Cronic swelling in lower leg and foot after accident

[Lucy797]

About 6 months ago my daughter was working on a horse ranch and a horse jurked her around and she fell in a hole still holding on the the horse, ever since she has had severe back pain upper and lower and swelling in the foot and leg, her foot is like ice. She has been to several doctors but no one can tell her anything.  One doctor says she has a factor of the spine in disc L5 and the other says she has no facture.  Another says she has a facture but at L3, but still nothing is done for she is still in pain, and they all seem to just ignore the foot and leg swelling, it never is not swollen and it has been this way for 6 months.  Can you help?

[Esplanade]

Sounds like nerve irratation from the lower back. Get her to go back to a neurologist to ensure that there is no nerve sympathtic nerve involvement. If left untreated she may develope long standing issues when she is much older.
Better to keep asking until you are satisfied and have the pain resolved.
It is not normal to have swelling either.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

The possibility of lumbar spine fracture cannot be ruled out considering the kind of injuries she sustained.
It is not normal at all to have pain and swelling 6 months after surgery. Nerve impingement and nerve damage also cannot be ruled out.

This warrants a complete neurological exam along with tests like CT scan or MRI of back and leg.

Please consult a good neurologist in your area and let us know if you have any more questions.

[ggreg]

Also, while she's waiting to see a neuro, and if her ankle hurts along with the swelling, she can wear a support knee-high stocking or diabetic sock on that leg, when she's up and around on it, and it will help keep the swelling down, and thus help the pain.  I agree with all the advice given you by the other posters, and you should most definitely follow it, get her forthwith to a good neurologist who cares.  I'm in my 50s and in my 20s fractured my back three places in a car wreck, and the pain was unbelievable, I was hospitalized for two months.  Your daughter needs medication, possibly a brace or even surgery, lots of rest, and physical therapy.  I cannot imagine how she has managed thus far.  Bless you for keeping a close watch on this problem.