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Edema,pain,and Discoloration

by Jill
(Milford,Ct USA)

Hello Dr M,If you remember me,I had written to you several months ago after a bench had fallen on my left foot and crushed the left 3rd toe and fractured the 2nd toe on 8/26/2010. Since then I had 3 surgeries to try to save the 3rd toe. April 2011 was the last surgery to amputate it. After that surgery I was left with swelling on the top upper and side of my left foot and a stump neuroma. I had a series of 7 alcohol shots an MRI which showed nothing,then 5 cortisone shots. Finally my Dr surgically removed a big Stump Neuroma and freed a ligament from scar tissue. 10 days later I felt flu like symptoms and under my cast a burning feeling. Dr said it was Staph infection,and 2 the next day I had a debridment done.Two days after that I wake up in agony with Cellulitis. I am hospitalized and have another debridment and a piece of bone removed. Tiny piece.5 days later another debridment,the wound vacuum would not fit because of the shape of the wound. All of my 7 surgeries were done through the same cut. Was stitched up.3 1/2 months later I am still suffering. I now have Edema all the time. Discoloration and pain still top,side and now bottom where neuroma was. i have been wearing a compression stocking and elevating and icing foot. Can't wear New Balance

with the orthodic because foot is too swollen,even went up a size in shoe. Podiatrist says 2nd toe is now a Hammer toe and can cause a stress fracture,Xrays showed none. Please help me,tell me what to do. Podiatrist says He cannot do anything else for me. I am at the end of my rope Almost 2 years dealing with this issue. I want to know what should be my next step.

RESPONSE

Hi Jill,

Have you ever had a vascular examination of your affected foot? If I recall correctly, you are relatively young and it seems to me that your problems (and complications) are way out of proportion to your age. That would then lead me to wonder if there is a circulation issue. Additionally, although it is a remote possibility, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) should also be ruled out. (You can read my article on CRPS)
I cannot be of much more help as I am on the other end of the internet and have never actually seen your foot.
If you have been using the same doctor throughout this whole ordeal, perhaps it is time for a second opinion; sometimes a different professional will take a different slant on the big picture going on here.
I wish I could be of more help, but am limited simply by the fact that I have never actually examined your foot.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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(location unknown)

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Scotland

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(location unknown)

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Tennessee

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Redondo Beach, CA

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LH

(location unknown)

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(location unknown)

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(location unknown)

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Madison, Alabama

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Denison, TX

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Dear Dr.Mitnick

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South Africa

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Mansfield Ctr, CT

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Placentia, California

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Unknown location

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Unknown location

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New Zealand

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Sincerely

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Arizona

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Poland

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South Carolina

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unknown location

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Arlington, VA

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San Clemente, CA

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location unknown

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location unknown

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Bre

location unknown

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anonymous

Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

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Poland

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Seattle, WA

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New Jersey

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location unknown

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Evansville, IA

Dear Marc

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

Rivi,

Albany, NY

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Jill S.

location unknown

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Whichita, KS

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mark

Boston, MA

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....Keep up what your doing. Your a life saver.

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Colorado

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annielou

Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

by: Max

location unknown

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Canada

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Wisconsin

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location unknown

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

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Florida

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Lynne T.

location unknown

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New Jersey

Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

location unknown

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Lenoir, NC

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Bellevue, WA

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Jodi

location unknown

Edema,pain,and Discoloration

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