To tell my Gp and physio they are wrong?

[Iwannabeacrocodilehunter]

I started suffering with plantar fasciitis early in the year, and as unpleasant as it was, it was generally bearable after the first few minutes in the morning, or after being sat down. I come to know that horrible pain, very very well.

However, the past 6 months, the pain changed to mostly affect the nerves in the bottom of my foot and the nerves that travel up the inside of my ankle. The pain comes on suddenly throughout the day, regardless of what I’m doing (I can be asleep) and it shoots about like I’ve had acid injected, and burns the inside of my foot and ankle. The pain is excruciating.

After doing my own research (yes I know) I have come to the conclusion that I am dealing with ‘Baxter’s Nerve Entrapment’.

However, three GPs and a physio seem to absolute DENY the existence of this condition, and keep telling me it’s PF. One even said ‘I don’t think it’s Bolshers’.

Am I being unreasonable to demand (politely) they look Baxter’s up. Or perhaps take a print off for them? I can’t afford to go private and no one is taking my concern seriously.

Is Baxter’s Nerve Entrapment not a thing in the UK?

Thank you so much. This is very reassuring.

I would 100% broach this politely as I wouldn’t want to make anyone feel crap anyway.

This post reassures me that by booking to see a podiatrist, I’ll be doing the right thing. I really appreciate your input. Thank you.

Sorry I haven’t read the replies yet but OMG I have this! I’ve had it for years. I’ve googled it, asked my GP, have never found any explanation for it. It comes on really suddenly (and yes quite often when I’m sleeping / lying down), always in a different part of my foot, usually the end of one of my toes. It’s like being stabbed with a hot pin several times, and yes it can then spread around the outside / bottom of my foot. I am definitely flat footed on that side and have also had issues with my hip and wondered if it could be related. I hope you find some answers! I’ve all but given up.

You can't doctor Google yourself and then demand actually trained medical professionals take your research because you think they're wrong. Jesus all you need to go is Google headache and after 2 mins you can conclude that you have a brain tumour and are 10 seconds away from deaths door

Given that the treatment for either Baxter's nerve entrapment or plantar fasciitis is rest, ice, stretches and strengthening, plus better footwear... And the painkillers are similarly identical... Why exactly are you so excited about the diagnosis OP? Just start the exercise and wear better shoes.

Doctors are wrong all the time (and often very arrogant with it)- I once went to the doctors and told them I had gall stones, they told me it couldn’t possibly be and why, the gp basically sat there with the student telling him how patients didn’t always know best - 3 consultant appointments several blood tests a colonoscopy and mri later (several months) the consultant was so excited to tell me he had discovered my mystery Illness through his tenacity and genius - I had….. gallstones.

my Dad was told he had a few weeks to live, he died nearly 30 years later.

Anaesthetists don’t seem to agree that I can’t have certain drugs )although dentists are quite happy to believe me). Although it was all covered up I believe this arrogance once nearly killed me.

Go with your gut instinct, chances are you’re probably right. Don’t take no for an answer

Maybe the OP would like to feel listened to. Doctors think themselves God most of the time and patients their little subjects who shouldn’t question them.

I really hope you’re not a doctor.

I've self diagnosed on about 3 occasions via Dr Google and have always been right. The last time was gallstones. I was pooh-poohed by both GP and hospital as my pain was central rather than right side (even though reputable websites like NHS, BUPA etc said pain can be either right or central.) Cue a couple of horrified looking radiologists when I had an ultrasound scan due to what they could see, then on the day of the surgery the surgeon telling me after they started counting my stones but lost count at 200 (usually there's about 5).

@OMG12 - no I'm not. Appreciate doctors are annoying, but having had similar issues in the past myself, I'm just not sure of the benefit to OP in this particular case when the treatment would be the same. Circle your ankles, ice them raised and resting, wear boring shoes that fit well and have fresh soles with insole support, walk on your heels then on your toes to strengthen all the surrounding muscles and ligaments etc. Why isn't it more important to resolve the issue than to be right?

It wasn’t that I wanted to be right, but I wanted to be listened to. I knew something was very wrong and I knew it wasn’t plantar fasciitis.

In the end I went to a podiatrist who custom made me orthotics to take the pressure off the nerve. They agreed that they did not think my situation was plantar fasciitis and showed me a model of a foot and ankle, introducing me to the Baxter’s nerve without me even mentioning it. I was so happy.

They have also told me that unfortunately the damage to the nerve appears to extend up the side of my ankle and that she doesn’t think it can be resolved by orthotics and physio alone. She told me to stop the stretching exercises as they were aggravating the nerve and doing nothing to minimise the compression. She anticipates that I am likely to require surgery. I am now awaiting an MRI.

Had I gone with the plantar fasciitis diagnosis, I would still be walking around in agony right now, stretching pointlessly.

Currently the orthotics keep me comfortable and I am looking forward to being pain free, likely after surgery.

Plantar and Baxter’s are not the same and in my case do not require the same treatment. I am relieved I questioned the diagnosis.

Because it’s vitally important for all patients to feel listened to, to have a discussion with medical professionals rather than be dictated to. The principle here is medical doctors are ignoring the concerns of the patient- a dangerous precident.

It’s more than just being annoying, it’s outright not listening to patients, having them jump through hoops to find out what wrong with them when things haven’t resolved and when proven wrong not even having the decency to apologise or even going as far as saying it’s in their head or they’re wrong about their own body.

HCPs not listening to patients and only hearing bits where they want to diagnose quickly and say “job done” are dangerous and cause more harm than good and it’s not them that suffer but the patients they’re supposed to be listening to and caring for.

@Iwannabeacrocodilehunter I'm glad that you are finally getting somewhere with this.

I always say to people, don't be fobbed off by your doctor, keep on at them, or go to a private clinic, anything, but don't just accept their word and go away and suffer.

My mum might still be alive if her doctor had diagnosed the real reason for her bloated stomach instead of assuming it was persistent constipation and hypochondria. No wonder she was constipated with that tumour blocking her guts. My neighbour might still be alive if her doctor had taken the pain in her leg seriously and had it investigated properly, because they might have found the bone cancer soon enough. Another family member of mine spent 6 months with a broken bone that everyone kept saying was a sprain. In the end a private CT scan via one of the top sports injury specialists in the country finally picked up the fracture. Rant over.

I’m sorry for your losses. I 100% agree with you. I’m at the point I don’t believe anything a doctor says to me, I demand all results and do my own research. If I’m not happy I go private. Doctors just want to tick you off their list

@Iwannabeacrocodilehunter Apologies for resurrecting your old post but I am dealing with similar nerve issues in my foot. Did you get a good outcome from the NHS in the end? How did you advocate for yourself? I’m finding it quite difficult to navigate the challenges of the NHS.

Hi there! That’s ok.
NHS care was non existent after I last posted. I called to see about my scan about 6 months later and was told it had been cancelled months ago. I got nowhere with another appointment. It was written off as dealt with, and then not a priority.
I persisted with the orthotics and they helped.
These days the pain is on and off. I have to be very careful with my choice of shoes.

Sorry I haven’t got better news.

Hi, sorry it’s been a while. I’m new to mumsnet and didn’t realise you had replied to my message.
That’s awful. How can they cancel a scan and not let you know! I too have persisted with orthotics and they do seem to help. I can’t walk barefoot without being in pain. I’ve managed to find a podiatrist who is familiar with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome/Baxter’s nerve entrapment. He says it’s an under diagnosed condition that often doesn’t show up on MRI scans or nerve conduction tests. He’s developed a specific injection therapy technique and gets good results so I’m off to see him in a few weeks. He sees patients privately and on the NHS. Let me know if you’d like his details.