LISFRANC FOOT

Timmy,
Welcome to the Lisfranc Club. It's nice to hear that you are not having a lot of pain post surgery. Good for you! I'm 5 weeks post surgery and have plans to visit my Dr. Monday. I am also wearing the boot. I am now curious to know now after reading your post care, will I still wear the boot at my 6 weeks post surg. appt? I myself have 3 screws and a very large incision that covers the top of my foot.

I have not worked since my fall, almost 8 weeks ago. I would like to urge you to take it easy when going back to work. I am finding now that I have more swelling when I am up about most days. I think with this type of injury it really helps to keep you foot up elivated about your heart. Though it sounds like to me that you are in pretty good shape with minimal pain.

Did you Dr. recommend to have the srew taken out. Just curiuos, mine has said that he would take mine out only if they bother me.

Well, best of luck to you.
SKH Shannon

Thanks, my Dr. said he would take the screw out for sure because I am so active. He told me that getting it removed shouldn't be a big deal - basically you'll just have some tenderness for a few days because of the incision. But then again I only have 1 screw in my foot instead of 3. I would take more time off of work but I can't really - I am a network Admin so I can do quite of bit of work remotely from my desk. I am in a wedding next weekend and then have an interview the following weekend. Glad I have plenty of Vicoden :-)

Welcome Timmy. Glad you were diagnosed so early.

An update on my orthotics which I got yesterday. Ahhhh, I can see relief after awhile. Wore them for 1 hour yesterday upon the advise of the Orthoguy and will increase that time over the next week. Anyhow, it felt like I was walking without a limp for the first time in months. I'll probably have to break the habit because even if I don't think I was limping I probably still was.

I took the orthotics off after an hour and went back to wearing my Reebok beach sandals and felt the pain return within about 1/2 hour and then my limp came back. So there may be hope for me yet! XD

Off for tummy surgery tomorrow so this will probably be it for awhile.

Take care everyone and keep cool because summer is here, Kelly 8)

Hey,

Had a lisfranc fracture in Sep of last year, and have had the screws in and out (in in Sep, out in Feb) and have been getting back into sport (am quite active). But I'm finding after a long run or row or cycle I get the pain in my foot, milder but not wildly different from the fracture. Was fine at my last checkup with my orthopaedic surgeon but this is stressing me out a bit, definitely don't need any more time without weightbearing! I have a fair bit of scar tissue and a lump (that has been there since the screw went in, stayed when it came out), if that makes any difference. Just wondering if anyone has any help/advice, if I need to go back to the surgeon or if this is normal. Thanks,

Kate.

Hello all,

has anyone out there been "pinned"? I jumped (yes jumped) off a roof 5 weeks ago. 3 weeks ago I had surgery and now have 2 external pins. Since the operation, I have had very little pain (considering there are 2 pins sticking out the top of my foot) In 3 weeks they are going to pull the pins.( from what I am told with a pliers and no drugs) then 4 more weeks in a cam walker. I am hoping to be walking by my 40th birthday mid august. does anyone know what kind of physical therapy follows this?

Thanks
k

Greetings everyone. I hope everyone is doing well, or as best as can be expected. Thanks for the replys and words of encouragement. I have an appointment on Thursday, June 22nd, to FINALLY have my cast removed. It will have been almost 8 weeks with a cast on and no weight bearing, except for the last few days where i've been hobbling around by putting preassure on my heel, Feels pretty weird, no pressure on the rest of my foot though. I'm kind of nervous about starting to put weight on my entire foot. I feel as if when I first do this, that my bones will break again. I know, silly. Let's see how this goes. Good luck on ur surgery Kelly.

I am now 6 weeks post surg & beginning to put weight on my foot. I know exactly what you mean, about the fear of breaking it again, it just feels so wierd to use the foot you have babied for so long. It's very obvious that my muscle in my foot, ankle & leg is weak. My Dr. also gave me the okay to start driving again ( it's been 8 weeks, I broke my right foot) I am continue to wear the boot & only take it off to drive. I did this earlier today & did fine. Just praying that I would not need to slam on the brakes!!

I wish I had more advise for others, I'm just too new to all this. I have 3 screws & at this point, I am keeping them in. This could change if they bother me.

Can anyone recommend a good shoe I can get?

Best wishes to all!!!

well, as the newest member of the club, let me start off by saying how much this stinks! %-)
Now that that is over with, I have a question...
Has anyone had difficulty with their insurence co? Mine wants me to go to a podiatrist even though my orthopedic dr wants me to go to an orthopedic specialist.... It has been two weeks since my fall, and NOTHING has been done. o.O
I am in a cast, and on crutches, but am worried about the length of time before getting it fixed.
Any suggestions?!?

Hello Imboogaloosmom - Welcome!!

I would like to know, have you been told that you have this injury? Have you had an MRI? You said that you fell? That is what happened to me... where did you fall? I fell at a resteraunt. I was turning a corner towards the restroom & slipped on something. I had my 2 year old in my arms. He was not hurt, thank goodness! From what I've read, this can happen when you are falling & twisting, as I was turning the corner.

In regards to insurance, I have had no problems, but just to let you know, my medical bills have already totalled $18,000.00 - I have been very fortunate with my insurance, as most of my bills have been paid. I will be paying about $900 out of pocket.

I would suggest that you not wait too long, escpecailly if you do have this Lisfranc injury. My Dr. said that surgery was my only option if I wanted to have full normal use of my foot. He did also say that I would have life long problems, arthritus, pain when the weather changes, just to name a few.

Good luck with you, keep us posted!!

SKH - aka Shannon

I slammed on my brakes as I broad sided a car that stopped in my lane. ER said just a sprain. After a nightmare with trying to get a referal to the right docs i finally got into a nightmare ortho doc. Little did I know that he did mostly work comp injuries...so he said i was faking it and it couldn't possibly be as bad as i thought it was. Riiight....

3 months later..i saw a podiatrist. He said there was probably a fracture and torn ligaments... he said nothing to do now but wait and see. If he would have seen me right off, we would have done surgery. No weight bearing xrays were taken.

after a year of "wait and see" pt and steroid shots he said surgery was the last resort. I got a second opinion who said the same thing but also saw evidence of old fractures. I did a lot of research and found and AWESOME ortho surgeon who finally did the surgery and fused the joints.

I have 5 pins. The doc said there was a lot of detioration and the surgery was definately needed. It's been almost 4 weeks now. I'm in a hard cast and I keep my foot up chest level or higher all the time unless I'm in the shower or up to get something to eat. I use a walker because I'm scared to death I'll trip with crutches. I've had a lot of near misses with the walker!

As soon as my foot goes down it swells and turns dark. One of the posters said they aren't able to flex their big toe. I can't seem to move mine right now either. My doc said we will probably try to leave the screws in since I'm 40. I'm fine with that.

If I remember right, one of the posters said their foot wasn't suppposed to touch the floor? I hope I didn't mess anything up. I do rest my foot on my heel when I'm sitting in the shower or getting dressed etc.. But I've been a certified couch potato most of the time. I'm going to double check with the doc tomorrow.

It's hard going through this. My husband doesn't understand that I can't clean the house and go back to work. He sees the cast and is under the impression that it's protected so I should be able to walk with it. I don't care what he says... I'm not moving until it's time.

Another thing that is so aggrevating is:

Since this is from a car accident, everyone at work thinks I'm milking it. My husband is only seeing dollar signs. Actually, i don't even associate this with the accident in my mind. I forget about the accident until someone asks me about it. I think maybe I'm trying to block it out? I do know when I drive (with my other foot now) I can still hear that crash.

It's not fair that people think I'm faking it because of a car accident. Oh well. who cares right?

I know this will be temporary. It gives me a new respect for people with permanent disabilities.

There isn't enough help for people with temporary total disabilities. I'm going to be out a paycheck for the next couple months. I checked with SS and they only pay out if it will last for a year. I canceled my short term disability conveniently 2 weeks before the accident!!

Thanks for reading this. I'm so glad someone started this. It's good to read all of your experiences.

My goodness Hopalong, your symptoms sound an awful lot like mine. Different method of fracture but similar symptoms.

I had circulatory problems with my foot - it goes red whenever its down. Its been 4 months since injury and I still get this. Everyone seems to think its from all the swelling and keeps telling me to keep it up (above the heart). Anyhow, I now do things, rest and put my foot up which seems to help with the swelling. I haven't been using my orthotics lately as I just had abdominable surgery. I used the Ted Stockings for the surgery to help with my circulation - something you might look into when you get out of the cast. You put them on in the morning and it doesn't allow your foot to swell. You have to get your leg sized at a drug store. There are other ones called compression stockings. Ask with a pharmacist - some know more about them than others.

A few months back, I couldn't even tuck my daughter in bed without telling her to hurry up so that I could go back to the couch. Its not fun. It wouldn't be bad if you didn't have to keep your foot above your heart. I got really good at Soduko puzzles, and reading, oh and did I say tv.

I posted earlier a whole bunch of websites of studies done on Lisfranc injuries. You might want to read them just so you know what you are in to. I can't vouch for them, but a few are really good. I keep cheering the soccer/football players on with their similar injuries as I'm hoping maybe it will become better known with better treatments. So far none of the soccer players have had it too bad - not to mention all the support they get while injured.

All I can say is, since my surgery - which has set me back a little - my foot is getting better but boy is it slow when I compare myself with other people with different fractures. I would reconsider getting the screws out depending on the injury as one lady I met started to react to them.

Keep your spirits up any way you can, and your foot too! Note: I'm trying to be funny! Work with me! tee hee XD

Cheers, Kelly

My foot is killing me tonight. It's been one month since surgery. I can't sleep. There are storms coming so that might be part of it. Work keeps calling me asking when I'm coming back. My husband keeps asking when I'm going back to work... He says "all I have to do is sit there" hmmm.... all i have to do is sit there....for 8 hours in one position with my foot up higher than my heart ...riiiighhht. Why can't they leave me alone.

Hopalong,
Just want you to know that I feel for you, as I know exactly what you are going thru. Trust me, it does get better. I'm 7 weeks post surgery & my foot is getting somewhat better. I went back to work this past week, it was pretty rough, my foot was so swollen by the end of the day. I have a toddler so it's very hard to come home & put my foot up. My husband has been helpful, but he now thinks that I'm back in the full swing of things. Little does he know, I AM NOT!!

Just take it easy, it really does help to keep your foot up as much as possible, have your husband read my advise, if you can get him too. Keeping your foot up helps it heal, I did for pretty much 6 weeks post surgery. Per my Dr. request!!

Hang in there!!
SKH

Hopalong, when do you get your cast off?

Look up compartment syndrom for Lysfranc injuries. Lysfranc injuries are prone to swelling and necessitate amputation. I'm not trying to scare you but maybe your husband. I don't think you've got this as its most likely to set in soon after you get a cast on. One thing that I noticed is, my foot used to swell a LOT (and be very painful) just before I got my period. I know this might be TMI for the guys - but you'll get over it. When I got the first cast on, within one week I was in emergency demanding they take it off. My big toe was tingling for a whole week and finally it got to be too much. I saw my OS the next day who applied a new cast but wrapped it differently with more of the soft cottony wrap to minimize certain pressure points - this helped me a lot.

My foot still turns purple (albeit a lighter purple than when I had the cast on - it was amost black then) when I have a shower. I don't really notice it other times because I'm now wearing my sandles all the time (without orthotics). I had people tell me I wasn't keeping my foot up enough - yeah right as if the pain wasn't enough to motivate me.

I wish the pain with these Lysfranc injuries would just go away, people have no idea that each fracture is different.

Sending lots of MOBILE, PAINFREE (lots of PAINFREE) days & nights, Kelly :'(

Just found a website that lists the recovery times of some football/soccer players. Thought this might be interesting for us folks to give us an idea of timeline. Keep in mind these guys are usually young, in shape, and have specialists working non-stop to get them back on the field.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/health_and_fitness/4283136.stm

Hope you find it useful, Kelly o.O