Knowledge Center Testimonials
Dr. Christopher Brown…
Knowledge Center

Dr. Christopher Brown appreciates DOC

May 11, 2017
Christoper standing with a brace on his lower leg and a crutch on the patio at a restaurant.

Christopher was mowing his yard and minding his own business, but stepped the wrong way, resulting in a “random foot and ankle injury.” He avoided going to the doctor because he diagnosed himself and thought it was a mere sprain. He hobbled on crutches, but the pain increased each of the six days he postponed going to the doctor.

A severe ankle sprain can feel the same as a broken ankle. Common symptoms for a broken ankle include:

  • Immediate and severe pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Tender to touch
  • Cannot put weight on the injured foot

Christopher suffered with the common symptoms for a broken ankle. Every ankle injury should be evaluated by an orthopedist.

Christopher heard a DOC radio ad. DOC met all of his criteria, not a pop-up ER, a consumer-friendly schedule, timely diagnosis and treatment, perfect location, access to orthopedic surgeons, and appealing billing model. He made an appointment.

First a DOC PA, Lisa Cronin, examined the foot and ankle and ordered X-rays. X-rays show if the bone is broken and whether there is displacement, a gap or misalignment between broken bones. The PA saw a fracture and the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Pember, came to discuss treatment with Christopher. Dr. Pember explained that “the fracture is not out place and the ankle is stable so it can be treated without surgery, but with a removable boot for six weeks to protect the fracture while it heals.”

Christopher returned to DOC for ankle X-rays to make sure that the fractured bones had not moved out of place during the healing process. He is healing nicely, but will remain in the boot for another few weeks, removing it only when at home and on a flat surface, not his yard.

Dr. Pember discovered a previous injury while reviewing Christopher’s X-rays, a fracture from five years earlier when fence posts fell on his foot while he was building a fence. Dr. Christopher Brown is a PhD, who provides counseling, psychotherapy and consultation in the Austin area. He may need to hire a lawn service and fence builders.

For more information on the cost of care, click here.

Continue Reading

We Have Specialists Available 7 Days a Week