you have and this is why some health insurance is so bad does it suck certainly does. I find dental insurance companies are even more brutal then the health insurance companies they won’t cover a darn thing but they charge you top dollar in order to have it and if you don’t have insurance the Dentist will charge you twice as much…. Crooks and shouldn’t be allowed. I actually had this happen.
He has health insurance don’t feel bad.
I actually do not have health insurance. I make enough to where I cannot be on government assistance and enough to where it doesn't make sense to spend $400 a month on insurance.
Sorry I somehow glazed passed that you Don’t have Insurance… my bad. In that case your correct it does suck to NOT have insurance and I have no solution other then get on a payment plan to pay for xray but you might not need to do anything if you just ice, elevate and see how it feels in a day or 2 ….. Again sorry about my google eyes!
Where are located? If you in California and near Los Angeles you can go to USC General no insurance or money required, just prove you don’t have the resources to pay, and I believe it’s all covered by tax payers..
Go to the doctors get xray could be a bad sprain or it could be stress fracture which doesn’t necessarily give you a bruise.
From your picture the foot does look swollen on one side. No bruising so may not be broken just strained. Even if broken they do not cast them these days , and often do not Xray, but a support boot which you can buy on line might help with repair and allow you to stand on it with less pain. A broken metatarsal usually takes around six weeks to mend itself, but does require care as in RICE , raising to take swelling down and a little patience while it heals. Even a bad sprain requires similar care. So take care , but if pain is not getting better seek medical advice.
Thank you for your advice! The bruising is more noticeable after 72 hours which I believe is normal. I do believe I may have torn some ligaments. Unfortunately I don't have anyone else to rely on so I have been doing everything around the the house not really resting my ankle.
Understand what you are saying , I live alone so have to do everything myself. Its not easy and I guess we often do more harm than good. Take care
I wanted to update everyone on what my ankle looks like since I injured it Sunday. No doctors just RICE when I am able to. Unfortunately I still have to work and push on. The lines are from compression wrapping. Let me know if that was too tight? It felt good on the ankle stability but I could be wrapping it better lol
You may simply have pulled /injured the muscle. You could try putting a firm bandage round the foot and ankle to support it. Staying off it is wisest. Only a medical person can tell if it is worse injury and needs treatment as they would exam the foot. You could wait twenty four hours and see if it is better. I sprained my ankle once, went over it and twisted is and it was very painful for about ten days. Ice pack will help to reduce any swelling. Had to hobble along! A firm bandage round it helped and mild painkiller at night. If it gets worse you may need to see someone.
Its been at a steady rate of pain. Not really declining. However I do everything around the house and rely only upon myself unfortunately. I do take advil dual action when appropriate. Can't quite do any rehabilitation exercises without discomfort. I appreciate the advice!
Update almost a week later..6 days
Imagine1 etheral strongmouse katieoxo60 Bevvy
Final update as I have went to see a clinic. They said I fractured my foot and tore several ligaments. The bill was $480.73 if anyone was curious. Have a terrific day everyone!
Live in the UK so we have the NHS for emergencies / acute care etc. which is free.
Glad that you know what is wrong and hope that it heals well.
What's this rash on my foot? 
slow recovery from broken ankle 
Recently diagnosed with CRPS
Anyone know anything about peripheral neuropathy?
COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
