Question
Hello Nurse Red.
I am getting serious pains in my right ankle, My doctors just keep saying to rest it. This I have done & still I get the pains.
My doctor has given it the best examination he can & says it is a strain injury. This has been going on for weeks & still no real improvement & now my bosses are getting really fed up with it & are threatening to lay me off.
My doctor says that it is not broken/fractured, but refuses to refer me to a hospital for a full examintaion & X-Ray.
Is it possible to get RSI in the ankle joint? & if so what can I do to relieve the pain & possibly cure it.
Thanks in anticipation.
Trevor
Answer
First of all, was there any trauma or injury to that ankle? Even something slight that you may have brushed off at the time? If so, please describe the injury and how it happened. Have you ever injured this ankle before?
Next, describe the pain. Is it sharp, dull, constant, intermittent (comes and goes)? Is it worse with certain activities or at certain times of the day? If so, tell me what and when.
Does it swell up or have a different color than your other ankle?
Are you wearing any type of support like an ace wrap or ankle brace?
Are you taking anything for the pain? Advil or Ibuprofen would be where I would start if you don't have any medication allergies or stomach problems. And if your Dr. already has you on medicine, check with him before taking anything else.
Do you have any other aches or pains?
What is your age, height and weight.
Do you prop it up at night and whenever possible?
Is it getting worse or just not improving?
Why would your Dr. resist letting you get xrays or examined by another Dr? That seems weird to me.
If I am not able to help you when you give me further info, I will strongly suggest a second opinion.
Let me hear back from you and let's see if we can't get you on the road to recovery.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Thanks Nurse Red the answers are below.
First of all, was there any trauma or injury to that ankle?
None that I can remember
Next, describe the pain.
The pain is intermittant, it is at it`s worst when I`m driving. Almost unbearable, real trouble walking etc.
Does it swell up or have a different color than your other ankle?
Yes it does swell a little, does not colour up though.
Are you wearing any type of support like an ace wrap or ankle brace?
Yes I wear a tubbiegrip. An elastic tube/bandage type thing.
Are you taking anything for the pain?
Doctor prescribed Ibuprofen 400mg 3x a day
Do you have any other aches or pains?
A back injury on the right hand side ( the same as ankle ) which always niggles but is never uncomortable.
What is your age, height and weight.
Age 40, Height 5feet 8 inches, Weight 15 stones (lbs ?)
Do you prop it up at night and whenever possible?
Yes, I rest it whenever possible. Even sat at PC both legs are rested & propped.
Is it getting worse or just not improving?
Since the initial pain, about four weeks ago, no improvement but not worsening.
Why would your Dr. resist letting you get xrays or examined by another Dr? That seems weird to me.
Me too
Oh & I have lost my job.
Trevor
[This message was edited by Sundowner on July 10, 2001 at 19:15.]
Answer
Ya don't seem particularly overweight for size . If I remember correctly a stone is approx. 7 lbs. (Gawd I hate this metric stuff!)
But you do mention a previous back injury..... beleive it or not, even the slightest back pain can make you alter the way you carry your whole body.
But lets move on....
The advil dosage is correct, your Drs. recommendations seem correct. You can not remember a specific injury. HMMMMMMM....
I'm baffled, but...
How happywere you in that job anyway?
I know this sounds kind of far fetched but, very often, people do seem to have poorer health and more physical compalints when they are not happy.
Now, mind you, I am NOT saying there is nothing wrong. You may have gout, arthritis, Lyme disease, a benin tumor... It could be any damn thing.
Here are my suggestions.
1. Get a second pinion. I do not understand how the medical system in the UK works. But even if you have to pay for it, do it. It will point to problems or rule them out.
2. You say it's your right leg that bothers you and mostly when driving. This is your gas pedal foot. Correct? (Or do y'all do that backwards too?) How often do you take a break from driving?
Oh yeah! BTW, where do you carry your wallet? Right hip? If so ....get it out of there.
Is your ankle stiff or just painful?
Think about this before you answer. There really is a difference.
I have to admit, I am somewhat baffled. But I would never deny you the right to have it further evaluated. I strongly suggest that you follow up with an orthopedic specialist.
Please keep me posted as you have truly piqued my curiosity.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Ya don't seem particularly overweight for size . If I remember correctly a stone is approx. 7 lbs
Just done quick calculation myself & should have done it earlier really, I am overweight at 200lbs ( sorry 1stone=14lbs)
& as to being happy, well in truth I guess I wasn`t very & although I no longer work for them it does still ache!!
All medical treatment is free at point, we pay extra tax called National insurance, that is supposed to go straight to medical,emergancy & welfare payments for anyone needed it, as I say free at time of need. So I can get a second opinion, but you may well lose the confidence of you regular Dr as a copy all records would be sent to his practice as he holds the master file on his patient. This could well mean that he may refuse to treat the same injury if it persists in the furture & living in a rural area this could well prove inconvienient.
You say it's your right leg that bothers you and mostly when driving. This is your gas pedal foot. Correct? (Or do y'all do that backwards too?) How often do you take a break from driving?
US!!! do things backward . Yes it is the gas pedal foot & i always take regular breaks, I tell others often enough so I have to set an example. I have just had a thought whilst writing this. For the last three years all the trucks I`ve driven have had cruise control except for the truck that I was driving for this company. So once on the open road I would have engaged cruise control & my foot would have rested, with this last job my foot would have been in constant use, could that have started it??
Oh yeah! BTW, where do you carry your wallet? Right hip? If so ....get it out of there
Wallet I don`t earn enough to own a walet , No I always carry cash loose & believe it or not I don`t & never had had credit/debit cards. Cash or nothing!!
Is your ankle stiff or just painful?
It is definately painful & I do have full movement even though there can be extreme pain.
Please keep me posted as you have truly piqued my curiosity
I get the feeling thats how my Dr feels too.
Thanks,
Trevor
Answer
Where exactly is the pain? Front, back, side, all over in general, foot pain too, pain above the ankle?
Let me know.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
knowing absolutely nothing about the medical terms, the best way I can explain it is:
It starts at the joint of the ankle & leg at the front. From there, & this is when it really starts to hurt, it climbs up the shin, sort of behind the shin bone, if that makes sense, & onto the top of the foot.
I hope this helps.
Trevor
Answer
How often do you jump from your truck to the ground? Or have you been before the pain started?
This almost sounds like a malady new joggers encounter called shin splints.
But I really think you need to push your Dr. to allow that second opinion. Especially is rest is not improving the pain.
Please keep me updated.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Since my last post I have rested the ankle as much as possible, the pain has subsided to nothing more than a niggle.
I drove my car today for the first time in nearly a week & no adverse reactions so I'm hoping it will just disappear of it's own free will . Will keep you informed as to how it reacts when I start regular driving again.
Thank you for your help & guidance. If it does come back with force I think I will go & see a different Doctor from the very start.
Trevor