broken toe and nerve damage help request

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:47 am

I was struck by a car a few weeks ago and I have a broken toe and some sort of nerve damage. The docs advice was only to stay in bed for a few months and let the bone heal. The break is just behind the toenail on my big toe and my entire foot is swollen something awful. I was wondering if anyone has been injured like this and if they could provide some insight as to what I could do to speed up healing and manage the pain. I have been precribed Voltaren and Percoset. I would like to get off this Percoset and take something non-narcotic. I hearby release any who reply with advice from any liability if I choose to follow bad advice.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:33 am

I got a lot of pain relief from dilantin.
It made me fuzzy headed in higher doses though.

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:51 am

foot injuries suck, i sprained my foot really bad about 3 months ago and the only thing i learned is that they take time to heal. 3 months later i still have pain if i tweak my foot the wrong way. Anytime you are sitting down try and elevate the foot as much as you can and if possible ice it to help the swelling go down.

dana · Post by **dana** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:34 pm

Personal email sent to you Tool guy.

You might find it interesting that there is more and more research showing that the NSAIDs like Voltaren actually slow down healing. Help with the pain, but healing is slowed. I have heard one Osteopath that had similar thougts about ice as well. The Chinese developed some very interesting botanical tinctures that are pretty nice for trauma, but the best one is no longer available in the US. (nice tease, huh?)
Research that looks good on:
Bromelain - trauma
B6 - nerve damage
Devil's Claw and Boswellia - anti-inflammatories that don't work via the COX pathway.

hope that helps.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:54 pm

I've seen some interesting things done with capsacin on feet as a pain masking technique.
The level used is intense enough to require a local until the pain shuts down.
The chemical directly stimulates receptors for burning.
It actually has no taste at all.
It tells the body you're on fire.
It might be appropriate for a burner.

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:07 pm

Sorry to hear that Toolmaker.
...if you take some glucosamine chondroitin as a supplement it could provide relief in the joints(with time) and aid the healing process. It usually takes about 2-4 weeks to start feeling results after you start to take it. People take it for arthritis, but I`ve seen it work with other types of injuries as well. Make sure you don`t take it on an empty stomach.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:29 pm

well since most of my idea's are already up here...how bout' a big fat juicy...

....Healing Ju Ju to you (((((((TOOlmaker)))))))), so sorry that happened, and a Get Better sOOn!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~Pinemom~~~

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:46 pm

almost missed BM 05, Took a flop off a ladder 2 days before leaving.. Had sandels on and watched my toe turn black like a movie: going to black..Didn't tell my doctor but my kid took my ladder to his house..After icing it until the burn stopped then hot water soaks two three times a day..

Hurt like a bitch but I went to BM..Taped two toes togeather.. The pain got to be to much by the time I got home.. So drilled a small hole in the nail..Some ugly shit come out..

I was still soaking it in 06..After I got back from BM this year.. I sat down and removed the nail.. It's just now startig to look human..

Good luck Toolman.. see ya on the playa. I'll give you a ride if needed

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:01 pm

there is nothing you can do except immobolize the toe, elevate and take asprin for the swelling and pain. 6 weeks you should be good as almost new. try not to bear weight on the affected foot, use crutches....

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:12 pm

Cut off the toe and send me the Percocet. Problem Solved.

No need to elevate and no drug dependency!

dana · Post by **dana** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 5:28 pm

gyre wrote:I got a lot of pain relief from dilantin.
It made me fuzzy headed in higher doses though.

similar to Nuerontin, which is another seizure med being used for pain relief. It gets prescribed a lot for "funny" pain syndromes like postherpetic nueralgia (shingles).

Have to disagree with Miss Fits and I would say the glucosamine and chondrontin might also be helpful. Low molecular wt. chondrontin has the best absorption.

Make sure you're not developing any kind of impingement syndrome if the nerve symptoms seem to be getting worse. And finally, the best experts on feet are still podiatrists if you feel you need a second opinion.

Let the HEALING BEGIN!

Rusted Iron · Post by **Rusted Iron** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:38 pm

Do you have a soft tissue crush injury in the foot, in addition to the fracture?

They can take longer to heal than fractures. I rarely advise bedrest, and rarely for extended periods of time. I do prescribe lots of physical therapy, for crush injuries.

Arnica gel is also a good thing. And cheap.

rs

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 7:15 am

I was wondering bout the bedrest perscription? But hell if your work goes for it...you can get more stuff started for Burningman!

HEALLLLL!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:07 am

Cookies and milk for Toolmans wowie.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:45 pm

thanks for the tips..

after researching voltaren i got my doc to put me on 800mg ibuprofen a couple times a day instead. added a calcium and vitamin d to help the break heal. added osteo bi-flex (gluco/chron) as well to help tendons and whatnot.
basically i have one of cyndi laupers red baloons for a right foot. after the car hit me the tire went over my foot as i was falling, the twisting and crushing really fucked my foot up. i really won't know much about soft tissue injuries until the swelling goes down. my work put me on short term disability which gives me 50 percent of my pay. my long term kicks in after 3 months which gives me 60 percent of my pay.

Cabana: your request for narcotics to be sent is not only a violation of the TOS but a felony! One must be careful when being snarky.

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:07 pm

Toolmaker, sorry to hear about your woes. I too had a problem with my foot. It got pinched between the engine on my motorcycle and the bumper on a jeep,,,,at 20 mph. Crushed the foot and broke the ankle and fibula. Also broke the cuboid bone and ankle on the other foot. [another crash]

One thing that seemed to help a lot is magnets. I used them on a shattered collar bone. It had a 5/8 gap and still healed completely in 6 weeks.
The MDs here pooh-pooh magnet therapy like it's witchcraft. But horse vets swear by them. 98% of the households in Japan have therapuetic magnets.
DR Bonlie has 5 clinics here and in Canada and is getting amazing results from magnet therapy. One clinic isn't too far from you. You have lots of time for reading now, check him out.
Take lots of supplements for restoring bone. They're cheap and they can't hurt.
I got hit again in my truck and went for an Xray. The doc said that I had broken my back 3 times, once recently. It was news to me. He also asked about my broken ribs. I told him that I couldn't account for them either.
I also got creamed by a wrong-way driver on the freeway. That trashed my shoulders. I really can't tell you wether soft tissue injuries are better or worse than broken bones. I do know though that I really hate to convalesce. I only take painkillers the first night,,if ever. My body seems to heal better if it knows exactly what's going on. OUCH
Dan

Davoid · Post by **Davoid** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:44 pm

Toolmaker wrote: Cabana: your request for narcotics to be sent is not only a violation of the TOS but a felony! One must be careful when being snarky.

I thought this was about violation of the TOES.

Some nerve.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:33 am

I recently mended from a lower-leg injury (laceration from broken glass, seventeen stitches) and STRONGLY regret not spending more time with my feet up, per doc's instructions. As a result I'll have a much bigger, weirder scar and probable long-term nerve damage. It can be really, really hard to just chill out and put your feet up sometimes, depending on your daily pace, but it plays a significant role in the healing process. Much good luck on your recovery!

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:24 pm

Toolmaker wrote: Cabana: your request for narcotics to be sent is not only a violation of the TOS but a felony! One must be careful when being snarky.

ehhhhh- I have a prescription for Percocet. And check Mr. Webster for a definition of snarky.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:57 pm

Cabana Springs wrote: And check Mr. Webster for a definition of snarky.

No joy, I had to go with careerjournaleurope dot com.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... n&ct=title

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:21 pm

I think the term is used to mean sarky, or sarcastic.

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:52 pm

Toolmaker - I am very sorry you hurt your toe. I realize what a traumatic event that is for you and I feel bad for you. I am sure it is painful, annoying and inconvenient (in all seriousness.) I apologize if you mistook my comments as cruel.

Telling you that you can send me your Percocet is not a felony, is not against the TOS and it wasn't snarky.

God Speed to your recovery.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:13 pm

Well I got some bad news today after meeting with a specialist.. a podiatrist. In the past month of being bedridden I have lost a little more bone mass in my foot and the doc is sending me for an MRI since he feels I had some loss of bone mass before getting hit by the car. He says I have the start of something called RSD/CRPS/Diffuse Osteoporosis. I have been given instruction to soak in ice water as cold as I can stand for 3 mins. than go into hot water as hot as I can take it for 3 mins.. than cold for 3 than hot again for 3 than cold again for 3.. do that twice a day. I have a foot massager that heats that I will use for the hot water soak and add hotter water to it. Since going to the podiatrist today I am really friggin bummed out. He basically told me that this could get worse and I may not be able to walk again if treatment does not go well. I have no idea what treatment he will have available for me until I meet with him after the MRI. I have researched online and found that I should change my diet alot and should quit smoking. No more sweets for me and no more red meat, but at least I can still eat fish and fruits and veggies. I am just glad that I have Long Term Disability coverage just in case this does not go good for me. I am going to try and stay positive. It just really sucks that I had NO warning about my foot bones losing mass until a car ran over it breaking my big toe. I will update everyone when I meet with the doc again post MRI. Thanks to everyone who has shown their concern and best wishes both from the ORG folks from the volunteer film project, those who responded to this thread, and those who sent PM. Me and my wife have a great roommate and we will make it through this as we have made it through every other setback in life. I'd also like to apologise for being rude at time recently, I usually don't act up but I am not in the best shape right now.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:20 pm

Ah crap. HUGS!

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:47 pm

...good luck with healing Toolmaker.
You`ve got it in you.
Put it in your mind that you are going to mend like a teenager,
and then be suprised if you don`t.
Don`t believe or listen to any "negatives" about your injuries or prognosis right now.
You are going to get much better.
With that in mind; Take the very best care of yourself.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:49 pm

Toolmaker - I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. It sounds like this will be a long road. Keep us posted and let us know if we can help.

Aronhog · Post by **Aronhog** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:26 pm

Arnica (Arnica Montana) is a homeopathic anti-inflammatory that may be used for traumatic injury, bruises, strained joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, tensive backache, concussion, stroke, heart strain and for reducing pain and bleeding after surgery.

dana · Post by **dana** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:11 pm

Toolmaker wrote:since he feels I had some loss of bone mass before getting hit by the car. He says I have the start of something called RSD/CRPS/Diffuse Osteoporosis. I have been given instruction to soak in ice water as cold as I can stand for 3 mins. than go into hot water as hot as I can take it for 3 mins.. than cold for 3 than hot again for 3 than cold again for 3.. do that twice a day.
He basically told me that this could get worse and I may not be able to walk again if treatment does not go well. I have no idea what treatment he will have available for me until I meet with him after the MRI. I have researched online and found that I should change my diet alot and should quit smoking. No more sweets for me and no more red meat, but at least I can still eat fish and fruits and veggies. .

RSD
Reflex sympathetic dsystrophy. Major drag. Hard to treat. Essentially what's happening is that the autonomic nerves that are supplying that part of your body, are in a sense 'shorting out' and shutting down the blood supply to those tissues. So you start having atrophy (or osteoporosis in your case) and increased pain from oxygen deprivation.

Highly recomend you check out a book by John Sarno MD. The Divided Mind I've been looking into the Mind/body connection for several years. I'm now convinced that it is a crucial component to be addressed in any almost any therapy. I haven't seen any research on it, but acupuncture may help with RSD. B6 is a good supplement to add for nerve damage. (It seems very helpful with carpal tunnel, and is recomended as conservative therapy by a lot of orthopedists these days.)
Good luck!!!

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri May 01, 2009 8:19 am

Only thing working is Oxycontin 20mg 3x a day. Currently have a great pain mgmt doc and after many other docs telling me it was basically incurable I have been doing better living with it. Figured I'd give a heads up here as to my progess. The 07 burn didn't do to well since I reinjured the nerve trying to lift a lil to much weight. This put me in a chair for most of the year and I used a chair for the 08 burn. The past 6 months or so I haven't been in the chair at all thanks to the Oxycontin and Croc shoes. The only shoes I can wear now are these croc knockoffs since they do not press on the toe at all. I still can't wear socks without creating issues but have found that wearing loose oversize socks is acceptable for brief periods. Alot of the worst nerve pain is gone and I can sleep somewhat normal now.. again mainly due to this pain mgmt doc. I have seen every sort of doc out there the past few years, podiatrists, orthos, neuros, phys therapists, and even some of the TOP foot ppl in FL. Currently I have finally found a decent "set" of docs one of which handle the Miami Dolphins who found my pain mgmt doc who also does phys therapy.

Nerve damage can take a long time to heal and sometimes some aspects never go away. I still feel a vise grip on the toe most of the time. I'm just glad it doesn't affect a larger portion of my body. I have gained alot of weight due to inactivity but am now working on getting rid of it now that I can do some excersize and walking now.

If anyone needs info on RSD/CRPS hit me up since now I've had to become a bit of and expert to get myself sorted.

Things are better overall.. been working some again.. learning to live with it.. and I did read the book dana recommended even though shes in hate mode with me on another thread about my staph infection.

Also should be noted that accupunture and nerve block injections in the spine were not too good for me. For some reason the first nerve block was a miracle cure for 4 days but the second had my whole leg twitching for weeks. Not doing that one again.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:23 am

has amputation been discussed. ?...

broken toe and nerve damage help request

broken toe and nerve damage help request

:(

Arniflora Arnica Gel .......................

Re: :(