Calcaneus Surgery ORIF Success Stories?

Not I; my surgeon sent me to a full blown sports therapist.

My pain initially was due to arthritis when I would walk to much, stand to long or of course the weather.  I had 2 shots that relieved the pain which is an out but after s few years starting last spring it became to hurt and swell more.  What happened is 1 of the screws and backed out just a bit and was rubbing against my tendon.  The Dr. mentioned the hardware was doing nothing since it was fully healed and was simply my call.  I decided to pass and deal with the pain which was tolerable.  But sometime last year that one screw backed a bit more and a 2nd one began as well which tore up my tendon.  Causing the additional swelling and pain.

Taking the hardware out and bone spurs (3 CT showed) is no big deal but my paid will be from when he removes the tissue that is torn up on my tendon basically being raw skin which will hurt until it heals in 4-6 weeks.  Then good as new.  No PT (physical therapy) or cast involved; just some pain while the tissue repairs itself.  Just a boot and no weight to be placed on it.

Good luck Bryan and let us know how it goes

New here,I broken my left calcaneus last week 4-11-2019, felt from a ladder, my surgery is next week 4-23-2019,my leg is still swollen,kinda don't know what to expect,any help will help ,God love you.

Steve sleo@global.co.za wrote: Good luck Bryan and let us know how it goes

Steve, the surgery on 4/11 to remove hardware, remove a couple bone spurs and clean up tendons from the surgery went great.  On Hydro thru following Monday AM but that was more due to the pain from all the tendon cleanup.  Doc did leave 1 of the seven screws in since it was buried in the heal.  Being titanium no worries of movement or down the line issues.  He compared it to a titanium nail burined in a weed stood on a wall that was covered by sheet rock then paint.  He would do ore damage than good to get to it plus it is just a foot.  

Desk job so I am working from home a few weeks but only wearing a lighter boot than I had from initial surgery.  Around the house I can walk (very slowly of course) from room to room, shower and simply pat dry.  He went in on the original cut line when plate and screws went in and those s/b removed next week on 25th.

I was told to wear the boot when going out to avoid getting kicked or bumping anything but at home or sleeping wear if needed.  Big difference and I prefer simply no stick bandage over stitches then wrapped is all.  It will be tender of course when stitches removed but gets better daily same as tendon where scares removed.  June he said to simply begin walking 1st down a few houses and build up bit no PT (physical therapy) seems needed.

Even backed my truck up to give her a start a while ago.

Sure it stings after a shower when drying and still recovering somewhat so early nights.

Wish I had done it sooner and have less tendon scars to clean up is all.

Thanks Tony ,I'm kinda getting depressed I acctive person like 8 hrs daily on my legs till now,,and it's sad cuz I'm 44 male and I'm a broken man........never had anything broken in my life till now,I really feel like the world is ending around me...did yesterday the pre op test came okay,just don't know process ,I go Tuesday 5  am surgery (Skokie illinois) was told  they need put me sleep,I wonder if I wake up after,and if I do would be lots of pain right after ,few hours days? Also kinda scared about infection anything I can do not to get it?Thanks for everyone's input on this who went through this horrible experience,God love you.

From the screen I saw at the hospital mine looked kinda like this cracked area maybe less distance between them
(I found this pic on Google)

Thanks for the info Tony ,I got like 2 days till surgery,I'm getting nervous , don't know how bad I'll get and don't wanna take it on wife and kids home...again this is horrible experience,also no insurance no work comp,happened at some one house just to be told I'm outta luck ins told him dat ,now I wonder to get a attorney like after surgery,I'm do mest up,so far I use credit cards to go visits ect.... ,,,,some time I wonder why .....

God love you.

Bryan Stewart wrote:

Steve, the surgery on 4/11 to remove hardware, remove a couple bone spurs and clean up tendons from the surgery went great.  On Hydro thru following Monday AM but that was more due to the pain from all the tendon cleanup.  Doc did leave 1 of the seven screws in since it was buried in the heal.  Being titanium no worries of movement or down the line issues.  He compared it to a titanium nail burined in a weed stood on a wall that was covered by sheet rock then paint.  He would do ore damage than good to get to it plus it is just a foot.  

Desk job so I am working from home a few weeks but only wearing a lighter boot than I had from initial surgery.  Around the house I can walk (very slowly of course) from room to room, shower and simply pat dry.  He went in on the original cut line when plate and screws went in and those s/b removed next week on 25th.

I was told to wear the boot when going out to avoid getting kicked or bumping anything but at home or sleeping wear if needed.  Big difference and I prefer simply no stick bandage over stitches then wrapped is all.  It will be tender of course when stitches removed but gets better daily same as tendon where scares removed.  June he said to simply begin walking 1st down a few houses and build up bit no PT (physical therapy) seems needed.

Even backed my truck up to give her a start a while ago.

Sure it stings after a shower when drying and still recovering somewhat so early nights.

Wish I had done it sooner and have less tendon scars to clean up is all.

Thanks for the update Bryan. It sounds like everything is moving along nicely. It does help that you have been through this already, so you are aware of what and what not to do. Good luck and take it easy. As you know, it's a long road!

Thanks for the update Bryan. It sounds like everything went well. It's still a long road, so take it easy and good luck!

pete petem75 wrote: Thanks for the info Tony ,I got like 2 days till surgery,I'm getting nervous , don't know how bad I'll get and don't wanna take it on wife and kids home...again this is horrible experience,also no insurance no work comp,happened at some one house just to be told I'm outta luck ins told him dat ,now I wonder to get a attorney like after surgery,I'm do mest up,so far I use credit cards to go visits ect.... ,,,,some time I wonder why .....

God love you.

Most homeowners have insurance.. just a thought.

Thanks for replying Jef,I talk to the owner of that house he told me I'm on my own and his insurance told him they not paying for anything,I was looking to get help with medical bills just to be told I'm on my own......and he suggested to sue his insurance,I'm so lost,,,I went on ladder trying to install a lamp for him , another guy was there holding it he told him leave the ladder alone do something else ,he left 30 sec later I fell,,,like I said I'm 45 male,also smoker ,....I quit smoking since this happened and will keep it that way,doc told me to not smoke anymore will help bones heal.also pre op exams came ok for surgery...this is starting getting me depressed I never tougy i can happen to me to be so much diwn mentally but it does , unbelievable......tomorow morning surgery,I will keep checking this thread and reply when I can, thanks to all of you .God bless you.

Pete, it is a very depressing injury and you have the added expense to deal with. I feel for you man. I was told after my op that you must be patient. It's a tough statement to accept when you are feeling down and can't walk around or do anything, but i'm afraid this is the situation. The time does pass and your foot will get better and you will walk and get active again. Have faith my friend and let us know how it goes. Good luck bud!

Pete I agree as Steve mentioned; it is very depressing and thankfully removing the hardware and cleaning up my tendons on my right heal/foot will KO a lot of the pain.  All that is left is arthritis and I know now it is what it is.  Plus everyone has issues and I'll use you as an example.  Keep in mind I would not trade places with you and having to go thru it again like before.  Sorry about that.

Just give it time. every day is a new day and a new challenge.  Be sure and listen to your doctor.  It will heal.  But keep it iced and elevated that does help but do not put anything on it unless Doc says so. Plus once it gets to feeling stronger do not turn into Superman....it is still healing.

The odd part on my end is totally forgot about many of the challenges on the 1st surgery to put it all together.  It was after the 2nd surgery I sort of recalled how much harder it was on doing things. The one big win I will never forget is when the cast was off and all that remained were the staples; I took a 1 legged shower all by myself hopping to avoid not letting my weight rest on the ankle or get the cut to wet aka soak vs a bath hanging my leg over the side of the tub.

You'll get there in time.  Thankfully being a Tax man and able to work from home; as before and now I try and end my work day doing something positive even if it is sending a simple email.

So hang in there.

One last thing Pete...........................do not fall behind on the pain med.  After surgery one Thursday morning I had no pain and after the 1st pill of Oxy I did not take another one until Friday night.  I was not in pain and I had a pain pin in my leg numbing everything from knee down.  

Come to find out I had no pain because of surgery anesthesia which lasted about 24 hours after plus a pain pin.  When Fri night hit I was in total pain 4 letter words in all, wife in tears because it was a constant come and go every second like a roller coaster.  Friday night Doc just kept give him another Oxy and crank up pain pin.  Eventually about 2 in the morning I fell asleep and at 6:00 in the morning wife got me up to take another Oxy.  And did so every 4 hours.  Then eventually moved to Hydro since Oxy was out and paid pin was done.

Doc ended up telling me why and that is because I fell behind the pain.  Take the Oxy and get a few in your system so when the surgery wears off you have that and eventually Hydro......all a transition but Dr. Bryan (me) thought he knew better LOL.  Never again.  Let Doc do his job.

Thanks Brian and to all of you,just got home from hospital, surgery at 6am but for some reason the doctor didn't give me the nerve blocker,so after the surgery I woke (thanks God)I woke in huge  pain.  they keep me there for hours giving me pain meds ,around 2 pm I got the pain down...so just got back home wife went get meds doctor suggested I'll try stay awake to get those like mention in time,I wonder when pain return,is is worst than day I broken it ,,how long I'll last ,is it in and out ,,like burning sensation,?null

Thanks all,
God loves you.

You will get past it.  I tell ya getting there that early I hear ya.

My surgeon prescribed the pain pin and it is a tube that enters on the side of your knew and the tube runs down inside your leg to the heal area.  so taking it out is like well gutting a catfish so to say but it does not hurt.  It actually sort of tickles.  But it keeps everything numb (nerves etc) between the time the surgery anesthesia wears off until the Oxy or Hydro kicks in.  The pin holds about 3 days worth of drip medicine and is simply controlled by the dial with 5 being what they set it on.  When you run out you run out.  Meaning like in my case where I fell behind the pain meds by skipping; the Dr had my wife crank it up to 6 then 8.  Just to buy time until the pain meds caught back up.  Once out of pain that night wife turned it down to 6 and later once a few doses of meds were down we eased it to 5-4 to 3 per Dr instruction so we still have some.  So I had it in until Sunday and when the blue medicine ball was empty we simply pulled it out or better she did after googling it up.  I was taking the pain meds every 4 hours for about 3 more days then as needed which was right before bed and then 1st thing in the morning.  By mid week I was off all of it making it about 10 days total but working from home productively on day 5 being a Tax Accountant.  Just at lunch time that 1st week I would have to go lay down and nap a couple hours is all with foot propped up of course.  Plus keep it iced.

Big thing is to keep that area iced and the more often the better since when it swells that leads to pain and ice does help big time.  It gets easier each day; just keep icing it.

Hang in there. 

Regarding financial responsibility what you or someone in family needs to do is simply contact your neighbors and request they file a claim with their home insurance provider.  All they need to do is inform them someone was hurt on THEIR property.  No lawyers should be needed.  The insurance company then should do their thing by requesting details of accident, bills etc..................

It may not be a bad idea to contact yours as well as an FYI and as you know keep copies of all documentation and everything.

Hope this helps on the finance end.  If your neighbor refuses to contact his then go thru yours and they will contact them but it may take a bit longer. 

Thanks Brian,for all u help ,and to everyone else,im still waiting for my meds to arrive,I wanna take them before I go sleep,is this elevation and icing hope is ok.

i got subscription for : Tramadol 50mg,1 tablet every 6 hrs? Aspirin 325 mg daily 1 for 30 days and Cephalexin 500 mg,1 a day 3 times for 3 days any info on those ?
...8:30 pm pain start ...like burning.............baddd painnnn......
God bless you.

You got it Pete; elevation and ice.  Once you get a few pain meds down and do keep on schedule for sure so you don't fall behind and that position you show right there is it.  Glad I am a sports guy and all those ESPN channels was my life for a few days.  Just think once the pain is under control by the meds your next goal is well taking care of business type thing and sitting on that throne and having to well you know once finished is a bit tough.  Especially the 1st couple times but (no pun intended) then it becomes a small victory knowing you can wipe and all.....................the small things in life we don't realize is a blessing.  Then you got the tub next in line with that foot/leg area stuck in a baggie and rubber band to keep it in place and drape that leg over the tub.  Luckily my cut was on the outside of the foot so getting the main area wet was not to difficult.  Sure my wife got it all set up and I rolled in the tub water; she simply left me alone.  What we did learn was to use part of that time to ice the foot as well.  I do now remember her when she checked on me "Bryan, you ready to get out" and part was I enjoyed the down time of being wet but also really didn't want to deal with the pulling and hopping to get back to laying on my side.  But with each time; you get better at it.  

Again keep those ice bags going as much as possible, rest and just know each day gets better. Especially after the 4th/5th day............mine are sort of a blur until reminded.  Just like when I went back to working from home on day 6.  I remember taking the naps but at dinner my wife reminded me was the reason is I was still on Hydro the 1st few days and no pain.  That is why I needed the nap since I took a pill at 8:00 that morning I was run down by 11:00 so at noon for lunch would be another Hydro and ice the nap.  I had to arrange my schedule and let the Tax director know my work schedule and that the 1st few weeks I would vanish on line from 11:00 until about 2:00 each day.  Initially because I was on drugs of course but even after that to keep icing and build up tolerance.  It does take it out of you going thru this.........just remember you will eventually get that rush of doing a normal thing.  Sad but true.  Being able to wash my hair each morning in the kitchen sink using my knee walker scooter was like a blessing for me but it gave me enough rush of energy to get in shorts and shirt and propped up in my office at home to do what I can for work each day.

I go Thursday to my surgeon to hopefully remove the stitches and very glad all my hardware is gone.  But will still need to work from home thru May because if someone kicks or steps on my foot until it is 100% healed it may get a bit nasty in my reaction shall we say.  Plus I am still out of work shape and need to do the leg propped up every few hours just because.  Just glad tax season is over.

Hang in there and again ice it up as much as possible.

God Bless.

Bryan