Mid foot fusion advice needed

Well....I just had to chime in here, I had my surgery march 1,2012 so as of today it had been just about 4 months. I am bad with the names of all the bones so i will just say that the bones between the end of my big toe and the next bone were fused together with 3 screws. It was complete hell for me as far as I am concerned. I am convinced that the non weight baring for 3 months has caused other issues in both the injured foot and the other ankle. (due to all the weight being put on that side) I am doing PT now, however the poor guy has no idea what he is even supposed to do!!! (he has no experience with this!!) I am trying to walk normally however i do limp still as I have quite a bit of pain still. I have no idea if this is normal...not a big fan of my Dr. she doesnt give me any help with my questions and fears. I walk on my treadmill at at lower speed than before and no incline...and it is ok. I still have swelling, have to elevate and ice daily!! Some days I get so frustrated!! I see my Dr in a couple weeks and I will voice my unhappiness and my concerns I guess we will see!!! just wanted to vent!!

I am much older and also need foot fusions on both feet. What did you end up doing? Please respond if you see this! I am also terrified it will not work...

I am so glad your surgery worked for you! I am terrified of having it. May I ask where you had your surgery? I live near Baltimore, and saw great Drs., but can't quite schedule yet... I need both feet done due to large bone spurs and arthritis on top of feet. I just don't know what is worse: walking in pain all the time or a surgery that I hear does not always work... Help!!!

fancykats wrote:

Guest wrote:

For those of you curious of lisfranc fusion. I've recently had my 3 mets fused with my 3 cuneiform and navicular because of a stupid fall I had where I tore a ligament between the first two mets. I was misdiagnosed with a sprain, when about two weeks later, i was sent to have an x ray because the pain was still there.

They found a dislocation roughly 2mm between the 1st and 2nd mets. I went and saw a ortho surgeon who told me that fusion was my best bet. He was a Foot and ankle specialist. I went ahead and had the surgery on june 4th and had about a 6 week recovery process with no weight placed on it.

I cheated and start about the 5th week into recovery and started walking on my foot. I had little pain still, but noticed the pain had totally disappeared from between my 1st and 2nd mets. The fusion worked and eliminated all the pain.

My foot is fused, and there is no more bending mid foot which makes it difficult to get the extra push--but it just takes some getting used to. The screws are staying in permanently because it is a fusion; no more movement in those joints.

Today, I walk pain free and have no trouble walking for hours at a time. I might walk with a slight limp, only noticeable when I am bare foot. I can walk on my bare feet on hardwood floor with no pain. I do find running to be a bit more difficult because I no longer have that extra push in my foot.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my midfoot fusion because my everyday life has returned back to normal. I barely even notice my foot anymore and have resumed my normal life since the accident. I'm am truly blessed to be able to walk again without any pain. I am only two months post operation feel as though the surgery has made a huge difference. I know I am still recovering and will be start PT withing the next month. I am twenty five which may be why I am recovering so well.

I walk around the with flip flops on too! It's summer! haha

I would say, i can do 90% of my everyday things with no serious hindrance. Good luck to all those who need or considering this option.

I am so glad your surgery worked for you! I am terrified of having it. May I ask where you had your surgery? I live near Baltimore, and saw great Drs., but can't quite schedule yet... I need both feet done due to large bone spurs and arthritis on top of feet. I just don't know what is worse: walking in pain all the time or a surgery that I hear does not always work... Help!!!

I HAD MY SURGERY FOR DJD OF THE FOOT 5 WEEKS AGO AND I AM DOING VERY WELL. I HEARD ALL THOSE SCARY STORIES AND GLAD I DID THE SURGERY ANYWAY. FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE HAVING THIS UPCOMING SURGERY DON'T LISTEN TO NEGATIVE STORIES. YOU WILL DO GREAT WITH IT.

gailc531 wrote:

fancykats wrote:

Guest wrote:

For those of you curious of lisfranc fusion. I've recently had my 3 mets fused with my 3 cuneiform and navicular because of a stupid fall I had where I tore a ligament between the first two mets. I was misdiagnosed with a sprain, when about two weeks later, i was sent to have an x ray because the pain was still there.

They found a dislocation roughly 2mm between the 1st and 2nd mets. I went and saw a ortho surgeon who told me that fusion was my best bet. He was a Foot and ankle specialist. I went ahead and had the surgery on june 4th and had about a 6 week recovery process with no weight placed on it.

I cheated and start about the 5th week into recovery and started walking on my foot. I had little pain still, but noticed the pain had totally disappeared from between my 1st and 2nd mets. The fusion worked and eliminated all the pain.

My foot is fused, and there is no more bending mid foot which makes it difficult to get the extra push--but it just takes some getting used to. The screws are staying in permanently because it is a fusion; no more movement in those joints.

Today, I walk pain free and have no trouble walking for hours at a time. I might walk with a slight limp, only noticeable when I am bare foot. I can walk on my bare feet on hardwood floor with no pain. I do find running to be a bit more difficult because I no longer have that extra push in my foot.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my midfoot fusion because my everyday life has returned back to normal. I barely even notice my foot anymore and have resumed my normal life since the accident. I'm am truly blessed to be able to walk again without any pain. I am only two months post operation feel as though the surgery has made a huge difference. I know I am still recovering and will be start PT withing the next month. I am twenty five which may be why I am recovering so well.

I walk around the with flip flops on too! It's summer! haha

I would say, i can do 90% of my everyday things with no serious hindrance. Good luck to all those who need or considering this option.

I am so glad your surgery worked for you! I am terrified of having it. May I ask where you had your surgery? I live near Baltimore, and saw great Drs., but can't quite schedule yet... I need both feet done due to large bone spurs and arthritis on top of feet. I just don't know what is worse: walking in pain all the time or a surgery that I hear does not always work... Help!!!

I HAD MY SURGERY FOR DJD OF THE FOOT 5 WEEKS AGO AND I AM DOING VERY WELL. I HEARD ALL THOSE SCARY STORIES AND GLAD I DID THE SURGERY ANYWAY. FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE HAVING THIS UPCOMING SURGERY DON'T LISTEN TO NEGATIVE STORIES. YOU WILL DO GREAT WITH IT.

Thanks for the quick reply. Are you on the East coast? Did you like your surgeon?

What hospital did you use? East coast or West? I need both feet mid foot fusions due to severe bone spurs and arthritis on top of feet. Lot of pain, but worried that surgery won't work or I will have a worse limp than I do now, or that the arthritis will just move up foot! in a word, I am terrified of surgery!! Please share how you did your excellent research. I don't know the exact bones, etc, as I keep making apts then not scheduling the follow ups! I am near Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, which is supposed to be very good, but I was still hoping for an alternative to this major surgery.... seems there isn't one, however!!

I'm so glad you have recovered healthy. I on the other hand have had one successful surgery with fusion on one foot and the right one is just the opposite. The first surgery on the right foot I went from pronating inward to pronating to the outside of my foot. The surgeon kind of over compensated on that one. He put a plate and 4 screws in the joint with an implant. i was still in pain so I had a second surgery to help bring the foot down in the arch area so more screws (7), plate and fusion. I am still in terrible pain from the first surgery and walking on the outside of my foot. I also had arthritis in the joint. I really think there is something wrong in that area. Going back to the doctor in a couple weeks post surgery.

I had my ankle fused five months a go after 12wks of non weight bearing i was told to stsr putting weight on it well here i am five months later still with a lot of pain and swelling i have to wear a tri lock brace or i can not walk. My doctor thinks it will get better but it could take 12-18 months to improve but there is no garauntee that it will improve so basically i now have a club foot that is constantly in pain he also lengthend my achillis tendon this to is in massive pain and to top it all off every step i take i feel the screw in the bottom of my ankle  over all i lost about 80percent of foot function i totaly regret ever getting this procedure done wish i had just left it alone. when i do walk evey step is extremely painfull snd i am not seeing any improvement at all.Four years ago i had my other foot repaired for same reason much better result because no bone fusion this foot has a littlt arthritis  but over all i much prefer this result i would advise anybody dont do it it is not worth it.

Its been five months for me and i can barely walk with massive pain dont fo it i totaly regret it i have more pain now than before surgery.

I had a mid foot fusion done in April; of this year. My foot only fused 20% which you have to be prepard for. I must admit I have had a terrible time. My doctor operates his practice lke a meat market I believe that my foot didn't heal due to poor blood circulation. I am an a ex-smoker. Would I do it again, I dont know. I'd consult with other surgeons, search the internet.

My son age 18 is a Division 1 athlete. Fractured navicular (mid foot) bone in May. after 2 months in a weight bearing boot and one month gradual rehab with no pain,but CT scan showed not healed completely and therefore at risk of reinjury. Went to 3 doctors. Finally found a conservative and smart "adult" and he knew the proper surgical procedure to take and inserted a screw. Headless, titanium so not your garden variety screw. Orthopedic Doc from Piedmont Orthopedic in Atlanta.Surgery was no big deal as an outpatient. No pain after ever. Put in a cast and non weight bearing for 8 weeks. Then a boot for 1 month then begin rehab.We are in week 7 of cast. He is exercising as if he is a "wheel chair" athlete. Pretty cool and still very strenuous but just no weight on foot. The only hassle is the leg scooter to get around on campus. Imperative to follow non weight bearing.  Hopes to be ready for spring season. 

Good evening Sarah ---
I had the same problem, but it's been 4 months! I believe the fact that I have flat feet makes recovery slower and more tenuous. I am too back in the boot for another month, plus bone stimulator machine once a day for 20 minutes with the hopes of increasing the rate of healing of the bones.

I had a mid-foot fusion, tendon repair, and arch repair, four months ago. After intense physical therapy and being fitted for custom orthotics, I am now walking unassisted. One thing I have found helpful around the scars is a product called healthifeet.

Boston has some very skilled ortho doctors. Mass General Hospital, Brigham & Womens.

just finished having fusion surgery on my left foot on feb 6. I had a knee injury 21 years ago. Ripped the bejingas out of my left knee. Had three surgeries that covered the span of a year. Since then picked up a great knee brace and amazingly enough I was able to play again. Love my racquetball. Well about four years ago my foot started hurting, had a bump on it. Had the bump removed surgically. HMO did not do much after surgery as far as preventive instruction, so off I went again playing. Well last year there was pain and numbness. Initially after I played and the just always. I hoped over insurance companies to get work Done on my knee. Knee has tons of arthritis, also hurts all the time. The plan was to have the knee replaced. After talking to the new dr he stated that the foot should get done first Due to post knee replacement is going to need a good foot to stand on. So here I am foot in a soft cast. No pain which is brilliant. Stopped taking pain killers after day 6. So the plan is get through the foot and then in dec get the knee replaced. I think four bones where fused. I also know that there was some soft tissue repair done to my second and third toe. I will know more on Monday when I see the doctor.