Broke my foot at work- now I can't even bathe by myself and I am miserable!

[SweettartRN]

I am about to lose my mind!!!

Last Monday I fell at work and broke my fifth metatarsal bone. It was a worker's comp. claim and I have been in to see two of my employers doctor's and have had a nurse of theirs call me.

The first doctor put me in a boot and told me I could be WBAT. Sent me home with Vicodin and a hugely swollen foot. She had first told me that I had broken my ankle, then my top toe bone, and then finally by metatarsal. So I felt like she didn't have a clue working in the ER and was frustrated as hell with her.

The doctor that I saw last Thursday treated me like I was three years old, talked to me like an idiot, and repeated herself so many times I wanted to slap her. She talked in this slow voice, and refused to answer any questions that I had. She also told me that any weight on that foot could break it further and I was to be non-weight bearing at all. She also put me in a cast and told me to keep the foot elevated, AND is sent me back to work. (which is a whole other story)

She also referred me to an orthopedic specialist.

At this point, I am ready to pull my hair out. I can't get in and out of the bath tub without help. I have to scoot butt up to my bedroom because my husband is afraid I will fall, and I sleep on the couch at night to wait for him to help me to bed. I can't even carry my own purse. I feel completely helpless, and I am getting depressed and miserable. I am a very active 28 year old woman, and this is ridiculous!!! I am sooo angry.

And to top it all off, my employer sent me an email at 2:45 AM on Friday telling me that they expected me to be at work at 8:30 AM on Friday or I would lose my job. Clearly this didn't happen. They were also supposed to have work for me to be able to do sitting down with my foot elevated and iced, and this didn't happen either. They actually wanted me to be filing things and pulling charts!!!!

I am just SOOOOOOO frustrated. It would be one thing if I were in a walking boot, but I am in a cast and crutches and can't do anything for myself.

Does anyone have any suggestions so I don't completely lose it?! A nurse needs her feet. And on top of that, I have yet to see a doctor that has treated me like a human being.

I am waiting this week to see the specialist. I am afraid I am going to be rude to her/him because of how I have been treated so far. More than anything I just want to go to my own doctor and get a second opinion because I am just so miserable. I mean I can't even get myself a glass of water without some major complications.

Clearly I am feeling sorry for myself, but I am usually so active and this is driving me nuts.

Thanks for listening.

[Jules A, MSN]

Feel better soon. Hugs, Jules

[plaza]

sweet - yikes! sounds like you had a pretty serious break. In April, I slipped at work and also broke the 5th metatarsal. I heard the undeniable snap of a breaking bone.

it hurt alot, but I was lucky. the ortho put me in a removable walking cast so I was able to get around, bathe (in a tub), work, and basically live a normal life. I only had to use crutches for about a week; using them any longer would definetly have been a different experience. I feel for you.

I am self-employed so it was not a WC claim. I hobbled about for 6 weeks and gained a greater appreciation for what it was like to be incapacitated. the time passed quickly.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Take the Worker's Comp forms with you to the doctor. Have them fill it out on-the-spot so that you can be sure they are writing that you can't be on your feet. (I've broken bones twice at work and have been through this before.) You need to place the paperwork near the very top of your priority list. Your employer might not "give" you what you are entitled to unless the paperwork is perfect. So make sure that it is by hand carrying it if necessary.

As for your purse ... use a small, light one with a strap. Drape the strap over the top of the crutch and not over your shoulder so that the weight rests on the crutch and not you. It will just slide off your shoulder. You can use small bags with straps/handles to similarly carry a couple of lightweight articles. As a single person, I had to learn to do things like grocery shopping that way. It's awkward at first, but it works as long as you don't have to carry too much at one time.

Good luck!

[sasha2lady]

Be UPFRONT with this next doc..and tell him exactly what has went on and be firm about having your ?'s answered...dont leave that office without the answers to the ?'s you have. Make a list of what you want to know. As for feeling helpless....I feel ya on that one. When my son was born via c section I had no idea what I was in for. Soon as my anesthesia wore off..I got up and tried to walk....my legs felt like noodles and when they stopped giving me the iv toradol....my incision hurt me so bad it brought me tears more than once...the staples were so tight they were pulling on my skin so it was a constant throbbing pain on my right side of the wound. while they had me STRAPPED down on the OR table and was putting my insides back in where they belonged I thought that I was having a heart attack b/c the pressure from all of it was making my chest hurt all over like a car was parked on me all the way thru my arms. When I went home...I couldnt even get up or down by myself...I barely could walk. I couldnt turn over in bed by myself or take a bath by myself. I couldnt carry my baby around..people had to hand him to me. after a week and a strict schedule of ibuprofen (otc) i was finally able to get around and move. Have you tried ice? You mustve took one bad fall to break like you did. Good luck to you.