OT- I have a broken bone in my foot.

[Clarity]

It's a "floating" fragment of bone on the top of my foot. I had a chiropractic appointment today and I had him x-ray it for me and he noticed the break. He's suggested that I wrap my foot for 4 weeks, stay off of it as much as possible and then come back and he'll try to "pop it back in" for me after it's healed a bit.

I'm feeling torn about whether or not to proceed with his suggestions. On one hand, I catagorically refuse to let someone put on a ginormous plaster foot cast. I have two busy children, I don't have clothing to accomodate that (I WOTH in a professional setting) and I MUST be able to shower regularly.
On the other hand, I'm worried that "wrap it and stay off it" isn't the best long term strategy? I've got plantar fascitis in the same foot and I don't want to just make a tender foot situation worse long term, kwim? I would probably be ok with foot boot as long as I'm able to remove it to shower and dress. This is so silly but I'm not sure what to do. Do I call my PCP? An podiatrist?

Oh, and more disturbing perhaps, is that my chiropractor thought he spots signs of osteopenia in the x-rays of my foot. Which, I guess, may go hand in hand with the low estrogen levels previously diagnosed by my o.b. Man, I hate getting older.

[wimama]

Go see a podiatrist, who is a food specialist.

Do you have any pain on the top of your foot? Do you remember injuring it? That fracture fragment may very well be a perfectly normal accessory bone called a sesamoid bone. Please go see someone who specializes in feet and can address both the "fracture fragment" and the plantar fasciitis. If it truely is a fracture you may need surgery or will need to be properly immobilized.

[Clarity]

I fell yesterday on the last of our stairs down to the basement. My foot was very painful yesterday but not incredibly swollen. I iced it and elevated it and it felt a bit better this a.m. although I am still walking with a bit of a limp and it still feels tender if I flex my foot.

ETA: I googled the sesamoid bone and it's not located where the chiro was pointing in my x-ray. It's farther back, above my arch more.

[BabyBearsMom]

I'm a big fan of chiros, but I think you should see a podiatrist or an orthopedist. I just don't think that broken foot bones are really the specialty of a chiro (even though I know they will say that they believe in holistic health and feet are a part of that). You can always say you need an option besides a big plaster cast. Maybe they can give you a walking cast with the velcro so you can put it over your pants. Not glamorous but works for a few weeks.

[wimama]

If you have had a recent injury I would definately want a specialist to look at it. As a disclaimer, I am a podiatrist, so a bit biased.:wink2: But, I would highly recommend seeing a specialist such as a podiatric surgeon or foot & ankle ortho, who can differentiate between a true fracture and an accessory bone.

Just saw you edit. There are other accessory bones in the arch and ankle as well. Like an os trigonum, Os Tibiale Externum or pre-hallux. A foot specialist will be able to discern the differences between fracture and an accessory bone. If it is truely a fracture walking on it for several weeks is without immobilization is not a good idea.

[Clarity]

~Amy
I called a local DPM and they're getting me in today. Thanks for the advice! :)