[Guest]

I have been having discomfort & pain in my forefeet. I thought it was the calluses, plus I ran into the edge of the couch barefoot about a month ago and injured my middle toe. But after weeks of treating the calluses in one way or another, and having tried taping my injured toe (which appeared to be healing crooked & was still causing discomfort) I decided to see a podiatrist

I went yesterday. He examined me & took xrays & said that I had metaductis (sp). He said that my bunions are pronounced, but that he was more concerned about the nerves on the bottom of my feet. He explained that the foot is designed to carry weight from heel to the tip of the big toe. He said that my toes turn outward and that when I walk my foot turns toward the outside & causes me to bring my weight down on the ball of my foot. He also said that after years of this method of walking that I have worn down the fatty pad on the ball of my foot, hince the calluses.

Let me state that, yes, I was in some discomfort when I went in for the exam. But after the exam and for the rest of the day I was in actual pain (clear up to me knees) that I did not feel before I went. During the examination the doctor applied simultaneous pressure to the top of the foot & the bottom of the foot using a pinching technique. He did this on both feet and on either side of the middle toes. After he did it the first time he left the room to treat another patient & when he came back in he said "let's see how we're doing" DID IT AGAIN. It almost feels like he broke or fractured something.

I can't find "metaductis" anywhere on the internet. What I have found is that the fatty pad on the bottom of the foot wears with age (I'm 53 years old) & can lead to forefoot problems which can be addressed with orthotic devices. AND . . . except for my pronounced bunions (which are not currently causing any problems, and my injured middle toe on one foot), my toes don't appear to turn outward. When I stand side-by-side with my husband (who has no foot problems), our toes are aligned the same.

The ultimate diagnosis was possible nerve damage & he prescribed a steroid for 6 days to aleviate the imflamation & told me to come back in 2 weeks for another exam. Is there such a thing as metaductis? Am I being taken by a quack who hurt me intentionally?

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

D.

[Guest]

Metadductus is an actual condition. However, if you do not feel comfortable with the doctor you are curently using, you should get a second opinion. It is hard to get better if you do not trust the doctor with whom you are working.
[quote] I have been having discomfort & pain in my forefeet. I thought it was the calluses, plus I ran into the edge of the couch barefoot about a month ago and injured my middle toe... [/quote]