Patient: 18 years old
Date: 19 December 2023, first visit
Main Problem: Pain in left foot and unable to walk for 2 days
When patient enter the consultation room, the patient came in by jumping on one foot.
Patient described that she sprained her left foot when she accidentally walks on an uneven surface while going shopping. Now she can’t put her feet on the ground, the pain is so severe that she can’t even walk properly and can’t sleep well at night because of the pain.
【Diagnosis】
After understanding the incident, the patient was asked to go to the treatment room and lie on the treatment bed for further examination and diagnosis.
During the examination, when the skin of the affected area is touched with hand, slight feeling of heat and swelling is felt. The patient mentioned feeling of pain is severe even when the area is touched slightly. It is constant pain.
Then, rule out the possibilities of ankle joint sprain.
Tarsometatarsal joint ligament sprain is diagnosed. Due to the recent injury, it is currently in the inflammatory stage and the foot cannot step on the ground.
【Treatment】
During the treatment process, try to minimize pressing on the inflamed area. Pressing it will more easily aggravate the pain in the inflamed area and even cause secondary injury.
After combined treatment with Tuina therapy and acupuncture, the swelling in the affected area was reduced, the affected area was immediately bandaged to reduce inflammation, promote blood circulation and stabilize the joint.
Before patient get off the treatment bed, I teach the patient some walking methods to reduce the pain caused by stepping on the ground and also avoid hopping on one foot.
Pain is still felt when the patient tried to step on the ground. I replied: “This is normal because it is currently still injured and inflamed, the foot will be put under pressure when walking, so pain is still felt when walking. Afterwards, use the posture I adjusted to walk. The pain will be relieved by the time, but 2-3 days of rest is needed.”
“I will prescribe some Chinese Medicine for you to take. Other than helping in restoring the foot problem, it will also help in gastric problem like bloating and wind. I will also give you external patches to help with inflammation and blood circulation in the inflamed area.”
Before the patient left, I advise her again: “Try to rest as much as possible these few days, walk less and remember to take and apply medicine on time. After that, the pain will be a lot relieved.”
Follow-up visit: 23 December, 2023
After 3 days of oral and external medications, the patient was able to walk normally and came for follow-up consultation.
The patient reported her condition had improved. It is no longer painful stepping on the ground and she can walk normally. At the same time, the problem of gastric bloating and wind has also been helped.
When I checked the patient tarsometatarsal joint again, the inflammation was gone, but there was still slight pain when pressing the tarsometatarsal joint.
This time, Tuina therapy and acupuncture treatments were used to help relax the muscles on the dorsum and sole of the foot, promote blood circulation and blood stasis in the affected area, adjust the mobility of the tarsometatarsal joints.
After treatment, the patient felt it was easier to walk.
“Since the tarsometatarsal joint ligament has not fully recovered, I will prescribe Chinese medicine and external patches for you to continue, then you’re good to go.”
[Tips to relieve tarsometatarsal joint ligament injuries]
1. After the tarsometatarsal joint ligament is injured, rest as much as possible and move as little as possible. It is not suitable to stand or walk for too long as this will burden the injured area and aggravate the condition.
2. Wear slippers at home or sneakers when going out, which can relieve the pain caused by stepping on the ground.
3. 3. You can use hot or cold compresses to relieve pain. Please refer to Sprain treatment: hot or cold compress?
4. If the pain persists and does not relieved the next day after the injury, please contact a TCM practitioner who can handle with muscle and joint injuries, for examination and treatment, do not delay the treatment time.
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