Why didn't the bones in my foot fuse? (see below for more info)?

Question

I broke my foot in 5 places a few weeks ago and had to have surgery. I wore this boot cast for the whole time. I had to take it off yesterday at the doctors because it should have healed, it has not. I now have to have more surgery to sort it out, I have missed at least 3 weeks of school because of this, I'm in year 8 and am doing several GCSE's this year. He has told me that I will be off for another month - I don't want the surgery but I cannot put any weight on it as the bones have slipped out of line, again. Can anyone tell me why the bones didn't fuse? I now have a huge scar running from the top of my ankle to the end of my foot, I don't want another. I told my doctor I don't want the surgery but he kept saying that I would, Can he force me to have surgery? My parents want me to but I really don't, he has also noticed that i have an old injury in my big toe, it was broken and fused wonky, so he's gonna break that and re-set it. but my q is: can he force me to have surgery??

yuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I managed to do this riding a horse - will I still be able to ride a horse? and why didn't the bones fuse?

Answer 1

Hi well no Dr or Consultant can force you into anything with out your say so.They have to respect your rights as a patient,and you have a lot off rights too.If your bones are not fusing together the only option is to have surgery.Drs always put there patients in to a cast first just to see if your fracture will heal,if not the second choice is surgery.Drs do not like doing surgery only when they really need to and they have tryed other ways off treatment first,there are risks being put asleep thats whys they honestly do try everything they can first.If you dont have the surgery you will have problems,your fractures will not heal,you may have some sort off deformaty later on in life and pain too.Alotoff peoples bones do not heal,if the fracture is moving new bone growth cannot grow round the fracture site.Take regular vitamin D and resat when you can this helps with the healing process,but do not take loads off pain killers as they can delay the healing process.Think about what you want,but this it the only option left by having surgery.Good Luck Email me if you want any more advice

Answer 2

Legally you are under 16 and if your parents sign th consent form the only way you could stop the surgery is to get a lawyer and fight it with a court action. It sounds extreme but it has been done in the UK.
By the sound of it the surgery is needed. If your bones heal out of line it could have serious effects on your foot, leg and even your spine in years to come. You dont want to end up with a permanant limp do you? The scars ...call them your war wounds and say you were hit by a snipers bullet (twice) whilst you were sunbathing on the beach in Barbados :D

Answer 3

Hun, cowboy up. It's a short time in your life to make the rest of your life better. Doctor's cannot predict how your body will heal. Have the surgery. Do you want to walk and run and jump again or not? Do you want to be a cripple the rest of your life? Your parent are the guardians of you and if they say yes to the surgery, which they should, then yes you will have it. They are responsible for you and make the decisions for your well being since you are too young to do that. Have the surgery. You will be much better off.

Answer 4

He can't force you. But do you really want to live with the consequences of not having the surgery? What if by not getting it fixed it heals badly on its own and then you possibly can't walk anymore? or you have a deformed foot?

Answer 5

simple answer is no, you cant be forced...however, think of the longterm consequences of refusing treatment and remember that surgery is only offered if there is no other treatment...education can be caught up any time but the damage to your foot may end up unfixable causing you a lifetime of problems...good luck