Calcaneus Surgery ORIF Success Stories?

Gerrielle -
Your just getting started. Be strong and stay positive. I smashed mine 9/1. Surgery 9/13. Read the posts here. You’ll be better for it. April/May will be better months. It’s a long process.
MP

I was in a car accident and fractured my left calcaneus and had surgery almost two years ago. I have two steel plates and 7 to 8 screws to reconstruct my heel bone. I’m a waitress so always on my feet for 8 to 12 hours and now I’m starting to experience pain when I try to walk now anyone have any advice or has had this happen to them.... I’m just so scared about my foot what if it’s always like this when I work... 

Mine felt a lot better after I took the plate out. The plate holds it together until it heals, but is really not needed after it does. Most docs leave it in, unless it causes pain. Mine did, especially when walking on side slopes and rugged terrain. The surgery to remove the plate is not nearly as bad as the original operation.
Of course putting all those pieces back together again is never perfection. But mine is at least 90%. It only bothers me after very long hikes and rugged terrain. The morning after something like that I limp around for the 1st couple minutes of soreness, reminding me of my "Achilles heel".
Good luck. 

How long after you guys operation were you able to drive? 

Gerrielle! I’m so sorry about your injury, but it’ll improve!

I broke both my heels and I started driving with my left at around 3 months, later with my right.  This isn’t something I’d push but you’ll have to decide on your own comfort level.  
Have you considered getting an assistive device like the iwalk or a knee scooter? Since you have one good foot these can really help a lot.  
Good luck, stay positive, and keep us posted!
Dennis

I hope this post will make anyone who is new  to this injury feel a bit more positive that a fast and easy recovery is possible!

I broke my calcaneus in 3 places while bouldering on December 7th, 2019. 1 week later I had ORIF surgery and got 7 screws and a graft put in, so it wasn't a simple fracture by any means. I am now at exactly week 8 since the injury (7 weeks post-op), ditched the crutches a week ago and am walking with just the boot around 3,000 steps a day (and absolutely no pain while doing so). The fracture and sub-talar joint healed "perfectly" and back to the anatomical state according to the doctor. This was after the doctor originally said I’d be on crutches for 9 weeks, hobbling on one crutch for 1 week after, and then the boot for two weeks after that.  
I truly believe this is due to certain habits I kept up with for the weeks I was on crutches, and I hope you find some relief if you try these:

Supplements (Daily)
-Calcium and Vitamin D (doctor recommended 2,000 units of Vitamin D)
-Turmeric (for inflammation)
-Arnica & Ginger tea (for bone healing)
-Collagen Powder
-Beef Bone Marrow & Trachea (can find on Amazon)

Activity
-Acupuncture 2x a week (YES it is expensive, but YES you will feel results that make it worth it and will speed your recovery): this was the biggest contributor to my healing and why I feel I was back on my feet so quickly. The treatments reduce swelling and muscle tightness from in-activity. Once I started walking again, I didn’t feel discomfort in my knees or tendons in my feet because the acupuncture had kept the blood moving around them while inactive.  
-Yoga (modified) 3x a week: self explanatory, but kept the negativity at bay and maintained flexibility I had before the injury
-Reading forums/blogs: you will feel the sense of community that you are not alone on these blogs. But PROCEED WITH CAUTION: sometimes the people that post on blogs/forums are the ones suffering the worst symptoms/worst injuries. I noticed when I kept scouring the internet I kept getting in my head that this injury would be way worse than it actually was and felt dread that I would struggle with walking again. STAY POSITIVE, SET UNREALISTIC GOALS. Your time on crutches WILL end and it's better to keep positive to at least make your day the slightest bit better than to wallow in your situation. Best of luck to you all

Guys should it's been three years and my foot is still so fucking sensitive to cold and touch ?? Is it always gonna be like this it's so annoying. I fucking hate my foot. 

Hey guys. Can you guys give me a timeline on your weight bearing restrictions post surgery? My surgeon is adamant on 3 months non weight bearing, but I have heard of some surgeons allowing partial weight bearing as soon as 6 weeks.  I’m just curious to see what other surgeons suggest. 

Gerrielle Stafford wrote: Hey guys. Can you guys give me a timeline on your weight bearing restrictions post surgery? My surgeon is adamant on 3 months non weight bearing, but I have heard of some surgeons allowing partial weight bearing as soon as 6 weeks.  I’m just curious to see what other surgeons suggest. 

I had a calcaneus break in 3 places with 7 screws and a graft. Was 100% NWB for 7 weeks post-surgery. After that, I went to 100% FWB same day as being cleared from crutches. 

Also my foot is not only so sensitive but it turns red after I shower idk why ???? I hate it someday and I honestly wish I just had a prosthetic foot sometimes. 

My surgeon suggested ten weeks from surgery till weight bearing.

edit: my ortho was more of a "you'll be fine you just need to be diligent with your PT" type of MD instead of the "you'll never run again" type.

still around, done with doc visits and  looking good bone looks ok and no screws moved so they will stay in...rom needs more work.

God bless you all,

Smashers:
Pfails here with positivity update. Yesterday, I surfed for the first time since smashday. It hurt a bit getting booties/wetsuit on but I did it. It hurt when my foot flexed in ways it ain't flexed in 5 months but I did it. My foot got stinging cold from the norcal pacific but I did it. You can do it too. 

Gerrielle Stafford wrote: Hey guys. Can you guys give me a timeline on your weight bearing restrictions post surgery? My surgeon is adamant on 3 months non weight bearing, but I have heard of some surgeons allowing partial weight bearing as soon as 6 weeks.  I’m just curious to see what other surgeons suggest. 

Hi Gerrielle, I had a comminuted fracture of my right and tongue-type fracture on the left calcaneus. I was non-weight bearing bilaterally for 2 months, and then an additional month for my right. So 3 months is consistent with my right, and worse, side.  Good luck!

Hello everyone.
  I have had this injury on both of my feet.  I wrote a article a few years ago and let it slip away.  I recently got bored and figured I would do a update.  I cut out all the fat and just left the meat.  A lot of you already know about my injury but for the unfortunately new people here is my write up and progression.  Hope this helps you guys out and answers most of your questions.

https://veritsult.blogspot.com/2020/01/shattered-calcaneus-heels-5-years-out.html

BTW, I am climbing 5.10s now depending on the crack :)

Hi, i was doing a different kind of climbing (ladders) when i fell 17 feet approx from foot to ground. My right heel ( calcaneus) was fractured in 3 places and was described as severe. This was 11 months ago and though i never needed surgery i am still nowhere near fully fit. Was wondering if anyone has had same timescale for this injury? Thanks. Mark in Scotland. 

Good Reads Rhett!
 I'm 26 yrs out from a less devastating, still life-changing (both Heels 15ft ground) blap.  

Mark Davie wrote: Hi, i was doing a different kind of climbing (ladders) when i fell 17 feet approx from foot to ground. My right heel ( calcaneus) was fractured in 3 places and was described as severe. This was 11 months ago and though i never needed surgery i am still nowhere near fully fit. Was wondering if anyone has had same timescale for this injury? Thanks. Mark in Scotland. 

Without more information: Age, Weight, physical condition . . .'Almost a year!  

 . . . .described as severe. This was 11 months ago and though i never needed surgery ...

Who Said that? > Get X-Rays & A second opinion. All that time may now be your biggest problem 

11 months on a severely craked heal!? sounds like a few Scots I've known, (Lynee H comes to mind)

Sorry ,never gave much info. Was taken to  hospital and had xray and cat scan March 2019 and turned out i had 3 fractures in heel and broken wrist only the wrist needed surgery. Was in hospital for 1 week and left with old style heavy cast ( concrete type). This was taking off after 6 weeks and docs were happy that bones had knitted well enough to have moon boot on, this was on for another 8 weeks during which time i was able to take of at night only. Around 3 months i started driving with heavy work boots on to help with pedals. After about 4 months i started physio therapy once every 3 or so weeks ( NHS) then was stepped up to every 10 days or so. To cut this short back in November the physio therapist suggested that maybe i had plantar fasciitis and maybe needed injections to bring down swelling this is where my confidence faded in P, T as i thought it was maybe too early to start injections etc. I can basically walk a round of golf for maybe 15 holes with a limp mostly and any stretching exercises i do ends with me hobbling for a few days and find it hard to walk around without a lot of pain afterwards.Reading what i have on here it sounds like i’m not on my own with this but, i just dont know when to keep pushing or rest for a couple of days which i have done plenty of both! Whats for the best type of thing. I have stopped going to PT as i feel they have taken me as far as the NHS treatment goes. Plz just ask any questions you may feel relevant and thanks. 53 yr old male with active job and lifestyle prior to accident.

Nice tread to be educated on the recovery others go through and what can be expected. I experienced a hard paragliding landing Jan 2019 in the Himalayas. Fractured my heel with minimum displacement. The initial treatment was a splint, and after 10 days I was able to travel to Kathmandu to see an orthopedic surgeon. After CT and more X-rays, he and I discussed extensively about next steps. He recommended surgery but couldn’t completely eliminate that a “full” recovery was possible without surgery. Both had potential upsides and downsides. I opted to take my chances without surgery. It was 7 weeks when the splint was removed and I was hobbling around on crutches. I walked everyday for 4 weeks with crutches and then without. Limped for another few months before it was noticeably corrected. During this time I went to the gym and used weights and stretches to build into recovery. In May I started biking daily for 20-30 km. From late August to November I did a 6500 km bicycle trip across the Rocky Mountains and down to Palm Springs. Since have been exercising using a stationary bike and elliptical. My foot is stiff in the morning or when I am idle for long periods, but after 5 minutes or so movement the comfort improves. My rotation and flexibility is limited but enough to do these activities. I have a wider ankle than before and can feel mild discomfort each day. My second toe is less flexible and if I walk too much it can blister, currently I am close to losing the toe nail, assume that is from mild nerve damage. I have been searching for information online as to others and their experiences and came across this tread and thought to add my own experience. Running is still not happening, but I have experienced better overall health and activity due to the lifestyle changes this accident encouraged me to make, and I am in someways thankful. Though I would prefer to have a fully normal functioning foot, I believe we can make choices that bring about positive life styles. Best to all of you in your recoveries! FYI, I am 50 years old. 

One thing I can suggest is to try and keep your upper body fit during the healing process, if possible. My foot is doing great at 10 months out but my fitness level is just pathetic. I barely sent a 5.2 mantle the other day scrambling around but it was due to lack of fitness rather than my damaged foot. Keeping your upper body fitness up to par will help you transition back on the rock when your foot heals. My wrists were broken too so I had to lay off the hangboard for a while. Now my foot feels fine but I need to gain back some pull strength so I can get back to onsighting 5.7 lol.

Also, Rhett needs to get a job.