Paula B
02-27-2004, 12:42 PM
Hi,
Last April I fell from 11 feet and shattered my pelvis and my left calcaneus. I had to wait a week to undergo surgery because of the swelling in my foot. I now have five plates, pins and screws in my pelvis and seven screws and a plate in my foot. My pelvis is fairly well healed but I am still experiencing lots of problems with my foot. I was non weight bearing for twelve weeks after surgery, then I used crutches and a walker. Once I was able to put my full weight on my foot I started physical therapy for 16 weeks which did help to build up the muscles in my leg and foot however, I was still having an enormous amount of pain in my foot. When I walk my foot seems to curl under on the outside and I am unable to move my little toes. My last visit to my surgeon was at the end of December. He felt as though the pain that I was having was from weakness and the soft tissue and he suggested wearing an orthotic to help correct the toes. Two months have passed and during that time I have been focusing on strengthening my foot. I ride a stationary bike for at least 20 minutes, walk, do regular housework, and practice the exercises that I was taught at physical therapy. The pain in my foot is not subsiding at all. I live on Tylenol, which really does not give me much relief. I recently visited my PCP and he suggested that I go to see a foot and ankle surgeon. This surgeon told me that I probably need to have at least two additional surgeries. The first would be a subtalar joint fusion because she suspected that I may have developed arthitis. At the same time she would try to correct the bones in my foot so that it will lie flatter than it now does. If needed, a second surgery would be to lift up the back part of my heel. I am frightened to go through surgery again. It would mean another 6 weeks of non weight bearing then another 6 weeks of recuperation. This accident has devastated me. I have always been very active. Before I could walk daily for at least 4 miles and now I'm lucky if I can make it 1/2 mile. I have not been able to return to my job (I'm an elementary teacher) because of pain. My best friends these days are the couch, the remote, and an icepack. Next week I am having a CAT scan then another consult with the doctor. My pain is mostly across the top part of my foot and across the ankle region. Has anyone had a similar injury? What are your thoughts on surgery?
Last April I fell from 11 feet and shattered my pelvis and my left calcaneus. I had to wait a week to undergo surgery because of the swelling in my foot. I now have five plates, pins and screws in my pelvis and seven screws and a plate in my foot. My pelvis is fairly well healed but I am still experiencing lots of problems with my foot. I was non weight bearing for twelve weeks after surgery, then I used crutches and a walker. Once I was able to put my full weight on my foot I started physical therapy for 16 weeks which did help to build up the muscles in my leg and foot however, I was still having an enormous amount of pain in my foot. When I walk my foot seems to curl under on the outside and I am unable to move my little toes. My last visit to my surgeon was at the end of December. He felt as though the pain that I was having was from weakness and the soft tissue and he suggested wearing an orthotic to help correct the toes. Two months have passed and during that time I have been focusing on strengthening my foot. I ride a stationary bike for at least 20 minutes, walk, do regular housework, and practice the exercises that I was taught at physical therapy. The pain in my foot is not subsiding at all. I live on Tylenol, which really does not give me much relief. I recently visited my PCP and he suggested that I go to see a foot and ankle surgeon. This surgeon told me that I probably need to have at least two additional surgeries. The first would be a subtalar joint fusion because she suspected that I may have developed arthitis. At the same time she would try to correct the bones in my foot so that it will lie flatter than it now does. If needed, a second surgery would be to lift up the back part of my heel. I am frightened to go through surgery again. It would mean another 6 weeks of non weight bearing then another 6 weeks of recuperation. This accident has devastated me. I have always been very active. Before I could walk daily for at least 4 miles and now I'm lucky if I can make it 1/2 mile. I have not been able to return to my job (I'm an elementary teacher) because of pain. My best friends these days are the couch, the remote, and an icepack. Next week I am having a CAT scan then another consult with the doctor. My pain is mostly across the top part of my foot and across the ankle region. Has anyone had a similar injury? What are your thoughts on surgery?