horrible pain soreness in stump

[salamander160]

Hi, I know I have posted on here several times but I am struggling wit some kind of pain or soreness in my foot. I have tried everything pain wise to get rid of it, have spoken to my Gp this week and several times over the last couple of weeks, I have spoken to 111 loads of times over the last few months but am really struggling with this burning, stinging soreness in my stump. I was in hospital wit an infection about a month ago, my consultant said there was a tiny hole in the wound on the corner where my big toe was, it has been very sore, tender in that area for months, since I had my surgery in February. It has got much worse recently, On Monday I had the worse pain possible like somebody had put a red hot knife through my stump, nothing touched the pain, it has been like this all week. I had my foot redressed on Tuesday but had to remove the outer layer of bandage later that night because of the pain, i had to remove another layer yesterday. The district nurses came out last night, removed the rest of my bandages to check the wound as it had been leaking a bit, they put a basic dressing on it, but i got so fed-up with the pain I took myself up to a&e early this morning. they did blood tests, an xray of my foot, there is no infection, no osteomylitis, or nothing visible yet I have still got this horrible burning pain in the inside of my foot, it seems to be on the corner of my stump where my big toe was, it is spreading under my foot, it sends shooting pain up my leg, nothing helps it, gabapentin, codeine, ibuprofen, paracetamol, oramorph, I even tried amitriptalin tonight. When they decided to operate on my foot, they found gout in my foot, they treated it for a few days and it eased the symptoms, I saw the orphopaedic consultants today, they said no to gout but I am at a lost what this pain is, it is unbarable, dragging me down. I am waiting for a call back from 111 again, the hospital told me to go back to my Gp for a meds review, my Gp text me tonight to tell me to go back to A&e, I don't think she realised I had already been up there today. Does anyone else have any ideas what this could be? It is just really getting me down.

[cyberbarn]

I am sorry you are not getting the support you need. Can you just remind me, have they referred you to a properly pain clinic? They have specialist anaesthetists that can do nerve blocks and have a greater understanding of what might be causing this pain.

Also, as it involves feet, have you ever seen a podiatrist? Podiatric surgeons are an alternative to orthopaedic surgeons for amputation and their follow ups often deal with pain.

[salamander160 in reply to cyberbarn]

No, I spoke to pain clinic a month or so ago, there is a 12 or 14 month waiting list, pretty awful. luckily the pain seems to have backed off for now but I have no idea what it is. I keep asking for help but nobody seems to be able to give me an answer. they have done at least 67 or 8 xrays on the foot and at least 4 or 5 mri scans on the foot, nothing obvious is showing. I am getting fed-up with it. I cannot see podiatrist as the leg is in bandages. Oh well, watch this space! One day i'll find out what it is.

[cyberbarn in reply to salamander160]

Have they done blood tests recently? It would be interesting to see what your CRP and other inflammation markers are as there is growing evidence that people with chronic pain also have inflammation markers circulating in the blood.

And sorry to hear you have so long to wait for the pain clinic. It feels inhumane.

[salamander160 in reply to cyberbarn]

Yes they did blood tests on Friday at the hospital, my crp levels are normal apparantly. Who Knows?

[timbowPSP]

Sounds horrible! I have grinding PSP, but not ur terrible pain. Thinking a bit laterally, Acupuncture may provide some genuine relief, and back that with Homeopathy - not just off-the-shelf but advised by a practitioner or trained person. Best days sound like they are ahead? Best of luck - and good navIgation! TIMBOWPSP

[salamander160 in reply to timbowPSP]

Ok thanks, What I am dealing with seems trivual to what others are dealing with but all chronic pain can be nasty, there is always somebody worse off I think.

[Evonne02]

Hi Salamabder160, Sorry to hear about what you're going through. It sounds horrific and reminds me of a failed operation that I had on my dominant hand. It took what felt like forever to sort out as it bled and was more painful than the 2 childbirth experiences I had. It kept bleeding and swelling, and they'd just replace the dressings. I got zero antibiotics and was told that it I'd been informed that it was painful to heal. No report was given to the hospital or my gp by the district nurses. I got ill with a temperature, sweating then cold, teeth chattering, unable to keep awake, then I couldn't lift my hand or arm up & had no appetite. I just couldn't function. My son found me in the same place he left me 24 hours earlier and called an ambulance. I was told I had sepsis and the wound wasn't sewn up properly. They cut out the bad skin, cleaned up my hand and put me on a plethora of drips then antibiotics, plus numerous hospital, physiotherapy and gp appointments. Thinking back, I should've taken them to court. Felt like I was going mad as i wasnt believed.

What they need to do with you is give you controlled drugs plus the Gabapentin. You're like me, and Gabapentin doesn't work as a stand alone pain killer for you. You need Morphine (you can get the slow release tablet which is 20mg @ 1, twice a day. You'll then take the Gabapentin 4 times a day. So, what I do is take them both 1st thing and last thing. Then the Gabapentin twice over 8 hours during the day). I would also ask to see a physiotherapist to check all foot mechanics are working correctly. Personally, I'd tell my gp that I couldn't use my foot as I would normally. The gp would then review your medication and prescribe something else, refer you, or both. Please note that for the most part, Gps do not do as requested by The Walk in Clinics. They pretend they've not got the message, there's nothing noted on your file, or ignore it totally.

Don't think you've not got choices, because you have. I'd also call the emergency Gp out too, to ensure they're not to mess me about. If your still not getting anywhere in a week, just keep calling for an ambulance. They will get sick of attending and contact your gp with instructions, as it will be a safeguarding issue by then.

Please let us know how you get on. I wish you a speedy and painless recovery. All the best 😍

[salamander160 in reply to Evonne02]

Hi, I am sorry you had such a horrific experience, it isn't funny when you have to go through such an awful ordal, that is what it is, hospitals make things worse, often you go in with one problem and come out worse. I am having my treatment investigated as there was a clear case of mal practice somewhere along the line, it has all been going on for 4 years almost, not the investigation but the problems with my foot, yes it is getting too much now and it does drag you down, it is very tiring when you have to repeatedly ask your Gp for medication or try and get things adjusted. I am on 600 mg gabapentin 3 times a day, 4 a.m. 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. I also take codeine or oramorph when I need it, I find that amitriptalin helps too although the Gp hasn't prescribed it, the hospital has given me it, the tablets I have were given to me last year for tooth ache. I am not being told much, am seeing so many different doctors when I go to hospital, but no one person is telling me everything, my actual surgeon and consultant are both very good and helpful, having multiple disabilities and health problems, some of the doctors are more helpful than others. Ok nice to hear from you and i will keep the group up to date. Thanks for everything.

[Evonne02 in reply to salamander160]

Fingers crossed you get some answers and your health improves soon. All the best 👍

[salamander160 in reply to Evonne02]

Thanks, I hope so too!