Lisfranc injury, NO surgery

You're right Coon! And hey, if it takes 2 yrs, it takes 2 yrs. I just hope that it actually heals +90% of normal.

You had mentioned a 7 month realization of your healing status. Being at 5 months (as noted two posts above), my fingers are crossed that I have this same epiphany. Honestly, the hardest thing for me is to take it easy. Spring is here, and I'm ready to do things outside. Hope my lisfranc ligament agrees...

Hi Coon, your posts have helped me tremendously! You are so right about the false hope. My first Ortho, top credentials, kept saying I was fine and I slowly got worse. Like you, I was terribly frightened by my google searches that continually ended up on Lisranc injuries, and had a false hope because this doc reassured me that was not a lisfranc. I didn't want a second opinion because I was afraid I would get bad news. Promises that I was fine were much easier to hear! Well, first, he never actually looked at my MRI himself, only relied on the radiologist, which is a story unto itself. He may have been right that it wasn't a lisfranc *fracture* fitting his definition of requiring surgery (or he was just wrong altogether), but two equally or better qualified Orthos have now looked at all the records and run a CT scan a year later, saying that the diagnosis is obvious. The "false hope" delayed my recovery and my quality of life has been pretty low because I had to avoid anything that required walking - something I thrived on prior to this.

Recovery is slow, and I'm grateful that my new doctor warned me or I would have given up many times over already. It seems like the problem is - uneducated patient perspective here!! - that all the surrounding ligaments and tendons have more demand than even before the injury because the ligaments supporting the arch in the foot are weaker, the supporting structures through the ankle and knee have to compensate for the suddenly weaker foot. So now that I am finally re-learning how to take a normal step, the ligaments haven't caught up so I get painful popping in my ankle and knee, and those take many weeks to strengthen. Not walking much for a year in my case has compounded the recovery because everthing on my left side is weak. Physical therapy is discouraging because it requires facing how little I can do, but then some progress is measurable and I gain a little more confidence. It has been just over a month of PT and my family and friends are commenting on a better stride or faster pace. While the improvement marks from week to week are impressive, the changes day to day alternate between great and horrible. I was going steadily downhill for a year, and now I am actually getting better. Coon, my current doctor was very guarded with any level of prognosis, but he adamently said these injuries *do* continue to heal in his experience, well beyond the one year mark, even though some say that doesn't happen. He said it just takes a long time. Then again, I suppose that also requires getting the right diagnosis, which is not that easy!

What did you end up doing?

It has been great reading all of your posts on this *&^%$ injury! I had a really bad lisfranc injury in July of 2016. I was told by a very nice podiatrist that I didn't need surgery (he said I was in the 5% that doesn't because my bones we so good and straight etc. Came back home to Tucson (this happened in Calif) and new doc said 'no more meds for you' (though the pain was horrible and I was taking the lowest dose...I have GERD so I can't take Advil or Aspirin) so I did all the taping, the exercises, the PT, the "stay off your foot" ice etc and I of course reinsured in in the bathtub falling. Doc took another x-ray and said now I need surgery. No way, I can't go through another 6 months again. She is not an ortho so not quite sure what to do. I guess I go to an ortho but these bills are killing me (I am on SSI). I think what has gotten to me the most is having the depression of not being able to be active (and of course the election didn't help). Can't anyone give me words of wisdom on how to tackle this so called 'rare' tear?

Thanks! Bev in Tucson

Hi your case sounds so similar to mine , I've been undiagnosed and in pain walking constantly for 10 months now !!!! 2 different consultants but no lisfranc diagnosed, I'm so scared they have missed this as a possible, is this curtains for us, it doesn't look good if it is lisfranc damage and I've never rested it just lived with this twisting limp and pain
Would love to hear your outcome.
Best wishes Anthea

Just diagnosed with Lisfranc injury. Having MRI on Monday. I'm still walking, on my feet much of the day because I deliver goods. I have no limp, feel mild discomfort which is at times almost gone. The problem is, I run. I haven't been able to run in a month, and fear I may never run again. Also, going months without working would be crippling to my family financially. What are the long term prognosis for someone who is leaning on no surgery, possible no boot. Ice at night, Epsom salt soaks. ???

I'm wondering if your son ever had to have the surgery and how he is doing.

Hello, I'm from AZ, yesterday my hubby and I had a little gardening done. I didn't hurt my self or anything, but when I woke up this morning my mid foot is sore and when I walk its painful. I can't figure it out what happened to my foot. So, I went on-line and found out that they call this injury as lisfranc, I relate to all of you, I'ts so painful. I don't know what to do.

4 dislocated metalcarls, 5 fractures, 7 screws @ a plate! I'm from Australia got the op 2 days after injury. Right foot. Um I just got a larger work boot and laced it up tight for driving after around 8 weeks. Just got screws out yesterday after 6months .it does get better make sure that you wear good shoes

I have been diagnosed with lisfranc and I am terrified that so many people talk of surgery. Nothing is fractured, just obvious gap on x-ray between first and second metatarsals
Been in cast for 2 weeks now And got to have an MRI, got to say after all these horror stories I am so scared for how this will heal! All because I tripped and fell forward:(

How did ur son make out!

Good morning
My son was just told his lisfranc ligament is torn n he needs surgery because it's his best option if he wants to pursue playing soccer how did ur son due after the surgery moms concerns

Hello everybody!
Diagnosed 2 weeks after the injury with a MRI: 2nd degree Lisfranc sprain. Weight-bearing no dislocations. No stability though. Had just 2 weeks NWB and my surgeon gave me ok for the moon boot and physio. Isn't it too early? I have a pain due to a fall last week. Bloody crutches. And my healthy foot starts to hurt too.
I am so tired. Was about to jump from a helicopter in this Nz season and go to the Everest Base Camp in September.
Is better a CT or MRI for this kind of injury?

What kind of surgery? I heard a Tightope is the fastest way to recover in case of sprains

Hi my name is Champagne Marmont and I have a similar situation not sure exactly when I got the injury but I just know I injured my right groin running and must have injured my foot and ankle at the same time. That was over one year ago, the pain got severe in December but I wasn't diagnosed with a lisfranc Sprain until July. I've had the lisfranc sprain so long it has caused osteoarthritis in my foot. Within the year of my injury I gained 50 pounds despite excercising consistently on my injured foot. Since I have recently gone vegan 3 months ago it helped me lose 20 pounds but I've been out of work for three weeks and the orthopedic doctor says I don't need surgery or a boot. I have special insoles and am buying special shoes to wear at home but in the meantime I had to return to work yesterday and was in extreme pain only after 3 hours of working. At this point I don't know what to do... I'm losing weight but also losing muscle I can't run or walk outside anymore like I like to do and I can hardly work. I'm only 25 it's like a horrible nightmare of chronic pain and not healing. I try to stay off my foot as much as possible but have only been resting it for about 3 weeks since I decided to take 3 weeks off work because the pain got so severe I could hardly walk anymore. Now I'm just praying and praying it will heal....so I can live my life again... it sucks...