Calcaneous surgery - Recovery and what to expect? - Foot Problems Message Board

pinachui · 10-01-2009, 01:06 AM

Hi heelies!

I'm a 26 year old female that recently had calcaneous surgery. Here are the facts:
- Injury 7/30/09 - Fractured calcaneous heel in 6-7 places,
bruised tail bone, and compressed fracture
on my L1 vertabrae
- Calcaneous surgery 8/28/09 on my right heel
- Installed 1 plate and 7 screws

Basically, the short version of my injury was that I was drugged at a bar with a date-rape drug called GHB, and while under the influence of the drug the next morning I fell out of a 3rd story window. I may have been sleepwalking, but there were no witnesses and I don't remember a thing - even the fall itself.

There was a 4 week wait between the injury and the surgery because I got wrong information from the ER and had to wait to get an appointment with a specialist and surgery date.

Right now, I am nearing 5 weeks post-op. After surgery, I was in the hospital for three days with a drain that helped with the swelling of my foot. When I was discharged, I was fitted with a fiberglass cast and crutches. Three and a half weeks after surgery, my stitches were removed.

I am taking vitamin pills every day, and am using an Exogen bone stimulator for 20 minutes every morning and night. I also stretch my whole body every morning, and do some leg exercises as well, to keep the blood flowing. I also try my best to move my toes any way I can.

Did I mention I started going to work two weeks after the surgery? I have a desk job and so don't have to move a lot so I figured I am okay.

I guess besides needing support (before delving headlong into more depression), is there anything I can do that would help? I know patience is a virtue, and I am a very patient person, I just wanted to make sure I was doing everything I can to help with the healing process.

I have a loving family and great friends, but finding this thread has helped me realize what this injury truly means. No one knows how this feels except for us, and I am truly happy to have read past posts that exude such positivity! I hope to be WBing in 8 weeks, but won't be sure until my next appointment in 2 weeks. I don't feel that much pain, except shooting stars from time to time, and I feel like my leg and foot have shrunk a lot since the surgery.

Thanks everyone for reading! Here's to our success!

desross4 · 10-04-2009, 11:50 AM

pinachui:

You sound very positive to have undergone such a trauma! I fractured my calcaneus in a car accident in February. It was an open fracture so I was nonWBing for 2 mos before have a primary fusion (calcaneus & subtalar joint). My hardware was removed a month ago. I was nonWBing for a total of 7 weeks, but the average seems to be 8 to 12 weeks depending on healing.

I've been doing PT for a couple of months which has really helped with confidence and range of motion. Keep up the exercises you are doing while nonWBing. It will really help you once you get to the PT stage. It'll take you a few weeks to a month to be completely WBing.

I, too, didn't have much pain until I started WBing. Tylenol or Advil helps with the pain. You'll need to be able to elevate it and ice it once you start walking. A compression sock or sleeve really helps with my swelling and pain. Your gait will be off due to a long time in a cast, too. My leg and foot both shrank, too. The muscle tone comes back slowly once you can start doing total leg exercises.

It really helps to find others in the same boot. I've been corresponding with several "heelies" I found on this website. It's reassuring to find out there is still progress a year or more after the injury.

desross4

grete97 · 10-07-2009, 02:16 PM

Hello,
I broke my calcaneus 03.aug this year and had surgery 3 days later. 5 external pins were placed to my heel and i wore hard cast for two months. Just got out of it few days ago and pins were removed too. It is unbeliveable how weak my leg is as i have not been able to move it for so long. I try to walk with elbow crutches and put some pressure on my foot. It seems to be really hard for me to walk as you put down heel first and then finish the step with toes but mine are stiff and weak and i just don´t seem to push leg off the grownd. Going to PT tomorrow for the first time. My leg is also quite swollen. How long can it be like this?
Just hope it gets better as i have three kids and looking at my high heel shoes just makes me cry (looking for any shoes at this place as i can´t get my foot into them and it will be winter soon).
I know it takes time and patients (this is not the strongest side of me unfortunately).
Keep heeling, You are not alone here.

jceprichard · 10-12-2009, 08:51 PM

Grete97,

Finally a blog were I can relate to people with calc fx's.
My surgery was 1 day after yours( 8/07/2009)11 days after my Fx, and it sounds like you are ahead of me in your recovery. I don't expect to have some weight bearing and going to PT for 4 more weeks. My swelling has gone down and I am still wearing the boot everyday. I do toe and ankle excercises as much as I can hoping it is enough. My first physician told me I would never return to work as a firefighter which was devastating. I imediately got a second opinion with another surgeon and he is much more optimistic about my recover. I am on light duty at work and glad to still have a job. Hopefully I can recover from this and get back to work soon and back to doing normal activities.

It helps to have this blog site to answer some questions. Thanks for the posts!!!!

okie girl · 10-13-2009, 09:25 AM

Grete, jcepichard, & pinachu,i

Sorry to hear that you are new members of the "heelie" club! Yes, this is a difficult and frustrating injury but there are good outcomes.

I fractured my heel on 1/20 of this year and 2/3 had ORIF surgery with plate and 9 screws. Now 9 months later I am getting around very well. I was 12 weeks non weight bearing and used a knee scooter to get around. Right heel injury so did not drive for those 12 weeks. Went back to work at 6 weeks. Bone heals in 8 weeks but, my os was very cautious. Some ''heelies'' are walking at 8 weeks+ but, remember that everyone's injury is different and we all have different time lines to heal.

Ah the Boot! Had to wear it night and day as I had a tibia and fibula fracture also, but went straight from the boot to walking.

PT is very helpful and your therapist should give you exercises to do at home to help loosen your muscles and tendons. I still do them to keep the foot loose and break down the scar tissue.

Shoes are an issue for everyone! I am not wearing heels or boots as I still have swelling but have found several pair of flats that look nice for work and are comfortable. Still wearing a 1/2 size larger. Several ''heelies'' bought larger tennis shoes for when they started walking and going to PT. At first don't spend a lot of money on shoes as your needs and pain will vary. You can tie up a lot of money in shoes that don't feel right as your foot changes during the healing process.

Most days I get around very well.... if I overdo it, I pay for it, but ibuprofen will take care of the pain. I still ice when needed and wear a compression sock every day as I am on my foot a lot. Try and measure your progress in weeks instead of days and keep a positive attitude.

Most of us did not get a good prognosis from our os. I think they try and prepare us for the worst possible outcome, yes it is difficult but, you can and will get your life back. Maybe not exactly as before, but some kind of normal.

Okie girl