Hi Guest,
Welcome to this site. HisGrace knows what she's talking about. OBEY your doctor.
I come from a bit different situation, actually sounding more like yours. My injury happened one year ago. My anniversary was this week. My x-rays at the hospital were inconclusive, and non-weightbearing x-rays also didn't show enough for my doctor to treat aggressively. After messing around for four months, with several differing diagnoses from my doctor and no real instruction to limit activity, I sought a second opinion. It was well worth it! Basically, I was back to ground zero going through the conservative routes with both my doctor and me trying to avoid surgery. However, when I was finally ready for surgery, my doctor went over what it would mean but really encouraged me to do it. By the time that I was finally okayed for the surgery, the separation had gone from 3mm to 4mm. I have no idea what it was when I first injured my foot. Compared to others, mine was a "small" injury requiring one screw. I broke two metatarsals and possibly a third was chipped, and sustained the Lisfranc injury. Six months after the initial break, I tripped and fell hard on a buckled sidewalk and broke another metatarsal. Now I am nine weeks post-op, and have been in therapy for 3 1/2 weeks. I can walk around the house with/without shoes on and without a walker. The walker is still needed outside, and a wheelchair for trips requiring more "walking" or where a walker isn't safe. My activity is also limited to decrease possibility of gross swelling. I'm looking forward to returning to normal activity, but know that it is still a long way down the road, but not as far as it was before surgery. I am older than most who post on this site but am still active, care of grandkids, teach school, etc., and want to be able to get out and really walk again.
Be warned also that depending on your pain tolerance, you might be fooled as to how well you are healing, especially if your doctor isn't manipulating your foot to find out whether or not it is really hurting. Don't be hesitant to say it hurts if it does. I danced at my son's wedding eleven days after my injury, and then went on to do rather normal things for four months, feeling like I was making much ado about nothing. Thank the Lord for my second doctor who really looked for what was wrong!
Hope all goes well with you. Keep us posted on your progress. This IS supposedly a rare injury - one a specialist might never see in his whole career, and therefore often misdiagnosed. We're on this site to become more educated and to help others in the same situation.
Encouragingly,
Musictch
Welcome to this site. HisGrace knows what she's talking about. OBEY your doctor.
I come from a bit different situation, actually sounding more like yours. My injury happened one year ago. My anniversary was this week. My x-rays at the hospital were inconclusive, and non-weightbearing x-rays also didn't show enough for my doctor to treat aggressively. After messing around for four months, with several differing diagnoses from my doctor and no real instruction to limit activity, I sought a second opinion. It was well worth it! Basically, I was back to ground zero going through the conservative routes with both my doctor and me trying to avoid surgery. However, when I was finally ready for surgery, my doctor went over what it would mean but really encouraged me to do it. By the time that I was finally okayed for the surgery, the separation had gone from 3mm to 4mm. I have no idea what it was when I first injured my foot. Compared to others, mine was a "small" injury requiring one screw. I broke two metatarsals and possibly a third was chipped, and sustained the Lisfranc injury. Six months after the initial break, I tripped and fell hard on a buckled sidewalk and broke another metatarsal. Now I am nine weeks post-op, and have been in therapy for 3 1/2 weeks. I can walk around the house with/without shoes on and without a walker. The walker is still needed outside, and a wheelchair for trips requiring more "walking" or where a walker isn't safe. My activity is also limited to decrease possibility of gross swelling. I'm looking forward to returning to normal activity, but know that it is still a long way down the road, but not as far as it was before surgery. I am older than most who post on this site but am still active, care of grandkids, teach school, etc., and want to be able to get out and really walk again.
Be warned also that depending on your pain tolerance, you might be fooled as to how well you are healing, especially if your doctor isn't manipulating your foot to find out whether or not it is really hurting. Don't be hesitant to say it hurts if it does. I danced at my son's wedding eleven days after my injury, and then went on to do rather normal things for four months, feeling like I was making much ado about nothing. Thank the Lord for my second doctor who really looked for what was wrong!
Hope all goes well with you. Keep us posted on your progress. This IS supposedly a rare injury - one a specialist might never see in his whole career, and therefore often misdiagnosed. We're on this site to become more educated and to help others in the same situation.
Encouragingly,
Musictch
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Hello Guest...and everyone.
It's been a while since I posted.
I am the one who was misdiagnosed in Dec 0f 2004. After my car acciident in 2004, the ortho dr casted me for 8 weeks, I did PT and felt fine. Then about 6 mos later I developed a nagging pain that gradually worsened. I saw an ortho surgeon that specializes in foot and ankle for a second opinion 2 yrs post accident. He explained that the bones shifted and did not heal properly and allowed for arthritic growth which was causing my pain. He explained that I needed a fusion to relieve the pain, but since my procedure needed 8 weeks of non-wt bearing we decided to wait until I finished school (which was this summer). When he looked at my original x-rays, he said he definitely would have done surgery right away, rather than casting and waiting.
[I'm not sure if you know what a fusion is, just let me know if some lingo is over your head.]
ANyway, my point is...the others are right....do NOT hesitate to get a second opinion. It sounds like your surgeon knows what he/she is doing and is keeping a close eye on you, but if you have ANY doubts, get another opinion. Good doctors should not take offense to this (if that's a worry you have). I wish i did sooner. With my injury, I should have had surgery right away - like many others on this blog have had. Unfortunately, my original dr did not do the surgery, and arthritis set in....I'm only 26!...and VERY active so I needed a fix..ie the fusion.
I can let you know more about the surgery and my healing process if you would like, but I don't want to drag my message out.
FOr the rest of you who remember me, I'm 6 weeks post fusion and graduated to a CAM boot with crutches (partial wt bearing).
Thank you dixi for thinking of me...I have been getting more sleep. I just got the boot friday, so washing my leg/ showering was AWESOME! Oh the little things we take for granted!
Well I enjoy hearing about everyone's progress. I'm roughly 3-6 weeks from starting PT and am looking forward to it.
Hope everyone is doing welll, and if you have any questions "guest" don't hesitate to ask! It's nice to hear from the Lis Franc "family!"
KT
It's been a while since I posted.
I am the one who was misdiagnosed in Dec 0f 2004. After my car acciident in 2004, the ortho dr casted me for 8 weeks, I did PT and felt fine. Then about 6 mos later I developed a nagging pain that gradually worsened. I saw an ortho surgeon that specializes in foot and ankle for a second opinion 2 yrs post accident. He explained that the bones shifted and did not heal properly and allowed for arthritic growth which was causing my pain. He explained that I needed a fusion to relieve the pain, but since my procedure needed 8 weeks of non-wt bearing we decided to wait until I finished school (which was this summer). When he looked at my original x-rays, he said he definitely would have done surgery right away, rather than casting and waiting.
[I'm not sure if you know what a fusion is, just let me know if some lingo is over your head.]
ANyway, my point is...the others are right....do NOT hesitate to get a second opinion. It sounds like your surgeon knows what he/she is doing and is keeping a close eye on you, but if you have ANY doubts, get another opinion. Good doctors should not take offense to this (if that's a worry you have). I wish i did sooner. With my injury, I should have had surgery right away - like many others on this blog have had. Unfortunately, my original dr did not do the surgery, and arthritis set in....I'm only 26!...and VERY active so I needed a fix..ie the fusion.
I can let you know more about the surgery and my healing process if you would like, but I don't want to drag my message out.
FOr the rest of you who remember me, I'm 6 weeks post fusion and graduated to a CAM boot with crutches (partial wt bearing).
Thank you dixi for thinking of me...I have been getting more sleep. I just got the boot friday, so washing my leg/ showering was AWESOME! Oh the little things we take for granted!
Well I enjoy hearing about everyone's progress. I'm roughly 3-6 weeks from starting PT and am looking forward to it.
Hope everyone is doing welll, and if you have any questions "guest" don't hesitate to ask! It's nice to hear from the Lis Franc "family!"
KT
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Hello Everyone,
I have been reading all of these posts about the lisfranc injuries and they have been very helpful. I am 24 years old in good shape and in good health i build and maintain power lines for a living so i do a lot of climbing poles and running around very active on my feet. On 7/21/07 I was involved in an A.T.V. accident in which the middle of my foot was crushed by a roll bar on the side by side sitting Yamaha Rhino i was riding in. The pain from the injury was very intense and set in immediatly and the swelling took about five minutes to kick in and was like something i've never seen. We had no phone service where it happened so my friend and i drove down the canyon we were in called 911 and met an ambulance. I was put on morphine right away for the pain but it didnt seem to help very much this is an extremely painful injury. I was taken to the emergency room and sat in pain for a couple of hours before recieving an x-ray determining that i had dislocated the 1st 2nd and 3rd metatarsals from the lisfranc joint and had fractured the 3rd 4th and 5th metatarsals. They pinned my big toe back in place because it was way out of joint and was almost sticking out of the bottom of my foot other than that they wanted to wait for the swelling to go down and they released me from the hospital two days later to return in two weeks for another surgery.
I relocated to another state to get help from my family as i am out of work due to the injury and my disability had not kicked in yet. I found a new foot and ankle doctor who was very familiar with my injury and on 8/15/07 he performed the second surgery putting in 2 screws and 3 k-wires. Oh and as for that pin that was put in during my ER visit my new doctor pulled it right out in his office so i could go get a CT done before the 8/15 surgery i thought that was kind of wierd is that normal to have the pins pulled out right in the doctors office with no pain relief???? it didnt hurt to bad just kind of awkward. I was given a nerve block for the surgery and placed under general aneasthesia. Worst pain ever was day after surgery when the nerve block wore off wow i thought the cast was to tight or something it was just the pain from the invasive surgery. On 8/30/07 the cast was taken off and the staples removed from a total of 4 different incisions but the pins and screws remain in for how long im not sure. I am now in a boot that i can take off to shower and lay around just use whenever i go mobile on my crutches so i dont fall on the foot. I am still no weight bearing and will continue to be until at least sometime in oct. I have little to no pain at this point and am excercising my ankle from time to time its very stiff and i have lost a lot of feeling in the top of my foot and through my toes will it come back?? cant seem to get a straight answer. My foot is still very swollen and disformed looking also these things the doctor says are from deep bruising keep rising up to the skin they look like big black patches of dead skin or something but he says its normal in a crush injury???
I lay on the couch pretty much all day i crutch to get the mail and around the house from time to time to get some excercise. I play poker on the internet and watch movies and read a lot of stuff on the internet this is probably the most helpful sight i've found. It seems like a lot of you relate to my story and i thought i would share mine with you guys and if theres anything i can tell you guys please ask.
I have been reading all of these posts about the lisfranc injuries and they have been very helpful. I am 24 years old in good shape and in good health i build and maintain power lines for a living so i do a lot of climbing poles and running around very active on my feet. On 7/21/07 I was involved in an A.T.V. accident in which the middle of my foot was crushed by a roll bar on the side by side sitting Yamaha Rhino i was riding in. The pain from the injury was very intense and set in immediatly and the swelling took about five minutes to kick in and was like something i've never seen. We had no phone service where it happened so my friend and i drove down the canyon we were in called 911 and met an ambulance. I was put on morphine right away for the pain but it didnt seem to help very much this is an extremely painful injury. I was taken to the emergency room and sat in pain for a couple of hours before recieving an x-ray determining that i had dislocated the 1st 2nd and 3rd metatarsals from the lisfranc joint and had fractured the 3rd 4th and 5th metatarsals. They pinned my big toe back in place because it was way out of joint and was almost sticking out of the bottom of my foot other than that they wanted to wait for the swelling to go down and they released me from the hospital two days later to return in two weeks for another surgery.
I relocated to another state to get help from my family as i am out of work due to the injury and my disability had not kicked in yet. I found a new foot and ankle doctor who was very familiar with my injury and on 8/15/07 he performed the second surgery putting in 2 screws and 3 k-wires. Oh and as for that pin that was put in during my ER visit my new doctor pulled it right out in his office so i could go get a CT done before the 8/15 surgery i thought that was kind of wierd is that normal to have the pins pulled out right in the doctors office with no pain relief???? it didnt hurt to bad just kind of awkward. I was given a nerve block for the surgery and placed under general aneasthesia. Worst pain ever was day after surgery when the nerve block wore off wow i thought the cast was to tight or something it was just the pain from the invasive surgery. On 8/30/07 the cast was taken off and the staples removed from a total of 4 different incisions but the pins and screws remain in for how long im not sure. I am now in a boot that i can take off to shower and lay around just use whenever i go mobile on my crutches so i dont fall on the foot. I am still no weight bearing and will continue to be until at least sometime in oct. I have little to no pain at this point and am excercising my ankle from time to time its very stiff and i have lost a lot of feeling in the top of my foot and through my toes will it come back?? cant seem to get a straight answer. My foot is still very swollen and disformed looking also these things the doctor says are from deep bruising keep rising up to the skin they look like big black patches of dead skin or something but he says its normal in a crush injury???
I lay on the couch pretty much all day i crutch to get the mail and around the house from time to time to get some excercise. I play poker on the internet and watch movies and read a lot of stuff on the internet this is probably the most helpful sight i've found. It seems like a lot of you relate to my story and i thought i would share mine with you guys and if theres anything i can tell you guys please ask.
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Dude, i am in the same boat as you. I am 24 years old and pretty much had the same injury. The only difference is i had surgery on aug 1st, so this Wed will be my 6th week. I am looking forward to getting off my crutchs and maybe start to walk. I experienced all the symptoms that you have and all that i can say is it will get better. I still get crazy swelling if i am on my foot all day, but it will get better. It takes awhile for this type of injury to heal. You and i are on in the beginning stages of the battle, but i can say that my foot has done a 180 since the first few weeks. As far as the screws go i know mine will have to stay in for 6-9 months post surgery. Good luck with everything i'll post updates and hope you do the same.
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I am glad I found this forum. I was diagnosed with a lisfranc fracture about 1 yr after an sports injury. After trying no surgery, and crutches for 6 wks, my podiatrist recommended surgery. He fused the bone, no pins, just external screws for 5-6 wks while it healed. that was 18 months ago and i still have pain. I've been to 2 other drs. and after x-rays and CT scan they have determined that the fusion was incomplete. Now, one suggests another surgery - same thing (external screws) with a bone graft and the other wants to put a "permanent" pin in with bone graft. I'm not sure if i want to do surgery again. I have pretty constant pain but not quite bad enough for advil. though i cannot run everyday - i can only get by with 3 or 4 days a week. I am 40 y.o. any suggestions?
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I recently injured my left foot jumping off a ledge and was diagnosed with a lisfranc fracture. After seeing two ortho surgeons (I went for a second opinion) I was recommended by both to have the surgery and have a screw to help with the healing. I am going into surgery in two days. I am not worried about the surgery. The thing Im worried about is that I am supposed to be leaving for a vacation in less than two weeks. The vacation will consist of sleeping and having cocktails on the beach. (Nothing strenuous). I figure, what a better place to recover. ITs either on the beach or on my couch. For anyone who has gone throught he surgery, IS this a far fetched idea? Or should I cancel the trip?
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Hi there. You may have read my "story" on previous pages so I will not repeat myself. I am now 12 weeks post fusion with a permanent screw and staples in place, and I have been VERY conservative throughout my healing process... 6 weeks in a hard cast and non-weight bearing, then slowly transitioning into a CAM boot for another 6 weeks, which brings me to today.... I can slowly transition into a clog shoe (wish me luck). Before the surgery, i ran several times a week (but in pain that sounds similar to yours...more annoying vs. an ER type of pain). I also had pain if I did a lot of walking or standing all day (which is nearly everyday). My dr told me that even after this surgery I have to limit my running probably to one day a week...not because of pain, but because arthritic growth will develop from over using my joints adjacent to the fusion. I'm 26 yo and pretty down about this news. I have come to realize that my foot will never be the same, and that this time of fracture is unlike any other in the body...it is just so complex.
Anyway, in answer to your question, I'm not sure if your foot will ever tolerate that much running...especially if you have high milage. I was only running a few miles at a time. I read a fusion story on this blog that said he/she had NO pain after the fusion and sometimes forgets that he even had the surgery...so there are success stories out there (I'm not sure if he was a runner). I will let you know how this critical time in my healing process goes.... I just long for the day where i can jog again. I do know that time is on your side. There is no rush to jump into another surgery. Sorry i vented a bit...but it's nice to meet another runner. HOpe this helps and let me know if you have questions.
KT
Anyway, in answer to your question, I'm not sure if your foot will ever tolerate that much running...especially if you have high milage. I was only running a few miles at a time. I read a fusion story on this blog that said he/she had NO pain after the fusion and sometimes forgets that he even had the surgery...so there are success stories out there (I'm not sure if he was a runner). I will let you know how this critical time in my healing process goes.... I just long for the day where i can jog again. I do know that time is on your side. There is no rush to jump into another surgery. Sorry i vented a bit...but it's nice to meet another runner. HOpe this helps and let me know if you have questions.
KT
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Thanks for the quick reply, KT. Your pain sounds similar to mine. I'm pretty resigned to the fact that i probably won't be running the way i used to - actually it's the ultimate frisbee I miss rather than the daily running. I guess if I knew the additional surgery would get rid (or reduce) the daily pain, that would be good. Though it is a long recovery. I hope you continue to heal well. sounds like you are being very patient - I have 2 little boys so it was hard for me, not being able to carry them or even hold their hands as we walk down the street. one more question - did you have your surgery done by an orthopedist or podiatrist? if i do surgery, that is something i have to consider. thanks again, and good luck.
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Ozzydog, you need to ask your dr. about this trip. You should be non-weightbearing for several weeks, and if it is a real beach with loose sand crutches are going to be difficult to use. What you don't want is sand or water getting into your incision or to fall and undo your surgery. After 15 weeks, I think I might last five minutes in sand, but that might be pushing it. That's after several weeks of therapy and resuming somewhat normal activity --- tempered with a lot of common sense and listening to my body's warning. Above all, do exactly what your doctor tells you even if it cramps your style. You'll be glad in the long run!
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I was diangosed with my lisfranc injury 4 weeks before i went to italy. I decided to go and it was a great decision. I visited places such as positiano which if anyone has ever been there knows it is like climbing a mountain. All you really have to be careful of is not putting weight on your foot. I used my crutchs and occasionally a wheelchair. I went on the beaches and even in the water and nothing bad happened to me. Personally i felt that swimming strengthened my foot, but to his their own. That is my story take it how you may, but i wasn't going to let it keep me down. Good luck with the surgery and if you go the vacation also.
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Hi Musictch,
Long time, no post...sorry. My foot is doing GREAT !!! The physical therapy is great, hurt a lot when I first started, but now it is great !!! I will return to work in 2 weeks.
Just wanted to let you know a couple of things. My 8 year old son is starting to play the trumpet at school within the next few weeks, he is excited.... I know the first parts of the "noise" will pass. I purchased a drum set for him when he was 5....... WOW..... THAT WAS INTERESTING.
Ok....heres the top news...... I AM PREGNANT !!! We have been trying for 5 years, and I found out last week !!! WE ARE SOOOOO THRILLED !!! The baby is due April 22, 2008. I go tomorrow for a sonogram to see HOW MANY AND MORE CLOSELY how far I am.
The only thing is .... my hubby just found out that he is going to be re-deployed to Iraq in November. That was a like a rock in the face. He has only been home for about 7 months now. I know the Lord has a plan, though, we have been praying about it. I dont understand His plan, be He knows what is best. He should be coming home about 3 weeks or so after the baby is born. But my mom said she would be coming here, and my other family also. Please pray for my son, though. He really takes it pretty hard.
How are things with you, and how are you feeling? I am praying that you are well. How is your work going? I pray that is well too. Well, I am going to run now. I have a few things I need to get done.
Blessings to you !!!
Hizgrace
Long time, no post...sorry. My foot is doing GREAT !!! The physical therapy is great, hurt a lot when I first started, but now it is great !!! I will return to work in 2 weeks.
Just wanted to let you know a couple of things. My 8 year old son is starting to play the trumpet at school within the next few weeks, he is excited.... I know the first parts of the "noise" will pass. I purchased a drum set for him when he was 5....... WOW..... THAT WAS INTERESTING.
Ok....heres the top news...... I AM PREGNANT !!! We have been trying for 5 years, and I found out last week !!! WE ARE SOOOOO THRILLED !!! The baby is due April 22, 2008. I go tomorrow for a sonogram to see HOW MANY AND MORE CLOSELY how far I am.
The only thing is .... my hubby just found out that he is going to be re-deployed to Iraq in November. That was a like a rock in the face. He has only been home for about 7 months now. I know the Lord has a plan, though, we have been praying about it. I dont understand His plan, be He knows what is best. He should be coming home about 3 weeks or so after the baby is born. But my mom said she would be coming here, and my other family also. Please pray for my son, though. He really takes it pretty hard.
How are things with you, and how are you feeling? I am praying that you are well. How is your work going? I pray that is well too. Well, I am going to run now. I have a few things I need to get done.
Blessings to you !!!
Hizgrace
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Greetings, Hisgrace!
Congratulations! You'll have to keep me posted on the baby situation. How great is our God! I am glad that you will have help even though your dear hubby will be serving for us all. Please tell him thank you from me for his willingness to serve even though it is such a hardship for your whole family. I will be praying for all of you. Sounds like a transfer won't happen for awhile, correct?
Tell your son that learning to use his voice and playing an instrument can be two of the most rewarding things in his life.
My therapy is going very well. I'm wearing regular shoes again and just got orthotics today. I'm doing stair climbing but am in need of railings. Going down is still a difficult task. Going to therapy is really fun, though a lot of work. I have met so many interesting people and the most common topics of conversation outside of injuries are sports, military, and teasing the therapists. There are about an equal number of women who go there, but most of us aren't there as a result of sports injuries or military type injuries, but the men seem to be.
I am back to work teaching half a day a week. That is almost harder than if I taught a few times a week, or every day. I'm going to need His Grace to get through this year with one of my classes. While they are good kids, some of them like to disrupt the class and think it is funny. That makes the afternoon exhausting. Be careful when you go back to work and pace yourself. My doctor gave me a note saying that I can stand only 10 min. per hour. The note is to protect the school from liability if I don't follow that instruction. It also protects me from having to do something that I'm not yet ready to do. You'll find out in a hurry that normal activity isn't normal anymore. My activity has picked up tremendously in just about three weeks, and I'm experiencing soreness that hasn't been an issue up till now. Hope you do really well with no setbacks, but don't be discouraged if they come.
Keep me posted on your progress and on your baby! And, your family!
Blessings!
Congratulations! You'll have to keep me posted on the baby situation. How great is our God! I am glad that you will have help even though your dear hubby will be serving for us all. Please tell him thank you from me for his willingness to serve even though it is such a hardship for your whole family. I will be praying for all of you. Sounds like a transfer won't happen for awhile, correct?
Tell your son that learning to use his voice and playing an instrument can be two of the most rewarding things in his life.
My therapy is going very well. I'm wearing regular shoes again and just got orthotics today. I'm doing stair climbing but am in need of railings. Going down is still a difficult task. Going to therapy is really fun, though a lot of work. I have met so many interesting people and the most common topics of conversation outside of injuries are sports, military, and teasing the therapists. There are about an equal number of women who go there, but most of us aren't there as a result of sports injuries or military type injuries, but the men seem to be.
I am back to work teaching half a day a week. That is almost harder than if I taught a few times a week, or every day. I'm going to need His Grace to get through this year with one of my classes. While they are good kids, some of them like to disrupt the class and think it is funny. That makes the afternoon exhausting. Be careful when you go back to work and pace yourself. My doctor gave me a note saying that I can stand only 10 min. per hour. The note is to protect the school from liability if I don't follow that instruction. It also protects me from having to do something that I'm not yet ready to do. You'll find out in a hurry that normal activity isn't normal anymore. My activity has picked up tremendously in just about three weeks, and I'm experiencing soreness that hasn't been an issue up till now. Hope you do really well with no setbacks, but don't be discouraged if they come.
Keep me posted on your progress and on your baby! And, your family!
Blessings!
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Sorry it took so long to respond. My surgery was done by an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle....very well known in chicago and has great credentials (George B Holmes is his name). Good luck with your decision making! I'm making progress.... yesterday was my first fulll day out of the boot! I had a few awkward aches and pains, but nothing severe. I'm not pain free yet...i have to be patient i guess. thanks for the support.
KT
KT
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Now I find this! I have been wanting someone to talk to about my injury for so long. This is my story...
Eight weeks ago I fell off the side of my outside steps. I thought I was fine until I looked at my foot, and then started feeling the pain. I went by ambulance to the hospital and that got transferred to a larger hospital. I had dislocated all five of the joints, and had a couple fractures. I had emergency surgery that day, and was in the hospital for two days. During surgery, the Dr put five pins in my foot. I was released with gauze on my foot and a wrap...non weight bearing, had to go back in two days. I was told to use a wheelchair. At this point, I didn't think it was a big thing...maybe take a week or two out of my life. Well, when I went back, he explained to me more about the injury, and put me in a cast. He said it would be six weeks and then I could walk again. I found out it isn't that easy though. Well, I bled through the cast and went back and the took it off and gave me a Camboot. I couldn't stand the thing, and didn't wear it, as I was non weight bearing anyway. Luckily, everything was still fine. I think it was just more for protection of the pins. I continued with weekly visits and weekly xrays. Six weeks came, and I was told that it would be two more weeks...another let down. Yet, the Dr still led me to believe that at this point, I would just be able to go back to regular life and walk all I wanted. Speaking of the Dr, this is another problem that I have. I know that Drs have to learn somehow and stuff, but when I have an injury that I now know is really serious, I want to talk to a fully trained Dr, not an intern or resident or whatever. All my appts have been with the resident--and if Im lucky, the real Dr comes in for 2 minutes about every other visit. Its frustrating. This week on Monday, I went in after having bad bad pain all weekend, and found out one of the pins was loose, so they pulled that one, and that I had a staph infection, so was put on antibiotics. That was four days ago. I went in today to get the rest of the pins pulled....again, the resident Dr...anyway, so because of all previous information, I thought that once I had them out I would be able to get up and walk out of there (he did tell me that now that I was going to be weight bearing, I had to use the boot). Was it that easy, NO! Its beeing only like four hours sinse the pins were pulled...I tried putting a LITTLE weight on my foot, and I can't even do a little. It hurt, I am weak, and the damn boot annoys the hell outta me. It hurts to have on...it seems too tight, but I don't know how tight it is supposed to be and I don't know what angle my foot is supposed to be at. It hurts to just all of the sudden have it at a ninety degree angle. I had it on ten minutes and everything just hurt like hell. When I left my appt, he said that I could put weight on the heel, and walk like that, nothing about how I could be weak or not able to do it right away. I feel underinformed. I was looking forward to this day for the last two months, and now I sit here crying because it isn't over. I still can't just get up and walk, and I am still in pain. This injury sucks! I read your guys stories too, and I realize that it isn't over....why do I have to come on the boards to read about this? Should my Dr (or whatever he is) not have told me and explained? I asked about PT, but was told it isn't necessary but if I want to, it can't hurt. Which leads me to another problem...through this whole time with my injury, and being off work, I have lost my job, which totally doesn't seem fair, and have no income. So put the physical stress of my injury along with the financial stress...emotional stress...and social stress...I haven't been able to go out really or do anything except to the Dr and occasionally to WalMart. I was and am so uncoordinated with crutches so have been wheelchair bound. I feel like I have and am missing life going on around me. And with all this, I have to be finding another job...but don't know when I will be able to work...and yeah, now I have no insurance because I have no job, so it just gets better and better. I thought I would be smiling and having a good time today, and instead am sitting here feeling overwhelmed and crying. My sister had a broken leg, and healed faster than me...that just doesn't seem fair...heh. I just want to talk to someone for support though all this. I know I need to put it all into perspective....Im alive and I will be okay...but somedays life just seems so black
Eight weeks ago I fell off the side of my outside steps. I thought I was fine until I looked at my foot, and then started feeling the pain. I went by ambulance to the hospital and that got transferred to a larger hospital. I had dislocated all five of the joints, and had a couple fractures. I had emergency surgery that day, and was in the hospital for two days. During surgery, the Dr put five pins in my foot. I was released with gauze on my foot and a wrap...non weight bearing, had to go back in two days. I was told to use a wheelchair. At this point, I didn't think it was a big thing...maybe take a week or two out of my life. Well, when I went back, he explained to me more about the injury, and put me in a cast. He said it would be six weeks and then I could walk again. I found out it isn't that easy though. Well, I bled through the cast and went back and the took it off and gave me a Camboot. I couldn't stand the thing, and didn't wear it, as I was non weight bearing anyway. Luckily, everything was still fine. I think it was just more for protection of the pins. I continued with weekly visits and weekly xrays. Six weeks came, and I was told that it would be two more weeks...another let down. Yet, the Dr still led me to believe that at this point, I would just be able to go back to regular life and walk all I wanted. Speaking of the Dr, this is another problem that I have. I know that Drs have to learn somehow and stuff, but when I have an injury that I now know is really serious, I want to talk to a fully trained Dr, not an intern or resident or whatever. All my appts have been with the resident--and if Im lucky, the real Dr comes in for 2 minutes about every other visit. Its frustrating. This week on Monday, I went in after having bad bad pain all weekend, and found out one of the pins was loose, so they pulled that one, and that I had a staph infection, so was put on antibiotics. That was four days ago. I went in today to get the rest of the pins pulled....again, the resident Dr...anyway, so because of all previous information, I thought that once I had them out I would be able to get up and walk out of there (he did tell me that now that I was going to be weight bearing, I had to use the boot). Was it that easy, NO! Its beeing only like four hours sinse the pins were pulled...I tried putting a LITTLE weight on my foot, and I can't even do a little. It hurt, I am weak, and the damn boot annoys the hell outta me. It hurts to have on...it seems too tight, but I don't know how tight it is supposed to be and I don't know what angle my foot is supposed to be at. It hurts to just all of the sudden have it at a ninety degree angle. I had it on ten minutes and everything just hurt like hell. When I left my appt, he said that I could put weight on the heel, and walk like that, nothing about how I could be weak or not able to do it right away. I feel underinformed. I was looking forward to this day for the last two months, and now I sit here crying because it isn't over. I still can't just get up and walk, and I am still in pain. This injury sucks! I read your guys stories too, and I realize that it isn't over....why do I have to come on the boards to read about this? Should my Dr (or whatever he is) not have told me and explained? I asked about PT, but was told it isn't necessary but if I want to, it can't hurt. Which leads me to another problem...through this whole time with my injury, and being off work, I have lost my job, which totally doesn't seem fair, and have no income. So put the physical stress of my injury along with the financial stress...emotional stress...and social stress...I haven't been able to go out really or do anything except to the Dr and occasionally to WalMart. I was and am so uncoordinated with crutches so have been wheelchair bound. I feel like I have and am missing life going on around me. And with all this, I have to be finding another job...but don't know when I will be able to work...and yeah, now I have no insurance because I have no job, so it just gets better and better. I thought I would be smiling and having a good time today, and instead am sitting here feeling overwhelmed and crying. My sister had a broken leg, and healed faster than me...that just doesn't seem fair...heh. I just want to talk to someone for support though all this. I know I need to put it all into perspective....Im alive and I will be okay...but somedays life just seems so black
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I am a 62 year old female. I had my liz franc injury March 5, 2007 in Florida while on vacation. Fell about 24" off the step of our RV with flip flops on and landed toe first and basically crumpled my foot. It was so swollen the orthopedic surgeon in Florida couldn't operate for 4 or 5 days, so we elected to go back home to northern Michigan. Had my surgery 10 days later on March 15, 2007. It was quite a trip home in the back seat of our truck for 3 days , then back into the RV at night, on crutches and pain pills and a temporary cast. Not something I want to repeat anytime soon.
Three screws and 2 pins. On crutches about 6 weeks. Had the pins removed and Doctor said it appeared strong so I should try to walk. It was very painful for almost 3 weeks trying to walk, but a very small improvement everyday. I used crutches to walk, then a walker, then one crutch and then a cane. Started physical therapy at about 7 weeks. It was very basic at first, but mostly stretching and bending the foot to get the tendons and muscles back in shape. Water therapy was very good as I was able to stand up on my own and walk in a normal manner as it takes about 80% of your body weight off your foot. When I was able to put weight on it, try to stand on tip toes--this one will really get you at first.
I was beginning to become very depressed in April from not being able to walk and needing to have my husband do everything for me. I was very clumsy on crutches and almost fell several times. If my husband wasn't behind me holding on, I would have fallen. As May sunshine began, I was just being able to walk and outside I went with my walker. It took me 25 to 30 minutes to walk down to my girlfriends who lived 5 houses away, but I did it every day. The beginning to walk and the sunshine and being able to get out of the house helped lift the depression.
I just had the 3 screwed removed Sept 13, 2007 (7 months later) and the incision is almost healed 2 weeks and 4 days later. I couldn't walk for almost 4 days after surgery, but quickly got back to walking. Painful again at first, but nothing like the original surgery. The pain I have walking now is not as severe as it was with the screws in.
For those of you just beginning this awful trauma to your body and soul, I have something my doctor said to me when I first went in to see him. He said "This is an injury, not a disease and will heal". I guess, for me anyway, it put it into perspective. When I started feeling sorry for myself, I would remember his words. This wasn't Cancer or some other incurable disease I was facing. I would heal. And this helped me on my dark days.
I have a minor limp and trouble walking on uneven surfaces. I have some pain in my foot still. I don't know if it will ever get much better. My orthopedic surgeon said I had broken my foot as bad as it can get, so I am thankful that it is doing as good as it is. A visiting foot/ankle specialist saw me on my last doctor check up and he said my post-op x-rays look good.
Also, when I fell, I tore my rotator cuff in my left shoulder and have to have surgery for 2 torn ligaments there. That is next now that I have the foot out of the way. 2007 was not my year!!!
Three screws and 2 pins. On crutches about 6 weeks. Had the pins removed and Doctor said it appeared strong so I should try to walk. It was very painful for almost 3 weeks trying to walk, but a very small improvement everyday. I used crutches to walk, then a walker, then one crutch and then a cane. Started physical therapy at about 7 weeks. It was very basic at first, but mostly stretching and bending the foot to get the tendons and muscles back in shape. Water therapy was very good as I was able to stand up on my own and walk in a normal manner as it takes about 80% of your body weight off your foot. When I was able to put weight on it, try to stand on tip toes--this one will really get you at first.
I was beginning to become very depressed in April from not being able to walk and needing to have my husband do everything for me. I was very clumsy on crutches and almost fell several times. If my husband wasn't behind me holding on, I would have fallen. As May sunshine began, I was just being able to walk and outside I went with my walker. It took me 25 to 30 minutes to walk down to my girlfriends who lived 5 houses away, but I did it every day. The beginning to walk and the sunshine and being able to get out of the house helped lift the depression.
I just had the 3 screwed removed Sept 13, 2007 (7 months later) and the incision is almost healed 2 weeks and 4 days later. I couldn't walk for almost 4 days after surgery, but quickly got back to walking. Painful again at first, but nothing like the original surgery. The pain I have walking now is not as severe as it was with the screws in.
For those of you just beginning this awful trauma to your body and soul, I have something my doctor said to me when I first went in to see him. He said "This is an injury, not a disease and will heal". I guess, for me anyway, it put it into perspective. When I started feeling sorry for myself, I would remember his words. This wasn't Cancer or some other incurable disease I was facing. I would heal. And this helped me on my dark days.
I have a minor limp and trouble walking on uneven surfaces. I have some pain in my foot still. I don't know if it will ever get much better. My orthopedic surgeon said I had broken my foot as bad as it can get, so I am thankful that it is doing as good as it is. A visiting foot/ankle specialist saw me on my last doctor check up and he said my post-op x-rays look good.
Also, when I fell, I tore my rotator cuff in my left shoulder and have to have surgery for 2 torn ligaments there. That is next now that I have the foot out of the way. 2007 was not my year!!!
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