Yep. I didn't know for sure where to go with this. She did not fall or hit her head, I was with her, and I know this, but a knot has appeared on the top of her foot. She swears it does not hurt. but all of "The Team Mama", can see it hurts if she puts weight on that foot.

We are giving her a break as best we can, but, I will have to take her to the Doc in the AM. Today (Mon.after Easter) I couldn't get anyone in the office, I am not taking her to the ER unless it is a matter of life and death.

Like I said, I am not a happy camper at the moment. She(Mom) swears it feels OK until she stands on it. There is no swelling. Give me positve thoughts, please.... It is HARD to get her to agree to go to the Doc. I am going to take her anyway tomorrow unless she is better.

Finally Monday, We had an appointment with the podiatrist. He had had a chance to check on the x-rays and agreed that we need to keep her doing what she can, but that her foot pain is the result of arthritis and age related deterioration, try menthol rubs to make a cooling of inflamation, and emu oil blue stuff. Capsaicin stuff would probably irritate her skin too much. Not too expect a lot of anything. He seemed surprised that she is still willing to put any weight on her feet.

When you go over her feet, the fatty pads on the bottom, that cushion the bones, are completely gone in some places. You feel bones through the skin. She has well cushioned shoes, but I am looking for better inserts. Her podiatrist really didn't push me toward anything. We have a very good understanding (with the foot guy). He recommended I get back in touch with her other doctor and try to get Home Health to send a PT to teach us more non weight bearing exercises. Not exacty what I was ready to hear, but probably the truth.

This is hard. I do not want to cause her pain and suffering, yet I hate to lose ground. She is starting to struggle more. Concentrating so hard to put one foot in front of the other today, she forgot to swallow, thus drooled badly. She asked me "Why did I do that, why do I drool?" I asked her (this came from my childhood, I knew she never could) if she could rub her tummy and pat her head at the same time. She said "no", I said, "well, walking and swallowing might be the same thing now. When you are sitting, you don't drool. It is ok to do one thing at a time."

Some of it is weather related. The sun finally cracked through a bit for the past 2 days, and today was actually very warm. We got in and out of the car without extra help, made it to get her hair done and for a ride to see the azaleas and get french fries. It was a good day.

It seems it was a slight sprain, but the radiologist said, that with all the arthritic damage to her foot, he really couldn't say that there wasn't a new fracture, just that if so, it couldn't be distinquished from the rest. So many bones in the foot....

We have limited the time she puts weight on it, but have encouraged range of motion (non weight bearing) excercises in her chair and bed). She has become very happy with the gait belt now and is waiting for assistence.

She made it to get her hair done yesterday. Fortunately 2 weeks ago they put in a ramp. So we can park anywhere in the lot, and we can use her transport chair all the way. I used to have to park as close as I could, put her chair inside, and help her with her walker up a step and across the threshold before using her chair. That was luck (or grace). It really lifts her spirits to go, really depresses her not to.

In the AM now it is not puffy at all and only a little in the evening. The real surprise is that she has been allowing us to put a cold pack on it 2x a day and saying "thank you" for it. She wants so much to be better, and not to be much trouble. The only thing that worries her about the gait belt is that she is afraid she will hit one of us with her walker, constantly saying "watch your toes". As slowly as she moves there is not much chance of getting in her way.

I know when Mom hurts herself, I'm the last person she'll tell!

Everytime I hear "crash, bam" I go running. About 5 minutes ago, it happend again.

The doctor thinks it is a fracture. I'll take her to the hospital tomorrow for an x ray to be sure. Basicly she should stay off of it as much as possible. Mom says it feels better today. But any time you say Doctor to her she is instantly all better.

My money's on a ganglion. Although painful, it is quite treatable. I had one in my wrist years ago. It's still there but no longer swells since a cortisone injection with a LARGE bore needle that burst the cyst and reduced the swelling.

It is on the top of her foot just below the bend of the ankle. H thinks a tendon popped, I only know that she can't put much weight on it. It isn't getting better with rest. The CG with her last night and this AM said it was the same today. I think it is her arthritis, but maybe the doc will be able to tell us more.

Is the knot near the ankle or near a joint in the foot, BC?

I have an appointment for her at 1 PM and a team member to help me get her there. there is no bruise or swelling, except for the knot. She didn't drop anything on it. But she was standing when it happenened, brushing her teeth. And her foot just suddenly wouldn't take the weight. She will hate it, but I am fairly sure the PCP will order an X ray to be done at the hospital. This will be a long day.

I know with my Mom, it doesn't take much at all for a knot or bruise to form. But if its that sore to stand on, and you don't have a weekly nurse that comes, tell her she "has" to go to the doctor.

If it hurts to stand on, something might be wrong. Maybe she dropped something on it?

All it'd take for a knot is for her to have bumped it or dropped a little something on it. Stuff happens. Her regular doc can take a look and order an X-ray if he/she feels it is needed... if something is cracked or broken, an orthopedist will be needed. Wonder if it's gout...

Check out this Google search for "knot on top of foot"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=knot+on+top+of+foot&btnG=Google+Search
Lotsa possibilities...

Good luck!