new lisfranc injury/ Do I really need surgery?

Kimmy · Newbie Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

hello all
I was on vacation in California and got on a trampoline and on first jump I hurt my foot. I went to urgent care next morning and the dr there was clueless. Gave me a boot and crutches and told me to stay off my foot and see a orthepedic professional when I returned home. After xrays and mri they have determined I need surgery, screws, 3 months w/o my foot touching the floor and then after 6 months removal of screws. My surgery is scheduled for Wed and today is Friday. I do not feel good about this surgery at all. It's been 3 weeks since my injury and I feel much better. I can put some weight on it. I am still wearing my boot of course because I feel protected from further injury. The swelling now is minimal as well as the pain. The last 3 days no pain meds. not even advil. I am afraid that I have been misdiagnosed and don't need surgery. I have heard that some corrective chiropractic non surgecial treatments have worked in some cases is this true or am I just pro longing the inevitable? Shouldn't I be in more pain and swelling? I am thinking of postponing my surgery to see if it gets better. Does this lisfranc injury ever heal on it's own? Lots of questions i know, appreicate any help any one can give,
Kimmy

pegs · Newbie Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 1

I am the 70 year old woman who dreaded the surgery & had a second opinion only to find out that surgery is now the best treatment....had the surgery & it went well..6 weeks in cast was hard...am now able to bear weight with a walker & some pain & am going to physical therapy ...the doctor wants to remove the screws at 16-18 weeks & says his patients beg to have them removed... he did say there is an article out that favors leaving screws in for older patients...I'm all for that unless there is too much discomfort......has anyone left them in successfully?

hopalong · Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 5

I just had the surgery but I didn't know my foot wasn't supposed to touch the floor?? I keep it up but i do rest my heel on the floor when i'm showering or sitting for a short time. I hope I didn't ruin anything. I am one month into the surgery. I still have a ways to go. I think I want them to leave the screws in if they can.

hopalong · Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 5

Kimmy did you have surgery? My doc said there was a lot of damage to my joints. If I could have gotten by without the surgery now, I would have ended up getting it in a couple years... So it probably depends on how you are feeling and if you have a lot of damage.

Kimmy · Newbie Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2

No I have not had the surgery. I decided to try some more conservative treatment. I am seeing a chiropractor and I am feeling better. I know it is going to be a slow recovery. I did find out that I only have one millemeter seperation between my first and second metatarsal and a torn ligament. One of the reports says 2 but my dr seems to think that report was incorrect. No broken bones though! it's been 6 weeks since my accident and I am still wearing the boot and trying to stay off my foot as much as possible. The dr said I would have to wear it for at least another month. I can put some weight on it and hardly never any swelling and little pain. I am very hopeful this treatment works.

hopalong · Newbie Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 5

That's great if you don't need it!

Guest · Guest

Wow, not having the surgery seems to be a bad Idea to me however if your doctor says its okay and the seperation is only one centimeter and is the same as the other foot that seems to be okay, but if it's a one centimeter difference you should definitly have the surgery. I was clipped by a bicyclist coming the wrong way down a one way street, It resulted in a fractured ankle, muliple fractures in my metatarsals and a dislocation and fracture Lisfranc injury. The best thing to do is make sure they take an X-ray in which you are standing with full weight balanced evenly on both feet from above. I had the surgery one week ago and I'm feeling great, I have a ways to go in my recovery, but thankfully I am 18 and they only had to insert one screw. I hope to be completely recovered and up and running in the next three months.

wopple · Newbie Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

I have had this surgery, just over 2 mths ago. I have two screws in my foot, and I have another 3 wks to go before they come out. What will be prognosis after the surgery to remove the screws?

john · Guest

i had a lisfranc fracture and i have 2 screws through the 1st metarsal joint and the 2nd. i had the surgury about 2 years ago and still have the screws in. the doctor said they can come out but, in his opinion it wasnt worth the risk of having another surgery and opinging myself up to the posibility of infections, he said the screws might break in the joint but said it probly wont be a problem, the joint will just move freely(he made it like it wasnt a big deal,but this is a scarry thought to me)im 26 years old, and a firefighter. i live a very active lifestyle, and i was jogging like 5 months after the sugery i dont have any pain and i run reguarly, and squat, and deadlift over 300 pounds reguarly. but i dont know if i want to take ths screws out. i would rather have them out but they dont really bother me so why do it. these are teh questions i wrestle with every night when trying ot go to sleep.

Guest · Posted: 02/06/07 - 01:32 Post subject: no surgery

I DID NOT HAVE THE SURGERY!!!
I found a chiroprator to treat my foot and I am almost well. He also got me into orthodics which has done wonders. I had lots of pain in my ankles and heels before this lisfranc injury and the frequent adjustments as well as the orthodics have made my life better. I am a big fan of finding alternate forms of healing and this has been my life line. I did not ever feel good about the surgery, i know it's needed in some cases but I just never felt right about it. I am so glad i looked elsewhere. I encourage all of you sufferers to check out all your options before having any surgery.
Take of you and be well!

Kim

new lisfranc injury/ Do I really need surgery?

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