Lisfranc 3/11/13

Hey all, my name is Ashley , 23 years old and i have a lisfranc fracture my first metatarsal and i completely tore the joint connecting my first metatarsal to the others. I was walking down the stairs with my 19 month old in my arms and missed the last step and in attempt to catch my footing , I fell and wound up with this horrible condition. Thankfully my son was safe in my arms and unharmed(the only great positve thing about this ) . So basically I never had surgery in my life and I am completely terrified of being put to sleep . At the ER the podiatrist said I should most likely have surgery because arthritis will eventually set in because no joint and when there's no joint the bones will rub together and cause arthritis . I opted no surgery and now am 4 weeks post accident and he says my fracture healed but healed wider and is a little out more because I have no joint connecting that big toe first metatarsal to the other. So he says if i dont get surgery, everytime i step down when im walking, i will have pain. because he knows i really dont want surgery, he said he could also form a plastic foot brace thats comfortable for my foot for better balance. Basically I'm gonna go for a second opinion praying they say something else and give another option. This has been the worst experience of my life and it is terrible because i can't do much with my son who is now 20 months old and it's getting closer to warm weather and I feel terrible he is missing out . I was never in much pain except for when o actually fell i couldnt even remove my shoe it hurt so bad. Then the first two weeks when I would get up from bed with my crutches after elevating it, I would feel like blood rushing through and it really hurt for about 30 seconds. But this only happened at night. I was in a splint cast up to right under my knee for two weeks and now have been in the black boot for two weeks but partial weight baring only with crutches. My leg immediately got muscle atrophy . It feel like jello. I feel like I'm never going to walk again.i can already move my foot and toes . The big toe is a little delayed and takes a little more muscle to bend and flex it. I have some pain and still a little swollen and bruise under my foot. I know everyone's situation is different but has anyone been in minimal pain and can walk almost normal that has not gotten surgery?