Lisfranc Foot Fracture Stories

Something more, your story sounds very similar to mine, but fortunately, I got a wonderful doctor before my surgery even though it was 10 mos. post injury. Most of us understand your frustration and having gone through the intern things also, I would strongly recommend that you seek a good second opinion. Ask friends who they have used for foot and ankle injuries, or surgeries.

About the income issue, do you have disability insurance? You don't need to answer that, but search every possible recourse you may have. Perhaps, you weren't even legally let go. I'm not for suing, but it sounds like you have a possible case of malpractice. Get copies of ALL of your records and x-rays, even keep copies of all of your "Eligibility of Benefits" statements from your previous insurance. Don't toss any record of all of this away. This is advice that I have learned, but also received from the receptionist at my therapist's office. She deals with insurance and the like all of the time.

Here's hoping for a good outcome for you and that your recovery will take a better turn and you'll find a better job!

So what does everyone think of healing/weight bearing after surgery? I had 4 screws put in 5 days ago, and I still need pain meds. Doc said no weight for 5/6 weeks, then possibly partial. This whole thing just seems like it's going to take forever!

It does seem like it takes forever, but please follow all of your doctors instructructions. Weight bearing too soon could ruin the screws and bones placements. Then they may have to start all over again.

I have to say its been great reading all the other postings on this site as I'd never heard of the injury before I did it. OK, here's my story:

Before I start I need to point out I'm a trampolining coach and that's where it all began. 5 weeks ago I was coaching at my club and I went on for a shot. Unfortunately as I landed one of my moves I landed on the thin pads covering the steel frame and it felt as if my foot crumbled underneath me. I noticed a lump in my foot on the inside and didn't know whether it was swelling or not but when I touched it it popped back into its proper place. I went up to A+E and was given loads of painkillers and had my foot put in a temp cast, NWB and kept in overnight. I then had surgery first thing the next morning and now have 2 screws in to hold the bones in the right place while they heal. I've been in a NWB cast the whole time and I'm due to have it removed on Tuesday (5 days away). I had some slight discomfort after the surgery for about a week but stopped taking the painkillers after that as it hasn't caused any pain since.

Does anyone know what's likely to happen once the cast comes off and how long it will be before I resume full activities? As well as trampolining I'm also a dancer and hate missing out on my normal stuff.

I so know what you mean! I was asking my Dr every week if I could put lotion on my foot, but couldn't because the pins were in. I got the pins out a week ago and he said to wait 48 hours and then I could. As the swelling goes down...which has been amazing...and daily coats of lotion...sometimes 3 or 4 times a day...my foot is heading back in the right direction to looking somewhat normal.

Well, just a wee update on my own postition. Got my cast off yesterday and the doctor has told me that in my own time I've to build up now to full weight bearing. I've still to use my crutches but he said he was really happy with how it had all turned out.

Did/does anyone else find it hurts this much when trying to walk again for the first time. It feels as though all the tendons and ligaments have tightened up and are determined not to loosen again. Also some pain where the actual injury happened.

I got the okay to weight bear two weeks ago. I didn't expect it to be so hard either. I have pain in my leg and my foot from muscles being used that haven't in awhile. Also, have pain where the injury was, also. I didn't expect to have this much pain, but yeah...Im right there with ya!

Hello Musictch, Hizgrace, and all my new friends here
First let me say Congratulations to Hizgrace! How wonderful it was to hear about the baby!! New babies always make me happy!
I thought I would post here instead of on the one I started. It just seemed easier today .. I was already here!
Well I still havent had surgery but it is scheduled for October 22. So I have 10 days to run around and get everything done that I can while I can still drive. I am trying so hard to stay really positive for the boys but I am a worry-wart by nature so its getting to me just a little. Atleast I will make it to all the band festivals that my oldest 2 boys are in before the surgery. Hmmmmm?? Just hit me like a ton of lead... would have missed them had I tried to rush this like I wanted... aint it funny how God knows what he's doing even if we dont until after the fact?? Musictch you told me to see what this trial was for.. I still say its patience... I quit praying for patience along time ago ... My mother ( who is in heaven watching over me now) always told me not to pray for it til I was ready for it. Maybe its time for it now??
Anyhow just wanted to let you all know how things were going here. Not sure when I'll be back so best of luck to all of you.. and again Hizgrace congrats!! Thanks to all of you for the support you have offered .. I'm sure I'll need it again.. And who knows maybe I can offer some support for you one day!!

Karen

Hello, KarenM

Glad that you have your surgery scheduled and I'm sure that you will be glad when you have it behind you. Keep your computer handy so you can check in with us (hopefully, you can find us as this site gets bigger!). There will be days when you'll ask why you went ahead with the surgery, but I marked my 4th month since surgery this past Mon., and my doctor said again that he is so happy with the results and that I just have to remember that I went through a reconstruction surgery. You will hit your stride, just look out for the bumps in the road so they don't trip you. We are here to help you and encourage you. Do you get an automatic e-mail when someone posts to this site? If not, you might want to sign up for it so you'll know we're here.

Haven't heard from HisGrace for awhile, but would like to. I'm with you, Karen -- babies are blessings from God, and this will be a wonderful adjustment to HisGrace in her odessey.

Karen, get use of a wheelchair for those upcoming Christmas programs. You don't want to miss those.

I posted a new thread, then saw this chain. I am Active Duty Navy, and had a lisfrac injury in May of 2003. The Army doctor who operated said it was the worsts injury she's ever seen. They operated that night, and got the foot back together after 5 screws, 2 pins and two wires.
4+ years later, and my pain level is 7-8 on a scale of 10; making walking almost unbearable. I am ready to have the foot removed and have a prostetic put in. Has anyone ever heard of this, and what was the result? I've heard of phantom pain, but it cant be worse than what I have now.
Thoughts?
enross@hotmail.com

Wow enross! Stories like yours scare me!! Im so sorry about your pain, and believe me, tonight I can relate! As for prothetics...Ive never heard of it but you have to research all you can because it is not fair or healthy for you to live a life in pain!

As for me...I am sooo sick of this. I am 3 months after surgery (have posted my story before so I will sum up). Had 5 pins in...over the course of 8 weeks, I bled through a cast, and had two painful infections in my foot...and was confined to a wheelchair. Three weeks ago,got the pins out and got the okay to weight bear....can't because it hurts to much...can walk short distances with crutches, putting the weight on my heel. I have a follow up appt scheduled for Tuesday...but I think I will be going in tomorrow. My foot is hurting very badly tonight...hurts when even a blanket touches it, and I am thinking I have ANOTHER infection. I am soooo sick of all this! I have been crying for about the last 4 hours because of the pain and because of the emtional stress of all this. Through all this, I have lost my job, lost insurance. Confined to a wheelchair basically, you have a VERY limited social life. I have no income. I feel like my whole life fell apart and is falling apart. I wonder if I will ever get better and if my life will ever get back to normal. The stories on here aren't very encouraging either. My Dr is not very informative, and I feel like I just go appt to appt with no talk of a long term prognosis. Im stressed, Im frustrated, Im sad, Im mad, Im...everything but happy.

Whoa, Enross! First off, you didn't say anything about what treatment you've had other than surgery. Did you have physical therapy? Have you had the pins removed? Did you receive more than one opinion since you've had the surgery to know whether or not the proper corrections have been made? Please check out as many of the stories on this website as possible, especially that of Hisgrace4all. If you go back far enough in her story, you'll find that she had treatment from the military and is having a good recovery. Hopefully, she will see your story and weigh in on it herself.

You are talking very drastic measures. Go visit a military hospital where there are plenty of amputees and ask them how they feel about living without a limb and whether they wish they could have found some other way to live with the pain/discomfort or had that choice. Many amputees find it less painful to live without a prosthesis because one can cause a lot of pain and irritation where it attaches and you must attach it to use it. Your thoughts are the first that I've read on this site even mentioning this possibility. I do hope that you keep looking for a solution besides amputation. Corrections can be made, but amputation is permanent. One lady suffered with her injury for ten years before having surgery to correct it.

Somethingmore, be patient. Ask your doctor about physical therapy. I don't remember reading that you've had any. Sounds like you need to back peddle. Weight-bearing at 8 weeks is very painful, and I can't imagine it without PT to help strengthen that foot. Remember, you had a reconstruction of your foundation! Too much too fast only causes problems. If I recall correctly, you and I are not young. Our healing naturally takes longer. Hopefully, you will get your problem resolved quickly and again be able to work.

Hang in there, guys!

Musicmthc
Thanks for the info....Believe me...miltiary is very big into Physical Theropy; I go four days a week; one of them being the pool. The pool seems to be the only thing that brings any relieve (aquajoging).

And for those going through this; At the time of the injury, the doctor who just got back from Iraq says it was one of the worst injuries she had seen, and didnt expect me to walk again. She did a great job getting me to where I am now, and for that I should be thankful; However...I want more...I want to be able to play with my kids (six) and eventually be active as I once was.

My original injury was in Hawaii; I had a petella subrelex back in 96; I recovered, pt'd and got back to distance running (five miles, three times a week). However, after a time, my knee kept blowing; so I went to the Navy docs to get it fixed, and the one I got refused. I asked him what would happen if I was somewhere more dangerous; He denounced it.

Well...I wasnt in a combat zone, or on a ship...I was out in the back yard playing with the kids. I had one of those soft-sided above ground pools....I pushed on it to make waves, adn the knee blew. 3300 gallons, 8lbs per gallon, 256,000lbs of pressure, shattered the foot.

I did close to six months in a wheel chair, before I started weight bearing. The military is great, because I was able to work from home with my laptop and cell phone, and continue to collect a paycheck and even earn leave (Vacation). But I did gain weight.

I finally got the knee fixed (last month) and am in the process of rehabing that, but the foot is causing complications in the knee recovery.

My podietrists says the foot has some fused bones, degenitive bone damage and 50% arthetic. Being stationed in New England now, might be some of the culprit, because of the cold. I wonder if I would have as much pain in Hawaii where the accident happened because of the climate, and warm ocean water (which seemed to help).

I joke that I would live to run; however, right now, I consider the walking 200 feet to take my baby to the park to go down the slide is an accomplishment. What started much of this; was last week watching cops, I saw a officer with one foot, who was chasing down a criminal. He didnt seem to loose a step in the process. I would love to have that again.

Im 26. No, I haven't had physical therapy...they told me it wasn't neccessary. I am going to ask if I can have some though. I called my Dr this morning about getting in. I have an appt at two. I didn't sleep last night...it feels like someone is constantly stabbing a hot poker into my foot. Its horrible. Pain meds don't help. I am afraid that when I go in today, I will find out I have to have another surgery or something. Im so scared. This whole thing has been hell!

Sorry, Somethingmore, I must have been dyslexic when I first read your story. I thought you were 62! Well, the laughs are on me. XD I am 60, and have been dealing with my injury for 14 mos. now so I do understand the pain and frustration of it all. Sure hope that you get a different dr. with better sense, or that the one you have sees that you do need PT.

Enross, I'm glad that you are having PT. I really don't know where I'd be today if I hadn't had it. Military duty isn't easy on the body, but hopefully, you will get some relief from your pain. Hopefully, your knee will heal well now, and give you relief there as well as in your foot. I was told upfront by my current podiatrist that I could expect to have arthritis in my foot after this type of injury. I also suffer from degenerative discs in my lower back which made walking and standing difficult before all of this. Lots of the time it is a "suck it up and go on" proposition for me so often others know I'm in pain before I do. There is too much living to do to let pain constantly dictate my activities --- sometimes to my detriment.

I wish the very best to both of you during this very frustrating time.