Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: ElkWarning on September 03, 2022, 04:46:53 PM
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Not doing too well at the moment.
About 2.5 weeks ago I was on a packed train, crunched into a seat, with a rucksack between my legs, when my right foot developed a bit of an ache which has progressively got worse.
This right foot has been giving me gip for years. A long time ago (30+ years) I dropped a heavy weight on said foot. For the last 20 or so years it's been plagued with athlete's foot and very dry skin. Lovely.
So I go to the doctor's 10 days ago, because it's been a week (at that time) since my foot starting hurting. They write me two prescriptions (strong antifungal and equally strong ointment) and send me for an x-ray. The skin on my foot is getting better (it always does), but the pain and swelling is getting worse. It's right at the point where the heavy weight landed all those years ago.
I get a phone call from the doctor saying the x-ray reveals osteoarthritis (not previously diagnosed with this) and they'll refer me to a foot specialist. OK. But it's literally getting so bad I don't really want to walk around on it, feels weird, like there's a pebble in the middle of a load of bubble wrap right inside my foot, sort of squishy with a very distinct locus of intense discomfort.
I mean is osteoarthritis sudden onset without any apparent immediate cause? I'm a bit freaked out (fully paid up member of the health anxiety club) because I don't understand how with all the treatments (fungicide cream, emollient ointment, arnica, ibuprofen gel, good quality joint supplements) this damn problem is just getting worse and worse. The ache, that developed into the pain, came out of nowhere. I got on a train able to run and off a train hobbled.
So yeah, if anyone has any calming words of wisdom.
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I'm not sure if osteoarthritis is sudden onset but I do know when I broke a leg a while ago, the resultant ongoing pain was deemed to be osteoarthritis.
Certainly in my case there was a mechanical element (mind you I wasn't aware that the leg was broken. My GP thought it was an insect bite) But perhaps if there's a physical insult to the bone inflammation triggers the osteoarthritis.
Don't know - Just speculating.
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It's possible you have OA, and have had it for some time, plus an injury to your foot that needs to be checked. How long until you see the foot specialist, and can you maybe see a chiropodist / physiotherapist / podiatrist in the meantime?
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Thank you ladies. Sorry to hear about your leg, Limpy. And yes, totally, I can see how a physical insult would trigger the osteoarthritis, it just seems weird to trigger it suddenly one day 32 years later. I dunno. I guess I would've expected a bit of lead in time???
@ GO, thanks for your reply. I have no idea when I'll get an appointment and I'm not sure I can afford a chiropodist / physio / podiatrist ... Mainly because I don't really know what they do and what the difference between them is, so it all seems a bit confuddled in my head.
Hi Castlegirl and welcome to the forum. I was thinking of a foot support, but these seem to concentrate on the ankle, and it's entirely a spot buried in the top of my foot. However ...
^^ In my hunt for a suitable foot strap I ended up reading about extensor tendinopathy and this totally matches my symptoms, including the onset, the progression, etc. In other words, I probably do have OA, but the current issue is likely to be the ET. I managed to find some exercises on the NHS website to help with recovery, which is all I'll be able to do for now, as it's so bad I can't currently walk / not even to the swimming pool.
Thanks so much, sometimes just having other people to talk to helps develop perspective.
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Elkwarning - did your doctor mention Morton’s Neuroma?
Google it and see if that fits your description of the pebble, etc.
I would recommend a podiatrist - they can be better than a GP for feet.
I had an injury to my foot 32 years old (spooky!!!) and I have started suffering in the past couple of years.
My foot/feet get worse and better depending on what shoes I have worn, the weather, all sorts xx
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Hi Agatha
He didn't mention Morton's Neuroma, but I just looked it up ... The pain is right at the top of my foot, where the tendons all bundle up under the sheath, not at the bottom. What's weird is that I pointed to the exact spot at the doctors and it just seemed to whizz past them. Trying to find the foot support showed typical sports injuries in pictures, which is how I managed to put 2 and 2 together.
I think I will see a podiatrist as that's what's been mentioned as the most suitable person.
Interesting what you say about different shoes, I was wearing Converse pumps a lot in the steamy weather and they're very flimsy with a thin sole. I was also walking a lot. I usually wear Doctor Martens. Presumably, my feet were less protected and more able to stretch and flex. Perhaps that wasn't good for the old injury. Suitable excuse to buy some more DMs :)
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I'd say the podiatrist would be best, but the others would probably be able to help if a podiatrist wasn't available.
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ElkWarning
Definitely go to the podiatrist. I have just spent 4 years being messed about trying to get a diagnosis on a foot issue (partly interrupted by covid). If I’d have known then what I know now I’d have gone directly to the podiatrist x
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Elkwarning,your post could've been written by me,I've just had a foot X-ray and was told I have severe osteoarthritis in my toe,omg it's so sore to walk on some days,I've to get another X-ray next week(different angles) and they also want me to have a dexa scan for osteoporosis. Dr put me on vit D and calcium tablets.
Oh,have you tried Fitflops? They are a shoe company which specialise in rigid foot wear,they really support my foot,as it's when my toe bends that gives me the pain
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Thank you, ladies. So disappointing to see that lots of folks have had issues with a proper diagnosis and treatment. Perin, I'll definitely go to a podiatrist. It's been pretty excruciating this weekend, have had to dig out a walking stick ...
I'm a teacher and the kids start tomorrow, I have to be there, especially as it'll be the first day of my new job. Not exactly ideal timing.
Hugs Jaypo. Why the hell do we have to get into this state before people actually listen to us. We should have dexa scans as a matter of course, like mammograms and cervical smears. Argh! I haven't heard of fitflops, but I have found a specialist shop in my area that sells shoes for foot problems (they also have a podiatrist on site), so this is probably going to cost me an arm and a leg. Hope your toe stops giving you gip soon.
^^ What I didn't mention above is that I've been going backwards and forwards to the doctors for years about my foot. I went when I first did it and they refused an x-ray, and then I kept going because I could never shake the athlete's foot and dry skin - lots of the proper creams and dense ointment every single night since forever). My other foot is tip-top. I was convinced it was the old injury messing everything up, but they treated me like a hysterical woman. After so long with no proper treatment I think it's just stopped working.
Thank you for all your kind words. I got myself into a bit of a state feeling as if something was wrong and no one was listening.
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Hi ElkWarning
You’re not alone, foot issues are very common at this time of life. My podiatrist told me that the bones in the foot can move after a certain age (probably down to lack of oestrogen, oh joy), and therefore he sees a lot of women over and around menopausal age x
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Hi ElkWarning
You’re not alone, foot issues are very common at this time of life. My podiatrist told me that the bones in the foot can move after a certain age (probably down to lack of oestrogen, oh joy), and therefore he sees a lot of women over and around menopausal age x
That's really interesting.