Well, so I finally got my appointment with the foot specialist on the 23rd (specifically, a podiatrist) and learned a few things about my foot that I hadn’t known about.
1) The Fractured Cuboid
Firstly, the fracture runs somewhat horizontal from one end to the other from the region of articulation of my fifth and fourth metatarsals to the navicular bone.
Though I knew it was horizontal, I never knew where, exactly, the fracture was. Now that I know… well, I can only say that it makes sense given how I had taken the injury.
Secondly, being that the fracture hasn’t yet healed despite the two months of strict non-weight-bearing and some additional immobilization (cam walker boot when I HAD to leave the house, but I always used crutches)… the fracture is apparently considered non-union and needs some extra help to get the fracture to fuse and heal.
This, I was concerned about, when the six week MRI showed the fracture and the fact that it hadn’t healed. Wonderful. MORE non-weight-bearing.
2) The Contusion
Besides the soft tissue more surface-level contusion, there is a bone contusion of my second metatarsal head which I mentioned in the previous post. The fact that it STILL shows surface bruising – especially if I try to put weight or pressure in that region which stresses that bone, however, is apparently representative of the injury done to the bone and I can expect an extended healing time.
That was both depressing and relieving to hear; at least I know the pain I feel especially in that region is not just in my head.
3) The Numbness
Well, I guess after taking the snare-and-fall like I did, I shouldn’t be surprised, then, to learn that the numbness between and along my first and second metatarsals and along a V-shape from toes to midfoot is caused by definitive nerve damage.
Nerve conduction tests are on the horizon and despite the fact that I can hardly feel anything in certain areas, I am NOT looking forward to them.
Also, treating nerve damage is counter to treating a fractured foot. While the cuboid needs immobilization, the nerves need mobilization.
That said, the podiatrist told me that given so many things going on at once, we’re going to take things one step at a time which means treating the fracture first (bone stimulator, here we come!) and after that, we can hopefully better treat the nerve issue while the bone contusion itself will simply take extended time to heal.
Waiting around while healing, I don’t mind. Waiting around and with treatments not working, I do mind.
Bottom line is: It’s been two months already.
The fracture didn’t heal on its own like it should. Though we’ll be using a bone stimulator (do those things even work in the first place?), what if THAT doesn’t want to work, either? Surgery?
Also, what if the nerves can’t be fixed/healed properly?
What if, what if, what if.
I hate what-ifs.
And, to think that most everyone thought that this was just a bunch of bruising (including me) – PFFFT. Should have known, really, given the kind of accident I had.
Aith, out.
