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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Feedback about rehabilitation following a toe injury

I hyperextended my right big toe and fractured one sesmoid bone. I did not receive any treatment for this injury for over 7 months because the toe gradually improved and then only bothered me with heavy physical activity. Then after several months it started to get worse.

I saw a foot doctor had a CT and determined a cyst was forming and that there was cartilage damage. Conservative treatment was to wear a boot for 6 weeks to let the tissues calm down and heal.

Over the course of the 6 weeks I moved the toe frequently and began to try strengthening the toe and it began to heal a little but the whole foot and leg became significantly weak from non-use. So now I have had the boot off for 3 weeks and I am continuously trying to strengthen the toe joint and walk around barefoot which is most comfortable. I try to stretch it often as well.

All in all, it seems to be improving but I don't know what to do next. I can walk pretty normally now but still ice the toe when it gets sore. I feel like if I can bring the strength up in the toe then the toe will continue to improve.

Let me know what you think if you can. My purpose in sending you my experience was to just let you know how the type of you treatment described has worked for me.

Zack
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Gary responds:
You are doing things right Zack.

As an onservation, I am constantly disappointed that so much resource goes into diagnosis and treatment by expensive specialists and high-tech services; while there is near total neglect of after care. It is regaining that last 10% of function that is so challenging and often so vital for a full recovery following injury or illness.

walk barefoot, in ankle deep water, walk on sand and grass. Do the exercise in my foot pronation video. Get some fins and flutter kick length after lenght of a swimming pool.

You might want to fit a pair of Formthotics Shock Stop inner soles from my web store to protect your feet from excessive stress when resuming running.

Please let us know how you get on.

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