foot gets hot in the sun
by richard
(Chattanooga, TN)
Fractured metatarsal had a metal plate and 5 pins installed. I work out side and noticed that my left foot will start heating up with shoes an socks on standing in the sun. I also have tingling in my foot i assume nerves. The last x-ray shows my ankle and foot are ok....but that does not explain the swolling, and color changes. Also, there were two small spots of arthritis starting. Which would make sense on my foot tightening up on me while I am sitting for a long time.
ANSWERHi Richard,
I have said the following on my site numerous times and that is we as doctors can never put the human body (in this case the foot), back together as well as mother nature originally built us.
So yes, you had a metatarsal
fracture and your surgeon determined that you needed a plate and screws. They were inserted, the fractured essentially healed and now you are walking again, but with some difficulty.
You do not mention how long ago the surgery was performed, but in general, if it were performed within the last 12 months it would not surprise me that you are still getting swelling and some discoloration as it actually takes bone upwards of a year to remodel. The fact that you stand a lot does not help matters, but it is what it is. You state your left foot heats up, that is probably from the inflammation, but keep in mind, it the plate is close to the surface of the skin, theoretically, the plate could heat up if exposed directly to the sun, if you were wearing sandals for example.
The tingling, I would imagine, would either be from the swelling putting pressure on one of the local nerves, or the nerve itself might have been irritated during surgery, which can happen.
Have you voiced your concerns to your surgeon as that is the person who is best suited to evaluate your condition and progress?
Keep in mind, that if your doctor determines it is the hardware in your foot that is causing most of your problems, at some point down the road, the hardware could be removed.
Marc Mitnick DPM
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