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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

sprained ankle with torn Achilles tendon

by Christine Lohmann
(Ocala, Fl)

My husband sprained his ankle on Nov. 9, 2008, his family doctor told him to do the RICE treatment and to come back in 2 weeks.He could not step on it al all. At the next visit he was no better and was referred to a DPM surgeon who put him in a soft cast for 2 weeks - which was put on too tightly and had to be partially removed. by next visit no improvement - still swollen, bruised, painful, etc.. whoops - doctor missed the fact that he had torn his Achilles tendon up above his ankle - next stop surgery to repair torn tendon - now in hard cast for 2 1/2 weeks. Hard cast off, surgery looks good, ankle, foot and toes still swollen. Hard cast again for 2 1/2 more weeks, hard cast off, ankle, foot and toes less swollen, most of bruising gone. Transition cast put on but once again foot and toes swelled up like a purple ballon - took cast off after 12 hours and swelling goes down - he has done no weight bearing at all and as long as he keeps his leg elevated his foot looks better, less swelling, purple subsides but as soon as he puts his foot down it starts to swell and turns purple again, also gets very cold. He is on Metanx now for help with what seems to be a nerve injury (doctor is not sure what is going on). Do you have an opinion as to the cause for the swollen, purple and cold foot? It is still throbs and he has some shooting pains in his ankle also. Thank you for any help you can give us with this.

Hi Christine,
I do not know how old your husband is or his medical history but what concerns me is a cold foot in what I assume is an otherwise healthy male.
Read my section on CRPS and if the article in any way sounds like what your husband is experiencing get him to a neurologist immediately.
As far as the discoloration goes that seems to be more a venous return problem possibly from a cast that was on too tight. He has problems here and they need to be addressed with more than Metanx,
Marc Mitnick DPM

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May 17, 2009
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Foot still swollen 2 weeks after cast removed
by: Anonymous

I broke three toes two months ago and have been cast free and walking for two weeks now. My ankle remains swollen and becomes worse after long days of standing and walking. Is this normal and if so, what should i be doing to heal? My big toe, second toe, and pinky were fractured. They are still stiff.
thank you for any comments. i am in Taiwan and the doctor's can't speak English so any help would be GREAT!

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Unknown location

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location unknown

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location unknown

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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!

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Whichita, KS

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Colorado

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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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Wisconsin

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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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Robert

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

sprained ankle with torn Achilles tendon

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