Minutus

Hi all
2 ½ weeks ago I broke my left calcaneous (heel bone) in several places and put a slight crack in the right maleolus (ankle bone). Please don't ask how, suffice to say, whatever I may think I am not a teenager anymore, and I am not superman either.

Everything is going well, I have taken, Arnica, rhus tox, ruta, symphytum and Hecla. and given myself some Bowen and Emmett moves. I have not needed any painkillers or drugs of any kind, When the pain returned it was time for another dose and if that didn't work, a change of remedy. (Sorry about all the remedies purists, but that's what it took to stay painfree).

I can now do perfect circles with my right ankle, lift myself onto the ball of my right foot unaided, and painlessly hop a reasonable distance barefoot on my unsupported right foot. My left foot no longer swells much if I stand for reasonable periods, I can now happily hop around on 1 foot and two crutches for an hour or two doing Bowen/NST/Emmett treatments and sitting doing homeopathic consultations is a doddle. I feel as if my left foot is almost ready to take weight, but not willing to risk it yet.

I intended to buy a cheap old automatic car (clutch is very heavy on my old alfa) and start driving. However I went to the fracture clinic yesterday and the consultant told me I cannot drive, not even an automatic for another six weeks, because that is how long the right ankle should take to mend and if I do not constantly lie with my feet up the left foot will swell and hurt. He said the left foot would take 12 weeks at first, but when he looked at it without the plaster he admitted it looked better than he had expected and may be ok in 6 weeks.

My first thought was to just ignore him, but I suspect my insurance would be invalid if I did.

Any thoughts on getting a sensible second opinion? my local GP? a physiotherapist? a private consultation with another consultant(would rather not pay good money to someone who probably couldn't even cure a heamorhoid) A driving istructor perhaps? Not keen on spending too much more time in waiting rooms or listening to arogant patronising waffle, but would be worth it to get mobile again. Anyone got any experience of this kind of thing in the UK? or patient who have?

Also, he has booked me for an xray on my left foot in 4 weeks. While I am not keen on unneccesary xrays I would quite like one sooner as I want to try weight bearing sooner but do not want to risk doing it to soon and being back at square 1. Any thoughts on how to get an earlier Xray?

This sort of treatment realy can dramaticly speed bone healing. I broke my little finger skiing a few years ago and took arnica and symphytum. I skied every day for two weeks, and had it xrayed when I got home. It had healed extremely well in this time which was a shame, as under the swelling it was as bent as a dogs hind leg. Of course you shouldn't really use symphytum before bones are properly set, but it controled the pain so well(unless I knocked it) and it looked straight when it was swolen like a sausage.
Best wishes
Jeremy

hi jermy,
In my experience you should use "Ruta" and "Hypericum" for certain period. I hope it will help you
Regards
Mirza S Baig
Presednt
Pakistan Homeopathic Research Council
________________________________

From: "Jeremycrowley@aol.com"
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, April 22, 2010 12:24:22 PM
Subject: [Minutus] mending broken bones and driving (UK)
Hi all
2 ½ weeks ago I broke my left calcaneous (heel bone) in several places and put a slight crack in the right maleolus (ankle bone). Please don't ask how, suffice to say, whatever I may think I am not a teenager anymore, and I am not superman either.

Everything is going well, I have taken, Arnica, rhus tox, ruta, symphytum and Hecla. and given myself some Bowen and Emmett moves. I have not needed any painkillers or drugs of any kind, When the pain returned it was time for another dose and if that didn't work, a change of remedy. (Sorry about all the remedies purists, but that's what it took to stay painfree).

I can now do perfect circles with my right ankle, lift myself onto the ball of my right foot unaided, and painlessly hop a reasonable distance barefoot on my unsupported right foot. My left foot no longer swells much if I stand for reasonable periods, I can now happily hop around on 1 foot and two crutches for an hour or two doing Bowen/NST/Emmett treatments and sitting doing homeopathic consultations is a doddle. I feel as if my left foot is almost ready to take weight, but not willing to risk it yet.

I intended to buy a cheap old automatic car (clutch is very heavy on my old alfa) and start driving. However I went to the fracture clinic yesterday and the consultant told me I cannot drive, not even an automatic for another six weeks, because that is how long the right ankle should take to mend and if I do not constantly lie with my feet up the left foot will swell and hurt. He said the left foot would take 12 weeks at first, but when he looked at it without the plaster he admitted it looked better than he had expected and may be ok in 6 weeks.

My first thought was to just ignore him, but I suspect my insurance would be invalid if I did.

Any thoughts on getting a sensible second opinion? my local GP? a physiotherapist? a private consultation with another consultant(would rather not pay good money to someone who probably couldn't even cure a heamorhoid) A driving istructor perhaps? Not keen on spending too much more time in waiting rooms or listening to arogant patronising waffle, but would be worth it to get mobile again. Anyone got any experience of this kind of thing in the UK? or patient who have?

Also, he has booked me for an xray on my left foot in 4 weeks. While I am not keen on unneccesary xrays I would quite like one sooner as I want to try weight bearing sooner but do not want to risk doing it to soon and being back at square 1. Any thoughts on how to get an earlier Xray?

This sort of treatment realy can dramaticly speed bone healing. I broke my little finger skiing a few years ago and took arnica and symphytum. I skied every day for two weeks, and had it xrayed when I got home. It had healed extremely well in this time which was a shame, as under the swelling it was as bent as a dogs hind leg. Of course you shouldn't really use symphytum before bones are properly set, but it controled the pain so well(unless I knocked it) and it looked straight when it was swolen like a sausage.
Best wishes
Jeremy

Jeremy,
I know it is tempting to think you can speed up the entire process with homeopathy. Reduced swelling and pain control as well as better quality of the healing process are benefits of homeopathy. However, it does take some time for the biochemical process of healing to take place. In a non-weight bearing part – people often jump the gun and there are no consequences. I would suggest that with the foot – it is wise to go slow(er) and take weight at a more controlled pace if this is possible in your life. Where I have seen problems is when people start ‘normal’ walking activities too soon and don’t take into consideration the pounding and jarring of the force of gravity in normal walking – much less the bumps and twists of normal daily activities. Re-injury is a real concern. A good physical therapist should be able to help you sequence some exercises for stability at a pace that is comfortable and appropriate for you (not some standard pace).
I say this from personal experience. I am full time care giver for my mother and cannot stay off my foot – so with 2 broken toes and several small fractures in the foot and ankle (and some nerve damage) – I can control the pain reasonably well, and the swelling very well. But the actual healing is taking a terribly long time due to constant re-injury. Unfortunately, with no swelling or bruising to show – the orthopedist said it was all in my head and that I was just stressed. After I finally convinced him to take one - the x ray changed his tune a little – but with no swelling or bruising he still thought the damage just could not be as bad as it looked. Well – so far that is the only down side I have found of homeopathy! You just don’t look or feel as damaged as they expect.
If at all possible – give your foot the time it requires to heal properly.
Donna
D C Rona, PhD, ND, DHM
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jeremycrowley@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:24 AM
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Minutus] mending broken bones and driving (UK)
Hi all

2 ½ weeks ago I broke my left calcaneous (heel bone) in several places and put a slight crack in the right maleolus (ankle bone). Please don't ask how, suffice to say, whatever I may think I am not a teenager anymore, and I am not superman either.
Everything is going well, I have taken, Arnica, rhus tox, ruta, symphytum and Hecla. and given myself some Bowen and Emmett moves. I have not needed any painkillers or drugs of any kind, When the pain returned it was time for another dose and if that didn't work, a change of remedy. (Sorry about all the remedies purists, but that's what it took to stay painfree).
I can now do perfect circles with my right ankle, lift myself onto the ball of my right foot unaided, and painlessly hop a reasonable distance barefoot on my unsupported right foot. My left foot no longer swells much if I stand for reasonable periods, I can now happily hop around on 1 foot and two crutches for an hour or two doing Bowen/NST/Emmett treatments and sitting doing homeopathic consultations is a doddle. I feel as if my left foot is almost ready to take weight, but not willing to risk it yet.
I intended to buy a cheap old automatic car (clutch is very heavy on my old alfa) and start driving. However I went to the fracture clinic yesterday and the consultant told me I cannot drive, not even an automatic for another six weeks, because that is how long the right ankle should take to mend and if I do not constantly lie with my feet up the left foot will swell and hurt. He said the left foot would take 12 weeks at first, but when he looked at it without the plaster he admitted it looked better than he had expected and may be ok in 6 weeks.
My first thought was to just ignore him, but I suspect my insurance would be invalid if I did.
Any thoughts on getting a sensible second opinion? my local GP? a physiotherapist? a private consultation with another consultant(would rather not pay good money to someone who probably couldn't even cure a heamorhoid) A driving istructor perhaps? Not keen on spending too much more time in waiting rooms or listening to arogant patronising waffle, but would be worth it to get mobile again. Anyone got any experience of this kind of thing in the UK? or patient who have?
Also, he has booked me for an xray on my left foot in 4 weeks. While I am not keen on unneccesary xrays I would quite like one sooner as I want to try weight bearing sooner but do not want to risk doing it to soon and being back at square 1. Any thoughts on how to get an earlier Xray?
This sort of treatment realy can dramaticly speed bone healing. I broke my little finger skiing a few years ago and took arnica and symphytum. I skied every day for two weeks, and had it xrayed when I got home. It had healed extremely well in this time which was a shame, as under the swelling it was as bent as a dogs hind leg. Of course you shouldn't really use symphytum before bones are properly set, but it controled the pain so well(unless I knocked it) and it looked straight when it was swolen like a sausage.
Best wishes
Jeremy

This sounds familiar as it is what I was told when I broke my arm and laughed at when I said I would be using homeopathy to mend it faster than expected. I took a few doses of Symphytum 200 after the usual Arnica and then continued Symphytum 30 in a water potency for about 3 or 4 weeks . When I returned for an X ray at 5 weeks the consultant reluctantly said that from the calcification that was obvious on the X ray - I had experienced "very rapid healing" and therefore he would now allow me to drive , I did have to ask!!! I also took Calc Phos Tissue salts.
Good luck as your leg sounds more complicated than my simple break - Hang in there. I don't see any problem about asking for an X ray sooner. Keep asking.
Rochelle
.
Registered Homeopath with The Society of Homeopaths
EFT (Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

Hi, Jeremy,
I have to agree with Rona. Two weeks ago I fell and cracked some ribs. A few homeopathic remedies and I felt better -- so much better that I overdid it and ended up with some pretty mean spasms. I'm not a napper, but I now force myself to lie down every afternoon for an hour, because being horizontal feels a helluva lot better than being upright.
This is not the first time I've interpreted that lack of pain and freedom of motion meant a more advanced state of healing than was reasonable to assume. My new mantra is: "It's your body -- give it support and respect."
Peace,
Dale