On election day, I fell off a ladder from about 8 or 10 feet and shattered my calcaneus in 4 places, nothing mis-aligned, so no surgery required.....yet! (May have cartlidge damage due to impact)
On my 5 week follow-up visit for X-rays and visit, I'm coming along as well as can be expected. During the exam, he moved my ankle down away from me and back up, there was loud audible "pop" with a quick sharp pain in the back of the ankle. It even suprised him.
He continued to examine me, then let it go. He started me on PT twice a week now, that popping noise isn't audible, but it's there during the sessions and hurts like ****.
The doctor mentioned doing an MRI, "but wasn't sure if it would tell him anything", and proceeded to see what the PT does for me.
Has anyone else out there been through this? Just wondering if it's normal. Since he's not sure what it is, should i get a second opinion?
Last edited by IowaGuy1959; 12-21-2008 at 01:51 PM.
Reason: Omitted some facts
I'm sorry to hear about your injury. I too broke my heel July 19, 11 screws and a plate installed July 31.
I know what you are going thru. There is a thread going called Broken Calcaneous 1-9 on this sight. There are about 10 of us going thru different stages. I would suggest when you have LOTS of time, go back and read all the posts....very informative from the injury, thru infections, thru surgeries and PT.
My thoughts on what happened at the doc's office. I personally think the doc moved and tested your foot too soon. Did the Xrays show calcification? Healing? If so, maybe it was ok. My doc did xrays at 7 weeks post op and did something similar, only nothing hurt.
I started PT soon after. It will hurt. PT and WB will hurt as you have been off your foot and leg for 5 -6 weeks. Your muscles atrophy and get weak. The tendons and ligaments have to be stretched again and have to get used to having weight applied to the foot again.
I will warn you, this is a long haul and won't happen overnight. I am 6 months post op, in great physical shape and I'm not 100% yet. I am much better than 2 months ago, but it will take several more months before I feel like I did before my injury.
Please join us in the other thread. We've got a great group there and great support.
Ed
Thanks for the info, but at what point do I sit around and wonder if I'll have to have a sutalar fusion just to get laid up again? Is there anything I should I should be asking him, or just let him dictate the pace?
Could you help me and be more specific exactly where in your ankle did this pop occur? Was it between the calcaneous and the talus? Was it further back in the ankle? Was it on the side of the ankle? Inside? Outside?
Where exactly does this hurt. I want to help you, I just need more information. Did the Doc mention fusion at all or did you pick up on this from other sights and people going thru this injury?
From what I have learned about this injury, YOU need to take action and be proactive in your recovery. I would ask him, what and where did he think that pop came from? What caused it and/or why did it happen?
Do a G search. Sorry not allowed to use the real name, but an internet search using the more popular one starting with a G. Type in Foot ligaments and tendons. Find the sight that has pictures of the foot and tendons and educate yourself by comparing the pictures with where the pain occured.
I found this invaluable for my recovery. Once I knew where the pain was coming from, I could understand it and learn why it was painful. Asking my PT to help me too taught me how to be proactive in my own treatment and recovery.
I hope this helps. Please do the search and ask yourself those questions, then let me know so I can try to help you with some questions for the doc. You can also ask the PT their opinion too.
The popping seems to be in the back of the heel and little bit inside. I know it's hard to describe. I guess I'll have to wait to see how weight bearing goes in the next couple of weeks and hwta the MRI shows.
I just don't want to be laid up twice. From what I read on here however, I'm not sure what's worse; a subtalar fusion or the pain from not doing it.
That is an odd place for it to pop. Sounds like it could be a ligament. Did you get a chance to search for pictures of the foot, tendons and ligaments?
I hear what you are saying about the fusion. It's a hit or miss kind of surgery, but I understand folks who do get the fusion wish later they hadn't.
Happy New Year,
Ed
Last edited by moderator2; 01-01-2009 at 08:21 AM.
Reason: posted disallowed website(s)
Just wondering how you are doing since your heel fracture? Did you have a fusion or heal without surgery?
I had a subtalar fusion in April and I'm about 8 1/2 months post accident. Still experiencing some ankle swelling but generally back to normal activities.
No I did not have a fusion. I am actually doing very well with an occassional day of arthritis, stiffness and pain. I have not been as active as I once was but it's not all due to the injury either. New Job.
Figured you were busy at work. Haven't seen you posting much at BHNS. It's my busy (read "crazy") time of the year - I schedule flu shot clinics every fall. It's been a lot of ups & downs this year.
Haven't been doing my home PT much so I feel like my ROM has suffered some. Tried my aerobic dance workout yesterday and the foot about killed me. Could be the rainy weather, too?! PT today was fine. Still got a bit of swelling around the ankle and a bit of a limp, but I'm getting there. Go back to the dr Nov. 10th for a follow-up. I think he'll probably release me then.
Did you ever hear back from IowaGuy1959 on how he's doing?
Had a subtalar fusion done in May. Went as well as possible, in and oout of casts, lots of PT, returned to work.
PROBLEM!!! I went back to the doc this last Friday, he wants to remove the screws and "re-break it" because of a bad mis-alignment cause I'm walking on the outside of my foot. I have to bend my knee inward to contact floor. If I don't, then the 5 metatarsal hurts, but so does my knee.
I'm not sure I can go through this again. The wife says I should if we ever want to try to live a normal life without me "belly-aching" about it and have a descent chance to go on vacation where there might be extensive walking.
Anyone ever been through this?
I'm scheduling surgery tomorrow knowing I can cancel it. Would rather do it in the winter and get it over with hopefully be back to some normal activity by spring.
I hate to say this, cause your pain could be a serious. But I also think alot of it comes down to how much you can handle. How well you do in PT, may just be how well you do.
I've always told the doc or therapist my pains. They never really said to much or normal. When it really hurts, it shuts me down.
But the problem is hard to say if your a wuss or have pain. There are alot of wusses out there. But if the pain is real, then its real. I;ve used the guide, if I can't I can't. But I've down pretty good. I've been told others wouldn't be doing as much or just taking drugs.l
Pain toelrance is a personnel thing. How bad do you want it?
I hate to say this but I were in your shoes (bad pun) I would have the surgery but not after having a 2nd opinion. The first time you went thru this it was all about healing quickly and getting you back on your feet so you could get back to work.
You now have "some" time on your hands and can research and do this properly. You still function and still live your life with some minor pain.
If you DON"T get the corrected now you will affect other body parts later down the road. Knees, hips, back etc...will all be affected by your foot and the way you are walking making you a cripple later or confined to a wheelchair.
If you can, I would research and find top notch surgeons and get other opinions. If the doc screwed your surgery up the 1st time, he might not get it right the 2nd time. Just my thoughts and opinion.
I agree with Ed. I would definitely get a second opinion. I'm not saying your dr messed anything up because I don't know the details of your case, but there may be other options out there that another dr may be able to offer you.
I know a good foot and ankle guy in Iowa, but he is in Davenport. If you can make the drive it would be worth it. He is very good - Dr. Tuvi Mendel.
I also had a subtalar fusion in April and I'm back to work and regular activity. When the dr released me last month, he told me the bone above the calcaneus (talus?) had collapsed into the soft still healing calcaneus causing me to be 1/2 inch shorter on one side.
I'm also noticing it's difficult to walk without walking on the outside of my foot. I still have swelling on the outer ankle. His fix is to do a lift and put in an iliac crest graft. I'm supposed to go back when/if I want this done. But I'm not having the knee or floor contact problems that you are.
Any chance your shoes are shot? My PT and I decided my 5 month-old post-op shoes are causing me to walk on the outside of my foot. I'm now trying some other rocker-soled shoes for 2 weeks to see if this clears up.
If I were you, I'd get it done after a 2nd opinion!
Debby
Last edited by desross4; 12-08-2009 at 08:07 AM.
Reason: added more info
I am 1/2 shorter on that side to. Therapist mentioned a lift. Doc said give it year, see if you get used it. Which I kinda have. Its hard on my motorcylce on certain surfaces.
You need to get at least one if not three other opinions before surgery. I would not let this guy touch me until I got some other opinions. He might have not done anything wrong, but again he might not get it right the 2nd time either. Good Luck!
Hey Iowa Guy, one of the best foot/ankle guys in the country is Dr. Amendolo at the University of Iowa. He runs the sports medicine dept. I don't know where you are, but I drive from western Illinois and have had both feet remodeled this year with great success. Think about it. Peg
Hi Iowa Guy,
Get at least three "second" opinions. How come the doc didn't see the misalignment earlier? What's wrong with the PT that he/she didn't see the misalignment? If it's caused by walking wrong, it can probably be fixed by intense physical therapy and learning how to walk right. As you can probably tell, I pretty much agree with Zerk...Get shoes with good arch support and get opinions from several PTs, not just cut-happy surgeons (though, some surgeons are fantastic of course). If at all possible, avoid surgery...If it turns out you need surgery, only let the best of the best surgeon cut you open...
Joanna
Last edited by FiddlerJo; 12-11-2009 at 12:58 PM.
Reason: typpo
Broken Calcaneus-PT Hurts--NEED INPUT 
Re: Broken Calcaneus-PT Hurts 
