intense foot pain

[landsurfer]

I'm currently suffering from intense foot pain. My doc says its not gout or plantar but has no answer apart from anti inflammatory drugs, which aren't working. I can still cycle but can't walk !!! Any ideas ???

[Audax67]

Has he sent you for an X-ray? Seems indicated.

[Flinders]

If all the GP can tell you is what they think it isn't, it's time he sent you to someone else who might be able to tell you what it is. If it doesn't resolve of its own accord PDQ, or at the very least begin to, it's time to get back there and ask for a referral to a specialist. Until you know what it is, you don't even know whether you should be exercising it, or whether that's doing further harm and you should be resting it.

There's a reason racehorses aren't allowed 'bute' (their equivalent anti-inflammatrory) when in training- the theory is, if they aren't able to train/run without, they ought not to be running at all until their problem is fixed, as masking the pain can mean the horse damages itself further.....

[mercalia]

well time for specialist attention at hospital. not able to walk is serious. I am surprised the gp hasnt sent u to the hospital as these days they watch the clock and only give u a few minutes? make it highest priority.

[Ambler]

Well expect it to take time.
A few years ago I had pain and could hardly walk.
It took me 6 months to get a correct diagnosis.
I won't bore you with the whole story but just to say feet are complicated and after waiting 6 weeks to see an orthopaedic consultant his secretary phoned the day before the appointment to say he did not do feet and I needed to see a foot doctor.
The x ray said I was ok, the ultrasound scan said sore tendon, the MRI scan said severed tendon. All were wrong.
It turned out to be a tarsal coalition, rare in general and even rarer in a person of my age so they all missed it.
The foot doctor spotted it straight away.

[Mick F]

Mrs Mick F has "bad feet" and was in terrible pain, had time off work, and went to the doc who then sent her to a podiatrist.

Nowt actually wrong, just not right, and the pod man gave her exercises to do every day. She does them in the mornings before work. The exercise consists of standing on a step with heels over the edge for a few minutes. It seems to work fine and she's MUCH better and almost forgets. If she misses the exercise for a few days, she really notices it as they start to twinge again.

My advice is to go back to the doc and ask for a referral asap.

[landsurfer]

Thanks all. As mick points out it needs a visit to the doc again, possibly not "Doctor Google" that I saw last time ! Just thought i would canvass some other ideas.

[Psamathe]

I have found some GPs dislike making referrals for conditions they cannot diagnose or treat. Exceptions being cancer and life threatening stuff. Things that impact/restrict your life, cause pain, etc. is when they start being not so keen on referring to specialist/consultant. It varies. The practice I'm registered with most Drs will try and avoid referrals, one is much better.

Personal experience illustrating: Ages ago I injured my feet (long distance) walking, using "bad walking boots". A month later, being unable to walk very far, still painful, often pain waking me up in the night I went to Dr and was told "take ibuprofen" (although I'd already been on ibuprofen for the last 12 months). 18 months later, still no better so I visited Dr again, who had no idea of cause and wanted to do nothing. But it was really impacting my life so I had to really insist that "doing nothing" was not acceptable to me. So they agreed to an X-ray - which showed arthritis. And Dr decided best and only thing to do was "do nothing" (didn't even suggest Glucosamine/Chondroitin). So again I had to say "not acceptable" so they then referred me to a Podiatrist who was a great help, made special insoles and now, although I can't do the country long distance walking, everyday life, moving around, etc. is pain free.

So, it may be that you GP thinks "wont be fatal" so tries to avoid doing anything. Depends on your GP. Fortunately, as I was unhappy with them I kept changing GP within the practice and now am with the one who believes activity is good and problems that restrict your lifestyle need to be sorted (by specialist referral if necessary).

Ian

[cotswolds]

My in-house podiatrist sitting on the sofa next to me suggests a sprained ankle, because this is the most common cause of intense foot pain. If you want a second opinion (albeit a little less expert), I say it's Morton's neuroma because I know that can cause intense foot pain so is a precise match for your reported sympton. But on the other hand, I had sciatica a couple of years back due to a back problem, I had foot pain, could hardly walk, but could cycle, so maybe it's that.

Seriously, there's a lot of different things that can wrong in the foot and they can cause a lot of different types of pain. Some of them can be diagnosed by your GP, some by a podiatrist, some need scans and an orthopaedic specialist. You could see a private podiatrist quickly for maybe £35 or so, otherwise your GP is your route to other specialists.

[mercalia]

well re GPs. I had a thumb that blew up and started to puss when I pierced it. I thought it was due to having eaten some chesnuts and having peeled the shell off and a bit got under the nail. Well the lady gp saw it and sent me immediatley to the out patients with a note. I could see looking at the the out patients doc faces that the lady gp had in her mind to cut the thumb off! well I went in each day for a few days and they pumped anti biotic into my arm & that was that. dont trust what a GP says ( or thinks ) we now live in a consumer NHS the standard gp is a quack?

[Flinders]

Don't let the GP bully you into 'giving it a bit longer', BTW. Some don't like to refer for all sorts of reasons that are not medical, nor in your interests (not all of which are their fault- bullying local consultants, all sorts of stuff). But don't be put off. Be polite, of course, and respectful, but be firm. And never underplay any pain or disability. This is not a time for British stiff upper lips, it's a time for the plain truth. If you can't walk, say so. If it's affecting your work, say that too.

[mcslaski]

well re GPs. I had a thumb that blew up and started to puss when I pierced it. I thought it was due to having eaten some chesnuts and having peeled the shell off and a bit got under the nail. Well the lady gp saw it and sent me immediatley to the out patients with a note. I could see looking at the the out patients doc faces that the lady gp had in her mind to cut the thumb off! well I went in each day for a few days and they pumped anti biotic into my arm & that was that. dont trust what a GP says ( or thinks ) we now live in a consumer NHS the standard gp is a quack?

So your GP made an appropriate referral resulting in effective treatment and resolution of your condition?

[mercalia]

yes but she wanted to amputate my thumb lol

[531colin]

see this thread, too....http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91156

[FrankMad]

I had this after (stupidly) balancing on my heel while putting on socks.

In my case it was diagnosed as 'plantar fascitis' (the ligament from heel to other parts of the foot becomes stretched and torn).

The only cure is time and TLC of your foot. There are some exercises that seem to help.