A Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling

Hello Lisfranc world.  Coming up on Memorial Day Weekend here in the USA.  A time for picnics, friends, family and remembrance to all those who have served our country and paid the highest price for our freedom.  Weather wise, the weekend here in the NE looks mixed - partly cloudy, chance of storms and warmer and humid.  I certainly plan on eating my share of hot-dogs, burgers and other food that's not so good for me.

So where to start - 11 months out.  Coming up on my 1 year mark.  I visited the scene of my accident last weekend on my friend's boat.  It was chilling to look down at the exact mooring cleat that I tripped over - and my entire ordeal came flooding back.  After kicking the cleat with my good foot a couple of dozen times - I felt better and then went up to the dockside bar for lunch.

So my permanent reminder of that fateful night is still with me.   NOT A DAY goes by that I am not reminded of my injury.  Every day when I get out of bed to a stiff foot, trundle down the stairs into the kitchen for coffee - holding onto the railing for support.  But once warmed up - no issues.  Or, every time the weather changes - the slight soreness that comes and goes throughout the day reminds me of the injury, or looking at my foot barefoot - the scars from the injury and resulting surgeries stare back at me, or the fact that when I put on certain shoes, the snugness of the shoe on the left foot - due to the fact that my left foot will always be bigger.

Having said all that - I know I am lucky - all things considering - I feel like I am 98% healed.  I can run, I can jump, I can do things in the Gym that I never thought I would ever be able to do again.  Albeit - sometimes with a little pain or stiffness.  Above all, I do not walk with a limp - which I was not sure I would ever be able to do.  So physically - all is good.

Mentally?  Almost one year later - I am still affected.  I am SO careful on stairs, hills, bumpy terrain, around the boat, sidewalks, curbs, etc.  Not to the point of paranoia - but knowing I NEVER want to go thru this again!  I still think of my trip through ER, the pain, the frustration of learning to walk, dealing with NWB for an entire summer - It was not easy!  So it has changed me.

I am going back to the scene of the accident again next month on my boat.  I have requested a mooring slip - on the other side of the harbor - I don't think I could actually put my boat in the exact same slip - tied up to the exact same cleat, almost to the day of the accident - and deal.  But I am not - not going to get on with life and do what I enjoy - in what is actually a very beautiful harbor to spend time with friends and family.

My last post for awhile will be next month on the anniversary of the accident.  I'll post a final pic of my fat foot and chronicle the boat trip.  After that, I plan on seeing the surgeon for the last time - and invite him down to the boat for a cocktail and dinner as appreciation for his fine work.

I think I'll most likely post sporadically, up to my 2 year mark.  They say it takes a year to heal.   I'd say I am pretty much at where I will be for the rest of my life with respect to this particular injury.  But I am curious whether I'll ever achieve additional flexibility and less pain over the next year, whether I develop arthritis additional scar tissue and pain, or stay the same.  So I'll post that.

Until next time - I wish all you Lisfranc people the best of luck and good Karma in your journey.

G

Over 2000 Hits

Wow!  2000 hits.   Many, many countries.  The other day I was bragging to my kids and I told them I was world famous.  My daughter aptly pointed out - No - I was not famous - but I was "World Read".   Kind of cool none the less.  Easter morning here in coastal Connecticut.  The trees are blooming a little early due to our warm late winter, the grass has greened up, and some lovesick Robin keeps banging into our picture window - enamored with his/her own reflection.

Reading the news these days bums me out.  The world is in turmoil, my country is split in half in some crazy political, ideological battle.  I can only imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us.

Years ago in my younger days, I used to fancy myself as a surfer.  I bought a couple of surfboards, and any chance I got, I got up at the crack of dawn and headed down to the NJ shore to catch some waves.  There is nothing like catching a wave and experiencing the solitude of the Ocean.  So where am I going with this?  I was in the DR's waiting room Friday waiting for my son to get his cast off - after breaking his arm 6 weeks ago wrestling, and I picked up a copy of "Surfer Magazine".  I started to read an article about the good samaritans in California who came to the aid of non locals surfing local only surf spots.  You see in California - the home of peace and love, there lives a hypocritical culture.  If you even try to surf a local surf spot out there you may find yourself getting cursed at, punched in the face, or your car vandalized.  There apparently is a movement underway by a group of soul surfers who are coming to the aid of these victimized surfers and they are showing these locals that there is a better, kinder way to share the waves.  And it seems to be catching on.

Maybe someday there will be a movement or a leader to show us all a kinder and better way to share our planet.  Happy Easter, Passover, or whatever your faith or beliefs may be!

9 Months

Just coming up on the 9 month mark.  I finished my weight loss challenge and lost over 15 pounds - which puts me lower than my pre-injury weight so I am very happy.  Foot feels OK these days.  I know now that it will never be 100%, but it is for the most part more than bearable.  Since my last post there really is no change - still stiff when I get up in the am, and still the occasional sore day.  No limping, and I am able to jog, and do other exercises.  We shall see if there are any breakthroughs by the 12 month mark.  If not, I can't complain, but it would be good to see the increased flexibility with time.

8 Months!

Hello Lisfranc world.  I just passed 8 months since my injury.  Life moves on.  I hardly notice my injury these days.  My foot is still a little stiff when I first get out of bed - but that's about it.  No pain, no swelling, and pretty much full mobility.  No limp.  In fact - I hit a milestone in the GYM the other day.  I got on the treadmill - instead of my routine elliptical.  I was able to jog a fair distance!  This is the first time since before my injury.  Hard to believe - but I STILL have one small scab left on my foot from the removal of my hardware in December.  This was my problem wound.  But I would say it's totally healed.  Since my last post - a good friend broke her neck skiing (she is OK in a neck brace for 11 weeks - ugh!), and my son broke his arm in Wrestling practice - of course it was his writing hand!  Going to the DR to watch him get his cast on of course brought back bad memories.   It is amazing though to see how quickly young kids get on though with broken bones - not like "old" me.

I fretted a-lot about the size of my bad foot over the past months.  I am pleased to write that the 2 seem to be about the same size - putting on dress shoes is not the chore it used to be...  So there is hope for all you folks who think you will have to wear 2 size shoes the rest of your life.

Happy Spring!  I hope everybody is coping - no matter where you are in your journey.   Remember - It will pass.  You may not feel like it will pass - but eventually, it will pass.

G

Reflections

Hi Lisfranc world.  I hope everybody is coping as we cruise through what is certainly a tepid mid-winter here in New England. Today my post is not about Lisfranc, but about perspective.  I have been meaning to post this but have been busy with work and life.  Last week, I ran into some friends at the local pub.  One of which, I do not know well, but know that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer.  At first I did not think it was her - as I know that she had just had breast surgery, etc.  When I realized it was her, I could not believe that she was out only a few weeks post surgery - having dinner and drinks with friends.  I was glad to see that she was in such good spirits and having a good time.  At one point, after I had sat down to eat, I saw that my wife had approached her - and they were exchanged in a conversation and then an embrace.  I was struck by the warmth coming from my wife - a fellow sister to this woman - whom my wife did not really know very well - but somehow, this event had brought them together - and it made me really feel good inside - and made me reflect on how blessed I was.   You see - in the end - we really can't predict what happens to us in life - and we really have no control.  When I first went over to their table to talk they were commenting on how well I was getting along after my injury.   Really - who cares.   Sometimes - there are far more serious things that happen in our lives - and some of us face these very terrible realities with a lot of courage and strength, and it makes me realize.....  how lucky I really am.

The Revolution -- 7 Months since my injury

I just hit my 7 month mark.  As they say - this is a 6 month to 1 year recovery time.  Where am I?  There are periods of time when my foot does not feel any differently than my 'good' foot.  My 2nd surgery scars are almost healed! Yea! - I still am stiff after sitting for awhile or first thing in the am.  I still can limp from time to time but really working on focusing on walking normal - my wife says that my residual limp is somewhat a habit.  This is probably somewhat true and sometimes she catches me walking after I have been sitting for awhile and I will limp.  Foot almost never swells - but yesterday after a lot of heavy lifting around the house - and up and down a ladder cleaning and fixing a ceiling fan my foot was a bit swollen - but within an hour of resting the swelling came back down.

The Revolution - My local gym's fitness challenge - who can lose the most body fat and weight in 8 weeks - hardcore workouts and diet - Just in time for me to lose my post Lisfranc weight gain.  Hoping by month 9 to be a new me!

4 Weeks Post 2nd Surgery to remove hardware

Wow - I can't believe it's been 4 weeks since my hardware removal.  For me, the second recovery is dragging along.  While I can walk, exercise, etc., and I am generally in no pain, the surgical incisions are taking sooooo looong to heal.  My top incision is healed over and scarred.  But it still hurts to wear a dress shoe - it's the rubbing on the new skin.  This also causes me to limp slightly - which is very frustrating.   The second wound - my "problem wound", is healing along nicely - seems to be shrinking in size and does not look as deep.  I decided to keep this one covered with a band-aid, and I just change it every morning.  So the wound is still moist - but not oozing and bleeding anymore.  It really does not hurt either since it is not in a place that rubs against a shoe.  

I cannot wait to post here that my wounds are healed up - then I will have an accurate assessment of what I am left with in terms of foot pain and flexibility.  I suspect just based on where I am now - that my flexibility is much better than when the screws were in the foot but that I will still have some stiffness in the am.