Misdiagnosed in the ER :(

[JUSTYSMOM]

Hi,

About three weeks ago, I banged my right big toe HARD. I mean REAL HARD! I don't even remember what I banged it on. Probably a box of canned goods we had around the house (from all of the HURRICANES we had down here in S. Florida!!)

It didn't hurt at first. But after a day or two, it was thorobbing, swollen, hard to walk on- etc etc. I figured it was just badly bruised. So I waited a few more days (kept walking on it). Uh oh- now I can't fit my shoe over my foot- even more pain & swelling. My leg is perpetually being elevated for the swelling.

So I take off a few days from work. The foot keeps getting worse. Now I can't even touch my toe to the ground. I notice that my foot (especially my right toe/joint area) is RED, HOT and EXTERMELY painful to the touch. I can't even touch it without wincing in pain!

Ok- time to go to the ER. I can't take the pain anymore. I am convinced it is broken! I get there and they give me a wheelchair to sit in. They finally take x-rays. The x-rays are normal. The doctor tells me that I have Cellulitis. The nurse comes in and gives me a HUGE shot of antibiotic. That hurt like hell! Then they prescribe Keflex for 10 days 3x day.

Ok- long story short- I am on this antibiotic for a good 7 days- I still go to sleep with pain & wake up with pain . I have no real improvement. As a follow up to the ER, I go to my Podiatrist. He takes one look at my foot and says it's not Cellulitis.

I have GOUT! He puts me on Indomethacin 3x daily. Low & behold within 3 days- my foot shows MIRACULOUS improvement! WOW! I just wish I had the indomethacin to begin with. It would have saved me so much pain and anguish.

Is this typical to be misdiagnosed for things like this case?

Thanks,

Julie :)

[LPN1974, LPN]

I was misdiagnosed in the ER. I started having severe pains, going around me like a band, starting underneath my breasts and around my back and up into my shoulders.

The ER doctor told me I had REFLUX. Can you guess what it really was?? Cholecystitis. Yes, I had a severely inflamed gallbladder.

When I went to the ER, it was after office hours, so I couldn't see my PCP. I would think the ER should be able to diagnose cholecystitis. The ER doctor gave me a shot of demerol {for reflux???} and sent me home. It lasted about 1 hour and I was again in severe pain, but I had to wait over the rest of the weekend until I could see my PCP and he knew immediately what was wrong.

Sorry, but I don't trust our ER in my town. I could have died.

[ERNurse752, RN]

Yeah, you just plain got blown off. In my ER, those s/s would have warranted an EKG, IV/bloodwork, and possibly more! Glad you got taken care of.

I was misdiagnosed in the ER. I started having severe pains, going around me like a band, starting underneath my breasts and around my back and up into my shoulders.

The ER doctor told me I had REFLUX. Can you guess what it really was?? Cholecystitis. Yes, I had a severely inflamed gallbladder.

When I went to the ER, it was after office hours, so I couldn't see my PCP. I would think the ER should be able to diagnose cholecystitis. The ER doctor gave me a shot of demerol {for reflux???} and sent me home. It lasted about 1 hour and I was again in severe pain, but I had to wait over the rest of the weekend until I could see my PCP and he knew immediately what was wrong.

Sorry, but I don't trust our ER in my town. I could have died.

[akcarmean, LPN]

Good luck and hope you are feeling better.

Angelia