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Calcaneus Surgery ORIF Success Stories?

Terry Mushat · · Brunswick, OH · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 5

Carl you foot X-ray looks like mine my injury was end of July started PWB end of October I did not like the air boot and I chose to use a comfortable shoe/boot it will hurt bad when you first try to put weight on it you will need both crutches at first then in time one crutch then cane. It's been six months for me and have a 3 inch crack and a gap in my bone from a screw pushing the bone away a hair during surgery it should fill in in time but may take long I can walk with a limp but I have numbness and pain still I learned I have to respect this injury it's no joke A couple of us are on Facebook and we have a little support chat group if you want to join we here/Ter

David Pneuman · · All Around Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 0

You are at about 7 - 8 weeks. You may still want to use the aircast for protection when going out in public. At this point I drove, but without the aircast, then put it on to go in stores, then back off again to drive. After a week or so I didn't feel I needed it in stores anymore and that was the end of it.
Otherwise, around the house and yard, You'll still be using both crutches once you quit using the aircast. You'll start putting more and more weight on the bad foot using both crutches. That will give you a controlled manner of how much weight you put on it but still allow the muscles to get stronger. Good exercises at this point are isometric kneading and stretching using your hands, the other foot, the big rubber band, etc, with heat on it.
As they get stronger, you will get confidence to try and put full weight on it and when you do, it will feel like it is going to collapse. There will be a long several weeks of that then eventually you will stand un-assisted with real weight ( 80% ) on the bad foot, then finally take your first un-assisted short walk across the house.
After that, you will probably get rid of the crutches and start with a cane. One crutch is cumbersome and awkward. Good exercises at this point are standing knee bends ( As deep as possible ), maybe taking the kettlebell and shift it side to side across the body, stand on anything that is unstable ( thick foam, couch cushion, etc )
Eventually at approx. week 18 ( Timing is for me at age 57 too ) the cane will only be used if it is particularly sore, then a few weeks later, not at all.
This is the point where you will be able to do most of what you did before the injury, albeit more carefully and with some soreness. Good exercises then are balancing on the bad foot and moving the weight back and forth. Try to get up on the toes as much as possible. Maybe get a partner to try and upset your balance when standing on foam or cushion.

Carl Smith · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 5

Thanks Terry and David, the last two days I have walked some on the left foot with the air cast on and with a cane. There is soreness but it is tolerable. Sounds like I jumped ahead of myself, most likely because the Dr. didn't describe how to start out putting weight on the foot.

What is your opinion, continue with the cane or be safe and go back to crutches?

I too find the air cast cumbersome and was wondering if I should go with a good pair of shoes. A problem I see with the air cast is it doesn't hinge and I'm using an unnatural gait. The sole is so think that it puts my left leg up higher than the right.

Terry, I would be interested in the support group. Thanks

David Pneuman · · All Around Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 0

I thought using the crutches first worked well when trying to put weight on the foot with just shoes or barefoot. At that point in time, I didn't have a cane to try, though. When I did get one, if it was particularly sore, I would use it the improper way. On the side of the bad foot with the tip right by the heel. That may work as well as crutches.
You'll know once the NWB week is over and you try putting weight on the foot with just shoes on or barefoot. The aircast takes a lot of weight off it and also pads it. My doctor referred to weight Bearing with it on as ' limited weight bearing '. Same with using crutches with only shoes on and controlling how much weight goes on the bad foot.
For me, the ' Full Weight Bearing ' period meant trying to put more and more weight on the foot barefoot, which at first was maybe up to 50%. Then finally 100% and taking the first unassisted steps. That took about 2 - 3 weeks.
I think being patient is best so as not to pull the tendons and ligaments, especially once the ' protective ' swelling comes down.
Even at 22 weeks now, my PT guy said I would get a sprain if my foot rolls at all to the outside. The muscles just aren't strong enough to stop it from rolling all the way over.

Ishmail · · Utah · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 15

Carl,

I displaced my calcaneus 7 years ago. I have had three surgeries total, and I can say that the pain I feel currently is livable at this point and I’ve got another 6 months of improvement from the last surgery. It was worth every penny to have the joint scoped of all scar tissue, joint smoothed out, and the nerves freed of scar tissue. The second surgery removed the hardware.

Once weight bearing can begin (sufficient bridging of the fracture), my doctor advised 25% weight one week, 50% next, 75% next, 100% on the last week. Divide your weight, if you weigh 200lbs, your first week would be 50lbs pressure. Grab a scale, and apply 50 lbs pressure, (practice a few times and verify often) then as you walk with crutches, apply approximately 50lbs each step. If it hurts too much at first, back off, but continue to be consistent as pain allows. During this process I simultaneously began physical therapy which involved moving the joint again – a very unpleasant process.

There is hope, hang on to it, adjust your expectations, a calcaneus fracture through the subtalar joint is very serious injury. From the doctors I’ve seen and been given medical advice on, most of us will have some form of discomfort daily for the rest of our lives. That is where I fall. A few of us will defy all the statistics and be as good as new. Hang onto that, and put yourself In the best possible position for success.

Carl Smith · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 5

Great advice here. My Doc got back to me and said I can use the cane. Just limit the amount of weight I'm putting on it and do as I can tolerate. So I think I'll go with the cane when I can and if I can't I'll go to the crutches. Thanks again everyone

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

3 year Post OP:

Step by step from day one.... for anyone in the future read this well.

rcbzblog.wordpress.com/

This blog has helped many people over the years... Hope it helps someone here from this awful injury

L Hong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 0

I fractured my heal on Dec 5th 2016, by falling off the attic stairs onto concrete. I had surgery on Dec 9th, metal & 8 screws along with cadaver bone. I am at week 6 with 6 more weeks to go until next apt. with surgeon.
My surgeon gave me permission this week to 1) not sleep in the boot 2) start moving the foot back & forth also stretching using a towel. NO WEIGHT. I am not a climber but a very active 60 yr old grandmother. I am worried my age may factor into how well the foot recovers. I have always loved to garden, which means digging in the dirt as well as hiking.

Can anyone tell me if the heel will go back to normal size? Like the uninjured foot? I have always worn narrow shoes, but I don't think the injured heel will ever be the same size as the other foot. What is the best shoe?

This group has the most useful information on this subject. I appreciate the information.

Terry Mushat · · Brunswick, OH · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 5

I'm almost 6 months from surgery my heel area and Achilles is still very swollen I hear it takes about a year for the swelling to go down I recommend buying any type of wide shoe that doesn't rub the incision area also Buy a gel inserts to put in the shoe to cushion your foot once you start walking Charlotte showed me a video of the 60-year-old retired fireman he has a bunch of videos on YouTube I recommend looking him up attached is one of his videos at one year and two months he seems to be normal like it never happened youtu.be/fwnw9B60zcs

David Pneuman · · All Around Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 0

A couple of thoughts.

Since at that time it was pretty sore, sleeping with my feet hanging off the end of the bed worked best for me. It seemed it got sore no matter what part I tried laying on the mattress and I'd get annoyed and have a hard time going back to sleep.

I love gardening too. I even planted a dozen rose bushes before my surgery. I crawled with knee pads on and used a small camping shovel to dig the holes.

My heel at 24 weeks is still larger by about 20 % mostly around the ankle and the heel. I was able to wear shoes right from the moment I started to walk again when it was swollen even more. The only shoes that work for me, even now, are lace up ones. I loosened the laces way up, then put the foot in, then tightened the laces back up to fit. Out of maybe 3 pairs of lace up shoes, one felt a lot better than the others. A well worn pair of stretched leather shoes that had some padding on the sides of the heel.

I am still not able to get into ski boots, or my stiff Mountaineering boots, or slip on Moc type shoes or narrow dress shoes whether slip on or lace up. Some of my shoes are uncomfortable even though I can get into them because they have a seam or something right over an area that is still a bit sore and it just constantly grinds on it.

Surprisingly, I just got into my rock shoes again the other day. The heel area is tight, but that could be tolerated long enough to climb a short route. The little balance muscles are getting strong enough now too. No 5.9+ dime toe-points yet, but jugs I can get a couple of whole toes on maybe.

L Hong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 0

Terry & David thank you for the info. I kind of figured all my pretty shoes would be gone for good. I retired last year, and had big plans for additions to my garden. As well as doing some traveling with my husband. I really want to get back to being able to function. Being trapped in the house is driving me a little crazy. Going to the grocery store 'on my knee walker' with my husband has become the highlight of my week. Yuck!

Based on info from here I am using a heating pad which is helping with the tightness. It seems to be worse under my toes & on the ball of my foot. The foot is still swollen, just not as much.

What over the counter pain relief did or do you use? I stopped the prescription pain pills a couple of weeks ago.

Carl Smith · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 5

L. Hong, there is great advise here. Terry and the others have helped me tremendously. I'm only about a month ahead of you. Broken left calcaneus on 10/30 and surgery on 11/18. My heel was broken badly, a plate and 11 screws. With just my limited experience I can tell you that once I was released for weight bearing the heel would swell up daily. I'm lucky in the fact that the shoes I wear normally work o.k. with where I'm at now. I'm still in an Aircast and only have slipped into both shoes on occasion just to see where I'm at walking indoor or a safe flat surface like my driveway. Stay the course and have patients.

L Hong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 0

Carl thank you for the encouragement. This is the best site I have found online discussing this injury and the difficult recovery. Please post any info as you progress. Are you using a compression sock for swelling?

Lin

Carl Smith · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 5

You are certainly welcome L. If I can pass along just a fraction of the information that I have gotten it would be worth while. There is a Yahoo group that was started by the retired fireman in the videos. Go to Yahoo, then groups, and search for brokenheelnotspirt. There is more there than I can read. I hope this doesn't step on the toes of the folks who run this great discussion board.

I wear the socks that were given me with the cast. I'm not sure if it is the same as you speak of? I know there are also compression sock that runners wear. Mine is not like that. I wear the one the Dr. gave me but how much it helps I'm not sure. Given what I've seen in pics though, my swelling is minimal. Stay the course.

Leigh Allen · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 0

Hi everyone!! I am not a mountain climber but am seeking information/stories regarding calcaneal fractures and this is the most informative and recent group I have found. I fell off a ladder onto concrete on 11/20/16, I had an ORIF of left calcaneal comminuted fracture with placement of four screws on 11/23/16. I came home with a cast from surgery. On 12/2/16 I went back for an X-ray and another cast. I went back to work the following Monday with my knee scooter. I work as a circulator/team lead in the OR. On 1/6 I was put on 50% weight bearing and on 1/20 put on 100% as tolerated. I go back this Friday, 2/3/17, and will hopefully be finished with my walking boot and everything. I, as I am sure most of you are, am EXTREMELY independent and this entire thing has been SUCH a pain in the ass. Any words of wisdom, encouraging thoughts/comments, etc. anyone may have? I am at 10 weeks today since I broke my heel. And yes, I am a nurse and am quite impatient!!! lol Thank you guys in advance!!

David Pneuman · · All Around Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 0

L Hong : Don't get rid of those pretty shoes quite so fast. The swelling will go down. According to my excellent DR, there isn't a lot of blood flow to the area so everything drags out. Learn to gauge progress by being pleased with last week's improvements / accomplishments and not get frustrated by what seems to be a lack of progress in the past day.

Carl : Sounds like you are progressing well. I think you have the idea now that it isn't just a matter of it being fixed and back to normal once you are allowed to walk.

Leigh : Only 4 screws ? You'll be back to normal in a week. Just kidding. But seriously, most of us got the big plate like in Carl's Xray above. Unfortunately, the bone healing time is still relatively quick so it's sort of moot. It's recovering from the time spent Non Weight Bearing that takes most of the time. There's a lot of weight that gets put on the heel ( Or taken off when NWB ) and a lot of stuff atrophies. You're beginning the muscle / ligament / tendon recovery process now as you start walking unassisted or with minimal use of a cane / crutch(es) so it all gets better from now on.

L Hong · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 0

David,
Thanks for the words of encouragement about my heel & shoes. I can only hope.

Rhett Burroughs · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 230

Maybe my recent post wasn't scene because it was small and not flashy.

here are your answers:

rcbzblog.wordpress.com/

Terry Mushat · · Brunswick, OH · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 5

Hey Rhett I saw your post the first time around it was a good read for me thank you for sharing I'm glad to hear you're doing well after having both feet done I couldn't imagine how much worse both would be than the one I will be six months postop on the 11th I am walking again every day and have been able to do some physical work but the pain does come after a short period of time but I just deal with it The foot is stiff after resting up for a short period of time and it still is hard to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night but in the mornings after I walk on it for a minute or two it loosens up some days I don't limp in the beginning of the day but it mostly comes back daily I have some permanent nerve damage from having the compartment syndrome in the front portion of my foot which makes it harder to push off and to get the calf stronger due to the numbness Also I still have a significant crack in my heel from one of the screws pushing the bone away luckily it's not on the bottom of the heel it's more in the middle upper portion of the inside I was advised not to run or jump until it fills in which may take years but I am able to climb up ladders walk on a pitched roof walk around the outside of houses on uneven ground and my doctors told me I would never be able to do that and I'm doing it at six months I've been back at the gym and I noticed the stairmaster is my best exercise that I can do I did three months of physical therapy and I do believe that walking is the best exercise once you're able to accomplish that along with the stairmaster I still have a broken foot but I am able to move forward in my life and if I can do it with all the hurdles I have experienced than everybody else should be able to also

Gap

Suburban Roadside · · Abovetraffic on Hudson · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 2,419

The phrase, '"Well heeled"' , takes on new meaning. '"Your milage may vary''" also starts to '"stand out'" , that one too, especially if you "dusted" your subtalar joint.(s)

#@Terry Mushat: yikes ?!
Iliactic Crest harvesting / bone grafts, surgery ?

. . . anyone else have that procedure?
Both hips?
Anyone have any subtalar replacement ? Or the Re-orientation of remaining bone?

Fixation versus range of motion clicking/dislocation?

EDIT:
3/3/17, Rhet, I saw your three posts. I'm 20 yrs in to two smashed heels, I know your pain.

Here in this thread the sometimes opaqueness,of the posts, the non-acceptance of
the very harsh "forever", a screen of disbelief ; if you will , is what the folks here are using to keep positive.

This sharing is based in a theory that may be a foreign idea to climbers,
Where positive re-enforcement by supportive 'cheerleading is what,goes on here.
while hard to take given what the reality is, coming from a climbing back ground.
The saving of the foot, and limited mobility is a starting point.
I'm never with out pain, I'm never able to sit cross legged,
or sit for very long with out the ankle freezing up. & That is on the 'fixed' foot,

This thread has a "Beam of healing light running through it.
A strong, un-wavering drive to keep at getting better no matter the results.
Forever!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Injuries and Accidents
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