PLEASE Help Me - Ankle Problems for 8 months! Talus Bone?

[eshouse6411]

I have done much much much research on this topic because I have been having pain in my ankle since I injured it July 13, 2011. I think I may have a talar injury, but I am unsure what exactly I have done to my ankle. I just want some advice, basically.

--Injury involved my foot bending all the way backwards (tripped down stairs). X-Rays showed a small fracture in one of the navicular (I think) bones in my foot - last bone on the top before the ankle joint.

--Hurts with weight bearing - most painful at a certain point in my step (worst pain of my life). If I had to describe what it feels like I would say it feels like someone has cut off my foot and I am walking on the raw, somewhat cauterized stub that is left behind.
--Pain deep inside my ankle. Can't point to where it hurts because its the whole inner workings of the joint.
--Does not hurt with movement, no swelling, no stiffness
--More painful with more activity - basically i've been a couch potato for going on 8 months.

--The pain I am having now began around a month after the injury (right around the time that the other pain went away, lucky me).
--Went back to doctor, more x-rays, nothing new showed up. Used a leg-length orthopedic boot for several weeks. Felt good with the boot on, pain came back instantly the moment I took it off.
--Pain came and went for several months
--Pain has been constant for going on 3-4 weeks now.
--MRI Scheduled for March 2nd

Now the questions:
-- Does this sound like a talar injury?
-- If it doesn't, what does it sound like?
-- I have tried everything thus far to get this pain to go away. I sit around, don't use it, it gets better and the minute I start doing anything that involves activity it comes back. Since I have tried everything so far, is it reasonable to say that I will probably require surgery to fix this?

There's my book -- sorry it's so long just wanted to fit everything in there.

[eshouse6411]

Nobody has any advice for me?

[notadoc]

Nobody has any advice for me?

That sounds horrible, I'm really sorry that you're experiencing this. Unfortunately I can't suggest exactly what might be wrong, as the internal structure of the ankle/foot is very complex.

My only suggestion would be to get your MRI done as quickly as possible. It's likely that the source of your complaint will be fully revealed by the MRI. Just be cautious as to where you get it done and who is reporting, as a specialised musculoskeletal radiologist is certainly the best person to discover what exactly is happening inside your ankle. I can suggest locations to attend if you're in Melbourne or Sydney, a lot of these may be able to see you within a day if you are happy to pay a little more compared to the rebateable scanners.

Best of luck!

[eshouse6411]

Well, I am actually in the United States - this is he first forum that came up when I was searching for a place to look for answers. My MRI is scheduled for Friday (Orthopedic Doctor referred me for it, hopefully they will do what is needed). I am just worried that this doctor won't find out what's wrong either since I have been to so many doctors already and none of them have ever figured it out.

[notadoc]

The MRI is going to give you the absolute best diagnostic imaging possible for what you're experiencing - there's nothing else out there than can give you detail on on both what's happening with the bones in your foot combined with great soft tissue resoultion.

To get the most out of the scan, do your best to articulate the problem accurately to your radiographer (the person performing the scan) - I know you stated that it's hard to explain the exact site of the pain but just do your best. If you can point to a location on your foot/ankle and state that the pain is deep to that partcular point, that's a good start.

In the meantime, consider whether you're happy with the doctor who is treating you. If not, consider a referral to either an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in foot and ankle complaints or a podiatric surgeon (I beleive the US has quite a few?). The more experience your treating physician has with the foot and ankle the better, as it's a very complex piece of anatomy.

Good luck!

[Tamsin]

Hope you are closer to finding an answer out. The MRI can certainly help get to the bottom of things, and I think its good to get that kind of information as early as possible. Let us know what the result is and maybe people will have some more practical advice.

[Always Injured]

Unlucky mate. You are probably all healed by now. The navicular is probably one of the worst bones to fracture and has ended a few sporting careers. Blood supply is poor and so it can't heal as quickly as other bones plus we are always standing/walking. Hope you're all fixed up.

For anyone else with a Navicular Stress Fracture here is an interesting blog:
http://www.walkonpodiatry.com.au/_bl...ess-fractures/