Wife in 5th week of LisFranc fracture/left foot....help!

I had lisfranc fracture of my left foot 8 weeks ago, and doctor gave me correct diagnosis only after 7 weeks, so it is too later for surgery. The walking is VERY painful, the top of the foot gets swollen.

I am 46 and was (up to this time) very active, so it is a horrible experience. All Lisfranc sufferers - unite!!!

Svetlana

Just an update. Its nearly 15 months or so since i injured my foot and it's still very swollen and painful. Been to see the doc and he says the screws that were left in have wore the bone and are cracking the bone!!!! awaiting apiontment to remove metalwork and fuse bones

I read your statement about your wife about her injury. She should consider herself lucky. I sustained a cuboid fracture, metacarple fracture, and a Lisfranc fracture to my right foot, and I also broke my left foot too. I can't walk at all. I'm confined to a wheelchair or the bed for along time; at least your wife can hop around on one foot with crutches.

Sincerely,
sympathetic woman in Valdosta, GA

I suffered a lisfranc injury 9 months ago at the same time as breaking two other metatarsals. My doctor at the time was very nonchalant and never mentioned the more serious injury, but only alluded to the possible need for surgery down the road. He even twisted my explanation of pain. My second opinion doctor immediately diagnosed the lisfranc's and after trying unsuccessfully to get results, we decided on surgery. However, then I was discovered to have an irregular EKG which scared the doctors into postponing the surgery. Now, I'm in limbo and even wonder if a surgery this late in the game could be worthwhile. I am almost 60, teach music once a week in elementary school, and am otherwise active. I would like to be able to go through my day without hurting constantly, and would like to be able to walk for exercise. I realize this probably won't happen for several months to even a year after the surgery.
Any help would be appreciated.

Just an update on my progress. It's may 07 (nearly 18 months since i had the accident) and i'm in as much pain as i was when it first happened. been for x-rays and mri scans and it turns out the screws that are holding my 2nd toe are cracking the bone in the big toe!!! I'm on the waiting list to have the screws out and the bones fused. If the doc ever tells you it's ok to leave the screws in shove something very large and blunt up his arse. Nick.

On April 9th I suffered from lisfranc fracture of my right foot. It happened when I was playing around with my 2 younger brothers, I did a running jump onto a computer chair and trying to twirl in the air while jumping off. I don't know exactly what I was thinking but am definately paying for it now! I never broke anything before but new immediatley, after trying to stand, I knew that I had broken my foot. It felt as though I was standing on my heel alone and the rest of my foot was not there!

I was taken to an urgent care where x-rays were performed and was told I had a really really bad sprain, by a PA (it was late and the radiologist was not on). I was given a walking boot and crutches along with some pain meds (non-narcardic) and told to keep it iced and elevated and I would recieve a call once the x-rays were seen by the radiologist. After 3 days of agonizing pain in every step i took and my family laughing at me for being a baby, i still had'nt heard from anyone about my x-rays. I called the facility and was told the radiologist was looking at them and he would call me right back with the results. I recieved a call about 10 minutes later confirming that it was just a bad sprain. I continued to walk on it as much as I could, playing mind over matter everytime I had to go to the bathroom or to get something.

A week passed and my foot had only gotten worse. My entire foot was swollen like a balloon and was severly bruised from the tips of my toes, to my ankle including the entire bottom of my foot. I was having calf pain and pain in my shin and then noticed that bruise was traveling up the front of my leg almost reaching my knee! I had my mother who is an RN look at it and immediatly she suggested that I went to the ER. I was hesitant to go because I had faith in what I was told by the Radiologist, but I had little choice because she was not hearing it.

At the hospital I was immediatly seen and sent for x-rays and then also CT. The surgeon then came in and told me that I had a lisfranc fracture. I had dislocated all 5 metatarsals, cracked 3, and torn 2 ligaments (one of which is the major ligament of our foot). The team of othopedics that I saw could not believe that I was walking on my foot and probably caused more damage (which I did). Anyways, I was admitted and surgery was performed 2 days later, I now have 5 pins and am in a non-weight bearing cast, walking on crutches (which sucks).

I was told by the surgeon that I will have pain for the rest of my life, but did not expect to hear some of the horror stories on here. I do experience pain and it is worse on the days I'm not laying down with my foot up, that goes for the swelling also. I can move my toes freely, and can feel the pins when I do. I also have experienced some numbness on the outside of my foot and in my big toe. Needless to say I'm going stir crazy out of work and stuck in the house without anyway around!

I have had my sutures removed and will be visiting my surgeon next week for more x-rays. I was told more than likely I will have to have the pins removed due to the small amount of tissue in the foot. I haven't heard anything about PT as of yet. I am overwieght and suffer from poly-cystic ovaries, which makes it hard to lose weight! Which worries me about the chance of re-fracturing my foot and going through this experience all over again. I am still in my 20's and have the rest of my life ahead of me! I believed my doctor when he said i would have a lot of pain, but did not ever think it would be this serious. Is there any hope, it doesn't seem like there are many success stories? Any advice or feedback I recieve will be highly appreciated! I will keep you updated in the future! Melinda

I don't know about some people's injury but my experience with Lisfranc hasn't been that bad. Its been bad (crutches) but not horrible when you look at what other injuries are out there.

I injured my foot initially in the beginning of April.

I had surgery at the end of April and they put two screws in.

I was on a non-weightbearing cast for 3 weeks, the worst part of the injury is the crutches and not being able to carry anything in your hands because you are on crutches. The foot hasn't hurt much at all except for the weekend of the injury.

As of this week i'm on a weight bearing cast :-)))))))))))))))) i'm so glad to be on a weight bearing cast its great. Well this is 3 weeks post surgery with 2 pins in my foot. I wil check back in with the Dr. in 3 more weeks and hopefully get the cast off and get a walking boot on.

The Dr. said I can resume full use of my foot (Basketball, Football, Running) 7 months post injury so like in October.

He said that the lisfranc joint would be healed and would be as strong as it was before. But the important thing is to get the seperation space within the joint closed so I dont have problems with artheritis later in life.

I am a 34 year old male in good health who participates in a variety of sports leagues (football, softball, volleyball - indoor and beach). On April 29, 2007, i suffered a lisfranc injury to my right foot while playing softball. I was able to walk after the injury, but in the first few steps it felt like the bones were moving around in my foot. It swelled up quickly and was sore with mild bruising. I was able to limp around.

I saw an ankle/foot orthopedic specialist 3 days later and she diagnosed the lisfranc injury and I had a CT scan to verify. I had surgery on May 10, 2007 and she put 2 screws in to stabilize the bones. The doctor said the surgery went well and that "every went right back into place".

After 2 weeks, I had the stitches removed and was placed in a non-weightbearing fiberglass cast. The dr said everything looked good and the x-rays looked great. She said the cast would be removed at 3 weeks and we would start walking again.

The pain is manageable but there is some discomfort. Anytime I am up and moving around on cutches, my foot swells and I get the pins&needles feeling. Also, I have a burning sensation in my big toe that is nowhere near the screws. Anyone have else have pain in their big toe after surgery?

It seems that my injury was less severe than many of the others who have posted on here. Has anyone been through a less severe lisfranc injury and can you tell me what to expect? Has anyone been able to return to activities within 3 - 6 months after the injury?

Thanks for your help!

I too have that feeling in my toe. My doctor explained that it is due to the swelling in which he says I could have up to a year. Quite scary hearing people say that have had the swelling a lot longer than that. I had 4 screws put in and pulled back out. My car accident was Mar 1 of this year with my surgery being on the 5th. I had my my screws removed in June. I spent 12 weeks non weight bearing. I have at least gotten back to walking with a cane pretty fast. I would just be happy to be walking without a limp and wear a regular shoe in 6 months.

First, it hurts like c**p after the first surgery. I had the screws and cast removed after eight weeks then six months later had another surgery to remove bone spurs. My doctor said this is as good as it gets and told me my only other option was bone fusion. My doctor discouraged physical therpy saying that it would make the injury worse so this pain and inability to walk went on for one year. I got hurt on the job and recieved 40% loss of usage from the insurance company (BIG BUCKS). After my case was closed I began working out thinking I should bring my weight down and wa-la I discovered the ellipitical machine. I never brought my weight down but the elliptical machine has gotten my foot back to around 98%. Remember, this a SERIOUS injury and takes 8-12 (if ever) months for the pain to subside. Once it does, hit the gym and build strength in the foot. The elliptical machine and running in the pool works.

I had a lisfranc fracture oct. 16 2007. It's now dec. 16 2007. First x-rays in emergency room showed 4th metatarsal fracture only. Went to urgent care two days later, and 2nd metatarsal fracture was also found. Had healing problems and finally saw a specialist after 6 and a half weeks. That's when a lisfranc fracture was seen at the 2nd metatarsal in standing x-rays. So it's been 8 weeks and I'm still off my foot. Docter said it's to late for surgery, because of scar tissue build up. Is this true, am I screwed. I guess, just feel lucky you got the surgery.

It sure would be nice for anyone with something positive to say to add to this thread.
I fell playing soccer with my son 4 days ago. Just diagnosed today. Surgery is next week with screws expected.
After reading this thread, I am now scared.
I am 45 years old and always have been active.
My son is only 8 and I looked forward to years of sports, snowboarding etc. with him.
I am an optimist normally and would have been able to maintain that optimism if there had been a little more than hell to look forward too.

Hope I can come back and lift some spirits and give some hope to those who are about to join the club. :-(

As for positive...although your foot won't be the same again, it will get better. You will have less pain, and after my injury and healing process, I know that just being able to be mobile again was REALLY positive. I had my surgery a year and a half ago...went through 12 weeks in a wheelchair and all that, did PT, was able to walk again (although I still have to concentrate to walk normally (heel to toe) with that foot). My doctor just recommended a certain kind of New Balance shoe to decrease pain and help with the walking. I have had it for a week and it really helps...I didn't think it would make a difference, but I underestimated it. My doctor said to me at my last appointment that "your injury is one of the worst, and your foot isn't going to be the same again"...here I am contributing to the negativity...lol. But you will get better from the point where your are now! Keeping determined helps alot.

I remember well how reading the experiences of others just after my diagnosis left me feeling a bit crushed and defeated. While it was certainly disheartening to know the struggle involved in this injury, it was also comforting to know there was a community of *crips* willing to share their experiences.
I decided I was not going to let this misfortune direct all aspects of my life. I was driving with my uninjured left foot the day after my diagnosis and continued to work throughout, missing 3 days altogether (day after injury, 2 days after surgery). I'm single, living alone, and I managed to take care of all my domestic needs independently (love the crip carts at the grocery store!). This was the most difficult ordeal I've ever endured, hands down, and there were times I felt life as I knew it was a distant memory......but.....
I'm 5 mos post op now and my recovery has been excellent. I began walking 2 mos ago, and I'm already running and hiking again. I have limitations and the pain and swelling have not completely resolved, but I am enjoying an active lifestyle again. I even went whitewater rafting a month ago and plan to snowboard this winter!! In quiet moments, I am literally overcome with joy that I am once again able to enjoy the activities I love!! I know there are many factors that play into how well you'll do long term, but it is entirely possible to regain your life after a lisfranc fracture, so keep your chin up and stay determined!!!!!

Nice to here a light at the end of the tunnel!!!!
Thank you