As a skater, should I have this injury checked?

[treesprite]

If I wasn't a skater, I would probably just "wait and see" because the pain is not even enough for ibuprofen. However, as someone who skates, I don't know if I should have it looked at by a doctor or not. I called the Teledoc service my job insurance provides, to talk to a doctor on the phone, but being a general doctor, he was no help at all.

An aquarium powerhead (circulation water pump) fell on the top of my foot Saturday morning. The pain is not severe, but I have known of people to have broken feet and not even know it, and I have osteoporosis so my bones break easier than normal. I can walk, but am putting more pressure on the outside of my foot, so now my ankle hurts too. There is a crackling noise when I stretch down my foot and toes/arch my foot, which I do not have on the other foot. Initially, right after impact, there was a very large bubble with bleeding under the skin (kind of a shocking sight). The bubble flattened out by spreading out to a big and puffy hematoma/bruise area that covers about 2/3rds of the top of my foot, including the side above the arch. While there isn't a lot of pain (except for putting direct pressure on the impact point with my fingers), the crackling noise is very disconcerting.

Am I over-reacting to this injury? I don't want to be like my friend who was told that her foot had probably been broken for 2 months and was too messed up from lack of treatment to ever heal correctly. She already had arthritis in her feet, and the pain was no more than what she was used to from that. Her arthritis doctor was doing a routine exam when the damage was discovered, and she (my friend) was shocked about it.

 

[misskarne]

Just the fact that you have osteoporosis would have had me headed straight to the ER as soon as it happened. The crackling noise and swelling makes it certain.

Get it checked out.

 

[overedge]

Whether you're a skater or not is irrelevant. Do what @misskarne says and get it checked out.

 

[Yazmeen]

I'm a doctor, although out of practice since 2004. That said, I agree with @overedge and @misskarne; get it checked out NOW. I'm concerned about the hematoma itself and also that you may have a fracture underneath it. Please see a doctor ASAP.

 

[treesprite]

The orthopedist can't see me until Thursday, so I have an appointment for then (I wish it wasn't for early in the morning, but tell next time wouldn't be until Monday).

The swelling is going down. I guess the blood underneath the skin is drying up because it is dark now. I'm kind of surprised about there being so much bleeding (all under the skin) from a single little point of impact. I was looking at pictures of foot bones, and it seems this is at or by where two bones come together at that high point on top of the foot (can't remember what they are called).

I feel like I'm probably over-reacting, but as long as I have insurance, there is no reason to not take the "better safe than sorry" approach, other than feeling stupid if there is nothing seriously wrong.

 

[misskarne]

The orthopedist can't see me until Thursday, so I have an appointment for then (I wish it wasn't for early in the morning, but tell next time wouldn't be until Monday).

Is there no way to see someone earlier than that? What about the ER, or one of those Urgent Care places?

 

[treesprite]

I initially was going to go to urgent care, but the pain is not severe, and the last three places I went to for injuries didn't even have x-ray equipment. All they will want to do is put me on the head and hand me a prescription for pain medication.

The orthopedist has the x-ray equipment in his office. I could have gotten an appointment for tomorrow if I drove all the way to his other place, but I was told there is no x-ray equipment there.

 

[treesprite]

My appointment is in a couple hours. Foot is feeling a lot worse. My ankle hurts from walking in a weird way, which doesn't help me any.

It did not occur to me until now, that perhaps the existing nerve damage in this foot could be masking pain from this injury. The nerves aren't completely dead, but damaged enough that I can't tell when my skate is too tight until the bottom of it feels pain and burning from the circulation being cut off.

 

[treesprite]

Yay, nothing broken! Just a bad booboo. I'm relieved.

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

Yay, nothing broken! Just a bad booboo. I'm relieved.

Good luck healing! I had an object fall on my foot - no breaks - in August and I'm still unable to wear stiff shoes and it swells after walking long or running. :/ Feet are really delicate!

 

[treesprite]

The Dr told me to walk normally, and if there is pain, to either "suck it up" or take ibuprophen, but to not walk the way I have been (because it is causing other problems). He had me make a follow-up appointment, but said to cancel it if I don't really need to come back.

 

[Deleted member 53443]

I initially was going to go to urgent care, but the pain is not severe, and the last three places I went to for injuries didn't even have x-ray equipment. All they will want to do is put me on the head and hand me a prescription for pain medication.

The orthopedist has the x-ray equipment in his office. I could have gotten an appointment for tomorrow if I drove all the way to his other place, but I was told there is no x-ray equipment there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey4WSb-BVDQ

 

[MadMac]

How ya holding up, @treesprite? Is your foot feeling any better? Fingers crossed you'll have to cancel that follow-up appointment!

 

[treesprite]

It is getting better. There is a tiny bit of swelling still. I told my rink guard co-worker last week that I would probably be able to guard by today, so hopefully I will be able to do it (she is getting tired of doing the entire sessions).

 

[treesprite]

Well, that was a big mistake. I was okay putting on the skates, but ended up having to take off the skate after only 15 minutes.

 

[Spun Silver]

Go for a second opinion!

 

[MadMac]

Well, that was a big mistake. I was okay putting on the skates, but ended up having to take off the skate after only 15 minutes.

Aw, man. I am so sorry it still hurts AND that it's keeping you off the ice. I hope it doesn't linger for too much longer.

 

[AxelAnnie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey4WSb-BVDQ

That is hilarious!

 

[Deleted member 53443]

Well, that was a big mistake. I was okay putting on the skates, but ended up having to take off the skate after only 15 minutes.

I am nursing some strained/pulled muscle in my abdominal area right now, and if it was not for skating, I would not think of it at all. This is how doctors see us, like "so what if you can't skate, you can walk, right?".

After some week of trying to "heal and skate" at the same time, I just gave up and this is my fourth day resting and the recovery is slow BUT apparent. I have no idea what the time frame will be, but I decided I will just wait until there is no more hurt. Could be days, could be weeks.

If you really want a doctor, go to a sports specialist, the normal doctor does not care about your skating imo. But I doubt anything else than rest will do at first, and then probably a physical therapist would be good although your kind of injury seems to be more of the bruising kind from impact, which not even he can do much for.

I wake up every day and curse the fact that I would love to go skating but I can't. I try to do other things that I would not do if I would do skating, some of them boring like taxes and cleaning lol, but also going to the gym and work on my upper body, both shoulders and back.

Wish you the best and a fast recovery, I really think rest and letting the body heal that thing is the only thing you can do (I assume x-rays were taken to make sure nothing was broken).

 

[Aceon6]

We're so spoiled in the Boston area. Go to almost any practice and explain that you can't skate and they will take you seriously. @treesprite If you still have swelling, you might want to ask if it's hematoma and if it can be drained.

 

[treesprite]

@ Per, I hope your health situation improves quickly so you can get back on the ice. It sounds like you are being smart about not trying to push yourself too soon. I work as a rink guard, so unfortunately, I have pressure on me to skate when I am not really up to it (I can negotiate with co-workers, but then I feel guilty, so I guess the pressure is coming more from me myself, notso much from them).

I usually hesitate with injuries, because I am afraid doctors will think I'm a big baby and discount how serious the situation is. I also rush myself into activities too soon, then take longer to heal.

How serious an injury is, should be evaluated with consideration to the individual's activities, lifestyle, and perception. Physical therapists are excellent at doing this, but some doctors, like especially urgent care doctors, really seem to have no interest in anything but money. Of course, it has now occurred to me that if doctors didn't have patients who "over-react" , they wouldn't make near as much money, and therefore probably do not mind at all that people come to them for what seem like minor problems. My concern after that point, is first with doctors possibly not giving equal time to such patients, because regardless of the severity of the injury, the office visit being paid for is supposed to be at least the same standard minimum amount of time for everyone. The second, with doctors speaking to patients in a way that makes them feel discounted or stupid.

Fortunately, this doctor is (at least in my opinion) very good. I have been seeing him for about 17 years. The practice has its own very busy PT department, and they get a lot of athletes. My first encounter with him was in the ER where I was taken directly from the ice rink with 2 spiral fractures, and he is the one who did my surgeries. My other broken bone was also the result of skating, and another injury was the result of skating. So he and the PT department are pretty good at understanding that my needs are somewhat based on my skating activity. There actually is now a doctor in that practice who has been a USFS medical advisor, but I have never met her (she has only been there a year); if my doctor ever is not there, I will ask for her.

 

[Deleted member 53443]

@ Per, I hope your health situation improves quickly so you can get back on the ice. It sounds like you are being smart about not trying to push yourself too soon. I work as a rink guard, so unfortunately, I have pressure on me to skate when I am not really up to it (I can negotiate with co-workers, but then I feel guilty, so I guess the pressure is coming more from me myself, notso much from them).

I usually hesitate with injuries, because I am afraid doctors will think I'm a big baby and discount how serious the situation is. I also rush myself into activities too soon, then take longer to heal.

How serious an injury is, should be evaluated with consideration to the individual's activities, lifestyle, and perception. Physical therapists are excellent at doing this, but some doctors, like especially urgent care doctors, really seem to have no interest in anything but money. Of course, it has now occurred to me that if doctors didn't have patients who "over-react" , they wouldn't make near as much money, and therefore probably do not mind at all that people come to them for what seem like minor problems. My concern after that point, is first with doctors possibly not giving equal time to such patients, because regardless of the severity of the injury, the office visit being paid for is supposed to be at least the same standard minimum amount of time for everyone. The second, with doctors speaking to patients in a way that makes them feel discounted or stupid.

Fortunately, this doctor is (at least in my opinion) very good. I have been seeing him for about 17 years. The practice has its own very busy PT department, and they get a lot of athletes. My first encounter with him was in the ER where I was taken directly from the ice rink with 2 spiral fractures, and he is the one who did my surgeries. My other broken bone was also the result of skating, and another injury was the result of skating. So he and the PT department are pretty good at understanding that my needs are somewhat based on my skating activity. There actually is now a doctor in that practice who has been a USFS medical advisor, but I have never met her (she has only been there a year); if my doctor ever is not there, I will ask for her.

That is a great post, with lots of insight and oh man, did you have your share of injuries! It's wonderful to hear that you seem to be in very good hands, keep insisting that this is about skating for you, not just walking or running

As for me, thanks for your words, I have this test I do at home: I make the stairs to the second floor taking two stairs at a time, and when there is no pain doing that I will get back on ice. Since I started resting there is less and less pain, although of course not at the recovery speed I would wish but I think we are the same, trying to rush things.

All good luck and keep us posted how things go!