# Foot injury - advice? {It’s a blood clot} **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446 "2022-08-27T20:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/181 "2022-09-07T15:49:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The reason for the long winded story is that if it’s an arterial clot then I would ask your doctor about checking for the source. Thanks for the cautionary story, glad you got through that okay. In my case the radiologist [determined](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/95) that it’s a clot in a vein rather than an artery. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/182 "2022-09-07T18:22:05Z")
Sounds like they’re on it. Good luck with foot. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/183 "2022-09-07T20:01:44Z")
My two visits to Urgent Care were billed at $1479 total. This isn’t preliminary, I spoke with my insurance – I haven’t hit my $6900 deductible so that’s my out-of-pocket amount, please pay in full. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/184 "2022-09-09T03:35:00Z")
OK! I have a doc appointment in exactly 12 hours! Trying to get my list of questions together: - What should I expect re progress of thinners? - When should I expect pain to lessen in my leg (it hurts like an SOB to the point of tears many days)? Is there an expected progression? - When can I travel? What safeguards should I follow? Can I go do a 20 hour trip in 20 days? A 1 hour trip like this week? What’s the guidance? - What can I do to get pain relief? My understanding is just keep moving, anything else? Can I ice? - Should I take more Narco, and just habituate to the effects? I’ve been taking a minimal amount (they gave me 10 @ 3/day 13 days ago, I have 7 left). I want the option to be able to drive and not be impaired, am I being foolish not taking the med until gone? - I’m concerned about the amount of acetaminophen I’m taking in Narco plus regular acetaminophen meds. Can I maybe have a pain med sans acetaminophen so I can dose acetaminophen more safely? - OK, to simplify: I feel like I can take _either_ a Tylenol _or_ a Norco - is this the case? It feels like if the Tylenol isn’t enough, I’ve closed off my options for 8 hours. Then I must choose again. Give me some guidance please. - Can I use compression stockings (and how do I get a proper one)? - Is this going to be a permanent disability? If not or if yes, why and how will we know? - Is there an underlying, undiagnosed cause of this clot? Just something that happened? - (kidding) my calf is like a balloon, can we just pierce it and let all the pressure out and be done? Suggestions for doc questions? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/185 "2022-09-09T04:00:22Z")
One more question to ask the doctor: _“doc, will I be able to play the violin after treatment?”_ When he/she answers, _“yes”_, reply, _“Sweet! I never could before!_" When he stops kicking you, ask him _your_ list of questions; they’re very good and complete. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/186 "2022-09-09T19:23:09Z")
I have a PE ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/187 "2022-09-09T19:34:58Z")
Things are going to get real now. Sorry this is happening to you. PEs are understandably very frightening. Hope your doctors are hustling to treat it and get you doing better. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/188 "2022-09-09T19:35:09Z")
Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/189 "2022-09-09T20:05:45Z")
oh dear. i hope things go well. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/190 "2022-09-09T20:09:03Z")
PE is serious but very treatable. Hang in there and follow your doctor’s directions to a tee. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/191 "2022-09-09T20:31:21Z")
For those of us without medical training, is “PE” a pulmonary embolism? That sucks. One of my bridge buddies had one a a couple of years ago, and did really well. I suppose my dad died of a pulmonary embolism, but it killed him immediately, before he made it to the hospital. And it wasn’t diagnosed until the autopsy, they thought it had been a heart attack. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/192 "2022-09-09T20:36:51Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > For those of us without medical training, is “PE” a pulmonary embolism? Yes, it is. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/193 "2022-09-09T20:52:11Z")
The good news, such as it is, is you have probably already started treatment for it. It would be important that you get additional blood tests to make sure you are not at increased genetic risk, if these were not done, and you can discuss this with your health providers. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/194 "2022-09-09T22:36:38Z")
Still waiting for a bed. In news of the weird, a freaking _bat_ flew through the ER lobby earlier today. Wish I’d gotten a pic for the “Today In Nature” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/195 "2022-09-09T22:43:44Z")
We wish you well. Please get better quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/196 "2022-09-10T03:05:38Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > In news of the weird, a freaking _bat_ flew through the ER lobby earlier today. Probably a new [anticoagulation therapy?](https://asknature.org/strategy/saliva-breaks-down-blood-clots/) Hell, they’re using leeches again, after all. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/197 "2022-09-10T03:53:25Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I suppose my dad died of a pulmonary embolism, but it killed him immediately, before he made it to the hospital. Is this intended to be helpful in any way??? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/198 "2022-09-10T04:31:42Z")
I was going to ask if you were admitted; they’d have been crazy not to. Keep us posted on how you’re doing. A BAT? Wow. Guess if it bit somebody, they were in the right place to start their rabies shots. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/199 "2022-09-10T04:34:36Z")
Only squeegee can tell us if he found it helpful or the reverse, I suppose, but ISTM that the underlying point basically was the same one that Tibby and Dr\_Paprika were making: namely, pulmonary embolisms are most dangerous when undiagnosed. If you know you’ve got a PE, and you’re already under a form of treatment that is significantly effective against it, as in squeegee’s case, that makes your odds way better. (IANAD, of course, so I hope anybody who IAD will correct me if I misstated facts there.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2022, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446/200 "2022-09-10T06:53:03Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > In news of the weird, a freaking _bat_ flew through the ER lobby earlier today. Holy shit! I hope you at least found that a little entertaining. Waiting in the ER can be pretty horrible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foot-injury-advice-it-s-a-blood-clot/970446.md?page=11)