My Lisfranc Injury-Advice and Support Very Welcome!

boscoone wrote:

How are you now? I appreciate you posting something positive! I am on week 4 post surgery and have tried to find a lisfranc story with a positive outcome. Thank you.

Hello Fellow Lisfrancs Injury Folks,

There is help out there for this injury. And it's none invasive. I too suffered this injury and lost hope when I was told I had to have surgery, orthotics made the rest of my foot worse, then the suggestion by a surgeon to remove the joint. HELL NO.   By accident while prospecting for clients I stumbled upon this place called the Canadian Decompression and Pain Centre. When I called a doctor answered, I set my meeting up and after that asked him if he's ever treated this type of injury. He said yes. I'm on my 20th treatment with likely 10 more to  go and my foot is well on it's way to getting back into fine shape. They treat it with electrical stimulation to the nerves of the foot, then use ultra sound followed with laser treatments then end with a bit of physio and a nice addicting foot massage. I'm sure these treatments are available in your country or cities where you live.

 

Scroll down and read my post. I wish you luck.

Hi Michelle - what did you decide to do, and how are you getting on
a lisfranc is bad enough with help onhand, never mind for those of us living alone...
but it's amazing how inventive the human spirit can be!!!
I found I had a viable workaround for most things (apart from the injury itself, of course) within a couple of weeks

I hugely empathise with your need and desire to chat the decision through with other Lisfranc-ers
and to speak to someone else who understands the frustrations and challenges you're going through
I felt exactly the same

a group of us have got together on Facebook to provide just this sort of Mutual Help and Support with regard to the non-surgical elements of the injury
you'd be very welcome to join us - search for Lisfranc Fracture Club

I was in an auto accident in April 2013, the drs are just now telling me I have a Lisfranc fracture. I work as an elementary teacher. However, I haven't been to work since the accident because my dr's recommendation was an aircast and rest. I have a longterm disability policy which as helped cover a portion of my former salary.

I saw a new specialist who said I need fusion surgery & it would be 6-8 months recovery. My  disability insurance carrier is forcing me to apply for disability retirement (of which I will only get $150/mo). I called my Hr to tell them what was going on. I was moved to a new position (still a teacher) and the requirements for being a teacher there are that you can't sit down the entire time you are at work. I can't stanc on my foot for long at all. Then I was told that there is a minimum time you can be absent (started this school year) and I will reach that time limit on Feb 19 this year.

I live alone also. I don't know what to do. I was wondering, from those who know more about this than I do, is it advisable to return to a job as an elementary school teacher for the with this injury?  I do work in a inner city school. There is a higher probability that should I return, some kid will more than likely step or stomp on my foot as the discipline there is horrible. The kids basically run the school.  

Any advice is very appreciated.

I was hiking in Keen sandals when my foot gave way and long story short I have a pure ligamentous lisfranc. This happened June 2013 and I am still completely disabled. I used to kiteboard, skate ski and heliski and now I can't even take my dog for a walk.  I have seen multiple doctors, one told me he would fix me and put in screws but ultimately, my surgery has not worked and I am ANGRY. How is it that the medical community cannot fix this problem?  Why don't the doctors use computer generated programs to predict the forces resulting from their surgeries? Why can't they rebuild a ligament?  Given humanity has walked on the moon and built electric cars, why can't we do this?  If you are a mechanical engineer or software modeler, please email me. I am sick of this c**p. Lets solve this problem ourselves!

I thought I would follow up on my post, since no one has responded. The situation is worse than before. I will now be terminated this Friday the 14th if I don't return. My dr, a podiatrist sent me to another podiatrist who was adamant that I need surgery. But I had an MRI done at an outpatient clinic. The clinic took large slices and the radiologist said I had no issues, no previous breaks, no osteoarthritis, no inflammation. In short, the report came back negative. Therefore, that doctor said there isn't anything wrong eventhough the weight-bearing Xray clearly shows a dislocation and fracture on the Lisfranc joint. That doctor doesn't want to see me again and now my referring doctor doesn't want to see me either.

The pain continues. The longer I stand or walk, the pain increases. Also, my foot goes numb and my ankle doesn't feel stable. Without a doctor's support, I cant stay on the short term disability insurance policy either. I feel so betrayed by my doctor and the medical profession. I know the pain and numbness are real, but those 2 podiatrists refuse to offer any solution. I have only a few days to find a doctor. And the probabilities are looking very dire. I am not against going back to work at all, but I cant handle standing for 8 hours and all of the other duties I will have to perform on my feet.

So, I just don't know what hope there is left. I'm not one to make up illnesses or invent pain to get out of something. But that is exactly how I feel that my, now former doctor thinks of me. This is to my former doctor - I trusted you! I did everything you told me to do! I believed you could help me. I was a loyal patient to you even when others told me I should find another doctor.

I truly hope no other person has to go through the hell I have been through with this injury. And my advice to those who are new, if you doctor starts dragging his feet while you continue to tell him you are still in pain, please, start looking for a new doctor. Don't wait like I did, time is running out for me and in the end, after I pushed for something to be done, the doctor ended up dropping me entirely as a patient.

Try wrapping your mid foot with sports tape. That helped me quite a bit. I could walk one hour with sports tape but barely a block without it. Use 1.5 inch wide cloth tape and wrap tight enough that when you put your foot down, you feel a pull but the foot rests in normal position (not bunched up) You may need a PT to help you with this because it has to be around the mid foot. . Stiff soled shoes help like Keen hiking boots. Also rocker bottom shoes help. If none of that makes it better in a month, see a foot and ankle specialist who is an orthopedic surgeon.

Thank you for your suggestions. I have tried wrapping with sports tape. I can feel a some difference. I had a friend who is a chiropractor look at the MRI today and he said the report showed inflammation in the mid foot to the big toe area plus inflammation in the ankle, a lot of scar tissue from where the fractures were. The problem now is that none of my doctors will even write me a permission to return to work (even if in pain). Each says I am not their patient. One suggested to see a neurologist and ask the neurologist for a release. If I don't get a release before this Friday, my employer will automatically terminate me. My original podiatrist says he is no longer my doctor and wont write a return to work release, even though I have been under his care since the beginning of this injury up until about a month ago. I didn't even know he dropped me as a patient until last Thursday.

I asked my family doctor for a release and was told he wasn't the attending doctor, so he can't write a permission to return to work either.

I cant get in to see an orthopedic in time before Friday. Even if I could, I would probably be told that he hasn't been the attending physician.

I called for an appointment for another doctor and was told I had already seen too many doctors. He isn't sure he will see me, he has to think about it. It was my podiatrist who was sending me to different doctors. I wasn't searching for new doctors myself.

Today is already Tuesday. I'm automatically terminated on Friday without a return to work note.
I haven't the slightest bit of hope.

I should have seen an orthopedic MD from the beginning. But I didn't know any better.

Thank you "Guest" for taking the time to respond. '

Hello all!! I am Elischa, and I am 25 years old. I was in a car accident at age 15. I have a Lisfranc injury in my right foot (I also broke my left ankle) and was wheelchair bound and bed ridden for months. Anyways, now I am going to family doctors, pediatrists, pain management physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and so on. I have tried so many treatments: all over the counter pain medications, injections, shoe inserts, very expensive shoes that are supposed to help, acupuncture, etc. I am in constant pain everyday. I am pretty much miserable all the time. Doctors seem to have no idea what this injury is or what it means. They tell me that I am "too young" to be in that much pain...whatever that means. I keep trying different things and different doctors. The last two years have been significantly worse. The cold, rain, humidity in the summer, weather changes, pretty much everything. I have been trying to find anything to help decrease the pain. I am currently taking pain medication, which only helps so much. I am thankful that there is something that helps a little. However, I want something that isn't pain medication. It is so frustrating. People do not understand. My family, friends, boyfriend, doctors...sometimes I feel like I am going insane. I limp frequently and feel so much pain all the time, it is hard to focus on anything else. I used to keep it to myself and not talk about it. I would feel depressed and cry when I was alone. I have been discussing it with my family, and they all think I either have or will have a drug problem. The meds don't even take the pain away, it just takes the edge off. They have no idea how bad it feels. I used to be active. Now I cannot be. I don't have a choice. Concerts, walks, hikes, amusement parks, anything that requires walking or long periods of standing are too much for me to handle. I physically can't do it. I feel like I am disabled. I fear being put back in a wheelchair when I am older. I am getting a billion different opinions from all of these doctors. Some say don't do anything because not will help, some say to get the screws removed, others say to have my bones fused, and some say that I just should not be experiencing that much pain like I am making it up. I am not sure what I should do. Maybe surgery will make it worse, maybe nothing will ever help. I just don't want to miss out on something that might make me feel like a normal person again. Elischa