I came, I saw, I conquered-delayed union

On February 10th, a Stanford professor came to our clinic for shoulder pain as well as persistent discomfort from a sprained right foot and a fracture at the base of his 5th metatarsal that occurred about three months ago. Two podiatrists from two different medical groups concurred that his right foot should be immobilized in a boot for two months. However, his physical therapist thought this period of immobilization seemed too long.

Upon my initial examination, I found his right foot cold, purple and showing poor blood supply. I also saw that he had a very limited range of motion. When I asked if his podiatrists were aware that his foot was so cold and stiff, he said that neither of them ever got closer than five feet to him, let alone touching his foot. All their opinions were based only upon reviewing his X-rays. My jaw dropped! I could not believe that his poor foot was never visually examined and palpated by either of his foot doctors. 

After reviewing his X-rays taken on February 1st, there appeared to be a delayed union of the fracture. Some treatment to promote blood circulation to the fractured bone appeared to be necessary. Based on my findings, I recommended that we treat him twice a week for two weeks to reduce the pain, swelling and stiffness in his right foot due to the injury and prolonged immobilization. With treatments of acupuncture, heat, soft tissue mobilization (AKA acupressure, massage, etc.), my major goal was to help the fracture heal faster. 

On his February 12th visit with one of his podiatrists, he was told that the X-rays indicated his fracture did not seem to heal after almost 10 weeks. He had to return for another series of X-rays in two weeks and continue to walk in the orthopedic boot and ambulate with a scooter he bought second-handed. 

Although his foot had been feeling much better after just four visits with me, he was reluctant to take off his boot and lay off his scooter. Then on his 5th visit on February 27th, he excitedly handed me a CD of his X-rays taken earlier in the day, and said, "I have good news for you: the foot doctor finally said I could take off my boot and use an ankle brace when I walk. My bone has healed."

I was so thrilled to receive this news that I moved as quickly as I could to insert his acupuncture needles and hooking them to electrodes -- and then rushed to my big desktop screen to compare his previous X-rays to the most recent ones. I could not help but calling my intern to see them, "Wow, is this medicine or miracle?!"

Frank He, L. Ac, QME, DAOM
Edited by Tom Rigoli, Ph. D.