Foot Injury - Gait?

[homesick rae]

Hi All,

At some point I will need a hip replacement and, although I get a few aches and pains elsewhere on my leg, and have a limp, the hip itself rarely bothers me.

Just before New Year, not noticing that I did anything to cause this, I woke up with pain along the outside of my right foot (especially when walking), found it difficult to bend my ankle and, eventually, the foot swelled up like a balloon. X Rays showed no fracture and I was given painkillers etc and sent on my way - it duly subsided.

This has recently flared up again and my GP, as I do, thinks it is being caused by my gait - if I sit looking down at my feet, one is fine and the other looks like a rectangle.

The hip problem was came about after a non spectacular fall onto a frozen lake from a snow mobile - problems started occurring 9-12 months post event and a slight fracture AND AVN showed up in the report.

GP wants a blood test and BP and referral to my ortho consultant which all seems fine.

What will they be looking for in the blood test and any ideas as to what it is I am suffering?

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers

HR

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

I have gait issues due to an accident many years ago resulting in a fractured tib and fib and appalling treatment on the NHS leaving me with a bent tibia (the bend is both forwards and outwards), leg length discrepancy and "snapping hip".

30 years on I was doing competitive karate (which helps keep the "bad" leg strong and flexible) and I was needing cortisone injections to keep going I decided to get it sorted once and for all and after a succession of doctors and physiotherapists and varies diagnoses including trochanteric bursitis, illiotibial band syndrome, suggestion of getting leg broken and re-set etc nothing was improving.

It took a podiatrist and prescription orthotics to sort out my gait and a specialised sports doctor to send me for an MRI to really see what was going on in there... Osteoarthritis in my hip. Treatment? Ibuprofen, glucosamine, omega three supplements and a new hip "when it get unbearable". I'm still hopping along OK and it doesn't seem to be getting any worse.

So, I'd recommend seeing a podiatrist if the problem is in the foot and ankle area. Good luck!