X-ray results

[SassenachWitch]

Hi,

Has anyone had x-rays recently? I had some taken on Friday afternoon and was told it would take 7 days for results, well my Drs surgery have just called to book a telephone consult with my GP for tomorrow morning.

Now I’m panicking, have they gone through quickly because the hospitals are quieter at the moment or because they’ve found something serious?

Basically x-rays were of my feet and ankles because for 6 months I’ve had slightly swollen but very painful feet, with no real explanation.

I suffer with anxiety so it took me a long time to muster up the guts to call the GP, walking into the hospital was awful (phobia of all things medical).

It’s my daughters 16th birthday today and that phone call has sent me spiralling into an anxiety attack!

Turning this round the other way, there is no reason at all why it ought to take 7 days to get X ray results to anyone unless using snail mail! The results are available minutes after the Xray and the time lag is to allow for someone to look at them. (We're lucky enough to have private health cover and usually X ray results are looked at on the day, immediately, or within an hour, and the dr gives the results there and then.)

So I think you should be pleased they are moving fast, maybe being more efficient, and not assume it's anything serious.

Happy birthday to your DD!

Thank you for replying.

I’ve never had an X-ray as an outpatient before, so just took the radiographers word for it when she said 7 days, she even said I’d probably have to chase my GP after the 7 days was up.

My anxiety does cause me to get carried away and think the worse, I’m going to try and forget about it until tomorrow 🤞🏼

I had an X-ray on my foot on Friday the 7th of August and like you I had a message from the doctors on the following Tuesday to make an over the telephone appointment for the Wednesday. It was just to disguise the X-ray, I do have a wonky big toe bone, but that’s not causing the problems I’m having with my foot.

I had an X-ray one morning and the radiographer told me she had found a stress fracture and I should call my GP that afternoon.

I think the fact that it has taken several days probably means it's not very serious. A 7-day wait is probably the worst case scenario.

@Biglumpycustard funny you should say that, mine have come back saying “wear and tear in big toes on both feet” I’m not even sure what that means? I don’t have any problems with my big toes, it’s my feet and ankles which hurt, and apparently there’s nothing wrong with them

Wear and tear is normal, just correlates with use, some people have maybe slightly more if they have played a lot of sports in their youth or had previous injuries.
Pain in foot and ankles might be causing you to walk differently putting extra pressure on your big toes, or the toes might be causing you to change your gait to put pressure on rest of foot and ankle. Or it might be just that... Wear and tear. See an orthopist or a physio and see what they recommend but you can't reverse "wear and tear", you look to alleviate symptoms.

@ SassenachWitch, did you speak to the doctor about your X-ray? my foot problem is my foot moves inwards towards my right foot, it’s just a nightmare.

I would say it’s nothing to be concerned about as, if anything, you’re getting your results late rather than early; they have the facilities to check your x rays on the day and brief you virtually immediately if it was anything serious.

What advice did your GP provide re wear and tear?

I’ll give you a short as possible breakdown of my symptoms....
I’ll start by saying I’ve lived in high heels, 5 inches, everyday, all day, 12 hour work days, school run, supermarket, for 25 plus years, never owned a pair of flats, only 1 pair of trainers which I wore if I went to the gym.

Beginning of the year started with the ball of my feet being painful by the end of my working day, went into lockdown (so home, not wearing any shoes) and it got worse, then my 2nd toe on both feet became really painful and very swollen underneath, Dr Google told me I had capsulitis, couldn’t get an appointment with GP so took ibuprofen and got on with it.
At this point the swelling isn’t as bad in my toes, but my feet are now swollen, only slightly but still swollen, both ankles now hurt, right ankle is swollen on the outside by the bone. When at rest my feet fall in towards each other.
So I finally managed to speak to GP who agreed it was probably caused by me wearing uncomfortable/unsuitable shoes for the majority of my life, but she’d send me for xrays anyway.

And my xrays say ankles are fine, 2nd toes are fine, but wear and tear in big toe

So I’m back to square one now, GP has told me to ice, rest and ibuprofen and see how it goes.

I know it’s boring advice from your GP - and possibly disappointing/redundant as you’ve probably been doing those steps anyway, but try their advice for 1-2 months and if the pain is still present ask for a 2nd opinion.

I think physio is a good option too.

I also wore heels a lot pre lockdown and I did notice a change in the shape of my legs/feet after reverting to flats full time. Never experienced the pain you have though.

The pain some days is unbearable, some mornings I can’t get from bed to bathroom, it’s always worse after I’ve been resting/sleeping. I was expecting an arthritis diagnosis tbh.