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broken foot with lots of bruising

(3 discussions)

I am a working cowboy and recently had a horse fall on my foot.
The doctor says that I broke my 5th metatarsel.
The problem is that the break doesn’t hurt.
My toes and other metatarsels are black and killing me.
I have been told to hang tight until the swelling goes down and then I will be reexamined.
Until then I have quistions.
why are the bases of my toes blue and sore?
Does it have to do with the fracture or are they sprained?
Can I do anything to help diminish the swelling?
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks,Spence


3 comments

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    9 10

    Thanks for your reply. One more question. Both on the xray and in person my foot looks misshapen. All four of my small toes are now pointing slightly towards my pinky toe where before the tended towards my big toe. Is it just the swelling? Could the rest of the bones in the foot be actually flexed or stressed to this degree without breaking. (Only the 5th metatarsel is broken). As I said, I am a working cowboy and I am worried that my feet are not going to have the symmetry to fit boots after this ordeal. Thanks,spence

    Vivian Abrams DPM

    9 10

    Without examining your foot I can only answer generally speaking. It is reasonable to assume that the injury included soft tissue as well. There are large numbers of blood vessels in the foot and they probably were crushed as well as the 5th metatarsal. Bone is also very vascular and blood comes out of it too. Blood also spreads through the tissue, gravity accelerates this too. This is why after an initial injury, R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation higher than the heart) are standard. The fact that you do not hurt is not necessarily a measure of the degree of injury.

      Vivian Abrams DPM

      9 10

      This is extremely difficult to answer as I have not seen your foot or the x-rays. It is possible that the swelling will go down in time. Really, I think the best answers need to come from who treated you.

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