Hi, I'm Don. On March 15th of this year I took a .357mag 158JHP round through the left ankle while trying to prevent a robbery. The bullet entered the right top of my ankle bone above the arch, traveled slightly on a diagonal and exited through the bottom of my foot taking quite a lot of bone and tissue with it. Three surgeries were required just to clean the wound track and and excise necrotic tissue and bone fragments. Surgery number four was plastic surgery to close the gaping hole on the inside ankle area where the bone had been basically blown apart. Surgery number five was for the external fixative (most painful part of the entire ordeal - the pain was so intense in the recovery room that I actually hallucinated). Surgery number six (around the middle of April) was ankle and mid-foot fusion. My left leg is now 3/8 to 1/2 inch shorter than my right.
Walking on my own now, albeit with a severe limp, and tossed away crutches and cane about 3 weeks ago. It took a while, but I've come to grips with the fact that I'll never take another pain free step although after the first ten or twelve steps of the day (which feels like walking barefoot on thumbtacks), the pain at least becomes bearable. In the evenings and while resting I get very intense random shooting pains throughout my foot and at times feel something very akin to electrical shocks which radiate randomly from heel to toe. I know the gun shot wound caused severe nerve damage and have been told the electric shocks I feel are due to "nerve regeneration." I was given a prescription of a drug call Neurontin to deal with this, but gave it up after experiencing undesirable side effects.
I've been told that a rocker bottom shoe for my left foot will likely make it possible to regain my gait and alleviate the problems I have with my lower back due the difference in leg lengths. Kinda' wondering how rocker bottoms have worked for others. I've always been very active and hope to return to my rather physically demanding job, but need mobility comparable pre-accident in order to do so. And I'm also wondering (since my doctor, orthopedic genius that he is, hasn't mentioned anything specific) what types of exercises (other than just limping around as much as possible) would be helpful to get back to semi-normal.
Thanks!
...Don...
I'm Margaret.
I had a lis franc injury in January in Gambia of all places!
I had a failed operation there but fortunately was told not to weightbear.
In February I had a second operation in England. All 5 bones of the mid foot had fractured and fusion was necessary.
I am now the proud owner of 2 plates, 11 screws and 2 wires
On advise of my specialist who was fantastic, he discussed rocker shoes, either one made to fit or the rocker trainer used for fitness.
I looked at choices on the internet in my 4 months non weight bearing and then contacted Skechers explaining my injury. They suggested their Liv trainer.
This has worked for me and I am now reasonably active.
At first because of the nerve regeneration I could only manage short spells before resting it. I can now walk 2miles most days (and still improving)
What also helped me at this stage was physiotherapy. I managed to correct my gait with her help.
I do still have problems. I still have stiffness on my ankle, nerve pain occasionally and slow healing round the base of my toe. And yes! I don't like getting out of bed in a morning either.
I wear soft slipper socks when in the home.
This injury can take up to 18 months to heal to it's best potential. Try to be patient which I know personally is hard to do.
After my first 4 months I have steadily improved and I feel very lucky to be able to do what I can.
I hope that this can help you in your situation.
Maybe you could do with specialist advise because besides the rocker you may need a build-up on your shoe.
Take Care and let me know how you are getting on.
Margaret
I had my first foot fusion in Feb 1998. It was a triple and one of the joints did not fuse. The doctor went back in about a year later to remove the screws sand attempt to fuse that third joint using bone chips from my hip. The screws were causing me extra pain. I did eventually have to have another surgery due to arthritis developing in two neighboring joints. However, it was 13 years later before the pain started getting really bad and 14 years before surgery. I had another foot fusion almost two weeks ago. I am still in a lot of pain but this time it was not a straight forward. This time I also had to have an ankle replacement due to lack of motion and arthritis developing there. Sure, I might have to have more joints fused in the future, but from past experiences, it will probably be about 13 years from now. I can live with that. That is a lot of years to go without extreme pain that makes it hard to walk. For me, it had gotten so bad that I took a chance on falling down stairs at home whenever I had to use them. When it finally happened, I knew it was time for the next surgery. I am in a lot of pain from surgery right now, but it was worth it and I would do it again if I had to.
Hi RosePetal1
Sorry to hear about your ongoing issues with this injury. It's a hard thing to deal with both physically and mentally.
All we can do is try to keep going and be grateful for what we can do.
I agree with what you say in regard to having it done again. It is hell at the time as you already know, but well worth it to be able to live a relatively normal life.
Keep up that positive spirit. It will certainly help you through.
Take Care
Lisa I am reading this a year later, I was just wondering how you made out, as I am THINKING about doing the midfoot fusion and my doctor is telling me 12 weeks NWB and I live alone.
Was your incision sore on top of your foot where the cast my be hitting it ? My foot operated on dec 10 and it is now jan 5 and it is still sore ?
I wish I had read all the posts, surgery was the worst thing ever, now I am still in pain but have a limp. This sucks!
I had my operation on the 9 december and still in a cast and wonder how long was everyone taking painkillers.
Also wish I had read all the blogs before as thought the first two weeks was going to be bad then I would just be able to get up and go on the cast. I thought no problem on one leg thank goodness I got a wheelchair.
I am 66 years old and I had a mid foot fusion talonavicular there was no cartilidge on it at all (could not even get a needle between the joints) so this was my only option and I had it done at Guys in London 6 January 2014. I had been in pain for 6 years constant day in day out ( and pain killers like you cannot imagine) arthiritus formed and all due to the extensive sport that I played. I had my stitches out 2 weeks after the op (a little bit sore) but the replacement plaster (much lighter than the first cast) and I am due on the 21 February to have an xray (to check the fusion and hope that screws are still in place) and hopefully a replacement cast or maybe if I am lucky a walking boot. I am told that this boot must be on for 8 weeks and 2 weeks of that weight free. That's been the biggest problem non weight bearing for nearly 8 weeks at the outset of the op. ....but I have absolutely NO PAIN and take NO PAIN KILLERS and I am glad I had it done. However coming up for 8 weeks (they do say 8-10 weeks non weight bearing) have been the most frustrating, tiring, boring every kind of emotion, it does take its toll for someone who is busy busy busy (which I am always). I could not get on with the crutches so I got a walking frame. You have to hop on one leg all the time and never put the fused leg down, its very tiring. I got a wheelchair (a push and pull one) just to give my arms a rest as I pulled the muscle and tendons in my right shoulder, So be prepared for this, fingers crossed mine has worked but I had no injury just wear and tear. I did visit someone who had wear and tear who recovered very well but another person who broke their ankle and mid foot and the fusion was not working particular well for them. You MUST do what the hospital tell you, keep the foot elevated for 2 weeks minimum and then whenever you can, if you have your foot dangling the plaster gets tight and uncomfortable but a few hours with it up all becomes well. I did finish the pain killers that they gave me (morphine and paracetamol and dont forget to the the senapods the constipation you get is "out of this world" so be warned). All medication was finished after 2 weeks and I have not taken anything for my foot since. So good luck Kim.
I have just had a mid foot fusions long on 10 February 2014 Spire Little Ason Hospital in the UK. Early days but all seems well. I underestimated the recovery and thought I would be at my computer on day 3. I told work it would be at least a week. Even then it'll be from my bed in the living room. I am doing cryo-compression therapy which I think helps with the pain and healing. I was a high level performance athlete in my youth (represented the USA for years) and started trail running a couple of years ago. Evidently the bone degeneration at the mid foot was always going to happen. I hope to be able to return to trail running and had informed my podiatrist as such. I will definitely get a knee scooter, I can see that as a necessary mobile devise. I will provide progress updates.
Hi - good luck on the running but do not be too hopeful the fusion you have had will only allow a certain type of run ie on your toes - if like me there was no arthiritic problem with the ankle but I had no rotation and if you try and run you could do more damage. Thats just my opinion. Mind u I am going to have a go as I actually coach netball to youngsters before this. I played netball for 45 years jumping and landing (taking off on the right foot and landing heavily and low down on the left was the problem) nothing on my right foot but I will need a new knee in a few years. The immobilisation of the foot in respect of time takes a long time to heal something like 10 months to a year. I was told that non weight bearing for 8-10 weeks was paramount ,of course, I thought the same as you but it really does not work that way - keep offit - I feel great in terms of no arthiritic pain now and that was the most terrible experience each and every waking moment. The toll on the rest of the body is a bit of a nightmare, its hopping about on one leg and the wheelchair and frustration becomes too much to bear at time but I try so hard to keep looking forward. I have tried to be honest about how frustrating it is. Mind you I managed for the first time yesterday to hop into the shower on my own, my husband has been holding me underneath my arm pits to give me more support.
Good luck once again. Yvonne
Hi there california57 just picked up message. I am off to hospital tomorrow - I was told 8-10 weeks nwb so I am around 7 weeks. I have no pain at all now and no discomfort. Strange really having had so much arthiritic pain for 6 years and now none. I had no other option except fusion . I also need a right knee replacement but had a washout about 18 months ago and that worked. The NWB has been the biggest nightmare - I have been doing leg ups on the fused foot and nothing on the right because that's the leg I hop on - I have the skinniest of legs anyway and I actually think I have a muscle in my calf now. Yippee. My upper body is strong and lifting myself up and down off the frame and wheelchair ( I am hoovering the floors now whilst sitting on the wheelchair hahah) and onto the toilet etc I think that I am having all the upper body exercise I need. I have however pulled the muscles in my right arm and am doing exercises for that. A few years back I tore the subraspinatus muscles and it took a year to heal. So I think I have torn it again. I had no bone grafting but then there was no cartilidge on the talonavicular and it was almost fused to the other midfoot bone anyway.
I have to say I am not sure what I should be feeling I hope the screws are not snapped and the joint has fused and as I have no pain all must be OK. The stitches come out after 2 weeks and a change of plaster was not a real problem either...and believe it or not I have lost weight not by weighing myself but by being able to bend over in the wheelchair without my stomach getting in the way. My husband says that it looks different so I suppose I have.
I am going to tell the surgeon how very very good I have been and I hope he will give me a walking boot ....fingers crossed. Will update the progress when I come back tomorrow.
OMG makes my little op nothing by comparison .. you are very brave. My mother in law wears those rocker bottom shoes (not sure what for) she was a dancer for many years but she says that at first they are awkward but you get used to them and improve your posture and muscle tone etc. They are odd looking and not cheap either. I had plantarfacitus - severe pain underneath my foot for years and I used to get a small bottle of cold water from the fridge and roll my foot arch over the bottle - it hurts to start with but such a relief and quite nice not sure whether this would help you. Even when I had no pain I still used to do it aswell. A little odd I know. Good luck Don for the future.
Hi there again. well onto the next part of the story.... went on Friday and had the xray (with the plaster on) xray was non weight bearing but the xray department had not done one of these before...anyway I digress. Had the cast removed (nurse came at me with an electric saw) rather daunting but it works and tickles. What a skinny leg I have now and scar looks a bit messy and waited for surgeon. He told me I had another 2/3 weeks to go and another plaster..so disappointed and showed it so he agreed for an airboot and I was told to be another 10 days nwb and think of the airboot as a plaster. - Thats fine by me as I took the boot of that night and had the best nights sleep since op...and I washed my foot today (lovely). Its very comforting the boot but a bit cumbersome (so beware). After 10 days flies by (I hope) on crutches with a little weight bearing as much as I can bear.. so optimistic. My foot feels very strange now plenty of motion as before up and down but nothing side to side as this is the fusion of the bones I suppose but on the whole I am very happy with my op. Still no pain. I hope everyone else who has a foot fusion is progressing well. My thoughts on progression is that do not rush it and do what the hospital tells you no matter how frustrating. Of course I can say that now as up on the upward path. Back in 5 weeks and hopefully that will be the end of it. Good luck Yvonne