Lost confidence in my Doc...

[hillre]

In February of this year I broke my ankle. It required ORIF with plate and screw. After 8 weeks the cast was removed revealing an almost black to purple foot and ankle. The Doc diagnosed it as RSD and sent me to see a neurologist. I received 4 nerve blocks, and the color was returning to normal, the swelling was decreasing. The pain remained significant, but I rode it. The Doc then sent me to Therapy. After 7 weeks, I returned to the Doc and told him something was wrong, the pain remained, and the edema followed every therapy session. I asked if I should see a well known Physiologist in my area. The Ortho Doc wrote the referral. I saw the Physiologist and he referred me to his therapist. After 7 visits with her, I saw the The Ortho Doc again for a previous scheduled follow-up. He was going to have me continue therapy, but I again complained about the continued pain. He, as an afterthought, suggested I let him x-ray the ankle. It showed a well defined, displaced non-union. He scheduled a CT for confirmation. The CT confirmed the non-union. He wrote a prescription for Forteo, and the use of a bone growth stimulator, stating that if, after an additional 8 weeks there is still no sign of bone fusion, he would do a bone graft and replace the hardware.
   I feel as though he is not listening to my complaints of pain, edema and the inability to sleep secondary to the pain and discomfort. I'm worried that he has already shown himself to be unsympathetic to my pain, and will that mean he will leave me in pain following this next surgery?   What are my options?

[mydd]

Please find another doctor ,your story sounds just like my husbands ,its amazing,my husband had all the pain symptoms you described they gave him compression bandages  etc sent him to PT, gave him pain meds,he has plate and screws in .we did everything we were told to do, and all this time his foot was infected which causes all the symptoms you described,the "edema wasnt edema but swelling due to infection ,we just visited our third doctor today and he looks to have some more knowledge then the one we were dealing with he is going to take the plate out we are hoping there is no non union or he will be having a few operations,so after we get the ct scan we will have a better idea ,but def. get another doctor to look at you! oh and my husband accident happened easter sunday of 2008 he had the operation april 08 and we are still going through so much.
good luck              
                                       mydd

[dr_simran]

Hello hillre,

Have trust in your doctor. You need to discuss for the management of the edema through anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs like diclofenac and ibuprofen.

Best