This is where my story starts. With Bill the dog.
On August 10, 2014, I tripped over my 95 pound brown chessy dog. I fell face first over him catching my foot under him. I landed on the tile floor and my left big toe was sideways on my foot. It did go back into place on it's own. I iced the foot thinking I had sprained my toe. The next morning I got up out of bed and could not walk on my foot. I found some old crutches and drove myself to the local ER. I know it is just a foot, but for others with the same injury I want to share my experience.
August 11, 2014, I was told at the ER everyones name at least four times (survey after discharge) that everything looked ok, x-rays were negative and it was probably a sprain and to follow up with orthopedic doctor if pain persists. Went home took some Advil and wrapped my foot in a bandage and waited with ice.
August 12, 2014 I knew this was not a simple sprain. I could not walk and my foot was bruised and very swollen. After seeing a football athletic trainer who was a friend, I was sent to a sports med doctor. I had weight bearing x-rays and then an MRI. What they saw but I did not know was that I had a comminuted cortical rim avulsion fracture in the base of the first metatarsal, 2 full thickness tears of medial and lateral ligament of 1st tarsometatarsal , full thickness tear of dorsal fibers of Lis Franc ligament, ligament sprains and partial tears of the other Lis Franc ligament and other trauma related findings. Wow ! Bill the dog was fine.
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| Side of foot bruising |
4 days post injury What I was feeling; pain and spasms that would wake me up at night and not let me sleep in the day. Pain in all toes, which I could not move. Swelling was increasing. My foot was wrapped and I had a short cam boot. Tramadol made me sleepy and spacey. I tried Tylenol, Advil and ice packs. I searched and studied Lis Franc injuries and became more discouraged.
6 days post injury was at a foot and ankle surgeon. I am very happy with him. I asked when I could play golf again. Hoping it was not as bad as I thought. He did more x-rays and told me to come back in 2 weeks to see if I would need surgery depending on weight bearing x ray results when swelling decreased. No Golf.
2 weeks later, I needed surgery and confirmed with a second opinion and scheduled surgery for 9/4/14. I wish it had been sooner. I was still in a short boot on crutches no weight bearing, taking no pain meds and in a lot of pain.
About me: I am 54, female, and active. I lift weights, I spin 3 times a week, play golf 3 to 4 times a week, I paddle board, swim, piliates, walk miles in the sand and water when I can, etc. ; I have two teenagers, run a business and help my husband with his business matters; run our house and projects. I have a hard time sitting still. I love to be outdoors. I am happy; Was happy. It was very hard to get my head around what was happening. For my sanity I continued to hobble into the gym until the day of surgery.
Day of surgery: On Thursday 9/4/14 I had my 1st surgery ever involving general anesthesia, I was afraid. I was placed on my abdomen pre op. I was so nervous after I turned over I was asked which foot they were operating on. I could not say what foot they were operating on. I had to say left or right. I had painted the toe nails on my good foot orange and my surgical foot, left, plain so they could see the color of nail beds. That is what I said to the anesthesiologist. The foot without the toe nail polish! My left foot was the surgical foot. I had IV sedation, a knee/leg block, then general anesthesia.
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| on way home post surgery |
I was given Percocet 5/325. 1 or 2 every 4 to 6 hrs as needed ! Whoa and stay ahead of pain? Ok.
One day post op Friday by 4pm I had taken 8 percocet and all I had was pain and now cotton head. I read the maximum daily amount allowed in 24 hours called doctor and asked for something else. I was told by nurse I could take an Advil if I needed to but it would slow recovery time and first 48 hours were hardest for pain so bear it. I took 2 more percocet in next 8 hours and then stopped all meds for the next 6 days. They were making me sick and dizzy.
In anticipation of lack of mobility I ordered a Knee Cycle, a cast protector for shower, a lap top to work from downstairs and I set up for a long recovery. I have 2 pair of crutches and now a handicap tag for when I go out which I take with me in my back pack.
3 days post op I fell off the scooter. I was feeling spasms that felt like things crawling in skin when I tried to sleep. It was from the nerve being moved and stretched the doctor said. I was depressed and in significant pain. I started to do light upper body work outs. Leg lifts with boot on in bed. Called doctor for new meds and to sleep, if nothing else. So 8 days post op, 1 month after the initial injury, I started taking 1 Tramadol at around 2pm and then 1 or a 1/2 a valium at night for spasms. My anticoagulant I switched to 81 mg of aspirin as I keep bruising on the 325mg.
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| 10 days after surgery |
There is pain and swelling post operatively. If I am up for any period of time my foot swells up. When I am in bed a while with foot elevated and then put foot down I feel the blood flow to the foot and experience pain and the sensation of the blood flowing to the area. The spasms in the big toe area have been the most painful through it all. They wake me when I do sleep.2 weeks post op , no damage from fall off scooter stitches out and I can do what I want but no weight bearing on left foot. Follow up 4 weeks. I am to start contrast baths. ROM.
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| Gym in middle of day no one there good time to go |
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| 9/26/14 after resting |
3 weeks post op I continue to do contrast baths in hot and cold water moving my toes and massaging area once or twice a day. I move toes on own ! Not much but they move. I go to gym with no weight bearing on left foot almost every day. I do leg exercises at home on a mat or while seated with the boot on to prevent my muscles from atrophying to much. I have pain. Spasms are almost gone and the feeling of blood running to foot when lowered does not really occur now. My foot still swells. I still have 3 weeks before my next follow up appointment. I may take a Tramadol but definitely a Valium or 1/2 at bed time. I still have a constant feeling of pain.
Tips I have found my scooter with a basket is essential. I should have gotten it sooner when injury first diagnosed. I keep a pair of glasses and a house phone in the basket. I have an outdoor chair in my shower. A good back pack for caring everything including my handicap parking tag for traveling with other people in their cars. Tag goes with me, not staying in my car. Eat more protein, veggies and less pasta, rice bread and sweets. Be creative with exercise.
23 days post op Last night was rough. I was to vertical yesterday and had a lot of pain by end of the day. Today my husband asked me if the pain is better or worse since the surgery? It is better. There is still pain, but not like before the surgery. Went in the pool yesterday was wonderful. the cool water helped my swelling go down.
1 month post op It is hard to believe. My calf muscle has continued to atrophy. I do not have as much pain. I had a tremendous amount of itching in the foot one day and then the next day it actually felt better. I take either a tramadol or 1/2 a valium at night that is all now. More for sleep then pain. I continue to ice my foot maybe three times a day now. Between that, the contrast baths and the gentle massage and range of motion swelling is down. I continue with upper body work outs and non weight bearing leg exercises. When the time comes to walk I do not want more delays.The most discouraging thought to me was not being able to exercise. Be creative you can find ways that will work and maintain most of what you have. Since there is no cardio to speak of I cut down on carbs and eat more protein and vegetables. I hope for no set backs.
Oct 6th, 2014 Off pain meds all weekend. Still feel some twitching started trying to use crutches more then scooter with heal weight bearing. Still 11 days till next doctor visit. Spasms in foot at a minimum. Foot swells when down to long. Most of pain is in big toe where fusion and fracture was.
Oct 13th I am begining to question my decision. I am having some pain and swelling again. I see the doctor in 4 days. I did fly to Texas and had wheel chair transportation throughout my planes. I am feeling tingling some spasms, swelling discoloration. What is most bothersome is when sleeping, if I stretch and my foot stretches, it really hurts. I am reading everything I can about peoples recoveries.
Oct 17th 6 Weeks post op Everything is good on film. Down to ace bandage and boot or orthowedge with weight bearing on heal. Return in 6-7 weeks. Will gradually go to full weight bearing, with crutches still, until return visit. There is still pain. There is still numbness between my 1st and second toe. Foot still swells if down to long. Some spasms and tingling. I use ice everyday, elevate it as much as possible. Soak in hot and cold buckets. Massage with lavender oil and cream at night because I found the dry, tautness of skin was contributing to the pain and was/is a good why to massage the foot. I can add leg curls and extensions to my work outs. I continue to exercise. Upper body, leg lifts, squats with bad knee resting on scooter, as long as there is no pressure on bad foot and extension through the foot (like swimming) my routines have worked for me.
Oct 19th The heal weight bearing for extended periods does make my foot hurt. I iced it and soaked it a lot yesterday and again today.
Dec 5th 12 weeks post op I have been walking without crutches and getting around very well in my boot. I have been going to the gym and doing leg exercises with the boot on. I have gotten on my spin bike in my boot a few times. Waiting for x-rays and word on getting off crutches, which I already ditched. Good news, NO CAM BOOT unless going out for long period. I can walk in sneakers with a simple arch support. I am going to try therapy on my own and in pilates. I have also maintained or lost weight despite the lack of cardio activities !
Dec 25th It has been 20 days since I removed the boot. I am almost back to walking with a regular gait. I still have pain and my foot looks like a football when I am on it all day. I have been doing leg exercises, light leg press and squats, leg extensions and curls. In pilates we work on ankle rotation, core and toe raises and of course being centered. Because of the injury I have started to pronate on my injured foot. Which has cause drain to develop on the outside of my foot now. I have to stop walking re align myself and concentrate on correct foot alignment. Almost rotating in to over compensate a little to get proper hip and foot alignment. I also have gone to an ankle high soft boot that I use when I go to cold weather. It is more supportive then sneakers and ties at the ankle rather then just above and/or on the scar line. These ankle boots have helped significantly. Today I received a pair of high top Doc Martens. I put my arch support in them and wow, these are even better then my boots. I almost walked perfectly in them. My personal goals are to be normal walking and golfing, a little, by mid January: 5 months post injury. I am also now working on going downstairs. I can walk up stairs great but going down is a bit challenging. Everyday is something different. I did have to take a pain pill the other night, first one in months, but my foot was not happy after my day of activities. It was swollen and having spasms. I go back to doctor in 3 to 5 weeks. Just for info We are leaving the hardware in.
Dec 28th 2014 My foot is not happy. It has not been happy for a few days. I started using the scooter again. I can not decide which shoe to wear. I hit my 8 iron today! Wow. 4 1/2 months. My last shot was great. My golf shoes felt really nice on my foot, but I am not sure where my pain is coming from. My foot is not really swollen and it is not turning colors, it just aches. Hmmm. I hope next month is better.
Dec 9th 2015 It was a long hall. I had all four screws removed in April as it had become increasingly difficult to walk for long periods. I still did not rehab, but continued to do my own therapy. I am happy to say in August I was discharged from care and have returned to full activities. I ran three miles, sooner then I should have, but three weeks later ran 1 mile with no pain. Can incline on treadmill to 9/10 no difficulties. I doubted myself about having surgery for a while, but am happy to say. It worked and I would do it again. It is definitely at least a year recovery. Bill the dog is a year older and still in the way!
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