How can my foot not be broken, and why is it soo painful if it's not???

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, I had an accident today while cooking. I took a heavy Le creuset pan of water and potatoes off the side and as my hand was greasy, I dropped it on my foot! It was extremely painful! It's brused and swollen, but not broken. It landed just above my big tow on the metatarsal bone (I think it's called) I have crutches as I can't walk on it, but they are really hard on the hands. I don't think I could go far on them.
I can't believe I can be in this much pain and there is no break! What's causing all the pain then? The nurse said it's just bruising and swelling. Really?? Does anyone know how long it'll take to heal? I'm getting frustrated by not being able to do things easily already.

Did you have an x-ray? Maybe there is some bruising in the bone too.

Very heavy pan!
Feet are generally very painful if you damage them. Bruising no doubt. I hope it was xrayed as a precaution. If the X-ray was clear then the differential diagnosis would be bruising, probably stretched the numerous ligaments that attach meta tarsal and tarsal bones in the accident.
Poor blood supply in feet means bruising takes a long time to resolve.
Hope it gets sorted for you!

Sometimes if it is very swollen, a brake cant be seen straight away !

Bruising and swelling can be very painful. Rest / Ice.

As you have been told it's not broke, I assume they gave you an xray.

My Mum fell down the stairs a few years ago and one of her ankles was particularly painful, bruised and swollen. I took her to A&E and she had a soft tissue injury, which unfortunately can be very painful and take a few weeks to totally recover from. Try to keep it elevated. The doctors at my Mum's surgery referred her to their in-house physiotherapist who was able to give her exercises to loosen it up, so if you still feel really uncomfortable in a week or so, it might be worth asking if they can refer you.

When I pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder area that took ages to heal, the doctor initially advised me to alternate Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, so I was taking one or other every two hours. I was then given Codeine and Ibuprofen together by the doctor and I could still feel the pain a little but it certainly helped me relax. I think I've seen since you can buy Codeine and Paracetamol together, over the counter at chemists - might be worth doing some research on this if it's really painful as I'm sure it will help.

Hope you feel better soon.

If you haven't had an X-ray, there's no way they can exclude a fracture. Did you go to A&E?

Breaks can also be missed, or not show on an initial film. If its no better a week after injury (or sooner if agony), go back to A&E and get it xrayed again.

Sounds v v painful, hope you feel better soon

Doh sorry, not sure how that happened

Seconding flaming
There are several small bones in the feet and very hard to tell if one is damaged, without an x-ray. I have a permanent bony lump on one foot, to prove the point, because some idiot SF told me I was just making a fuss!

Not only that, but it is easy to miss a crack - again, personal experience as DD's x-ray was pronounced fine in A&E, but a crack was picked up on review.....given that she still couldn't put foot to floor after a week.

I would suggest going back to A&E if you are not weight bearing within 48 hours

Just as Edited says...often the initial X-ray will be looked at by someone in A&E (and may vex relatively junior), and a fracture will only be spotted later that day/ week when it is formally reported by a radiologist

Thanks everyone! The swelling has gone down a fair bit this morning, but it's still pretty much the same in terms of pain. I still can't walk on it, so I'll see how it goes.
My boss phoned this morning to see how I was. When I told him it wasn't broken he asked if I could come in tomorrow then? I mentioned how painful it was and that I couldn't walk on it and he said "Oh, o.k well just let us know if you can't come in on Monday then". Followed by take care and get well soon. (Very, very soon....or else!!)

bump

I fell a couple of years ago and injured my foot and ankle. Had x-rays but no breaks. I was told at A&E that nasty soft tissue injuries are often more painful and take longer to heal than a break. Mine took a couple of months, luckily it was summer as I couldn't get shoes on, had to live in my Fitflops!

That's interesting. I'll mention that to my boss. I can't get shoes on either. (Not that I've tried) but it's really swollen.