calcaneous heel fractures - Foot Problems Message Board

vmaldonado · 12-26-2006, 12:11 PM

Hi everyone. Just wanted to post this message reguarding my pain and suffering from a shattered heel. I know there are a lot of people that had more serious injuries then i. I had surgery on Sept 11 2006 to repair my heel. My doctor used a donated heel bone and a steel plate with thirteen screws to repair my heel. Unfortnatley i caugt a major infection and i needed to have surgery agian to clean out the infection on Oct 2. After the second operation i was on antibiotics for six weeks. I was on cipro and zyvox to kill the infection from coming back. The infection seems to be under controll for now. This whole injury has caused a big burden on me and my family. I been going to physical therapy for about six weeks or more and hasn't helped. I'm in a lot a pain and not able to walk without using my cruthces which i just recently graduated from a granny walker (four legs). I get depressed alot. I'm on light duty at work in the office but they have no work for me which makes my day very long and depressing. I'm about to have a cat scan to my heel tomorrow and a visit to the pain therapist the next day. I haven't seen an improvement at all. I wonder if the steel plate with the 13 screws inside is bothering me to the point that it hurts and i'm not able to walk. If anyone is out there that had the same systoms please advise me so i can get help or relief and put this injury behind me.

lostmary · 12-26-2006, 02:31 PM

Gosh, you've been thru a lot. Like you I also developed infections from the surgeries. I've had 7-8 on my left foot. the last one was so infected that I spent 11 days in the hospital, was put on the same drugs, morphine for the whole time, and sent home with sponges and a vac pac attached to the top, bottom and between the toes. Doc had to cut out all the infected flesh in my foot. He left a little flesh, and the bones and tendons, but that was all. After all that, I do think that I'm getting a little better. Don't think I will ever go back to normal, but it does get better. best of luck, and hang in there.
Mary

vmaldonado · 12-26-2006, 04:29 PM

How long did it take to feel better. What you went through was also a lot.I'm glad you are feeling better. For me its been 3 long months and depression.

lostmary · 12-26-2006, 06:18 PM

It's taken about 5 months for it to start getting better. I've been either bed ridden or in a wheelchair/walker for almost 2-3 years. One thing led to another and I just couldn't seem to get better. I did the PICC line for 6 wks, all the surgeries everything. It just seems as if my body didn't want to heal. After the last surgery in July with the vacpac and all, things started getting a little better. Some days I think I can take on the world, some days I take my perceot and wait till the next day comes. I know you will have the same ups and downs. Just keep in mind it will get better. It's ok to be depressed and not be able to seem the end of the tunnel, but it is there. Just hang in there. remember, we are all here to help.
Mary

vmaldonado · 01-05-2007, 07:15 AM

Just wanted to let everyone know that today i will be haveing a bone scan for my feet. Hopefully they remove my plate and screws within 2 months. Results from the CT scan was that 2 screws were piercing through the bone by a few cm. Next week i will be getting an emg whatever that is. I will post my progress if any in my attempt to function with both of my feet.