My diabetic dad thinks I am making a big deal out of this. Can I get your opinion?

My dad is a diabetic. He broke his leg at the knee 9 days ago at work. He just came home from the hospital today. He didn't bump his foot when he broke his leg, but ever since his accident his foot has been really bruised and he has a tingling, numb feeling in it. He can't wiggle his toes either. Its been 9 days and its still bruised and he can't feel your hand if you touch his foot.

His doctor said "Everything is okay and not to worry cause its just poor circulation". He is not supposed to see his doctor again for another 2 weeks. The doctor told him they would deal with the numbness in his foot when he sees him in two weeks.

None of this seems right to me and I think he should get a second opinion, but he thinks I am overreacting. I am very worried about him since he is a diabetic. I would hate to see him have to have his foot taken off.

Can I please get some advice or your opinions on this? Thanks.

I would have your dad seen by another doctor who specializes in diabetes. Sometimes diabetics have neuropathy of the lower extremities which is very common in diabetics. The fact that it has been 9 days and the swelling has not gone done to the point that he cannot wiggle his toes would be cause for concern for me. I have a mother who is diabetic so I know what you are going through. Offer to take him and sit in on the visit; ask the questions you want answered and write down before hand what you want to ask so that you don't forget.....Be his support, his buddy and maybe he will change his mind.

You are right. it never hurts to get a second, or even a third opinion.

Yeah, get that guy into a doctor...that's definitely not normal.

Are his toes warm?

Get a second opinion. In two weeks, his foot could be gangrenous.

I would get a second opinion. Poor circulation means a great deal to a diabetic. Your dad COULD lose his foot, or even his leg, if it continues. There's no sense in waiting. Tell your dad he has a choice of spending an hour or two of his time seeing another dr, or spending several months of his life learning how walk again, with his new prosthetic foot.

I think I'd ask your dad to call his doctor in the morning and ask him again if the total numbness is anything he should be concerned about. I'm not a doctor, but diabetic patients often get numbness from nerve damage in their feet and legs. Your dad needs to be very careful about injuring his foot -- because he has no feeling in it, he is more likely to injure it. Here's a link (I think I can post this here) with more information on diabetic neuropathy: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/...

Go ahead and get another opinion. Diabetes isn't the only cause for poor circulation. He may have compartment syndrome. Don't wait longer, go and check it out.

I think his doctor has a rather cavalier attitude regarding your dad's loss of feeling in his foot. A second opinion would not hurt. If my doctor ignored and obvious problem such as this he would be fired and I would be seeing someone else.
As a diabetic myself I would not wait two weeks.

Definately get a second opinion.

Nerve damage is common IF your Dad's blood sugar is not well controlled, but sudden bruising or discoloration and loss of sensation is not.

Get your Dad to another doctor, preferably a specialist in diabetes. This is not something to play around with.

If your Dad could feel his foot just fine before the accident then he may have a seroius blood clot, and/or nerve damage Clots not only endanger his foot, but his life too.

Your Dad's case might not be serious, but it can't possibly hurt to get a second opinion.

Why take the chance?

I would definately encourage your dad to get a second opinion. This is a serious area for diabetics. Sometimes Doctors don't get the whole story over the phone. The first Dr. may only be focusing on the break.
I would suggest that he even go into a clinic or ER in the morning.

Please make him another doctor appointment with someone else, maybe a diabetic doctor, or on ein internal medicine. He should not let this go. He could lose his leg, being diabetic, he really needs to watch this. Is it possible to massage his feet, or any part of his leg to help with circulation? If so try to do this every few hours. It may help his chances of getting circulation.

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It is a big deal! It sounds to me like his doctor is ignoring an important issue in your dad's health. Even if it is just poor circulation. It still can lead to problems sometimes after an injury. What ever is causing this numb feeling, it doesn't need to be ignored. This could be something very serious since your dad is a diabetic. I also would be very concerned about the bruising.

My step mom is a diabetic. She had a small place to come up on her leg. It set up blood poisoning. She had to have her leg amputated.

Tell your dad about my step mom. If there is no feeling there he needs to see another doctor. This will put your mind at ease. It never hurts to be on the safe side with a diabetic who has been injured.

take him to a diabetic Doctor do not what . its better to know then to wait.