r/DoctorsAdvice • • 15h ago

Possible tetnus

i need help with something. Last Wednesday I stepped on one of those spiky headbands while i was cleaning my room.It went an inch and a half into my foot into two spots. Didn't think anything of it. I disinfected it and tried to not walk on it. Then on saturday i was running errands and noticed some stiffness and pain in my jaw. Again was very busy and didn't think much of it. That night i was woken up probably 10+ times with the most excruciating pain in my jaw. i felt like my jaw was broken, it hurt for my teeth to touch ,it hurt for my mouth to open, it hurt to move my jaw at all. I thought it was because i was sleeping weird on my pillow so i slept on my back. When i woke up i felt like i had my wisdom teeth out again. I couldnt open or close my mouth all the way and i couldn't eat because my jaw wouldn't close. I told my parents and they mentioned tetnus to me. I haven't gotten a shot since 2015 ( 11 years) and started getting worried. i didn't want to go to the doctor because i knew how rare it was so i just watched for more symptoms. Monday morning comes, i wake up with a super stiff neck and pain going down the back of my neck. I called the nurse line on the back of my insurance card and they said to go to the ER immidently. This is where my problem lies. I went to the ER and after being triaged the NP on duty comes in my room. After me barely explaining what happened to me he cuts me off and tells me my jaw and foot aren't related. He then does a very quick examination and asks if i've been coughing or around anyone who has been. I say no. He asked me like 3 more times and i said no every time. He then tells me i have a viral upper respiratory tract infection and gives me a booster shot along with antibiotics. I expressed concern for tetanus and he tells me " i've been working here 10+ years and i've never seen tetanus" and that was the only reason he gave me for not doing a tetanus workup. I was extremely worried and tried to get a second opinion and was dismissed again. I'm not stupid, don't tend to overact typically but i was truly worried. I can admit now i most likely don't have tetnus but none of my symptoms have improved and i was given nothing for my jaw and neck, even though i expressed i hadn't eaten since sunday. I can only still eat apple sauce or smoothies. Heat and anti-inflammatories haven't helped. I am trying to get into my primary care physicians for some relief but am i right to feel extremely dismissed and mis diagnosed??? What should i do??

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