1000 Hits!

Wow - I just hit over 1000 hits!  I am happy that people are reading my blog and hopefully finding useful information that helps them through their own Lisfranc journey.

Surgeon Follow-up

I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon yesterday.  They took weight bearing X-rays for the first time since I had the injury (all other X Rays were non weight bearing).  My 2 screws are still intact.  I asked him how in his opinion I was doing for this part of my journey and he just shook his head and said that I was not "typical". In other words, I should be a lot worse off.  He could not believe that I really have no pain, was walking almost normally, and had pretty good flexibility.

At this point I have scheduled my 2 screws to be removed December 21st.  Right before Christmas!  (Ouch!).  He says to be prepared to be off of my feet for two weeks!  I'd like to think that a couple of days of swelling and soreness and I am back to normal activity.  We shall see. I am opting for the Knee Block and twilight vs. being fully under.

Winterized

Just finished winterizing the boat - she will be put to bed for the long cold New England winter.  I look forward to Spring!  and getting back to the scene of my accident!  Yes - I will confront the dock and location where this happened - I am determined to have a great time upon my return.  Connecticut got hit pretty hard by the snowfall last week - still hundreds of thousands without power.  This time, along the coast, it was less of an issue - inland CT got hit hard.  Luckily, we kept our power - even though this time I was prepared.

Next week I have an appointment with my Surgeon - I guess I will get X rays - and then - maybe within the next couple of weeks I'll get the hardware out of my foot.  I am planning on keeping it - maybe even having it embedded into a square of acrylic - a trophy of sorts LOL!

Feeling good these days my fellow Lisfrancers - Hope you all are doing well.

G

The "New" Normal

More of the same for me these days.  It seems I have hit a plateau in terms of my healing process.  My bad foot is still bigger than my good one - and may be so for life.  When I wake up in the am, my foot is stiff and sore, and I need to limp before it gets better.  During the day, my friends and family have noticed that I still have an ever so slight limp.  Really no swelling, and really no real pain.  Just loss of flexibility.  I continue to make progress in the Gym, but there are still a number of exercises I will not be able to do.  The slight limp has caused sporadic knee pain.    So for now, this is my new normal.  Considering the serious nature of my injury, if this is what I am left with, I am not too worried.  I can live with it.   I also am fairly sure that once my hardware is removed, I can look forward to increased flexibility, and hopefully some reduction in the size of my foot!  My guess is the hardware irritates the foot since they are foreign objects lodged into the bone and joint.  How could that *NOT* cause some discomfort?  When they tell you that this injury takes six months to a year for full healing - they mean it!

End of PT - For now

Today my PT told me I am able to be discharged.  She was amazed at my level of recovery since I started PT a little over a month ago.  I am walking now pretty much normally.  Still have a little pain and stiffness in the am, no real swelling, and my left foot is still 1/4 bigger round than my right foot.  At this point, I am going to continue my workouts in the Gym, and wait to see my Surgeon Nov 17th.  Hoping to get the screws out ASAP as I can definitely feel them now.  My PT says I can feel them since my foot is no longer swollen.  This marks 17 weeks since my accident.  6 weeks weight bearing.   It has been a long journey, and one that I am sure I will be reminded of with every stiff am walk and foot twinge I get for the rest of my life.

I'd like to call this my last post - but given I still need to get the hardware removed - I think my last post will come on the 1 year anniversary of the accident - I will then close with my last post at that point.  Until then, I'll continue to post items I think folks will find of interest in terms of their own journey.

Please readers - and there are a lot of you!  From many countries!  Feel free to ask me questions.

Glenn

Down to 1 PT Session Per week

Well, getting to the end of my therapy journey.  Yesterday my PT told me I could come just once a week now.  My leg and ankle strength are back to normal in my opinion.  My balance and foot flexibility are still not, and may never be what it was before the injury.  But I am working on it.  I am up to a full 35 mins on the elliptical now and working leg machines into my workout hard now.  I still get some swelling, and my bad foot still is bigger than my good foot.  I can walk now with very little limp, and almost broke out into a light jog the other night.  I'll continue with PT until they tell me I am done.  I don't see my surgeon until mid-November - so as much as I would like to get the hardware removed from my foot, it's going to be at least another month.  So, here is a status since my last post:

1. Walking without any limp, never going back to the cane - Done, just a little limp now

2. Walking longer distances - and faster!  Right now I can manage short slow spurts without pain - Done - Think I could slow jog now

3. Full 30 minutes on the elliptical - Done!

4. More grace walking up and down stairs - Better!  But not all the way there yet

5. No swelling - HA!  Doubt that will happen anytime soon - Better, but still comes sometimes at end of day

6. No weird feelings & sensitivity/numbness on the surface of my foot - Almost feels normal these days

7. No popping Advil in the am to mask foot pain - Advil free for one week!

8. Standing / balancing on my bad foot for 30 seconds (PT says that is what a normal person can do) - I can manage about 8 seconds

9. Getting into my "smaller" pair of dress-shoes - my left foot still bigger than my right - and I know this might be forever, but will try! - Glad I am not a girl - my shoe fashion will forever be limited I fear - no way I can fit into narrower dress shoes

10. Completing PT - I'll set my sites on the end of November - I'd say this will stick

11. Getting the 2 remaining screws out of my foot - December? - Still about right

I may post a pic of my foot soon for comparison to where it was when I got my cast off.   I may even post my injury pics for Halloween LOL!  They are pretty gruesome!

More of the same - but better

Tomorrow is 4 weeks WB for me.  Knee pain subsiding with the incoming high pressure system.  Little foot pain these days, more flexibility, less swelling - but still there by the end of the day.  Doing the elliptical now more often.  Use the cane very little, walking most of the time with a slight limp still.  Up and down the stairs now "fairly" normal. So what is left?

1. Walking without any limp, never going back to the cane
2. Walking longer distances - and faster!  Right now I can manage short slow spurts without pain
3. Full 30 minutes on the elliptical
4. More grace walking up and down stairs
5. No swelling - HA!  Doubt that will happen anytime soon
6. No weird feelings & sensitivity/numbness on the surface of my foot
7. No popping Advil in the am to mask foot pain
8. Standing / balancing on my bad foot for 30 seconds (PT says that is what a normal person can do)
9. Getting into my "smaller" pair of dress-shoes - my left foot still bigger than my right - and I know this might be forever, but will try!
10. Completing PT - I'll set my sites on the end of November
11. Getting the 2 remaining screws out of my foot - December?

If I can manage all of the above - I'll say I am pretty much recovered.  I'll look at this list in another 3 months - that would be about the 6 month mark.