In April 2024, Suzanne’s life changed almost instantly. What started as a normal Sunday evening turned into a frightening medical emergency, and her experience shows just how critical attentive orthopedic care can be. She credits Dr. Brian Thomson with identifying a serious condition early enough to save her foot, and possibly her life.
A Sudden, Alarming Onset
Suzanne remembers the moment it began.
“I was completely fine,” she said. “Then around 7 p.m., out of nowhere, I had excruciating pain in my right foot. It hit just that quickly.”
Thinking it might be something routine like plantar fasciitis or arthritis, she called Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics first thing Monday morning. She had seen Nashville orthopedic foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Thomson, years earlier for arthritis in her toes, and thanks to a last-minute cancellation, she was in his office within 90 minutes.
Her husband helped her into the car, and they drove straight to Elite’s Nashville orthopedic clinic.
X-rays didn’t reveal anything significant, so she left in a walking boot with instructions to monitor the pain and follow up if things worsened.
Pain That Kept Getting Worse
By Wednesday, the pain intensified to the point that she couldn’t tolerate it.
“I could hardly stand it,” she said.
Dr. Thomson scheduled an MRI for Friday and told her he would see her right after the scan. The MRI showed fluid around her ankle, and when he drew it off, both Suzanne and her husband immediately knew something was wrong based on the look on his face.
“He told us he’d never taken that much fluid off an ankle,” she recalled.
He explained that they needed to wait for lab results, but if her pain became unbearable over the weekend, she should go straight to the ER and he would notify the team at Centennial to expect her.
A Race Against Time
Early Sunday morning, the pain flared up again. At 6 a.m., she and her husband headed straight to Centennial Medical Center’s ER. Thanks to Dr. Thomson’s heads-up, the staff knew exactly who she was and why she was there.
While they were in the exam room, her husband’s phone rang. It was Dr. Thomson.
“He asked where we were, and when my husband told him we were at the ER, he said, ‘That’s great. I’m walking in the door right now, and they’re prepping an OR room.’”
Lab results indicated that Suzanne needed an emergency surgery. Because she hadn’t been able to eat from the pain, she was able to go to the OR quickly.
Recovery With Unmatched Support
Suzanne spent several days in the hospital recovering, and throughout her stay, he never left her wondering or waiting.
“Dr. Thomson was at the hospital every single day,” she said. “Some days he even came twice.”
She had no wounds or visible injury, but the pain escalated fast, and without quick action, the outcome could have been far worse.
A Life-Saving Difference
Suzanne is certain that Dr. Thomson’s concern and quick response changed everything.
“If he hadn’t listened to me and taken my pain seriously, things could have gone very differently,” she said. “I honestly believe I could have lost my foot.”
She remains deeply grateful.
“I can never thank him enough for saving my foot, taking such good care of me, and getting me well. Thank you, and God bless you, Dr. Thomson.”
Author: Nick Flory
Related Articles
When we talk about sports injuries, we often picture athletes sprinting down a field or pushing through an intense workout. But you don’t have to [...]
Staying active as we age isn’t just about fitness. It’s about staying independent, energetic, and living life on your terms. As more adults embrace active [...]
Knee pain after a sudden twist or landing? You might be facing more than a simple strain. ACL injuries are among the most common and [...]
Around one in every two adults in the United States live with a musculoskeletal condition, making it the leading cause of disability nationwide. With so many [...]
When a wrist fracture doesn’t heal properly, it can leave behind more than just discomfort. It can limit mobility, cause long-term pain, and even change [...]
Do you struggle with hip pain that limits your daily movement? You're not alone... over 450,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the [...]
According to the University of Michigan, approximately 400,000 ACL injuries occur annually in the United States. These injuries often result from non-contact movements like sudden [...]
Do your feet ache after a long day? You might be dealing with more than fatigue. A collapsed arch could be behind the pain, often leading to more [...]
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a vital stabilizer in the elbow, particularly for athletes who perform repetitive overhead motions. Injuries to this ligament are [...]
We tend to assume that the more physically fit you are, the more protected your body is from health problems. While there is certainly a [...]
