Lisfranc Did Fusion Help Your Pain

Hello,
I am just about to have fusion of the first and second metatarsals to the cuneiform to form a stable block of bone. I have arthritis, cartilage damage etc. I also love to dance and run and want to get back to this. How are you getting on after your fusion and can you dance? I am in the UK but travelling to London for my surgery - I found a sports med foot and ankle person. Best wishes : - )

Hi Deano, have you had your fusion? My surgeon is planning exactly the same operation - 1st and 2nd met with 1st and second part of cuneiform? Are you expecting to return to running or sport. I want to return to dance. I have done lots of research for the UK surgeons and have been very careful to choose. Would love to know how you got on?

I am having this same issue and looking to get my first and second fused. Did you end up doing the fusion surgery and how are you today? ARe you running and doing things you did before?

I had a lisfranc involving all 5 tarsometatarsal joints and a fracture at the base of the 4th metatarsal that was minimally displaced. My injury was from a high fall. I elected for fusion to decrease the possibility of more surgery and downtime later on.

9 months ago, I underwent fusion of TMT 1-3 with screws. No surgery was performed on the lateral column (4-5).

I was back to near-full activity at 4-5 months, including running up to 3 miles (I used to run half marathons).

3 months ago, I had my hardware removed due to one of the screws irritating my tibialis anterior tendon insertion.

Overall, I am happy I elected for fusion over ORIF. My foot definitely doesnt feel like it did prior to my accident, but it works pretty well. It is slightly stiff, occasionally mildly painful and doesn't seem to "roll" as well in heel-to-toe gait.

I am able to run, jump, etc without any restrictions and without much pain during activity, and occasionally some mild discomfort the next day if I over-do it. I've decreased my milage and how often I run, and I quit playing sports.

Long term studies on the risk of future arthritis after medial and middle column fusion have not been done, so the true risk of arthritis in the adjacent joints of the foot is unknown. However, the medial and middle column have little motion to begin with, so most surgeons who perform primary or salvage fusion of the midfoot dont think theyre dooming their patients to further arthritis.

Running and impact activities are likely not the best idea if you've had a lisfranc. period. Fusion or ORIF, it theoretically increases your risk for developing arthritis in the rest of your foot and ankle. That being said, you only live once, and you shouldnt let a lisfranc, the fear of future arthritis, or anything else stop you from doing what you enjoy.

I recently injured my Lisfranc 6/4 and had my fusion surgery 6/10 (3 screws). I had surgery at Tria orthopedics in MN where they specialize in sports injuries (I play college baseball). They are the surgeons for the Minnesota Twins and the Wild so I trusted the foot surgeon completely. Once I injured my foot I didn’t put any weight on it while I waited for my fusion surgery and took they care of it very quickly.
Just like the rest of us I read the blogs and threads and instantly became horrified. Reading all the stories of the pain and the recovery process I was really scared. But, it has been 2 weeks after surgery and I don’t feel any pain and stopped taking the pain meds probably 3 days after the surgery (I didn’t even need them but took them cuz like c’mon.. their pain meds haha). I have slight numbness in my toes but can move them easily and no pain. He originally told me that I will be able to return to baseball at the 8-10 week mark but does not recommend it. Basically just telling me, “hey if your life depended on it and needed to pitch, you can, but wouldn’t recommend it” This made me feel A LOT better and I don’t plan on coming back too early and will follow exactly what he says but the relief of knowing the recovery process isn’t as long as what I thought helped my spirits.
The plan is too be non-weight bearing around 4-6 weeks and in a boot for another month or so. Then play it slow, rehab and play it by ear.
I know I am still early in the process but wanted to share my experience because everyone is different and each injury is different. Once I read these are career-Enders and take like a year or 2 to recover I literally cried that night. But I was lucky to not have such a traumatic break and fracture. I know it will be a long journey but good spirits can go along away! I have my check up in 2 days where I will have a million questions for my surgeon and ill update what he says.
(* I am 23, 225lbs, college pitcher, and hurt my foot by being an id**t drunk and jumping off an aggressively high flight of stairs – Rumplemintz are not your friend) Good Luck Everyone!

I don't know if this thread is still active or if you will see this, but this was a concern I discussed with my doctor and it all depends on which joint(s) are being fused. I strictly had my lisfranc joint fused (first joint) and he said I will most likely not need other surgeries because it shouldn't impact other parts of foot as this joint doesn't normally move much anyway when we walk/run. I hope he's right, because I really do not want another foot surgery again in my life. I am 6 weeks post-op and still non-weight bearing and it's been a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I live alone and have a dog, so I don't have someone I can consistently rely on for help. I can already tell the surgery was worth it, I just don't want to have to go through it again.

I feel so much better reading these stories. I suffered my Lisfranc injury on 5/14/2016 I slipped on a Tupperware bowl in my kitchen. I had ORIF on 7/13/2016 (injury was missed for a couple months), had hardware removed 11/10/2016. I immediately started having pain and popping in the joint once I was out of the walking boot. I went to my surgeon for a follow-up today and he informed me that the ORIF failed and I am currently waiting to be scheduled for fusion of my 1st and 2nd metatarsal joint. I am so frustrated and nervous about the surgery and recovery. I have a 2 and 3 year old at home and I cannot wait to be able to play with them again like I want to. How are you doing now, are you able to walk yet and how is your pain?

If you go down the road of fusion remember it is not reversible so if it doesn't work then you may be in pain for some time or worse. You would be better off waiting to see if your body repairs itself. Sometimes ORIF can be successful over a duration of time. Also fusion can cause problems with other joints and more problems can arise. Surgeons are also business people and a good fusion operation is alot of car payments get a few opinions.

How are you doing theses days with your foot?
Thanks,
Jeff

How are you making out after your surgery?
Thanks,
Jeff