Mountain Project Logo

Broken or bruised?

Original Post
Grant Cohen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0

I fell off a 12’ boulder today onto my left heel. I missed the crash pad and it hurt so bad i almost passed out. Fast forward an hour or so later, my heel is swollen like a sausage and is hurting whenever i put weight on it. Any ideas?

Long Ranger · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 669

An x-ray will answer that pretty quickly. Hoping for the best outcome.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276
Grant Cohen wrote: I fell off a 12’ boulder today onto my left heel. I missed the crash pad and it hurt so bad i almost passed out. Fast forward an hour or so later, my heel is swollen like a sausage and is hurting whenever i put weight on it. Any ideas?

An idea? Go to an emergency room or an Urgent Care. People on the Internet can't diagnose it.

Grant Cohen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0
FrankPS wrote:

An idea? Go to an emergency room or an Urgent Care. People on the Internet can't diagnose it.

I’m figuring out next steps as in whether i should go to ortho or just the ER. 

Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

ER

Lena chita · · OH · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,667

You need X-rays. Urgent care is often cheaper than ER, and faster.

They will do the Xrays, splint/air boot the foot, if needed, and will tell you to follow up with your dr and/or ortho.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 984

Let me warn you that it can be easy to miss a broken heel bone on a plain X-ray unless you are pretty experienced.
Ask about Bohler’s angle. If they don’t know what you are talking about, make sure the film gets read by a radiologist or an orthopod.

Josh Rappoport · · Natick, MA · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 31
Mark E Dixon wrote: Let me warn you that it can be easy to miss a broken heel bone on a plain X-ray unless you are pretty experienced.
Ask about Bohler’s angle. If they don’t know what you are talking about, make sure the film gets read by a radiologist or an orthopod.

"orthopod" - Is this an invertebrate that (ironically) specializes in orthopedics?  Or an orthopedist that only treats injuries to the exoskeleton?

Josh Rappoport · · Natick, MA · Joined Sep 2017 · Points: 31

OP - this might be helpful: mountainproject.com/forum/t…
There are also several older bruised or broken heel posts on MP
I took a lead fall onto a ledge three weeks ago today and landed badly on my right heel.  Initial pain was less than you are describing, and mine did not swell, but very uncomfortable walking.  Finally starting to feel significantly better now.  As I said, yours sounds worse...sorry!

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

Broken.

J Kug · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 0

I saw an ankle break from a 3 foot fall. I had an ankle disintegrate from a 3 foot fall. Angle of impact! So 12 feet onto heel....Likely broken but check for hidden fractures in the talus as they don't heal without intervention 

Grant Cohen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0
J Kuginis wrote: I saw an ankle break from a 3 foot fall. I had an ankle disintegrate from a 3 foot fall. Angle of impact! So 12 feet onto heel....Likely broken but check for hidden fractures in the talus as they don't heal without intervention 

The tallus feels broken also. I cant bend my foot because of my Achilles and there is a lot of pain in the heel and tallus. Hopefully not broken

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610
Grant Cohen wrote:

The tallus feels broken also. I cant bend my foot because of my Achilles and there is a lot of pain in the heel and tallus. Hopefully not broken

Bro. Get an xray asap!

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,100

Can ya push yer foot like you would push the gas peddle? If not add ruptured achilles tendon to yer list of things to contemplate before having the intestinal fortitude to see a doctor.

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Dude it’s been almost 24 hours why haven’t you been to a dr ?

Grant Cohen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0
Ryan Williams wrote: Dude it’s been almost 24 hours why haven’t you been to a dr ?

The ortho is closed and the ER and Urgent will only refer me to an ortho...

Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380
Grant Cohen wrote:

The ortho is closed and the ER and Urgent will only refer me to an ortho...

That’s telling you something dude. Trust me...I know how valuable feet are. 


Don’t wait. 
FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Seems strange that the ER and Urgent Care wouldn't X-ray your foot. I went to a local Urgent Care about a year ago for a suspected broken foot (metatarsal) and they X-rayed it.

Edit: Do you have insurance or cash? Why wouldn't the ER treat you? Sounds fishy.

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0
Mark E Dixon wrote: Let me warn you that it can be easy to miss a broken heel bone on a plain X-ray unless you are pretty experienced.
Ask about Bohler’s angle. If they don’t know what you are talking about, make sure the film gets read by a radiologist or an orthopod.

MD- Well according to your Xrays your foot does not appear to be broken.

Grant- Well did you look at Bohlers angle?

MD- Well I went to medical school, did a residency and *(probably these days a fellowship). I assure you the foot is not broken.

Grant- No doc you don't understand, Mark E Dixon told me that if you don't know about Bohlers angle I should get a second opinion.

MD- Who is Mark E Dixon

Grant- Some guy on MP

MD- MP?

Grant- Yeah, Mountain Project. I run all medical questions through a climbers forum filled with anonymous avatars of people I don't know before coming in to talk to a medical professional.

Love it. I'm not doubting your knowledge Mark, I can just imagine this conversation.
If your talus is broken that could have life long consequences for not getting fixed. Your calcaneous is important too but I don't know anyone who has broken that so I cant speak to it. If the foot is broken an orthopod should come into the ED to see you bc I'm willing to bet you need surgery.

Good luck
Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

I broke my talus:


This is how I climb now.
Go to the ER.
Mal
Grant Cohen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 0
chris tregge wrote:

No, the ER or urgent care will make a diagnosis, give you a boot and crutches (and percocet) and then decide how quickly you need to be seen in Ortho.  If it's a heel fracture you really should be seen within a couple days.  If you just call ortho for an appointment they might tell you the first available is 3 weeks out.  

I spoke to my buddy who is a doctor and works at ER..told me to go to ortho when it opens and he gave me crutches 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Bouldering
Post a Reply to "Broken or bruised?"

Log In to Reply
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.