Bogglor - sorry about your accident. I have 1 large screw that will come out in May (4 months after surgery). My co-worker (around 30) had a lisfranc that was misdiagnosed for 18 months. After finally after surgery, he had 4 screws that will stay in. 12 months post-surgery, he's able to return to normal activities. My surgeon has told me to expect significant arthritis.
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Had my 6 week appt. this morning and was told some good news, that I can start putting 50% weight on foot for 3 week while wearing the boot, and I can take the boot off while sleeping and resting the foot. All good news. No sign of arthritis, but I'm probably more worried about that developing arthritis in 20 years or so (hopefully there will be some miracle cure by then!).
Getting a rigid orthotic insert, and will start wearing "compression stockings" asap to get the swelling down. Amazing that after 6 weeks the foot's still swollen.
But all the TLC I've given the foot is paying off. I'll never look at someone with a foot injury the same way again!
Getting a rigid orthotic insert, and will start wearing "compression stockings" asap to get the swelling down. Amazing that after 6 weeks the foot's still swollen.
But all the TLC I've given the foot is paying off. I'll never look at someone with a foot injury the same way again!
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rtftbrk - great news!! How did it feel to start putting weight on foot? Is your foot still tender? GGB
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ggb, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, which is to say not bad at all. I tested it right away and with the boot on it's really great to touch down. I keep forgetting and crutching the "old" way. It's much easier to crutch around with some balance on the healing foot.
It doesn't hurt at all (in the boot) but I don't think I'd want to test it too aggressively yet. The direct underside of my foot still feels sore if I press it with my fingers, but the boot has so much cushion and support it's not a problem. Also I stood the foot on a scale to measure 1/4 of my body weight by pressing and it was pretty much what I was guessing when I've tested the foot out.
After another 3 weeks I can put 100% on the foot but still have to wear the boot for another 3 weeks after that, then back for a checkup/xray (the 12 week mark) where hopefully I can give the boot to the boot ;-)
It doesn't hurt at all (in the boot) but I don't think I'd want to test it too aggressively yet. The direct underside of my foot still feels sore if I press it with my fingers, but the boot has so much cushion and support it's not a problem. Also I stood the foot on a scale to measure 1/4 of my body weight by pressing and it was pretty much what I was guessing when I've tested the foot out.
After another 3 weeks I can put 100% on the foot but still have to wear the boot for another 3 weeks after that, then back for a checkup/xray (the 12 week mark) where hopefully I can give the boot to the boot ;-)
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I had my stitches removed on the 19th March 08. The nurse had to wait for me to give her the go ahead to remove each stitch because it was so painful :'( . It's as though she's cutting my skin. Well, she knew and understood that it's painful and told me to bear with it. I am now allowed to get used to walk around slowly without the crutches. What a relief but my foot still hurts. I guess it would be another 2- 3 weeks before my foot fully heals. Will see my doctor in 6 week's time. Finally all's over. I hope that my foot will not give me anymore problems in the future. It is definitely a long road to recovery.
Wish everyone a speedy recovery and remain positive.
Wish everyone a speedy recovery and remain positive.
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Hello All...
I've been reading your post with my orginal injury and now again after having my fusion and decided to join in. First let me tell you it's been a long road which you all are aware of...I orginally underwent my injury back in May '07 when I got out of bed too fast and blacked out, breaking my 1st-4th metas in mutiple places but did not need surgey...oh the ER originally told me that I did not break any of my bones! But my ortho did a CT which reveiled the true extent of all the fractures.
I kept going back to the doctors and was still in a lot of pain...my joint at my 1st meta was popping, and later I found out would also chip when I walked so on Jan 17 I had surgery to fuse my 1st and 2nd metas. The other too did not need itm thankfully. I now have a plate and 4 screws holding my 1st meta and one long screw holding my 2nd, as well as a bone graft from my tibia which was used on my 1st meta. I was also told the plate and screws will never come out. I was non-weightbearing for 8 weeks after surgery and have now been walking with a boot for about 2 weeks.
I go back to the doctor in another 2 weeks and hopefully I'll be able to walk some without the boot...as of now the pain and shape of my foot is SO much better than before surgery but I will only know for sure how much better it is once I'm able to walk on it again. My only concern is that I'm young (23), getting ready to graduate in May and a figure skater, this foot being my landing foot, so I don't want to have limitations. I was told that I would be able to skate again and the likelyhood of having artritis was reduced by having surgery...I hope that is true...
Has anyone had sucessful recovery with vitrually no limitations? I'm sure there is hope...
I've been reading your post with my orginal injury and now again after having my fusion and decided to join in. First let me tell you it's been a long road which you all are aware of...I orginally underwent my injury back in May '07 when I got out of bed too fast and blacked out, breaking my 1st-4th metas in mutiple places but did not need surgey...oh the ER originally told me that I did not break any of my bones! But my ortho did a CT which reveiled the true extent of all the fractures.
I kept going back to the doctors and was still in a lot of pain...my joint at my 1st meta was popping, and later I found out would also chip when I walked so on Jan 17 I had surgery to fuse my 1st and 2nd metas. The other too did not need itm thankfully. I now have a plate and 4 screws holding my 1st meta and one long screw holding my 2nd, as well as a bone graft from my tibia which was used on my 1st meta. I was also told the plate and screws will never come out. I was non-weightbearing for 8 weeks after surgery and have now been walking with a boot for about 2 weeks.
I go back to the doctor in another 2 weeks and hopefully I'll be able to walk some without the boot...as of now the pain and shape of my foot is SO much better than before surgery but I will only know for sure how much better it is once I'm able to walk on it again. My only concern is that I'm young (23), getting ready to graduate in May and a figure skater, this foot being my landing foot, so I don't want to have limitations. I was told that I would be able to skate again and the likelyhood of having artritis was reduced by having surgery...I hope that is true...
Has anyone had sucessful recovery with vitrually no limitations? I'm sure there is hope...
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Had my first post-op appt. on Thursday and got some details about the surgery and was even shown the x-rays. I have 6 screws in total, 2 plates, a K wire and 2 pins sticking out of the side of my foot. If I can remember all of his jargon correctly, basically I broke the medial cuneiform 1st and 2nd metatarsals and the 5th metatarsal as well. I have 2 plates in my first and second toe which are held together by screws, and then a big long screw on the outside of my second toe I guess for support. Then I have 2 pins on the outside of my foot for the 5th metatarsal fracture which I'm guessing are supporting the wire.
They hard-casted me 1 week and a day after surgery which I did not expect so soon, but whatever. I hate the hard cast due to the itchiness and the fact that its uncomfortable while sleeping, but it does provide better support. It can even bear a little weight because it disperses the weight from the foot to the back of the calf. I know I'm not supposed to be weight bearing but does that mean NO weight ever, like if I'm laying down and pushing off on it to get up, is that OK? I surmise that it is... but don't know.
No pain really, been off the painkillers for about 5 days now. Sometimes it hurts and wakes me up early in the morning but not much beyond that.
Is it OK to do leg exercises during this time at the gym? Like stuff that works my thighs only? I'm thinking this will greatly help when it comes time to walk again that I can at least stem off the atrophy of ONE major muscle group...
They hard-casted me 1 week and a day after surgery which I did not expect so soon, but whatever. I hate the hard cast due to the itchiness and the fact that its uncomfortable while sleeping, but it does provide better support. It can even bear a little weight because it disperses the weight from the foot to the back of the calf. I know I'm not supposed to be weight bearing but does that mean NO weight ever, like if I'm laying down and pushing off on it to get up, is that OK? I surmise that it is... but don't know.
No pain really, been off the painkillers for about 5 days now. Sometimes it hurts and wakes me up early in the morning but not much beyond that.
Is it OK to do leg exercises during this time at the gym? Like stuff that works my thighs only? I'm thinking this will greatly help when it comes time to walk again that I can at least stem off the atrophy of ONE major muscle group...
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I had the fusion surgery about a year ago. When you first start walking on that foot it may take a few weeks to adjust. Your foot will not flex that much in the center anymore. You will find some of your foots walking motion being picked up by your ankle. As for you skating I am sure you will be able to do that again. However there maybe somethings you might not be able to do since that foot will not have the flexing it once had before. Things like getting up on your tip toes might be difficult. Hopefully there will not be too many limitations for you.
As for arthitis pain, your doctor is correct. You will not have any of that anymore. Before I had the fusion I had so much arthitis pain in that foot but after the fusion there is no more of that kind of pain now.
Good luck in your recovery.
As for arthitis pain, your doctor is correct. You will not have any of that anymore. Before I had the fusion I had so much arthitis pain in that foot but after the fusion there is no more of that kind of pain now.
Good luck in your recovery.
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My doc cleared anything upper-body, as long as my leg is up and not involved. Now after 6 weeks and some weight bearing I've been cleared for the exercise bike at no resistance, as long as I use the heel of the boot to peddle with. I think part of their concern is not to pump blood into the foot because I'm still trying to get the last bit of swelling down, as well as not bearing any weight on the foot beyond what I'm allowed.
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Hi All!
It has been a very long time since I wrote. Evidently, when these new pages were begun and I didn't post, I got dropped. I've had no notices for several months.
rtftbrk, I am interested in your comments since it looks as if other than me you are the oldest on this site. You mentioned booting your boot. Just closet it! Hopefully, you'll never need it again, but it is cheaper to pull it out than to have to buy another one if the doctor changes his mind about your treatment. I have two now, but that's by choice - one being short and hitting me at mid-calf.
Sporelady, I think you were on when I first started on this site over a year ago. Am sorry to hear of your difficulties with the second surgery. My doctor is talking about removing my screw after my one year anniversary in June, but if I can prolong it, I will.
Hang in everyone, if Sporelady, Fusion, and I can make it this long, the rest of you can.
---Musictch
It has been a very long time since I wrote. Evidently, when these new pages were begun and I didn't post, I got dropped. I've had no notices for several months.
rtftbrk, I am interested in your comments since it looks as if other than me you are the oldest on this site. You mentioned booting your boot. Just closet it! Hopefully, you'll never need it again, but it is cheaper to pull it out than to have to buy another one if the doctor changes his mind about your treatment. I have two now, but that's by choice - one being short and hitting me at mid-calf.
Sporelady, I think you were on when I first started on this site over a year ago. Am sorry to hear of your difficulties with the second surgery. My doctor is talking about removing my screw after my one year anniversary in June, but if I can prolong it, I will.
Hang in everyone, if Sporelady, Fusion, and I can make it this long, the rest of you can.
---Musictch
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Been crutching for 11 weeks and looking forward to start walking in boot 9 April. Did anyone use physical therapy to help get strength back in leg? - GGB
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ggb - that's great news! It's funny, I'm cleared to walk, with the boot, on 4/9 as well, and drive thank goodness.
My doctor hasn't mentioned therapy yet. I asked before my surgery and all he said was "that will come after." Forgot to ask last time but I'll find out in 4 weeks at my 12 week appt. Right now I'm really curious what it's going to be like walking in the boot.
Does anyone have experience traveling with the boot? I've been asked to do some work about 4 hours south of me, and I'd have to get there by train or plane. Can you even get through airport security with the boot? If I take a train I'll have to get my leg up somehow. Or just try to put it off till I'm out of the boot (I may lose the work if I do that). Anybody else travel while still wearing the boot, but off crutches?
My doctor hasn't mentioned therapy yet. I asked before my surgery and all he said was "that will come after." Forgot to ask last time but I'll find out in 4 weeks at my 12 week appt. Right now I'm really curious what it's going to be like walking in the boot.
Does anyone have experience traveling with the boot? I've been asked to do some work about 4 hours south of me, and I'd have to get there by train or plane. Can you even get through airport security with the boot? If I take a train I'll have to get my leg up somehow. Or just try to put it off till I'm out of the boot (I may lose the work if I do that). Anybody else travel while still wearing the boot, but off crutches?
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ggb, it's about time you start doing your leg exercises once you are off the crutches. Ask your doctor and very likely he will refer you to the physiotherapist. I can tell you that even the simplest exercises is a uphill task. Your leg would be very weak after such a long period of inactivity.
Actually I am very curious of the boot that you all mentioned. I guess my boot is very different from what you are using. I would still need the crutches when I am wearing the boot whereas you can walk with the boot alone.
Actually I am very curious of the boot that you all mentioned. I guess my boot is very different from what you are using. I would still need the crutches when I am wearing the boot whereas you can walk with the boot alone.
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Sporelady, this is what I've been wearing, and will be walking in for the next few weeks starting Wed., without crutches. It'll be awkward but refreshing not to use crutches.
aircastbraces.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=74
aircastbraces.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=74
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That's similar to the aircast boot I've wearing for last 10 weeks. I take it off at night. Sporelady - Yes, I can definetly tell my leg is weak. I asked about PT but dr. said to wait until my next appt in a few weeks. I got go ahead to start walking in boot on Wed...can't wait even though I know it's going to be challenging. GGB
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