Undiagnosed fractures, 4+ years. What to do?

[Guest guest]

I don't know? Maybe I should stop comparing my VA x-rays to those that

turn up via specific google image searches? I found one lateral view

foot/ankle x-ray that traces the outline of the lateral malleolus, and

when compared to lateral view x-rays of my right foot/ankle, I have an

avulsion fracture. According to the tracing, if you follow the shape

of the lateral malleolus posteriorly to anteriorly, there is supposed

to be a downward turn turn right at about the center of the talus. In

looking at my own x-rays, that downward turn is not there. Instead,

where the downward turn is supposed to start, going diagonally upward

to the joint space visible between the talus and medial side of the

tibia, there is nothing. I can literally follow the path of the

fracture, but I see nothing on the other side of the fracture. Could

it be that the bone fragment isn't showing up because it died, or

could it be showing up somewhere else in the x-ray but I don't know

what I'm looking at, and the doctors completely missed it?

Another concern I have is, a difference between the x-rays taken of my

right ankle in December 2004, and those taken in August 2006 and April

2007. In the December 2004 x-rays, there is a very noticeable ossicle

within the joint space between the lateral aspect of my medial

malleolus, and the medial aspect of my talar dome. This does not show

on any of my subsequent x-rays, which of course has me wondering

" where did it go!? " It had to go somewhere.

I've also been studying the mechanics of my ankle sprain that I

incurred on September 23, 2003. In my case, my foot dorsiflexed as it

severely inverted - severely being that my foot was completely turned

over, with my heel facing toward my knee. Again, with looking at

various web images, and my x-rays, I've figured out that my tibia and

talus made contact with each other, which to refer to the avulsion I

mentioned above means that it was a " push-off " fracture. There was the

ganglion that was mentioned in the MRI notes, that is located in the

lateral talonavicular joint space - between the lateral aspect of the

distal talus and lateral proximal navicular bone. Again, I've

discovered through my research that mid-foot injuries can also occur

with the type of ankle sprain that I incurred.

Today, I received the records that I'd requested from the Indy VA

Medical Center. One thing that I've noticed was that the doctors seem

to be fixated on my lateral ankle pain, and have ignored complaints of

medial and whole ankle pains, and only the physical therapist that

initially evaluated me acknowledges the laxity in my lateral ankle.

Everybody except the evaluating physical therapist is confident that

aggressive physical therapy will cure all of the ailments within my

right ankle. There was even one record that I looked at that, for the

question " Is this treatment for a Service Connected Injury? " the

answer was No.

I'll probably have to physically go to my armory, this coming week, to

" bug " the ones that are supposed to be working to get me to an Army

hospital for treatment. On September 23rd this year, it will be

exactly FIVE years since I sprained my ankle, and although there are

several idiots at the Indy VA Medical Center that believe so, my ankle

isn't getting any better. In my experience, it's actually getting

worse, and will likely continue to do so, until it is properly

treated. At least whenever I do get to an Army hospital, for

evaluation and treatment, I'll be able to actively participate in the

diagnosis process, for having a pretty clear and informed idea of

what's going on, and where it's going on, inside my right ankle. I

would much rather get my ankle fixed before I have it give out on me

again, at a time when I don't have my brace on (like going to the

bathroom during the night/when I first wake up in the morning), and

I'm not able to bear any weight on it afterward.

Matt

[Guest guest]

>

> I don't know? Maybe I should stop comparing my VA x-rays to those that

> turn up via

Hey Matt: I just wanted to say that I have had several xrays for

different issues, and one doctor said I had a broken foot at some time

in my life. The next doctor said I dont see anything on here that

would indicate that.

So its the luck of the draw I think, and whether they had their morning

coffee, or got any sleep last night.

It SHOULD be that Xrays would be a tangible, solid thing to both report

on and diagnose off.

Not true not true.

Hope you get your help.

Try and relax today for 1 min.

Enjoy your minute

Calle//Carin in AZ