medical advice needed - ortho or podiatrist?

[cc-rider]

I’m stumped, so turning to my HT family for advice.

My family doctor seems to refer me somewhere else every time I contact him about anything (yes, time to find a new GP). I contacted him recently about a “callous” that I have on the bottom of my foot. I’ve had it for DECADES. I think that it started out as a piece of glass (I think…maybe something else…can’t remember) that I couldn’t get out. Figured it would eventually work its way out. Unfortunately, over the years, it has developed a hard, little lump, and then I get calloused over it. I can keep the callous trimmed off and that helps some, but it always feels like I’m walking on a stone. If I wear fluffy socks and padded insole shoes, it’s OK, but with the summer sandals….OUCH.

My family doctor referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. Wouldn’t a podiatrist be a better choice? The appointment is tomorrow and I don’t want to go in there looking stupid. I’m afraid they’ll say “A callous?!??! What do you want US to do about it?!??!”

What do you think?

[tnokie]

The doc was proably right,you will need a surgeon because the object will have to be taken out. Just besure and tell the surgeon what you just told us. I'm sure he will do x-rays and be able to see past the callus. Foot pain is not to be messed with,please follow thru. I hear what you say about the GP. WE finally had to find a new one. No matter what we went in for ours would send us to an "expert" WE got tired of their jacked up prices and found a good old country doctor who still doctors!

[Tracy Rimmer]

Yes, ortho surgeon.

[Cliff]

Lots of bones in the foot. If there's any chance this nodule is near a bone you need an ortho surgeon. It's an expertise and safety thing. Bone infections are bad news, you want the dr. best equipped to deal with the situation.

[mr.breeze]

My vote would be with what your doc has referred you to, the ortho, if there is something in there that has to come out he,s going to be the one to do it. It sounds like you've suffered with this long enough,[ouch] hope they get you fixed up soon so it don't hurt to walk around.

[Jenn]

Our ortho group has a podiatrist in the group who sees and operates on these things and all other things foot. Guess the other guys stay above the heel bone. I would complain back to the GP if this doc sends you to a podiatrist for a second visit before you get surgery if needed.

In the Army the dreaded corpsmen (ETS!) would trim calluses from boots for all the guys- I was too wimpy to do it as quickly when I had no corpsmen about.

[Rita]

Might just be Morton's neuroma and you would need a surgeon for that. My husband had the surgery and sometimes wishes he hadn't.

[cc-rider]

That's the area that is affected, but I'm pretty confident it is something that is still in there. It's plagued me over the years and I'd always thought "If I had just gotten that darned thing out of there instead of hoping it'd go away"...

I actually have an MRI scheduled for later in the day (totally unrelated -- also having a lower back/hip issue), so maybe they can check it out if an MRI will show anything. That's the reason I've decided to get the foot thing taken care of....they can't figure out what is wrong with my hip, so I want to eliminate all other possible causes. I'm sure the ouchy foot isn't causing the hip problem, but I want to eliminate that possibility.

[firegirl969]

FYI: I have had 3 foot surgeries in 6 months from a podiatrist. I am in worse shape now than I was to begin with. My doc told me yesterday, he would never refer anyone else to a podiatrist for surgery after the mess he made out of my feet.

[cc-rider]

Thanks for all your replies. My ortho appointment is today at 10:30, and I feel much better about it now!

I knew I could count on you guys!

[Fae]

I had Morton's Neuroma and had surgery by an orthopedist and it is worse now than it was before. He did tell me it could damage other nerves but it seldom happened. It happened and now I have to have a more extensive surgery to fix it. I don't know how a callous would be Morton's Neuroma since it is a nerve thing. I also go to a group but don't know if the doctor who mostly does feet is a podiatrist or not but he is highly recommended. I will not go back to the one who did the first surgery. I use Alabama Orthopedic Clinic in Mobile. CC-Rider I am having the same thing with my left hip. Had an MRI a couple weeks ago and he said it showed nothing. I've had a shot in it and it did not help. He said it must be coming from my back so I am trying back exercise. Haven't really gotten into them yet though.

[cc-rider]

Well, I'm scheduled for surgery on July 2. They did 3 xrays, but nothing showed up. They said that glass might not show up, though. If there isn't anything there, maybe it is a plantar(sp?) wart. Either way, either one takes surgery to remove. I had to go to the hospital today for blood work and an EKG for pre-surgery. And, as far as I know, they are just using a sedative to make me loopy. So I don't know why the big deal about the blood work (for kreatin(?) levels) and the EKG.

As for my back, that started as a sprain in my lower back, but after a chiropractic appointment, I developed a pinched nerve on the left side and now the back of my leg aches all the time and the left side of my foot is asleep. A shot didn't help, nor did a 30 day steroid treatment. Therapy isn't working, either. Finally talked them into an MRI to figure out what is going on. I want proof that all this therapy isn't HURTING it instead. Maybe it's torn?? Maybe it IS a pinched muscle. All these stretching exercises aren't helping. They think I'm just impatient, but it's been THREE MONTHS!!!!!

I feel old and worn out.

[Kshobbit]

Creatinine level checks for any possible renal (kidney) problems. I would guess they did a basic chemistry panel which checks your electrolytes and kidney functions. EKG for any possible cardiac problems (heart). All this is just to be sure you will tolerate the sedative and the surgery. It is better to be safe than sorry. Old lab tech. so I am familiar with pre-surgery tests. Hope this relieves the pain and discomfort.

[wyld thang]

if you favor your foot your body actually is doing a lot more favoring than you are conscious of, and yeah, that foot problem can be the cause of your hip problem.

My hub's left leg is a bit shorter than the right from a bad broken leg. He refuses to get shoe insert to correct the short, and now 20 years later he's got all sorts of complaints from cumulative favoring of that leg. Ha, but what can you do, SOME PEOPLE!!!

Hope your foot surgery comes out well, you heal up quick, and you get a good PT that can help your issues. Not just stretching, but building strength to correct posture will help loads.

[cc-rider]

Update....surgery was yesterday. Everyone there at the surgery center was SOOOO nice. I don't remember a thing about it except going into the surgery room, being nervous, and then waking up and them saying it was over. They gave me prescriptions for Wygesic (sp?) and Percoset (sp?) depending on whichever I felt I needed to control the pain, but so far - knock on wood - I've only taking a couple tylenol a couple times and I feel pretty good. I was even on my feet all day today because of an 8-hour marathon band practice.

Thanks for your advice and support! I'm glad I finally got it done! I'm excited about the fact that I'll be able to walk again without pain for the first time in 20 years!

[Bentley]

Well, was it glass or was it a plantar wart? or something else.
20 years? What took you so long?

and of course, I'm just kidding with you. We're all so glad you are feeling better.

[cc-rider]

Hehehe. Well, I kept thinking it'd just "go away" by itself! You know how that is. It finally got to the point that I figured I needed to just grow up and take care of it.

I've got another appointment in about 2 weeks to get the stitches out and by then, the lab results will be back. I'm pretty durned sure it was where that glass was 20 years ago. Of course, if I knew then what I know now, I would have got that splinter out come hell or high water back then. Hindsight, you know...