Foot problem

by Barbara
(CA)

A month ago I stepped on a piece of glass. Near the site there was a callus.

The doctor numbed my foot in the office from the top and removed the glass from the bottom of my foot. There were no stiches involved.

After the glass was removed she told me to use polysporin daily on the bottom of my foot and cover it with a bandage. I wore my normal shoes.

A week later I went back to the office for a follow-up and she told me everything looked fine but to continue the bandage and polysporin.

A week later my foot started feeling irritated and it finally got to the point where I could not wear my shoe. Now my second toe next to my big toe is red and swollen. In addition, my foot is swollen and my toe feels like it is broken. Finally when I walk the bottom of my foot feels like I am walking on a lump.

I went to the doctor's office and she prescribed Azithromycin 250mg and cold compresses to the foot. I have been taking Azithromycin for 2 days and applying cold compresses and there is no change.

My next appointment with the doctor is in 5 days and it is currently closed for the holiday.

I am in pain and don't know what to do.

RESPONSE

Hi Barbara,

I am making the assumption that a small piece of glass was originally removed from the bottom of your foot. If it were a large piece of glass, in theory, it could have damaged some the structures on the bottom of your foot, which might have lead to pain further down the road.

Of course if that were the case, you more than likely would have had pain continually from the time you left the doctors office.

Your pain started about a week later so in my mind I am thinking either you have an infection or perhaps there is still some glass left in your foot and a granuloma may have occurred which is the body walling off the foreign body (and that is why you may feel a lump).

I assume when you went back to your doctor, the wound was small and not draining so there was really nothing there to culture and your doctor prescribed a broad spectrum antibiotic, but it does not appear to be helping.

Since it is Christmas and you will never find a doctor to see, I would suggest you go to the Emergency Room of your local hospital.

I would recommend you have an ultrasound to see if there is any residual glass in the foot, as well as blood work to check your white blood count for infection.

Along with that you may have to have the original wound opened to see if there is any pus so that it may be drained and cultured to find out what bacteria is causing the infection (if that is the problem).

I know nothing about your medical history, but if you happen to be a diabetic or have poor circulation to your feet then it becomes more urgent that you seek medical attention.

Even if you have no health issues, an infection that is uncontrolled can only have poor consequences.

That is the best advice I can give you with the information I have to work with. Good luck.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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