You can just see the faint little centipede of a scar on my left foot. That and a slight tendency to get sore more quickly than the other foot are the only relics of my injury (except this blog, which shall live perpetually on the forevernet).
About a month ago was the first anniversary of my “hardware removal” surgery. The stainless steel cannulated screws that were holding my Lisfranc ligament together were removed, and I gradually eased off of crutches and out of the cyborg boot I had been wearing and making stinky for the previous six months.
About a week after the screw removal, I graduated from college, and walked across the stage with a pronounced limp. I felt like I’d be gimpy for the rest of my life. I thought that the paranoia about using my foot, breaking my screws, reinjuring myself, would follow me forever, and I’d never really be able to hurl myself fully into athletics as I once had.
And then over the next year, everything got better.
Since then I have trekked in the Himalayas for hours at a time, days in a row. I’ve climbed rocks, both real and the plastic kind you get at climbing gyms. I have played tag, jumped fences and full on sprinted.
A few people have emailed/commented me, asking for advice or encouragement in dealing with their own Lisfranc injuries. This blog started out as a way for me to share the story of a sucky part of my life with people. I would love if it turned into an encouraging success story for other people in the midst of Lisfranc injury woes.
So here’s my advice!
1. If a doctor tells you to get the surgery. Get the surgery. I read about what happens with Lisfranc injuries if you don’t. Summary: You are eternally F@$ed. Get the surgery.
2. Do physical therapy immediately after, (and possibly during) the time when you have hardware in your foot. Maintaining the muscles in the leg you can’t use will make the transition off of crutches easier.
3. Talk to people. Keep a blog. I got wicked depressed about halfway through my crutch sentence, and people helped me keep my head up.
4. Keep your head up! All of my dire predictions about how I’d be a useless lump forever because of the Lisfranc injury turned out to be not true. A few days after my final surgery I went to Florida for a 3 week marine biology course. Snorkeled every day. It was awesome. Life goes on.
This will probably be my last post on this blog. I want to give it the happy ending it deserves. The Lisfranc injury sucks, but it isn’t the end of the world.
Comment or email me with any questions, or if you just need to complain to someone who has been there.
❤
Chase
Also, if you want to check out the amazing adventures I have had since recovering from the Lisfranc injury, peep my new blog, The Kathmandu Diet, about my life as an NGO volunteer in Nepal.
Lisfranc Injury Blog 
June 15, 2011 at 4:39 pm |
Dear Chase,
I must say I’m really pleased to hear of your positive outcome following your Lisfranc injury. It’s encouraging to read some good news at last !
I do have a serious fracture of my midfoot, along with a significant Lisfranc injury.
I had surgery on April 15th,12 days after doing it, & now 9 1/2 wks later am still none weight bearing although I did have my K wire out last week. I am writing a blog, although not many people have been in touch so far, I’m hoping more people will find it & get in touch as it would be great to speak to someone else who is going through it. I’ve looked at your x-rays, mine are on my blog, I do appear to have quite alot more metalwork in my foot 😦
My consultant is very reluctant to venture into a prognosis for me at the moment, he’s being very none committal about how much of a recovery I can expect to make.
I read your checklist too & can tick all of them ! I am a keen sailor & used to race, in fact i was booked to race all of this year, some of them were big events too ! So it’s fair to say that when I got the diagnosis I was pretty down & pi$$ed !
Emma.
June 15, 2011 at 6:10 pm |
Hi, Chase, I am so glad you continued your blog to this point. I have a Lisfranc blog, too, (So You’ve Got a Lisfranc Injury) and several people have complained that all they can find on the net is gloom and doom, and that it’s depressing. As though having a trashed foot isn’t bad enough!
I have updated the link to your blog to land them at your latest post. Would it be OK to mention it in my next post?
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time!
Chris
June 16, 2011 at 11:00 am |
Chris,
Thanks for getting in touch. I felt pretty gloomy and doomy during my time with the Lisfranc injury, so I hope this last blog post can help you and others stay happy and optimistic during the worst times. It really does get better!
As for linking to my blog and mentioning it, go for it, and thanks! I’m glad you found what I wrote helpful.
I hope your recovery is going well and that you’re keeping your mood up. I needed a lot of help to keep from getting depressed when I was post-surgery and in the boot. I’m glad there’s a blogging community building up around this injury. Sharing stories is always healing, especially if they’re uplifting, “my life sucked but then it got way better!” kind of stories.
Cheers and all the best on your recovery. I’ll follow your progress on your blog.
Chase
June 16, 2011 at 6:51 pm |
Hello Chase!
I loved to read your blog. I too have a Liz Franc fracture/ dislocation. I feel like I am a bit screwed though. It happened when I was just 16 years old and now I have really bad arthritis in my foot, I am 24 and the last year I had two flare-ups where I couldn’t walk for 3+ months. I need your advice. Okay. So I broke 5 bones ( the metatarsals) and dislocated the liz franc complex of joints when I was 16. I got them externally pinned for 3 months and had them removed. I was fine up until 2009 where I had my first flare up in Mexico. So, I decided I should go and see a really good surgeon here in Vancouver Canada. So I did and he said about the scarest thing ever to me: Wait as long as I possibly can (10 + years) because the surgery is so invasive (taking out a joint and drilling it back together) my bodies natural rythym would go out of wack by limping for the rest of my life. 😐 WTF! I already limp with ever step I take. So I need to get a second opinion. The wait is like a year long. So yeah. I feel really scared and have no clue what to do. My bones in my foot are NOT in there right positions, they are cracking and not co-operating. I have not been able to wear sandals, only huge cloncky shoes. Rocker soles- MBT’s. My big toe doesn’t bend well and so I need to have a rocker sole helping my with my step. What advice do you suggest? I am really young and I have even considered cutting my leg off if this shit continues for 20+ years. Ps. What type of shoes do you use, and do you think you will ever need more surgery, and do you have a permanent limp? Please help Chase!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for your time in reading my desperate plea.
Sincerely,
Athina Conner
June 19, 2011 at 11:17 am |
Wow Athina, Your situation is extremely difficult. You are right to be frustrated, but it is also good that you haven’t given up hope completely, and you never should.
I am not a doctor or a surgeon, and my knowledge about Lisfranc injuries is mostly limited to what various doctors told me when I was diagnosed, and when I had the surgeries. I can’t offer anything like actual medical advice. However, regarding what the surgeon said to you about waiting ten years, I think it is always wise to get a second opinion. Ask another surgeon about the procedure.
I have some easily inflamed sore spots in my foot from where I had the injury and the surgery, but I was able to stop limping after about a year. When I first got back onto my foot after 6 months of non-use, though, the pain was terrible, and I limped heavily. I do not expect to need more surgery, but I am almost guaranteed to have some regular arthritic pain later in life (I’m 23 now). I think that you should consult another surgeon about the possibility of another surgery, and see what timeframe they recommend. I also think physical therapy would do wonders for you. You may never reach the desired level of mobility and painlessness that you had before the injury, but I’m confident that you can improve your situation and comfort level dramatically. Don’t lose hope.
Also, take care of yourself emotionally. Living with chronic pain can be a gigantic drag, but don’t ever start blaming yourself or internalizing the frustration. There is a great community of bloggers sharing their Lisfranc stories, and I’m sure any of them (myself included) would be happy to talk to you on the internet or even on the phone if you need encouragement sometimes. Lean on your friends, both literally and figuratively. By continuing to do activities that make you happy, and spending time with people you love, you can regularly remind yourself that even when you’re in pain, or uncertain about the future, and worried about your injury, life can still be good!
Check in and let me know how you’re doing, and what progress or updates there are regarding your injury.
Sincerely,
Chase
June 17, 2011 at 7:16 am |
Chase,
I am a 19 years old and dealing with this same injury. it is so encouraging to hear that a year after your injury everything is back to normal! I initially injured myself in February and only had one screw inserted into my foot. I had the screw removed about a month ago but am getting frustrated and restless because I am still walking with a limp and after too much walking my foot gets pretty sore. But from what you went through it seems that these things are relatively normal. Do you think I will eventually be able to run for miles at a time? thanks for all of your encouraging words and thoughts!
August 9, 2011 at 12:37 pm |
Stefanie,
I suffered a lis franc fracture in June 2009. (Fell off a ladder and landed on the cement patio!) I was an avid runner at the time.
Did not have surgery until 4 weeks after the injury. My doctor took the conservative approach and I would have weekly x-rays to see if the bones were moving and adversely affecting the lis franc joint. I had the surgery with three screws inserted on July 28, 2009.
I also was in despair because all of the web-sites were doom and gloom about lis franc fractures. More than once I called my husband at work hysterically crying. I wish there had been a blog like Chases’s to give me hope back then. I truly thought my running days were over and I would walk with a permanent limp.
I was non-weight bearing for a total of about 12 weeks. By the middle of September and I was able to walk without the crutches with the boot on. Oh Freedom! Being able to walk and carry things at the same time. No more hip pack permanently affixed to my body to carry cell phone,etc.
I teach pre-school, so the first couple of weeks in September on crutches were not easy. Very difficult to keep your foot elevated with 4 year olds running around!
I was back in a shoe by the middle of October. I was on cloud nine, but I thought,” would I ever be able to wear all those cute high heels in my closet ever again? ” Plus, I did limp, especially after sitting for an extended period of time. Going down the stairs for the first time without a boot nearly sent me to my knees. I think that was a result of the ankle being in a flexed position for so long. I had the screws removed at the beginning of December 2009. Started physical therapy in January 2010, which really helped bring my range of motion back. My doc did not want pt while the screws were in.
I started going for three miles walks by the end of March 2010. In June 2010 I started going to the local track and would run a half mile and walk a half mile for maybe a total of three miles. Progressed by July running at the local park with asphalt path for a total of about three miles without stopping. By August I was running back on the neighborhood sidewalks.
My foot doesn’t hurt while I am running. It can be a little sore at night and first thing in the morning. My orthopedist told me that it takes a total of two years from the time of the injury to fully heal to the best it will possibly be. A year ago that gave me a lot of hope that I still had another year for my foot to get better. I am now running about six miles a day and I can take my dog for long walks.
And yes, I am looking pretty good in my high heels!
July 3, 2011 at 10:23 pm |
Stefanie,
I had my Lisfranc injury on May 30, and had surgery on Jun 17. I had 2 screws put in my foot. I am just starting my recovery, so you are ahead of me, but I think that with only 1 screw needed, you probably have a good chance of getting back to normal (but I am not a doctor and I am only basing that on what I have been told by my doctor for my situation, and what I have read about). I was told it would take 4-6 months from the time of my surgery to where I would be walking without crutches or a boot. This injury can definitely make somebody feel helpless. I hit my low actually before the surgery, and am just hoping that things get better 1 day at a time. I know you have to be patient, I was in bed with a soft cast and my leg elevated for 10 days after the surgery. I then was moved to the boot, with no weight bearing. I was told no weight bearing at least until my next appointment, which is a month from now. I don’t like the boot, but I was told to sleep with it at night. So, I do that. when I am at home, resting, I take the boot off and just let my foot rest on a pillow. Hang in there and see what your doctor says about expected recovery time.. – Dave
July 12, 2011 at 9:55 am |
I broke my right foot April 21st had surgery May 2nd…broke 4 metatarsals had 3 plates put in with another surgery needed in 4 months… my Dr warned me of the long recovery processed would need lots of patience… I was scared after reading all the horror stories but realize need to have a positive attitude (I get bummed out at times still) so hearing your success story I’m happy for you and know it is very possible for me too…
I
July 12, 2011 at 3:57 pm |
Stephanie, if you are still reading this blog. I had a Lisfranc injury 2 years ago, and also had only one screw (for the Lisfranc injury..there were more for the broken metatarsals). I am now in a running program and slowly increasing my time. The foot isn’t even an issue at this point. So you may well be able to run for miles at a time! It does take time and work to get there.
There are about 10 Lisfranc injury blogs with lots of advice. You could try mine: http://www.fractralfoot.wordpress.com
Best of luck,
Chris
July 20, 2011 at 10:42 pm |
I dislocated my 2nd metatarsal at the LisFranc joint in mid May of this year and was non weight bearing starting the following day. I had surgery June 1st for the dislocation. I did not have any fracture at all. Two screws were inserted and I was told by my doc that I might be able to start physical therapy at the end of this month (July) but until then I must remain non weight bearing. I just don’t understand why I have to stay non weight bearing. My foot feels great and the swelling is all but gone. The screws are still there and they will get removed eventually but I was hoping to get some of your insight as to why the long wait to start walking again?
Thanks,
Jim
US Army Blackhawk Pilot
November 23, 2011 at 11:06 pm |
Hey Jim.. how’d that work out for you? I just got the same diagnosis(no bone fractures, but lisfranc tear and 2nd meta dislocation).. i’m really scared to be honest.. I live alone on the 3rd floor and can’t afford to miss work. Feel like I should just jump off my balcony at this point.
August 3, 2011 at 3:38 am |
great blog! i’m glad that someone finally took the time to put up the positives – I find myself and I’m sure many others only read online and post when they are facing a medical emergency, are in pain, or are scared. when things are going well, you’re not online searching for other people’s stories, right? anyway, I am in the process of healing a navicular fracture. i haven’t found even one other person’s story, it must be a wierd bone. but the process and rehab are similar to the lisfranc as they’re both midfoot bones with long slow healing times and surgery was required. i broke my bone in a bicycle accident in april, and it required immediate emergency surgery to screw together including a temporary plate to keep the arch from collapsing. the pain was totally unbearable for weeks, as they had to wait for the swelling to reduce. the accident was so stupid too – my foot just caught the pedal in an unfortunate way, but totally crushed the bone. i am spending a lot of time alone in my apartment (luckily have an awesome boyfriend helping out and driving me to doctor’s appointments) but it’s really hard mentally. i’m glad to read you are now back to action – i am a very active person and had actually just moved here to san francisco when i broke my foot. i moved here TO bike and hike more – and now i can’t. i just had my hardware removed a week ago and can begin earnest physical therapy (mostly on my own), and partial weightbearing. there are lots of aches and pains and i’m sure the ligaments in my foot are all sore. i’m a worrier – and have lots of time to worry – so i convince myself that arthritis has already set in everytime i feel a pain – which will not help learning to walk again. two points i’d like to share with your readers: 1. get a knee scooter if you’re to be non weight bearing at all. you can’t cook, carry anything, or function only on crutches. get the scooter, you can go out on the sidewalk with your friends and probably go faster than them. you can make meals, carry stuff in a basket on the scooter, etc. i’m using a drive brand one and it was expensive but worth it, since it turns and has brakes. 2. swimming, if you can access it, is great. i’m broke, job searching (yes, WHEN I broke my foot), and uninsured, so i can’t afford tons of PT or private personal trainers. however, the YMCA offers reduced memberships if you can’t pay, and I get in there whenever possible and swim and also do PT/yoga on the mat as well as lifting weights. to my surprise, i have not only lost weight, I have actually gained a lot of definition in my upper body. that doesn’t make up for losing my leg muscles, but don’t use NWB as an excuse to get out of shape. sure, i have NO aerobic capabilities at this point, but i feel *less* terrible about myself. Anyway, i hope to get back to good eventually – it is the slowest, most discouraging process EVER, and I can’t believe i still have months to go. I’m SO glad to read that someone did, becuase whenever I get offtrack, i have a complete breakdown thinking about how i’ll never be able to backpack again, or take care of kids, or run, or get arthritis, etc.
August 3, 2011 at 9:22 am |
Hi Everyone,
I last wrote on here when I was 9 1/2 wks post op. Its now almost 16 weeks…………… I had another smaller op 3 weeks ago to remove some of the screws & one of the compression plates. During the same op, some of my joints were examined by my surgeon & appeared to be very stiff, also some tendons needed some work. So he undertook an arthroscopy & tendon repair at the same time. I am now about 70% weight bearing with one crutch most of the time, but still wearing the boot.
Em, I can totally relate to you. I too live on my own & in the beginning I did have to move out to stay with my parents as my place was completely impossible to me to get around in. It was tough as it was over 20 years since I’d lived with my father………..
I was a thoroughly independant & very active person, at the time my life was in a really good place with everything going well for me. The feelings I had following the diagnosis & injury were hard to cope with, I started a blog, really just to let them out & stop me from internalising it all.
http://lisfranci.blogspot.com
I am now home & have been for about 5 weeks, the feeling has been bliss, I can tell you 🙂 Even discovering ways to do the simplest of things for myself has given me back some self esteem, & a more positive outlook on the future. I do have moments when if I dare to contemplate not making a good recovery, it scares me. But I try not too dwell & just simply crack on with what I need to do at that time or day etc.
I am just about to start physiotherapy & will hopefullly take my first steps in a shoe in a couple of weeks. At the moment my ankle & foot is so stiff & painful, it seems unbelievable that this will happen. But I’m sure after some prescribed & targetted physio I will see an improvement.
Jim, the prolonged none weight bearing is really to give the Lisfranc ligament time to heal itself. Ligaments often take longer than fractures & it’s really important that your ligament heals without stretching until it has recovered.
Chase’s blog, gave me so much hope, it was the first success story I found after days of googling Lisfranc injuries & reading doom & gloom. Another really good blog is Fractal foot’s for practical advice & another successful outcome !
Anyway, good luck to you all & let’s hope in 6 mths or so, we too are the successful outcomes of Lisfranc surgery & can offer hope to other unlucky victims 🙂
August 3, 2011 at 4:27 pm |
Emma,
I am so happy that you are finding ways to bring back your self esteem and feel hopeful about your recovery. Hope is such a crucial part of healing, and I’m really happy that the comments on this blog have turned into an encouraging and positive place for people who have had a Lisfranc setback.
Thanks for sharing the positive parts of your story, along with the struggles and dark places!
Cheers Chase
September 13, 2011 at 2:57 am |
I’ve come back to this blog multiple times to read some positive comments and remind myself that I too can recover from this horrible injury.
I missed a big step while wearing some little flip-flops. My foot rolled over as I tried to catch myself. When I looked down my foot looked like it had a HUGE bunion. Come to find out after my trip to the ER I had suffered a LisFranc fracture and dislocation. Level 3. It was horrible, they admitted me and I would undergo surgery the next day to repair my foot followed by 12 weeks of NO WEIGHT on my foot. OH MY GOSH, I live alone! Thank goodness for insurance and great friends who helped me through the first 3-4 weeks.
At 6 weeks they removed the hard cast and gave me an Aircast, but still no weight on my foot for another 6 weeks! It seemed like a death sentence to me. It is my left foot so at least I could drive my car and I went back to work hopping around with my crutches.
Now I’m 13 weeks post-injury and I had my 12 week follow-up last week. My doctor said I can begin to put weight on my foot, but don’t go out without the aircast on. Walk with both crutches, or just one if I feel steady enough. The first time I put ANY weight on my foot it felt like it would explode! Like a million little pins were sticking me in the bottom of my heel. I’ve pushed through that for the last week and even manage to hobble around the house with just one crutch.
Next Friday I go in to have the 2 screws that have been holding me together removed. I could probably walk with just one crutch now, but I don’t want to get in the habit of limping, I keep wondering how long it is going to take for my foot to carry my 170 pounds without feeling like it is going to brake in two.
Thanks for posting such a great blog. It has really helped me stay out of a funk during the 12 weeks I’ve been suffering with this alien foot.
Tia B in Memphis
October 1, 2011 at 2:11 am |
I had a lisfranc fracture 10 Years ago. They misdiagnosed and thought I just broke two metatarsals. My right foot is now a half shoe size bigger than my right and even though I do play tennis, I have crazy on and off pain
October 1, 2011 at 2:17 am |
You’ll make it back. I had a lisfranc 10 years ago. Terrible pain and swelling for 3 months. Never had surgery. Still aches from time to time but I play tennis 3 days a week and am fine. Definately the most painful injury I’ve suffered
October 2, 2011 at 7:30 pm |
Hello everyone!
This is Stefanie and I last wrote on here in June — so about 4ish months ago. I want to start off by saying thank you so much to Chase for his inspiring story and also thank you so much to all of you who responded to me with words of encouragement and your own stories. I am so happy to say that my foot has truly made tremendous strides since June. Being a student, I was at home for the majority of the summer and was able to give a lot of my attention to my foot. In mid-July I started running about 1-1.5 miles sporadically and I was mostly fine for the duration of the run but afterwards my foot would be sore for at least a day, often longer and i would be limping pretty badly. At the end of July I went to Disneyland and ended up having to wear a walking boot for most of the trip (which actually had a lot perks because i could skip lines!) because my foot was just in too much pain on its own. Even though Disneyland does require a lot of walking, i was pretty sure my foot shouldn’t still be that sore so I went to see a physical therapist at the beginning of August. She told me that after runs my foot should only be sore for 1-2 hours TOPS and if it is sore for longer than that then I am exerting it too much. The frustrating part was that my body felt like it wanted to run more, but my foot was holding it back. The physical therapist also gave me stretches to do with a Theraband and suggested some other balancing exercises. In order to regain the strength in my foot she suggested placing a washcloth on the floor and trying to pick it up with my foot by scrunching up my toes. I’m going to be honest and say I haven’t really been doing many of the exercises she suggested but my foot has still gotten a lot better! Since I am back at school and there aren’t really trails to run outside, i have been running on the treadmill which has probably been the best option for my foot. I also went to a running store to get a new pair of running shoes, which i think has been really helpful. The old running shoes I had been using did not have nearly enough support under the sole of my foot. I am now running around 2.5-3 miles about 4 times a week on the treadmill and my foot, for the most part, feels great! My foot is hardly even sore after a run nowadays. It still does get randomly stiff sometimes but it really has come a long way. I have yet to really test it out on paved trails but I think it is just about ready! I really think putting it to use and running more has helped it loosen up a bit. SO THERE IS HOPE! Although it’s been about 8 months since my injury in February, it really has only been about 4 since I’ve been active about it and it’s possible that I could’ve recovered even more if I had tried running on treadmills sooner. Lisfranc injuries definitely take patience and a whole lot of hope, but I am confident that we can all get back to normal!
thanks everyone!!
October 19, 2011 at 10:36 pm |
Dear Chase and everybody,
Here is another story of full recovery from Lisfranc with pictures.
Thanks for keep up this great blog to spread good news about life after Lisfranc. I was one of those who turned to the internet for the potential future outcome, only to find mostly gloom and doom stories. I got really scared for a little while.
A few days later I found one blog at the Runner’s World talking about life after Lisfranc keep a positive story for up to two years after the injury. I was encouraged by it. I posted quite a few posts there detailing the detailed process of my own recovery from one of the most severe cases of Lisfranc (5 dislocated and 4 fractured metatarsals). I also posted my own X-rays.
I’m less than one year post injury and surgery (injured on Nov 7 2010 and had surgery the next day). I’m fully functional having skied many time in late April (barely half a year after injury) and started running 3 km recently. I have been running for 3 consecutive days in the past three days for 3 km without feeling any pain/discomfort.
Please check out my posts at the following site:
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/injury-prevention/injuries/life-after-lisfranc-fracture
All best wishes,
Joseph
October 31, 2011 at 7:24 pm |
Hello,
I could sure use some suggestions and information from those of you who have already gone down this path. Five weeks ago I broke both of my feet. My right is the lisfranc. I have one screw from 1st cuboid to 2nd metatarsal and an X shaped plate screwed over the top of the same area. My left foot had legiments pulling the bone off at their attachments. The left foot is coming along although it is not yet ready to support my full weight, so no walker or crutches yet. I’m in a wheelchair.
What I need most are suggestions for getting the swelling down fast. I’m a 55 year old woman who loves to see wrinkles…on my toes. When I’m at home I usually have it up and I ice behind the knee a couple of times a day. My major swelling problems come when I have to be away from home for a few hours. My Dad is in hospice so its not something that can be put off.
So, swelling inside the cast is one thing. What happens when the cast comes off? That will be nine days from now, but who’s counting? I know I’ll be in a boot, but that’s about all I know. Please fill me in and let me know what to expect and how to deal with what may come up.
Oh, one last question. Has everyone had all of your hardware removed? My surgen seams to want to leave it in. I would think that would lessen foot mobility and balance. In this area you are the experts, to the surgen its theroy.
Thank you in advancefor your feedback,
Pam
November 16, 2011 at 8:32 am |
citrobacter freundii…
[…]One Year After My Final Surgery, Life Is Awesome « Lisfranc Injury Blog[…]…
November 19, 2011 at 1:03 am |
People are should realize about surgical is the one and only things about people to feel free form Lisfranc injury
November 26, 2011 at 4:14 pm |
Hey Chase.. Glad to see your story is ending up well.. I’m just starting mine.. Had my fracture dislocation last week so surgery is upcoming.. I’ll be sure to read your blog from the beginning as I go along to get ideas and not feel so alone.. I also want to keep a blog for others to read someday in the same way..
http://lisfrancless.wordpress.com/
but one question.. your blog shows up when I search “lisfranc surgery”.. did you do something to make that happen? use tags or something, or something in the editor?
Thanks,
Steve
November 26, 2011 at 4:27 pm |
Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear you’ve had a lisfranc injury, but stay happy! There’s a strong community of people with Lisfranc injuries online (many of whom comment here), so you’re not alone, and with proper care your foot will be useful and pain free again.
I do use tags on my blog, but I haven’t done anything special to get into search engine results other than regularly posting on the blog (while I was healing) and consistently approving comments and interacting with people who visit the site.
I hope your healing goes well, and I would highly recommend getting in touch with some of the other commenters on this and other Lisfranc blogs. It was immeasurably helpful to me, when I was feeling hopeless, to talk to other people and learn their Lisfranc stories.
Cheers
Chase
November 26, 2011 at 6:31 pm |
Thanks for getting back so quick Chase.. I’m definitely going to be chatting with others in the same situation..
sorry, one more thing.. about how long after your surgery were you totally out of commission? Wondering how long I’ll be laid up and will be unable to work.. I’m a 2nd grade teacher so it will be hard to disappear on them.. I’m hoping 3 weeks should be long enough and then I can make it back on crutches..
No hurry on the response.. appreciate it!
Or anyone else who reads this can let me know how it went for them..
Steve
November 26, 2011 at 6:46 pm |
Steve,
I was up and around on crutches after about one week. I still had some pretty serious pain in my foot at that time, but I was able to move around and go out. Fortunately it was my left foot, so I could still drive an automatic. I was still taking vicodin every four hours for about two weeks, but I’d bet you can be back in the classroom in less than three weeks if that’s the goal you work towards.
Chase
November 26, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Oh wow.. that is great news! I’ve heard some horror stories while searching the internet so I was very worried about a long period being unable to work.. I’m pretty good driving left footed so hopefully I can pull this off..
again, thanks for the quick reply and for your blog Chase.. I’m sure you’ve helped a lot of people with it.. I’ll be reading it often the next few months.. 🙂
Take care!
Steve
December 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm |
Hi Chase,
I’m not sure if you still read these comments, but I wanted to share what has happened to me and hopefully you’ll read it and be able to give me a response.
I’m a sophomore in college and injured my foot on 11/11/11 (I know weird right?) and am scheduled for surgery on 12/13. Is it not too late to have the surgery? I feel as though I have waited too long as it will have been 32 days since my injury or 4.5 weeks.
I’ve been really depressed and stressed out being injured and on crutches in college. I feel like I’m missing out on a lot of things and I wanted to get the surgery earlier but the doctor had been booked absolutely until that date. And what makes it worse is that FINALS week start the day after (exams on 14,15,19,21)! So, I’m trying to recover after 1 day of surgery to walk again and go to class to take the exam, is that realistic? I’m probably going to end up having to wait until after christmas break to take most of them, but that means having to study over my break instead of relaxing 😦
Since I know you got surgery around Christmas break, do you think that it is possible to heal up at home really well for 3 weeks and then come back to get off crutches and start walking with a boot. I know it’s a long stretch but I really dislike this feeling of dependence on others and helplessness. Please any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you sincerely.
December 2, 2011 at 11:23 pm |
Thanks for writing, Allen.
Fortunately, the Lisfranc injury is not the end of your social life, nor the end of your ability to take advantage of good times in college. Unfortunately, it does take serious time to heal. I waited a month between my injury and my surgery for about the same reasons you did. I was a senior in college at the time, and I spent the last month of the semester in crutches and needing serious help from my friends in some situations. I think the worst thing for me was that I couldn’t carry beverages with me anymore. I used to walk around campus with a cup of coffee or tea allll the time. Not possible with two crutches in hand.
But my friends were amazingly supportive and understanding, and even though I hated the feeling of helplessness, it was wonderful to know that my friends would stick by me in a situation where I was needier than I had ever been before.
Obstacles and limitations can provide new opportunities for inspiration and growth! OK that was cheesy, but seriously, watch this video about Amy Purdy, who lost both her legs when she was 19, but rallied and eventually became a pro snowboarder.
When I finally had my surgery, on the first day of my Christmas break (and the day before my 22nd birthday) I had to spend about four days mostly in bed and on tons of pain meds. I had to use crutches for five more months after that before I could put any weight at all on my foot.
So, you probably won’t walk crutch free on the day after your surgery, which is disappointing, and hard to deal with at the time.
I’m more than a year out from that moment, though, and even though I was so depressed I could barely function at times while my Lisfranc injury was healing, I don’t really remember that part of it very strongly! What I do remember is my friends being great, my professors being very understanding, and me and having a great final year of college. I’m still with my girlfriend from that time and she’s still lovely. I ride a unicycle almost every day. My life is great! Yours can be too!
So let yourself feel the sadness and loss of opportunities that come with this injury, but also maintain hope, and as much as possible, stay happy!
Cheers, Chase
December 2, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Hi Chase, Thank you for responding on the same day. I’ve been trying to cope with the injury by learning of other people’s stories, but everything I’ve read up to since your blog has pretty much been bad news. My doctor said my surgery will be minor and probably be one screw and that it’s safe to have the surgery now rather than later since I’m young and healthy and gave me a recovery time of about 6-8 weeks before I can start walking again. I’m not sure if my doctor has been exaggerating the speed of my recovery or if he is telling the truth. Did your doctor tell you, you will recover to walk in 6 months or did he say the same as mine but ended up being much longer? I’m really trying to gauge the time. I know I shouldn’t rush recovery, but I just can’t imagine being on crutches for the rest of my sophomore year 😦 5 months is a long time to be on crutches before finally starting to weight-bear..
December 2, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Oh it sounds like my injury was a bit worse than yours then. I had to have three screws, and my doctor did predict 4 months on crutches after my surgery. I had already been using them for one month when I had the screws put in, because I had to wait to return home for Christmas break for insurance purposes.
So if your doctor says 6-8 weeks, believe it! Even in that amount of time you will lose some muscle mass in the non-weight-bearing leg, so walking won’t quite be the same when you get out of the boot. I had a noticeable limp for several months after I was done with my boot (though I had to use it for a lot longer than you did).
Still, it sounds like you’ve got a pretty good prognosis. Use this time to catch up on TV shows or something. You’ll be on your feet again soon!
-chase
December 3, 2011 at 12:10 am
Yes, I’ve been using the crutches for a little over 3 weeks now and have already noticed a significant drop in muscle in my right leg. Especially since I’ve been using my left leg a lot to get around, the contrast is pretty drastic. I only wish I were able to attain the same physique on my left as for my right leg but without the whole crutches thing. Do you know of any exercises to strengthen the leg at all while in the aircast? And how long did it take for you to recover (walking again) after the 2nd surgery to take the screws out? Thanks so much for all of your responses.
-Allen
December 3, 2011 at 1:47 am
Hi Allen –
I read your comments on Chase’s blog and I wish I had Chase’s blog to read when I suffered my Lis Franc fracture, instead of all the horror stories that were posted on-line.
On June 29, 2009 I suffered a Lis Franc fracture on my left foot. The first challenge was finding an excellent foot/ankle orthapedist. I did not have my surgery until July 28, which was 4 weeks after my break. They initially casted my foot, (hoping I might not undergo surgery). I had to get x-rays each week, until they finally decided that the bones were separating and they needed to do surgery. I had three screws inserted and after being non-weight bearing for a month already, I was already a pro with crutches! I was non-weight bearing for about another 8 weeks and then put in a walking boot. It was like getting my life back again with the boot. I could use my hands to carry things!!!! I teach pre-school and crutched it around my classroom for almost a month before I got the boot. I only taught in the mornings. (Initially I thought I would only work an hour a day, but being home would be more depressing) My foot was quite swollen though. By the middle of October 2009, I could wear a shoe again! I was in heaven. It was a little easier walking in the boot though.
I had the screws removed in early December of 2009 and wore a little open toed velcro shoe for one week, then back to shoes. Like Chase I limped for a couple of months or so, but it gets better and better. By May 2010, I was back jogging around the track and by August of that year, I was back jogging on the sidewalk. I’m jogging six miles a day now.
Is my foot sore at night? Yes, but just a slight ache that I barely notice, rarely if ever taking a pain reliever.
My last appointment with my orthapedist was March 2010 and I still limped a little, especially after sitting for awhile. I asked him if I would get any better and he gave me so much hope. He told me it would take two years from the surgery to be the best it was going to be. So I knew I had more than a year left for it to get better and better.
I was 51 years old when I had my accident. (I Ifell from a ladder and landed on my cement patio.) If I can get through this at my age, you will too. I promise you!!
With warm wishes,
Jill G.
December 3, 2011 at 1:36 am |
Hey Allen.. I’m having my surgery on the 12th so it looks like we’ll be going through this at the same time.. If you want to shoot the sh*t about how much it sucks,or share any ideas on how to survive it with me also, contact me on my blog..
http://lisfrancless.wordpress.com/
From what I’ve read it’s going to be a very rough couple weeks right after the surgery.. then a crappy few months on crutches.. no way around it though, so time to suck it up..
And Chase.. thanks again for creating this and getting back to us with your advice and encouragement..
December 15, 2011 at 12:56 am |
bone fracture…
[…]One Year After My Final Surgery, Life Is Awesome « Lisfranc Injury Blog[…]…
December 21, 2011 at 12:47 pm |
Jill Rose Mendoza…
[…]One Year After My Final Surgery, Life Is Awesome « Lisfranc Injury Blog[…]…
December 24, 2011 at 3:39 pm |
Doctor…
[…]One Year After My Final Surgery, Life Is Awesome « Lisfranc Injury Blog[…]…
January 4, 2012 at 4:41 am |
I hurt my foot on Nov 30, 2011 in Grand Caymen I was on a cruise and didn’t get it x-rayed until Dec 4 2011. The doctor said that I had a slight dislocation of the lisfranc joint and to stay off no weight bearing for two weeks, ice and elevate. Then they refered me to a pediatrist. I talked to someone and they said you need to go to an orthopedic doctor. I went today Jan 3 2012 the doctor did weight bearing x rays and found that my joint dislocation needs to be repaired with three screws he said that I have a very limited window to get this repaired and that I need to go into surgery this friday or it is to late. I am so scared and have read so many bad things that I am fearful of ever having it be back to normal and without pain because I have been off of it for 4 weeks already.
January 5, 2012 at 6:37 am |
Hey Chase, it’s me again. I’m not sure if you’re still reading these posts but I had the surgery on Dec. 6 and so it’s been about a month now. I’ve been place in a boot but meant to be NWB. I’m concerned about how the progress on my recovery is coming along. I’m supposed to be starting partial weight bearing in about a week and have just been stretching my calf muscles with my foot. I’m concerned that I have not been healing correctly since I had fallen twice while on crutches before. I feel like since I should be starting to weight bear soon that most of the pain should be gone now. But sometimes when I stretch my foot too much and try rotating it, I feel a tug around the lisfranc joint area and on the side just below my ankle. I’m not sure if you can recall the first days when you started weight-bearing again but could you tell me if you were still in pain trying to weight-bear the first few days or were you just trying to gain back muscle and strength in your leg. I’m afraid that I may have messed up my foot further causing me to have made a setback. I’m hoping that it is just nothing because the fall was very brief and I just put my injured foot down for a sec as a reflex. I’m almost afraid to start weight-bearing because it hurts when I move my foot to reach the same flexibility as my other one. I can’t even curl my toes all the way. So could you please tell me how your recovery went when you started to weight-bear? Did it hurt for a while, or was it just all about regaining muscle with exercise? Thank you, I’m just so paranoid about all this because I was too eager to get back to normal that I forgot to take it easy and I’m going back to school soon, and I was hoping to be okay by the time I had returned. Since it was so miserable for me to be in school on crutches, while at home I should’ve taken it easy instead of trying to do even more than I did at school… 😦
Any feedback is much appreciated. Sorry for such a long post, it’s just all coming spilling out of my head and fingers at this point and I just can’t sleep since I need someone else’s advice again.
January 5, 2012 at 2:55 pm |
I am still reading the posts and I will gladly tell you what it was like when I started weight bearing again. It was exciting, but it also sucked. I had completely lost muscle tone in my ankle, calf, and foot, and it hurt like a mother to put any weight on any of those. I actually continued using crutches after my final surgery for about a week and a half, and I had a pronounced limp for at least two months after that. I ended up having tendon inflammation in my achilles tendon on the lisfranc side because after several months of not using it, the muscles couldn’t keep my ankle’s motion on track, so my tendon was having to compensate, which it is not built for. I still had fairly significant foot pain for at least three months after my final surgery.
I don’t mean to be a downer. It really will get better eventually. I’m just saying that the recovery process will be really slow and painful and so gradual that it is hard to see progress. For me I was in pain and limping for a long time, and I’m sure it was getting better, and then all of a sudden I realized I hadn’t thought about it for a few days or a week. The recovery was so gradual that I hardly even noticed when I tipped over into not constantly worrying about it.
So, follow your doctor’s orders, but also follow your pain, which is there to guide you. If something hurts too much, just take it really really slow. I have a friend whose dad is a physical therapist and he recommended a battery of exercises that helped get my foot, ankle, and calf back in shape. I recommend you get in touch with a physical therapist and have them recommend a recovery regimen, then talk to your surgeon/doctor about the exercises, and double check that they’re safe.
When I had my screws in I worried constantly that i would accidentally put weight on my bad foot and break them. I accidentally put weight down a few times and nothing bad came of it. I was trying to be perfect about it, but I was much less fragile than I felt, too.
I still feel a little tug around the lisfranc part of my foot when I move into certain positions. It isn’t pain, per se, but the scar and skin around it is tighter and the healed part of the ligament is less flexible than the rest, so it feels different. It doesn’t stop me from doing any physical activities, and I don’t even notice it every day. Definitely take it easy on yourself, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. There are ways to feel better and move toward recovery.
Keep in touch! I’m always willing to tell stories about my injury and give advice, though of course, I am not a doctor, and my advice comes only from personal experience.
Stay happy!
Chase
January 5, 2012 at 11:26 pm |
Chase, this is such a great blog! Allen, I guess I am barging in here, but I want to second Chase’s remarks! It really is true: life revolves around the foot for quite some time, then one day you realize you have forgotten about it.
I also had a Lisfanc injury with a few broken metatarsals. I was lucky to have a physical therapist take me through non-weight bearing to partial WB to full WB. And, yes, the foot hurt when I put weight on it at first…like an electric shock running through the sole.
Stiff didn’t describe the lack of flexibility…I couldn’t even find my big toe to move it, the foot didn’t rotate at all..you name it. Well, the good news was that all that went away. Three years later, there’s still a tiny bit of numbness, but nothing that hampers running, jumping, bike riding, or gymnastics.
So I also would urge you to hook up with someone who can give you some good physical therapy exercises to work on, or if you can afford it, work with a therapist as long as your insurance will allow. It’s really invaluable.
Good luck with the recovery!
January 13, 2012 at 11:22 pm |
Hey Chase, so as you know my injury wasn’t nearly as bad as yours but it is till affecting my life greatly at the moment. I’m heading back to school soon and want to be able to start walking soon at least without crutches but the boot’s okay. About 2 days ago I got the pin/screw that was in my foot out (yea fast I know only about 5 weeks after they were put in) and my doctor told me I could start PWB. I know it takes roughly 6-8 weeks for bone to finally heal and so I still have some time, but when my Doc was taking the pin out, it was tougher for some reason than he expected and so instead of the 2-3mm cut, he had to open it up wider to the point I had to get stitches again. I tried walking directly after that and of course I had no pain because my foot was numbed. After I got home though, I realized the patch and other stuff placed on the cut area was stained with blood. I’m afraid I might’ve accidentally reopened the cut. So this question isn’t directly related to the lisfranc injury itself but more so of the cut and getting pin/screw removed. Do you think it’s okay for me to continue PWB? I can’t reach my doctor this weekend because he’s out-of-state. Is it possible to reopen the stitches? How was it when you got your screws out?? Thanks.
January 13, 2012 at 11:49 pm |
Hi all,
I have a question to those of you who have suffered from a lisfranc injury and are trying to run again. I am almost to a year after my initial injury and about 6/7 months after my final surgery. do any of you use any sort of brace or band around your foot while running? please let me know. thanks!
January 14, 2012 at 1:20 pm |
No, I just run normally. If was definitely more than a year after the injury that I could run, however. And, of course, some injuries are more serious than others! I think mine was relatively mild. Good luck with the running!
January 16, 2012 at 4:25 am |
Hey all, Allen here again. If you could just answer one question. I’ve been partial weight-bearing for a few days now and I feel everything is pretty good. I mean the area where my lisfranc injury occurred has some slight pain like tensing up but other than that it is bearable. Where I have a problem is around my pinky toe area. I think it is called the metatarsophalangeal joint which connects my toe to my foot. There is a sharp pain there when I try walking with the boot that I try to tend to shift and walk with my foot inwards even though it’s not normal but it’s to avoid the pain from that joint when applying weight to my foot. Anyone else have this sort of pain in that joint area while they were recovering? Thanks. I feel like if it weren’t for that pain there, I could weight-bear and walk more. Is it just my bone deteriorating from not using it? but the rest of the bone in the xrays looked fine, why do the joints deteriorate? How do I get it back to normal if I can’t apply pressure to it and just eating right (lots of vitamin D and calcium-rich foods) has what I’ve been doing ever since I found out I had this fracture.
January 16, 2012 at 5:12 pm |
Dear Chase or anyone,
I injured myself back in May 2011. I fell into an in ground pool which was empty fell 8 ft down on the incline sprained left ankle and have lis franc fracture and dislocation on right foot. Had surgery 5 days after injury. 4 large screws ,plate with 6 small screws and 2 pins (removed). Now 8 months post op and continue with pain , limp, swelling with activity. Unable to work as I am on my feet all day. I know I have come a long way cast, boot, physical therapy, no more shower chair, but my impression is that I would be back to work and able to walk. So my question is Do you think removing the hardware will make a difference? I have read where it gives you more mobility. I asked the doctor to remove the hardware and he has agreed but states I have a 50/50 chance of improvement. In my eyes I have a lot of hardware in my foot and I don’t know what else to do. I want to play tennis , play with my kids(activities), walk, etc. Please I welcome your thoughts. Great to read others are doing well. Sorry for those who are suffering hang in there.
Joy
January 26, 2012 at 3:56 pm |
Hi Chase, my doctor cleared me for walking again just yesterday. I’ll start physical therapy next week, but I’m concerned about where I am right now. The pain from “walking” is more like discomfort around my ankle but I feel like I can’t get the full range of motion but limp instead. If I actually try to bend my foot, and put weight into my forefoot to push forward, I start to feel a lot of pain depending on how much weight I put in around the lisfranc area. Was this normal for you when you started walking again? Also, did it hurt for you to stand on your tiptoes, while you were recovering? I just want to know if this is normal to have pain around that area still while trying to walk again. Thanks.
January 26, 2012 at 8:24 pm |
Hi Allen, I had my hardware removed 3 weeks ago and you described exactly how I felt too. Yesterday was my first physical therapy session and all of that was addressed. I already have a greater range of motion. I do have one suggestion for you, take an ice pack with you to use after your PT session. Good luck and fast healing.
January 26, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Hi Pam, thanks for replying. I just got back after walking around my college campus for the first time in 2 months. My foot is so sore and I really had trouble moving fast since that required me to push off with the forefoot, but that area seems so stiff and I have pain there when I try. Is it possible that I may have arthritis, is that what it feels like? I had my pins removed 2 weeks ago. Pam, how are you walking now, I mean do you have special shoes (orthotics), or using a walking boot still, and how are you barefoot? And if you don’t mind me asking, roughly how old are you? Do you still have pain in the lisfranc area after your first day of PT? I’ve been doing ankle stretches ever since I got the boot about 3 weeks ago, so I feel like I have a greater range of motion already in those regards. Are you full-weight bearing? I’m just really concerned I may be developing arthritis, or am I just still recovering? Thanks.
January 27, 2012 at 6:31 am
Allen, I’m not a doctor so its just my opinion that its way too soon to be thinking arthritis. I’m wearing cheap velcro closer shoes so that I can easily loosen them as the foot swells. I’m also wearing compression socks to keep the swelling down. Both the shoes and the socks came from Walmart. When you push your recovery, like I think we both do, the foot is going to hurt and swell. My pain is mostly in the ball of my foot with some in my ankle from PT. I use ice packs 3 to 5 times a day. I can walk barefoot, but shoes are more comfortable. I’ve been cleared for full weight bearing for one week. My walk is not normal, but its improved greatly after only one day of PT and exercises. It won’t be real normal until there’s less swelling in the ball area. I’m 56 years old and a cancer survivor with chemo induced peripheral neuropathy in both feet. I hate feeling confined or incapacitated. Because I want to get back to being as active as possible as fast as I can, I force myself to RICE the foot. That’s rest, ice, compress and elevate. By taking breaks I can actually be more active for more total time. I hope this helps. Pam
January 31, 2012 at 5:00 am
Hi again Pam, how are you doing now these days? My doctor referred me PT for 2-3 times for 3-4 weeks. I’m not starting until Thursday, but I’m still where I am when I posted 5 days ago about the lisfranc pain. I’m not sure if you have the same pain, mine is not necessarily the ball of my foot, but the top I guess where the lisfranc joint is. I have trouble doing the normal walking motion which involves bending the foot and pushing off the ball to go forward. I don’t have pain on the bottom, just on the top in the joint if that makes any sense. Is this what you had as well? I’m pretty sure it’s not metatarsalgia which sounds like what you might have. Though I’ve heard this type of walking motion requires you to use 1-2x your body weight, I can’t understand why it still hurts so much. I really hope PT will help. I’ve been cleared to be full weight-bearing for almost 4 weeks now, but I still can’t push off with my foot. How has PT affected your progress?
Allen
January 31, 2012 at 7:17 am
Hi Allen, my ankle’s range of motion is now close to normal. As far as I can tell my lisfranc joint is not moving very much, so I’m betting that’s waiting for me at a future PT session. My great toe flexes upward so my walk is improving….but I still walk funny and probabley will for a while. I’ve got a few odd things going on. First, my foot is spitting out some of the “desolvable” stitches. Second, there’s a small lump under the arch on the tendon that pulls the great toe down. Both of these are uncomfortable. And of course the foot swells when I try to be active. Because of the neuropathy my nerves are a bit scrambled. All presure hurts and I have some areas that have a lack of feeling. But hey, It’s only pain. It won’t kill us. I was given a new therapy by my PT that works great. Put the foot in cold water for 30 seconds, then 30 seconds in hot water. Go back and forth for 8 to 10 minutes. It takes the swelling down and reduces the pain too. You can use waste baskets or 5 gallon buckets, whatever fits you foot best. I can really recomend it. I have to be on my feet a lot at the end of the week. If you have any tips for me please share and keep me posted.
January 27, 2012 at 2:10 pm |
I am almost three years post-surgery. When my doctor “cleared” me for walking, I tried to put my weight on the foot and damn near went through the roof. Then I looked at the PT prescription…two weeks no weight on the foot, followed by two weeks of ‘toe touch.” I was only allowed full weight bearing after a month of PT! I had almost no flexibility in the ankle. The first two weeks were spent, among other things, working the ankle with therabands. And yes, when I put the foot on the floor, it felt like an electric shock going through it.
Progress was slow, but I got back my range of motion and can hop, jump, run, practice a martial art, etc. I am not a doctor or therapist, but I can say with confidence that what you can do now is not necessarily a predictor of what you will be able to do in a year.
Can you get physical therapy? If not, I kept a diary of my exercises on my blog, so you can see how long it took! But be aware, it’s not a prescription, or a recommended regime! Everyone is different, and you need a trained therapist to guide you through the recovery!
February 3, 2012 at 7:08 am |
Thanks to Chase and to everyone for sharing their journey!
I only tore my Lisfranc (no broken metatarsels) in a soccer injury, walked around Europe for a month and then saw my OS. I had surgery almost 2 months after the initial injury, and am now 3 months past that. Post surgery I opted for the scooter and was really happy to not be on crutches for so long. Having had 2 ACL replacements, I welcomed being able to move fast and carry things in my basket!
Like Chase said, it was very hard to stay motivated and positive while my foot was healing.. I started back into Yoga and Spinning classes at 2 months post initial surgery, and will be approaching the second surgery in a couple weeks… My doc waits 17 weeks to let the ligament heal.
Lately, my foot feels okay for the most part and I only have swelling when I walk too much. I occasionally notice pain in my 2nd and 3rd toes from the screw, which I am hoping isn’t actually arthritis. I am very conscious about what type of shoes I wear.. which is hard for a 28 yr old who works in the fashion business!
I’ll post again once I get my screw removed. I’m dreading being back on crutches or even the boot, so we’ll see what my dr. recommends.
March 3, 2012 at 5:04 pm |
Thank you all for posting to this blog. I was diagnosed with a lisfranc injury 2 days ago. It was hard for the ER dr. and my PCP to diagnose this injury that was sustained in a car accident over 3 weeks ago. I finally got a referral to an Ortho Clinic and after x-rays and assessing my foot, the nurse practitioner there was able to diagnose my injury as a Lisfranc. So, in a few days I get to have surgery….I am nervous, but my spirit has been lifted some thanks to all of you.
I am used to being active (running and walking) and working as full-time hospital RN, so, to be out of work and have no weight-bearing on my left foot gets to me b/c the accident was caused by someone else and I feel like I am paying for it.
Thankfully, life does go on and I need to make the most out of this. Just worried what the future holds, but knowing I have my friends, family, and husband there for me helps out tremendously.
Meredith
May 15, 2012 at 5:47 pm |
I suffered quite a bad foot injury January 14,2011. I broke and dislocated four metatarsals and also a lisfranc fracture. I required pins to hold the metatarsals in place that came out 4 weeks post surgery, and 2 screws that are still in. Doc says they won’t have to come out unless they bother me. I was non weight baring for just about 4 months. Recovery after that was slow but I could always feel progress. I’m a machinist by trade so I have to stand for 10 hours a day. Now I can do this no problem with minimal discomfort. And I still go home and am able to run 4k! I always kept my spirits up. I’m in the best shape of my life because i wanted to proove to myself that this injury wasnt going to change my life for good. I hope my story helps and would love to answer any questions.
March 12, 2012 at 6:59 am |
Life is really cool…
June 21, 2012 at 7:54 am |
I can’t tell you how relieved this blog made me feel! The day after I injured my lisfranc in a car accident I googled everything I could about the injury and I didn’t sleep for two days because I was so terrified with all the complications and horror stories people had. My injury was not as severe as most though. I got a second opinion and it was the best thing I did! If I would have had the first doctor operate on me I would have been in pain the rest of my life with many complications. I had my surgery a week after my accident and I am now a month into recovery, I only required two screws and have two small incisions. I am walking on my foot a little even though I am supposed to be non-weight baring for at least a few more weeks, but it feels good and I have minimal pain, only stiffness in the mornings and if I wear my boot all day. But your blog has definitely helped me understand that I should be fully recover after they take my screws out which will be September if everything goes as planned. I related sooo much to you; I injured myself in spring term of my freshman year of college and missed a lot of school because of it. And going from an A student to getting C’s in most of my classes did not help my emotional state. I thought I was going to be on crutches foreverrr! It felt never ending and I was so embarrassed, I was scared I would be handicapped forever. I am trying to stay positive and keep telling myself that I am a good healer and can tough it out, let’s hope I’m right 🙂
Thank you,
Alysha 🙂
July 3, 2012 at 4:28 pm |
I’m glad I found this blog – I injured my foot last week after a fall down the stairs. The Dr. originally thought I sprained both my ankle and foot, but after another X-ray they are suspecting a possible Lisfranc injury that an MRI should confirm or disprove today. I’m REALLY hoping it’s just a bad sprain..I run 60-100 miles a month and am already becoming depressed about the possibility of no running for months. I might have to start a blog as well if I’m laid up! 🙂 Thanks again for the positive stories and guidance – it is appreciated.
July 10, 2012 at 4:36 pm |
Hello,
Last year around Easter I fell off my bike and hurt my ankle. X-rays were taken yet there was a misdiagnosis. After 13 months -I had already been to ten specialists- I ended up with a professor who diagnosed me with Lisfranc Injury (2 mm displacement).
Now I’m in agony, since arthritis has been developing in my joints. I have had a operation on June 13th .It’s going to be a very long recovery, but I can’t just leave it the way it is, I’m on sick leave since October already.
What concerns me is the fact that I still have the same sort of pain I had before the operation. Is this normal? I’m on sick leave since October already. I can barely lean on this foot. I’m afraid it will never get better and I won’t ever be able to stand up again. Could you describe what kind of pain you had after the operation? I feel more and more depressed every day, it’s a long road ahead. They have put a bolt and a clip in my foot . It was a fusion due to the misdiagnosis.
Thanks for ypur reactions
Carine from Belgium
July 14, 2012 at 2:23 pm |
Carine,
I’m sorry to hear that your injury was misdiagnosed. That is a sadly common mistake with Lisfranc injuries.
After my first surgery I was in pretty intense pain for about a week. Constantly medicated. It was miserable. I was non-weight bearing for about 5 months, and I was totally compliant. No weight on that foot, ever. I didn’t want to break a screw while it was in me. After my screws were removed I had strong pain for about 2 days, then gradual decrease, though still some pain and weakness for about 3 more months. I got some super supportive hiking boots that I wore everywhere.
During that time I developed tendinitis in the Achilles tendon of my injured foot. My friend’s dad, who is a physical therapist, told me that because my calf and foot muscles had atrophied so much, my Achilles tendon was overworked, and he gave me some exercises to strengthen those muscles, which eventually fixed the tendinitis.
I still have some mild arthritis-type pain in my injured foot occasionally. I probably will forever, but it doesn’t prevent me from doing anything I want to. If you are having debilitating pain I have to recommend going back to your doctor or finding a physical therapist.
Stay positive and don’t let this setback wear you down! Life goes on, and this pain won’t last forever. Thank you for sharing your story. It means a lot to me and the other people here who are struggling with this injury right now.
Chase