Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

crush injury to left foot

Posted In: I cannot get a diagnosis. 18 Replies
  • Posted By: Darkwing_Duck
  • May 9, 2007
  • 02:34 AM

I got run over by a fork lift at work about a month ago, and the tire crushed my left foot. It did not fracture any bones, but severely damaged the soft tissues. I`ve already been to two different doctors, but they refuse to check to see if I have nerve damage. the top part of my ankle, to about the top middle of my foot is numb to the touch, but if I press hard enough, pain shoots down my foot, almost like carple tunnel syndrome. the doctor says I do not have compartment syndrome, but I`m not sure what to think.
Also, how long does it take for swelling to go down. Will I ever fit into normal shoes again? Will I ever be able to walk normally again? please help!!

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18 Replies:

  • Are you worker's comp? If so, can you request acupuncture to help your foot? Acupuncture would be very helpful in promoting healing and easing the swelling.DOM
    acuann 3080 Replies Flag this Response
  • You know? I`m not sure! I`ll have to call and ask tomarrow morning some time. If Work Comp does cover it, would there even be a doctor in a regular hospital that does that sort of procedure? I`m going back in the my orthopedic on the 17`th. maybe he`d know! if not, would you know where I could go?Thanks!DW
    Darkwing_Duck 6 Replies Flag this Response
  • I think it would depend where you live as far as coverage goes. I would recommend a certified acupuncturist who is NCCAOM certified to help you. Some states allow Western MD's to practice with minimal training, and I don't recommend going to one of these as they haven't had enough training in my opinion. To find a qualified practitioner near you please visit www.acufinder.com and type in your zip code. Best wishesDOM
    acuann 3080 Replies Flag this Response
  • wow! thanks! there is one near me! I`ll have to ask my employer to see if it`s covered.
    Darkwing_Duck 6 Replies Flag this Response
  • At the time of the inital injury, did they rule out a compartment syndrome in the foot? Also, did they do an MRI at the time of injury or since?
    thechronic 12 Replies Flag this Response
  • They did rule out compartment syndrome, but they did not do any mri`s. it`s been exactly 1 month and 3 days since the injury, and all the swelling except in the foot has went down. I still have stiffness and pain in the toes, and ankle, and I noticed, and mentioned to the doctor, that my ankle is cocked sidways. when my legs are perfectly straight, my left foot faces outward. much more than normal, and it hurts to try to walk normaly. The exrays were clean, but they refuse to do an mri. what should I do? I already switched doctors once, and my employer put up a stink. I really don`t want to have to switch again!
    Darkwing_Duck 6 Replies Flag this Response
  • I will preface and say that nervous tissue does take a long time to heal....a month is not very long to recover from a true crush injury. A true crush injury takes much more than a month to heal w/ or w/o "nerve damage". However, I do think you would benefit from an MRI since you are telling me your foot "points outward" and your "ankle is crooked". An injury of the LisFranc's joint can be associated with a crush injury and is often missed by a typical radiologist on xray....however, an orthopedic guy should pick up on it. Are you wearing a cast, boot, ACE bandage, etc? I would recommend something to keep the swelling down (which should help with the sensation of stiffness). Also, an antiinflammatory such as Aleve or Motrin around the clock to keep down the inflammation to the site. Also, since your ankle is bothering you too...did they take xrays of the ankle as well, or just the foot? What kind of doc are you seeing about this? If an orthopod, does he specialize in foot and ankle or just general orthopedics? Where are you located? I don't think you have to change doctor's....have you asked for a second opinion?
    thechronic 12 Replies Flag this Response
  • I`m seeing an orthopedic foot and joint specialist. located in Columbus Wisconsin. that`s about 1/2 hour East of Madison Wisconsin.Now, the work comp doctor never helped me. he gave me an Ace wrap, but never lanced a large blood blister that was caused by the swelling, He never gave me an air cast (boot). that`s why I went and got a second opinion. the doctor I`m seeing now, lanced the blister immediately, and gave me an air cast the first day I saw him. I did however mention the ankle problem to him, and possible nerve problems, but he said I wants all the swelling to go down before doing anything else. wise decision, but I`m still concerned about the crooked ankle. I`m going to see him Thursday. I`m gonna bring it up again, but he wants to start me on physical therepy right away. Is that gonna help? or make it worse right now?
    Darkwing_Duck 6 Replies Flag this Response
  • It sounds like you are on the right track w/ the ortho foot/ankle specialist. I think the physical therapy can help....but it should be nonweightbearing exercises if it is painful to walk. Definitely bring up the ankle again....what kind of meds are you taking for pain?
    thechronic 12 Replies Flag this Response
  • I`ve just been taking regular over the counter Aleve. it`s been working good. I did however come down with a cold from my little step neice, so I`ve been taking tylenol cold. It hurts the worst when I walk up and down stairs. I realy have no choice though. my bedroom`s upstairs, so I have to travel up and down. hurts worse going down because I need my toes more then, so I have to take it one step at a time. I`ve been trying to keep it elevated as much as possible as well. as for non weight bearing therepy, do you mean like moving the ankle, and toes? I`ve been trying, only a little each day, but trying. But the doctor will probably give me speciall instructions on exercizes that way, and show me how to do it. At least that`s how my step Dad had to do it when he his back surgery.
    Darkwing_Duck 6 Replies Flag this Response
  • I really feel acupuncture would be more helpful than PT at this stage, but your doctor might not be enlightened enough to recommend this.DOM
    acuann 3080 Replies Flag this Response

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  • A closed injury is usually more serious than a fracture. A crush injury disrupts all the internal structures including nerves, tendons, tissue and muscle. Nerves take about a year to regenerate, and while they are reforming cause a burning pain sometimes described as an 'electric shock'. While this can be painfull and annoying, these feelings are actually a good thing meaning that the nerves are working to repair themselves. A crush injury is tough to heal from...unlike a fracuture that can be puti n a cast for 6-8 weeks to heal, this takes much much longer. Sorry about your injury.
    Anonymous 42789 Replies Flag this Response
  • hey....i dropped a boat and trailer (roughly 3000 lbs) right on the top of my left foot almost 5 months ago...it was a "true" crush injury, leaving me with extreme pain and suffering...after around 3 months the swelling in my foot had subsided, yet the pain continued when attempting to walk....i highly recommend the "aircast XP walker" for continued pain after swelling has subsided...i have used this XP walker for about a week now and i find the pain has decreased because of all the support in the right spots...thus making it easier to walk...my doctor originally estimated i would be off work, and off of my feet for 6-9 months.....it has been 4+ months and i am just beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel...for the first time in my life, i actually cannot wait to get back to work...happy healing!
    Anonymous 42789 Replies
    • November 27, 2008
    • 01:57 PM
    • 0
    Flag this Response
  • You are lucky...my orthopedist told me about a woman with similar injury to yours; her foot had to be amputated.I am almost 5 months out from having my right foot run over by a taxi (minivan). I still have swelling, can't wear normal shoes and experience daily pain. I'm in PT now and have gained a lot of function. I had to fly last week. In spite of using compression stocking, taking ibuprofen and aspirin, icing and elevating, the foot blew up to almost the same level as it was post injury. My orthopedist has said this might be a chronic condition.Best of luck to you; this is a terrible condition and I don't wish it on anyone!
    Anonymous 42789 Replies Flag this Response
  • They did rule out compartment syndrome, but they did not do any mri`s. it`s been exactly 1 month and 3 days since the injury, and all the swelling except in the foot has went down. I still have stiffness and pain in the toes, and ankle, and I noticed, and mentioned to the doctor, that my ankle is cocked sidways. when my legs are perfectly straight, my left foot faces outward. much more than normal, and it hurts to try to walk normaly. The exrays were clean, but they refuse to do an mri. what should I do? I already switched doctors once, and my employer put up a stink. I really don`t want to have to switch again! i had a foot injury at work with a fork lift.they calculated it was approx 4 ton that ran over my right foot.number 3 and 4 metatarsils were fractured.the top of my foot swells regular,even today,and this happened 19 months ago.i still got discolouration of the skin and walk quite badly..after 13 months they sent me to see a specialist,who said,im ok to go back to work on light duties,my company refused.i knew there was something wrong,hey,who are we to tell these experts.ive never had a mri scan ,only normal xrays,then i got talking to this sister when i was at the hospital on a diferrent matter,and as she used to work in the foot injury department a number of years ago,said,did that specialist have xray vision.so,2 months on ,they sent for me to have xrays,not sure of the medical term for this one,but it came up on the report that my foot has not healed proply,the 2 toes are out of joint,also bone segments rubbing together ,which is causing me a lot of pain,so,today7/4/2011 19 months after it happened,im up the hospital at 12-30 with a proper specialist,where i will be examined,and he has also said i will have a mri scan {not today thou}and it looks like they will have to open up the foot to reset the joints{after having and looking at the latest xray results}thank god someone is doing something about it.normal xrays will not show most of the damage,only breaks and fractures.what im saying to you,if you have got severe pain,dont be fobed off like i was ,you got to push it,only you know how much pain your in,these so called specialists guess,not all of them must say im not another one of those dole bums,thats after a big payout, i earn £32,000 a year for a 40 hour 8-430 day job,thats not bad is it,but ive lost a lot of money through no fault of my own,and also,really struggle ,and still struggling on the little amount this state give you to starve on {lol}. then after todays appointment,comes the mri scan,then the operation,and the healing time,its going to be about 3 years before i can go back to work,surely,if the mri scan was carried out after ,lets say,6 to 7 months after the injury,and everything put back right,id be back to work now and paying tax and ni contributions,but lets not forget,PAIN FREE
    Anonymous 42789 Replies Flag this Response
  • HI, I am a physical therapist. 'Crush injuries' that involve soft tissue and not bone will lead to a significant amout of swelling. The swelling can put pressure on nerves causing these shooting symptoms. I am confident that as the swelling decreases these sympotms will improve. I do hope that you were prescribed physical therapy to help this process. ~JTrempe PT, ATC http//:www.joint-pain-solutions.com
    JTrempe 101 Replies Flag this Response
  • I realize this is a significantly later date than your original posting, (now it is: 6/24/2011), but I thought you still may be notified of this reply.I experienced a fork lift crush injury to my left foot in February 2011, and with 5 months passed, have experienced all of what has been mentioned in this forum, as complications as a result, and additionally have experienced subsequent additional symptoms, including a total loss of sensation in the entire foot and continuing above the ankle. I would like to open communications with you about this type of injury, if possible. lakeboy52 at cableone dot net. Look forward to hearing from you.It sounds like you are on the right track w/ the ortho foot/ankle specialist. I think the physical therapy can help....but it should be nonweightbearing exercises if it is painful to walk. Definitely bring up the ankle again....what kind of meds are you taking for pain?
    Anonymous 42789 Replies Flag this Response
  • I guess my accident of getting hit by a forklift isn't alol that uncommon? I too, had it happen, foot crush, nothing broken, debridement, skingraft, hyperbaric therapy, neurologist did egm and determined nerve damage. Now on gabapentin 1200 per day and able to walk without pain for most of the day, however still numb. Will this go away in time? Or will this be my life from now on? Not sure if anyone is still on the thread, but I hope I can get an answer. Thx Larry
    Anonymous 1 Replies Flag this Response
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