I was injured in Iraq in April 03'
10 days later had an ORIF
A year later they removed the screws they put in...
A year after that they did a medial calcaneal osteotomy
A year and a half after that they removed the screw from the calcaneal, cleaned up my posterior tendon, and put a plug in (Subtalar Implant)
6months later took the plug out....
That has been the gist of what I have gone through because of this injury. Not to mention where I stand mentally now from dealing with being in pain all the time... I am at wits end... I will be at the 6yr mark in April... and I hurt bad... still... I struggle to be on my feet for more than 20 or so min. I have special orthodics for my shoes. Have tried several different types. In and out of walking casts. Currently in one now... The only option they say I have left is fusion... I am 26yrs old. I worry about having that done cause I have heard it is not a good thing to do in those that are young. Prior to getting injured I was extremely active. Running, martial arts, repelling... Now my quality of life sucks... I don't know what to do anymore and most of the time wish they would just hack my foot off and give me a prosthetic. At least then I would have a better chance at getting my old life back.
Anyone in a similar boat with suggestions?
Anyone ever had an amputation because of this or even something similar? I am having trouble finding reading material on that specific subject....
10 days later had an ORIF
A year later they removed the screws they put in...
A year after that they did a medial calcaneal osteotomy
A year and a half after that they removed the screw from the calcaneal, cleaned up my posterior tendon, and put a plug in (Subtalar Implant)
6months later took the plug out....
That has been the gist of what I have gone through because of this injury. Not to mention where I stand mentally now from dealing with being in pain all the time... I am at wits end... I will be at the 6yr mark in April... and I hurt bad... still... I struggle to be on my feet for more than 20 or so min. I have special orthodics for my shoes. Have tried several different types. In and out of walking casts. Currently in one now... The only option they say I have left is fusion... I am 26yrs old. I worry about having that done cause I have heard it is not a good thing to do in those that are young. Prior to getting injured I was extremely active. Running, martial arts, repelling... Now my quality of life sucks... I don't know what to do anymore and most of the time wish they would just hack my foot off and give me a prosthetic. At least then I would have a better chance at getting my old life back.
Anyone in a similar boat with suggestions?
Anyone ever had an amputation because of this or even something similar? I am having trouble finding reading material on that specific subject....
Im in about the exact same boat unfortunately, and it does seem to be taking on water. Im 25, same MO prior to injury 2 years ago; martial arts, climbimg, dancing, working as a tree climber, drummer. I had a partial to full tear but with very minor dislocation, tried every type of conservative treatment imaginable. Cost about 12,000 all told at this point, and no results. After about a year of PT and orthotics as well as active release and Graston technique, I was put on a treadmill walking for diagnostic purposes by a new physician for 2 minutes and now i have to walk with a cane full time. Its unstable and no one knows what they're doing. Every doctor thinks their specialty is the answer, all the orthos want to fuse it and all the therapists and physiatrists think its a mobility death sentence, which seems to be what you've been dealing with.
the emotional aspects of having your life inexorably altered for the far worse if you're as active as I was, is really the worst part now. Dont really know what to try next. Wish you luck with all the post surgical symptomology. I think the real truth, and I dont mean this in a cynical or unresearched way, is that the western medical community doesnt actually have a remedy for any ligament tearing that is misdiagnosed and allowed to heal back with laxity. The only thing I've even heard of for ligament laxity, is prolotherapy, which is dodgy, blood platelet injections, which most likely wont work, and stem cell infused platelet injections, which I still dont see as being able to lay down enough new collagen to arrest laxity.
It's sad that they pretend that ORIF is a viable treatment, its just prolonging the agony. If i were you I'd do everything i could to keep my knees and hips healthy, the orif must be putting a lot of strain on them and you dont want to have to have them replaced or arthritic also. Take care.
the emotional aspects of having your life inexorably altered for the far worse if you're as active as I was, is really the worst part now. Dont really know what to try next. Wish you luck with all the post surgical symptomology. I think the real truth, and I dont mean this in a cynical or unresearched way, is that the western medical community doesnt actually have a remedy for any ligament tearing that is misdiagnosed and allowed to heal back with laxity. The only thing I've even heard of for ligament laxity, is prolotherapy, which is dodgy, blood platelet injections, which most likely wont work, and stem cell infused platelet injections, which I still dont see as being able to lay down enough new collagen to arrest laxity.
It's sad that they pretend that ORIF is a viable treatment, its just prolonging the agony. If i were you I'd do everything i could to keep my knees and hips healthy, the orif must be putting a lot of strain on them and you dont want to have to have them replaced or arthritic also. Take care.
I am in the same boat, I have only been suffering with mine for 2 yrs. the doctor is going to do a BKA but the insurance company denied it, of course the doctor is appealing but this could take some time. I am tired of the meds that dont quite do it, and the loss of quality of life.
Not to be rude or anything but I am looking for folks who are in the same boat as me as in 5 surgeries and or same amount of time of dealing with issues... You guys at just 2 yrs still have a good chance at things healing... or them figuring whats up... 2yrs, 1 or 2 surgeries later is not in the same boat...
Just saying...
Just saying...