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Feeling Pain And Noticed Bruise On Foot After Accident. Any Idea What This Could Be?

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Posted on Sun, 18 Nov 2012
Question: Hello,

I had an accident two months ago, my foot went through a glass table, resulting in minor cuts and a foot I couldn't walk on for well over a week, my foot is ok i can walk normally now but not completely healed (had X-ray and no breakages) can feel quite stiff and niggly pain at times. Additionally during this accident my other leg suffered bruising all the way down the XXXXXXX as it scraped against the wooden frame of the table, there is a small area on my lower XXXXXXX that hasn't healed it isn't raised just warm to touch and very slight bruising, do you have any idea what this could be? Or what damage has happened ? This leg was put under stress as I couldn't walk on my other foot for over week and I wonder if i did more damage putting all my weight on this leg? I look forward to your answer thank you so much :)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar (5 hours later)
Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

From the description of your symptoms and the kind of injury which you had sustained, it appears that the non-healing area on your lower XXXXXXX could be due to an underlying hematoma (blood clot) which is getting resorbed very slowly. This could account for the pain, bruising and warmth over that area. It is unlikely to be a bony injury, because if otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to bear weight freely on that leg.

It is quite possible that excessive strain on the other leg (due to disproportionate weight-bearing) is impairing the healing of the soft tissue injury. Now, since you've had an x-ray to exclude any bone injuries and since it's over 2 months, it should be okay to bear weight on the injured foot. The stiffness which you have mentioned could, in fact, be due to lack of proper movement on that leg. So, I suggest that you start weight-bearing equally and do simple stretch exercises for the foot also.

If you haven't checked your blood sugars recently, then I would advise you to have it checked, since uncontrolled sugars could also delay healing. Certain medication like Serratiopeptidase can be useful in reducing the hematoma and inflamation. You can also use hot fermentation on that area to reduce the inflamation and for pain relief. Please do not massage the area. If you develop redness or swelling or any oozing form the area, then they are warning signs of infection, in which case you need to seek urgent medical attention.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar (6 hours later)
Thank you for your answer, Really sorry i meant to say that I did not have an X-ray on the XXXXXXX area of my leg ( only my foot) as there were no signs of breakages I could and still can walk with no pain, would you suggest an X-ray on this? Or do you still believe it to be soft tissue related? If I had a minor fracture for example what would the symptoms be? Many thanks!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar (20 hours later)
Hello again and thanks for writing in.

It is very unlikely that you've had a fracture in your other leg (shin area) because you would have had prominent symptoms - such as swelling, severe pain and inability to bear weight properly. On the other hand, you have been able to use the this leg more than usual due to the foot injury on the other leg. If at all there is a small posibility of a minor fracture, it could just be a hairline fracture which should have healed by now and needs no further management. So, I still think that your problem is just soft tissue related and I don't think you need an X-ray on this leg.

Best wishes,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 2190 Questions

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Feeling Pain And Noticed Bruise On Foot After Accident. Any Idea What This Could Be?

Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

From the description of your symptoms and the kind of injury which you had sustained, it appears that the non-healing area on your lower XXXXXXX could be due to an underlying hematoma (blood clot) which is getting resorbed very slowly. This could account for the pain, bruising and warmth over that area. It is unlikely to be a bony injury, because if otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to bear weight freely on that leg.

It is quite possible that excessive strain on the other leg (due to disproportionate weight-bearing) is impairing the healing of the soft tissue injury. Now, since you've had an x-ray to exclude any bone injuries and since it's over 2 months, it should be okay to bear weight on the injured foot. The stiffness which you have mentioned could, in fact, be due to lack of proper movement on that leg. So, I suggest that you start weight-bearing equally and do simple stretch exercises for the foot also.

If you haven't checked your blood sugars recently, then I would advise you to have it checked, since uncontrolled sugars could also delay healing. Certain medication like Serratiopeptidase can be useful in reducing the hematoma and inflamation. You can also use hot fermentation on that area to reduce the inflamation and for pain relief. Please do not massage the area. If you develop redness or swelling or any oozing form the area, then they are warning signs of infection, in which case you need to seek urgent medical attention.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

- Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar