"Care following a fall"

Last year after watching tv about 10pm I had a freak fall and fell off the sofa as I got up. I am female, aged 71. I do have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and lower limbs but could go Latin American dancing once a week and walk about a couple of miles before this happened. I am not on medication for my peripheral neuropathy. Three days after the accident I took myself to Beacon Hospital was xrayed and given black support boots for both feet for about 6 weeks. The doctor who saw me and examined my feet said two broken feet, but when a consultant saw the X-ray a few days later he amended it to

Left foot - tender 4,5th and base of 5th metatarsal fracture

Right foot - tender medial cuneiform/navicular bilateral swelling, no fracture evident, shows some arthritis over middle and inner side of right foot.

This was the virtual fracture clinic assessment and was emailed to me and my local doctor at Station Road, West Wickham GP practice. I was sent some exercises for the first six weeks by Virtual Fracture Clinic.

After 3 weeks I wanted someone to look at my feet again, reassure me and do another X-ray of the right foot. It was painful on the inner right arch and on top middle. The left foot seemed better than right foot. I suggested in an email to the Virtual fracture care clinic that I should go down to Beacon Beckenham again. The reply from Virtual fracture clinic was they had had a review of my xrays - nothing to suggest a fracture of right foot, just showing some arthritis wear comfortable supportive shoes when coming out of black boots. Your GP is the best person for advice on pain relief and they can also refer you to physiotherapy or an elective foot clinic if it should be needed.

I phoned West Wickham Station Road practice and had a telephone appointment with Dr. Venison.

I said to her I’d like someone to see my feet, give me some exercises and look at my gait. I think my right foot inside on the arch is bumpy and swollen compared to my left foot. Both feet were the same before the accident.

Dr. Venison arranged for me to contact a physiotherapist using Vita Trust Group who phoned and arranged a phone assessment by physiotherapist (John). He sent me some exercises in the post.

A few months later and it is still painful on my right foot - on top and on the pad when walked on - so spoke to my GP.Dr Yee. He gave me pain relief on repeat prescription and said to arrange an NHS physio direct online assessment with Vita health group.

Physio assessment by phone by Talia. She sent me some exercises and a green resistance band. She also arranged a podiatrist appointment (she warned me of a long waiting list for podiatry  -I finally saw Jason, podiatrist a month later, Beacon Beckenham). She made an appointment with Harry at Crystal Palace sports clinic (part of vita health group) for the month after. I wasn’t well with summer flu so cancelled and made the next available appointment.

I saw Chris, a physiotherapist at Crystal Palace. He gave me exercises for weak right hip, gave me standard nhs orthotics as he said the ones  I was  using weren't supportive enough. He said wear them straight away. They  have helped. My balance feels better as I walk or turn. He said they would be a trial of the orthotics and when see a podiatrist ( at that point I had no date) I could say how they were. The podiatrist might even sort a custom made pair for me.

He also arranged a sports clinic physio appointment at Orpington hospital (Vita Health group). He emailed me some different exercises to do.

Goal: to get back to dancing, necessarily may have to adjust, practice dancing. Ten minutes a day walking for several days, then add. Chris knew about Mytime classes that are run in Bromley and Beckenham. I said I was  a member. He said he thought the classes were good. I said I was now doing two classes a week One strength and stability and one Paracise for primetime members (older members).Chris noted the difference between the two feet ( strength/ balance etc).

Then saw podiatrist Jason at Beckenham Beacon.

He is ordering a different pair of orthotics. To make it slightly easier on right hand bump on arch on right foot, he has arranged a longer appointment so he can build the new orthotics up suitably.

He said the right hand foot ( or both?) were compromised’.

I told him, as I'd told Chris the physio :

I would like

1.less ponderous walk

2. Ability to change direction more quickly and smoothly when standing

3. Sideways walking better

4. Balancing on one foot better

5.Ability to stand on tiptoed improve

6 Right foot - tendency to stand at NNE- if not thinking about it.

7.Improve on stiff, awkward walk as I get my balance when walking after getting up from seated position.

8. I don’t have any pain when seated, but when walking or standing there is some pain and discomfort  - I would like that lessened.