By Melissa J. Lockwood, DPM
With winter upon us in Central Illinois, I am reminded daily of how slick our roads, driveways, and sidewalks can be. This time of year, we are more at risk for a nasty spill or fall. Many times, we avoid going to the doctor after a fall because of a variety of reasons that I typically lump into the 3C’s: cost, convenience, and time constraints.
Before I delve into each of these rate-limiting steps, I must preface our conversation today with the statement that as a podiatrist, I handle foot and ankle problems. But many times when we fall and injure ourselves it is not just a sprained ankle we are worried about (case in point for those of you who saw me over the summer with my right hand in a splint following a nasty fall!). It is important to know where to go and when to go to the doctor as early treatment of these winter injuries can help save time and money.
Cost
Medical care is expensive. For our example of a fall and ankle sprain, we have to look at the potential cost of rehabilitation and possible devices needed if you don’t seek treatment right away. Soft tissue injuries, like sprains, take almost six weeks to fully heal if treated right away. For every day that an injury is ignored, it can add almost a week to the recovery time. It is also important to note your foot and/or ankle may still be broken even though you can “walk it off” after a sprain or fall. It’s crucial to rule out a break because they can cause arthritis (and more money!) down the road if not treated early.
I often see patients in my office after they’ve been to a prompt care facility or the emergency room. My advice is to either call your specialist right away after an injury or make sure you receive your X-rays from the urgent care setting to hopefully avoid having another set taken at the specialty office.
Convenience and Time Constraints
We are lucky here in McLean County to have a variety of experts, specialists, and facilities that can treat the people who live in this community. During business hours, I always recommend that if you experience an injury that affects your foot and ankle, it is important to check with your foot care specialist (podiatrist or orthopedic physician) first. Many offices hold “injury” slots open specifically for patients with same day issues. That convenience and security in knowing you can ‘get in’ right away is important!
Prompt care and the emergency room are both good locations for after hours care, but keep in mind that they handle all emergencies (even my daughter’s strep throat at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night) so the wait may be a lot longer. Typically, the ER and a prompt care facility will check things out and then refer you back to either your podiatrist or your family physician for follow up. Specialty clinics will have a larger variety of walking boots and other durable medical equipment for you to use.
I hope you don’t find yourself with a “pain in the foot” this winter, whether from a slip on the ice or an unfortunate landing on the basketball court. But if you do, it is a good idea to call and see if you can get into your specialist right away.
For more information on any foot or ankle injury or problem, contact Dr. Lockwood at Heartland Foot and Ankle at 309-661-9975 or visit their website at www.heartlandfootandankle.com for more information on how to treat minor sprains and injuries.
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