My Lisfranc Year in Summary

As 2011 comes to a close, I thought I would summarize my timeline of the injury so people can use as a comparison to their own timeline.

June 25th - Severe Lisfranc Injury, Open wound, major ligament damage
June 26th - Emergency Surgery, ORIF - 3 KWIRES, 2 Screws, Soft Cast
June 28th - Discharge from Hospital
10 days post surgery - wound check, hard cast on, came off narcotic pain killers
16 days post surgery came off of self administered blood clot medicine
3 weeks post surgery sutures came out, re-casted
6 weeks post surgery - hard cast came off, 3 KWIRES Removed in office - walking boot, still NWB
10 weeks post surgery - begin WB
11 weeks post surgery - begin PT
14 weeks post - walking without boot painfully
9 weeks PT - PT ended at 4 month post surgery point
At about the 4 month mark I was at a "new normal".  Could pretty much exercise, walk without pain with the exception of the mornings.  Still had a slight limp though and no range of motion in the foot.
5 months post surgery - WB X-RAYS, scheduled screw removal
6 months post surgery - Screw removal surgery
1 week post 2nd surgery - healing well

So a little after 6 months post surgery, I am walking now without a limp.  My surgical wounds are healing quickly and I have little foot pain.  I have regained most of my range of motion, am able to work out pretty much normally in the Gym.

Happy New Year to all.   I will post again after my January wound check and probably final visit to my surgeon.  I'll then most likely post on my one year anniversary.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all  fellow Lisfrancers.  I hope everybody is healing well and getting along.

Today marks 6 months since my original accident.  Getting along well.

Glenn

48 Hours Post-op

Got thru the first 24 hours with no pain.  My foot feels pretty good.  I took a look at the sutures - they are inside and I have two incisions.  One on the top of my foot closed with a butterfly bandage and one on the side of my foot closed the same way.  The incision on the side of my foot was bleeding, so I changed the butterfly bandage and then used gauze pads with large band-aids to tighten up.  This seems to be holding.  This morning I woke up at 4am to the usual nerve ending healing process.  This is a lovely feeling - feels like a little gremlin is sitting on top of your foot - and every minute he jabs a knife into your foot.  This has been going on for several hours and Advil does not help.  Getting up and walking around does though.  You see, when your body is quiet, it seems that all focus is on the nerve endings in your foot.  This should only last a few more hours as the incisions heal up.

I'll post some post-op shots soon..

Screws Out!

Today was my big day.  Arrived at Yale New HAven Hospital at 630 am.  Waited around thru admitting and got into hospital gown and into surgery at 815am.  I opted for full anesthesia vs. the Knee block.  They told me even with the knee block there was a good chance they would put me under anyway.  Essentially, the knee block was really for post-operative pain. (I wish I had that for the first surgery)  I came to in post-op feeling pretty good and exited the hospital by 10:30am.  Aside from a bit of a sore throat from the breathing tube I really had no foot pain.  Went to lunch and then came home to sleep off the rest of the anesthesia.

I have been home now for several hours and it's now around 4pm.  No pain, and I have been walking around the house without crutches.   So far, the experience of having the screws out has been a non-event!  I have a sock on over my bandages - so I cannot tell if my foot is swollen or what my sutures look like.   Will see later.

Coming up on 6 months

So Christmas Eve will be 6 months since my initial injury.  These days, it seems like the trauma of the initial injury, and the drama of recovery are far behind me.  Yes, I am reminded of my injury daily, as I still have a stiff foot in the am, and depending on the day, sometimes a slight limp.  Yes, my foot is still bigger than the other.  But - I have no pain, no swelling, and almost all days carry on as normal.  My anxiety is building a little bit though - as on the 21st I will have my hardware removed.  I know this is a pretty routine surgery, and I know the recovery should be quick - for just taking 2 screws out of the Lisfranc joint.  But - I really do not look forward to "The day", post-op pain, and of course - having to potentially stay off the foot for a few days? weeks?

I'll report back post surgery and over the Christmas break in terms of the recovery.

I do look forward to 2012 - and bidding good riddance to the Lisfranc Gods on New Year's Eve   ;-)

Connecticut Christmas Tree Farm

Thought I'd post some pics from our Christmas tree cutting adventure - I know it's off topic - but my purpose is that there is more to life than our foot injury.  We never have had a live tree and decided to do a live tree this year.  We went to our local tree farm a few miles from our house Thanksgiving weekend.  Since I have high ceilings in my house we chose a rather large tree - which was impossible to drag into the house and set up.  A couple of days ago out of nowhere the entire tree came toppling down into the living room!  Needles and ornaments flew everywhere!  All I could do was laugh - after what I was through this year, this was nothing but comical.  We cut a couple of feet off of the trunk to shorten the tree below the curve it had in the trunk and re hoisted it back up.  I think I'll go back to my artificial tree next year!  The culprit is below - this tree is about 15 ft high.

Original Accident Pictures

I know in past posts I said I would not publish these.  As time has moved on, I am becoming less disturbed and detached from the fact that these represent the beginning of my journey and a very terrible day in my life.  I have decided to post these in a separate page - mainly to demonstrate that even though this was a pretty horrible Lisfranc injury - one that I was not supposed to recover from in any good manner, you can recover successfully.

These pictures were taken by one of my friends minutes after my accident.  He took the pictures mainly to document the accident - as you never know how they could be used.

View at your own discretion - if you have a weak stomach, you may not want to view these.

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.

3 Weeks WB

Today marks 3 weeks WB for me.  I feel like I have been making steady progress and I have been trying to find the balance of overdoing it vs not doing enough.  My PT scolded me the other day for walking too much with a cane instead of a crutch.  And although my swelling is much less, she told me persistent swelling was not good in the long-run and to slow down.  Hard for a guy like me!  I am down to 2 sessions of PT per week and have scheduled thru the end of October.  I'll see where I am from there.   I am completely in shoes now - my sneakers for the Gym, work dress shoes and my docksiders.  I have been walking around the house in "flip flops" and have been trying more and more to be barefoot.  I also walk more and more without the cane - kind of a waddle really, but less of a limp.  It's been raining the last few days - so my knees have been hurting.  Otherwise, I feel like I could walk at a pretty good clip without a limp.  Ankle pain gone, little bit of foot pain, some swelling, and increased ankle flexibility.  I actually tried the Elliptical in the Gym today and felt like I could do it.  Since I have PT Friday am I decided against it - I did not want to show up in PT and have her "yell" at me again.  She already thinks I am a handful.  Monday, she had me doing some balance exercises on the bad foot - whoa - that was tough!  She seems a bit amazed at my progress.  Goal was to be full WB in 4 weeks.  I am 2 weeks ahead of my surgeon's orders.

So my goals now - Continue to progress, Don't hurt myself because I did something stupid, attend the Sugarland concert in Mohegan Sun in 2 weeks with no cane and no pain!

G

X-Rays from the day of...

Finally got around to scanning my X-rays.  The first X-ray is pre-surgery.  As my surgeon said - this was not a subtle Lisfranc - they saw this coming a mile away!   The second pic is post surgery.

2 Weeks WB

I hit my first milestone today.  I was supposed to be "weened" off of the boot by today.  This is pretty much true.  I have not worn the boot since Saturday.  I don't have a desire to get back into it.  I continue my PT - pretty much same routine - warmup on bike, flexing exercises, foot massage and then icing and the electro therapy.  Swelling seems to be coming down.  I still get ankle pain if I walk too much full WB and revert to 2 crutches.  I manage more and more on single crutch and cane with an occasional short, very short, walk unaided.  According to my PT, in another 2 weeks, I should be on cane alone if I keep up the pace.  I am back in the gym 4 days a week.  I use the bike for 30mins and then do weights - starting to add some leg work to the routine.   I tried to get back onto the elliptical yesterday and found that my ankle still does not have the flexibility for the motion of the machine.  It was extremely painful and I got off after about three or four revolutions.  Argh!  I'll try it again next week.

Things that come in handy - 1. Advil, 2. elevate at least a couple of times per day, and 3. I discovered icing my foot at home with one of those plastic ice pads you throw in the freezer.  Not sure why I did not start using these sooner!

So somewhere I read somebody's post about telling the difference between 'good' pain - the pain that comes from exercise - sore muscles - that's a good pain.  It seems I mostly have this kind of pain.  I don't have much in the way of 'bad' pain - severe throbbing, jabs and stabs.  I still get the occasional pins and needles, and the ankle pain when WB.  All tend to go away at rest.

I'll keep gently pushing, not over-doing it - I know it's a marathon and not a sprint.

G

After PT

Well, I overdid it a bit during my first full PT session.  My session yesterday was much more subdued and my foot was pretty swollen from the day before.  I spent most of yesterday NWB and very little PWB.  Foot swelling and ankle pain seems much less today.  I will take it VERY slow this weekend.

Lesson learned - and you can read comments from others on this blog ---

This is a very long term healing process.  Pushing yourself will only aggravate the foot.  Take PWB to WB slow and let your body be the judge of how much you did or did not do.  In my case, it always manifests itself the next morning.

2nd Therapy Session

Well, it has been 1 week since I got the all clear to start WB.  I have been into the Gym now several times and started using the bike - peddled 4 miles with the boot on.  A bit cumbersome but at least I worked up a sweat.  Also back to weight training with my trainer once a week.  My second visit to PT today consisted of her putting me on the bike with my street shoes on vs. the boot.  She then had me walk with a single crutch with my shoes on!  At one point I walked across the PT center unaided, nothing, no crutch, no cane - My PT jokingly told me I was "a handful" LOL!  I then went up some stairs, she did a deep foot massage, I got a shot at the toys in the bucket and pulled 5 out, and then towel scrunches.  She finished up with the electric shock therapy (on my foot not my head ;-)  )    So in one week I went from NWB to PWB to FWB.  Even if it is for short bursts of time I am very happy with the results.   My goal now is to ditch the boot and the crutches.  Keep the cane around for awhile and try to go solo.   **Caution - individual results may vary - for those of you reading this still NWB.  Everybody's injury is different.  I also have a high tolerance for pain - Put it this way - NONE of this was comfortable, in fact, it hurts like heck to hobble around even with the cane - and my foot is pretty swollen now.  My PT advised me to do this in short spurts and to keep the crutches and boot handy when I am out of the house - as I will most likely need to revert to them from time to time.

G

Things I am learning

 - Going to WB is not a 'switch' you don't just ditch the crutches, kneewalker overnight
- Same with the boot.  I may get into shoes for a few hours (not yet but soon) - but I'll be back in the boot
- Even though I pretty much keep my foot down all the time - PT tells me I should elevate a couple of times a day
- Some of the PT home exercises - towel scrunch - very hard to do after only a couple of days - frustrating!
- Pretty much a given according to my PT that I will not be able to walk bare foot for a long time   That stinks for a guy who pretty much goes barefoot and sock-less unless he has to.

G

First PT Session

After a weekend of partial WB, I had my first PT session this am.   Over the weekend - in three days I managed to use the cane around the house.  Still a bit painful but great to actually be 'walking' on my own.  Monday am I thought I would pay the price  - the foot was a little swollen but not overly so.   First session of PT is mainly an assessment of your range of motion, etc.  I did the towel exercise - where they have you scrunch up a towel with your feet.  Didn't do too well on that.  Then had me pick up plastic toys from a bucket.  Managed to pick up 2 with my toes.  My range of motion for my ankle and feet are pretty stiff.  She gave me some home exercises  - ankle pumping, ankle alphabet, circles.  Nothing painful -- yet.


So - some progress, and a long way to go!

HA! It's not so easy is it?

Thought I'd just throw a quick post out here - Working from home - and trying to use the crutches all day PWB vs. my knee walker.  Seems like I have gone backward!  I can't carry my own cup of coffee into my home office now, and it's a lot harder to go down the small stairs outside.  Still doing the bum shuffle up the big stairs to the bedrooms though.  I WANT to put a lot of weight on my bad foot - but there is some weird ankle pain that prevents this - along with fear.  So, I am walking around the house putting minimal weight on the foot - (what the heck is 25% anyway?).  At one point I even managed to walk out of my office using only 1 crutch - and then got reprimanded by the boss (aka wife) for trying to do too much too soon.  Oh well, I'll wait for my first PT session Monday am to get their perspective on where I really am.  In the mean-time, I'll keep gently pushing my limits.

One positive - It was Heaven to sleep without the boot or sock on last night!!

WB!

No - Not that crappy fake TV Network (Does anybody remember the WB?)  Weight Bearing!  I had my 10.5 week X-ray and appointment with my surgeon.  X-Rays looked good.  After a short visit, he prescribed PT and gave me a cane.  Instructions are PWB 25% progress to FWB - no time limit - I guess on my own.  Wean off boot - 1-2 weeks, wean off crutches next 4 weeks, transition to cane - 4-6 weeks.

His caution - I'll start to feel pain again - you all have told me that - so I am prepared.....  Got home - and tried to put weight on the foot with the boot on and walked across the house (with crutches of course)  - felt totally alien - but good to try!  Any pain seemed to come from the ankle not the foot.

All and all - I feel like I have made some great progress today.  I know I have a long way to go.  He also said I can sleep without the boot (FINALLY!!) and I can use the pool and hot tub.  He never mentioned going bare foot - I guess I'll ask the PT, AND he said I should transition to regular shoes - did not mention orthotics or rocker sole - so again, curious what my PT will tell me.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!  

1 More Week NWB

Well today marks the 1 week mark till my next visit with the Orthopedic Surgeon.  As of Sunday I will have been 10 weeks NWB.  In some respects, it seems like yesterday that I had my injury, and in many respects, I don't remember what it is like to walk on my own, or run, or go up and down stairs, or do simple things.  In 10 weeks, I have tried to live a 'normal' life.  I have strained the family and friends with all the physical stuff I used to do, tried to get to work and get out, and tried to enjoy life, family and friends as if nothing is wrong.  I am tired of telling my story to complete strangers - and getting that 'pity' look when they see me coming.  I am tired of providing the free advertising for the knee walker.  Many many people have asked me where I got it - and commented on how it looks like fun - yea right!  I have fallen twice, once that really scared me, suffered a root canal, a Hurricane and 4 days without electricity, (yes I had a generator - but it was no fun crutching down to the garage at 4am to fill the genny with gas :-) + no hot water!)  and the normal ups and downs that life brings.  Stuff breaks, needs maintained, etc.  I hate hopping around when crutches and knee walker are not around, I dread showers, I dread stairs, curbs, ramps, hills, low pressure systems (swelling), long car rides, parking lots, cracks in pavement, uneven floors, getting out of bed to go to the bathroom, dressing in work clothes, swelling, dry flaky, itchy skin.  A few times, and notably when on pain medication, I nearly lost it.   This injury is NOT for the weak at heart.  You really need to approach it with a positive attitude and patience - it is a MUST.

Having said all that, I have learned a few things.  It is not so bad to rely on the kindness of family, friends, or strangers.  Its very nice to have the ability to post my thoughts on this blog - and hopefully, many who read this can relate - or find some connection, solace, advice, or interest in what I have experienced.  I REALLY appreciate what permanent or temporary disabled folks go thru - and I will have a lot more empathy for everybody.  and finally, I REALLY REALLY appreciate the gift that I had been given - the ability to walk - un-aided, without pain, without thought.   Now - I long to have that back.

So - I go into my 'final' week NWB - before therapy, with a new set of questions - that I hope to answer - thru my fellow journeyman (and woman), and thru my own experience...

1. After 10 weeks NWB - will my final X-ray before WB be OK?  Did I mess something up when I fell on my bad foot 3 weeks ago?

2. What will it feel like to put weight on this after so long?

3. How long will I be in this now very smelly boot?

4. When do I get to transition to those really cool sexy rocker bottom shoes (sketchers?) BTW - Amazing how Madison Avenue can put shapely models into a pair of these and make them appear sexy.  And - how many men would not be caught dead in these unless they had to be - and I hope I don't offend anybody here.  But not my style.

5. When can I wear my docksiders and walk barefoot again?  Will I have to purchase 2 different size work shoes?   (I guess this is the point that the woman ask - when can they wear heels again if ever ;-)  )

6. Will I walk with a limp?

7. When will I walk with 100 percent weight on my bad foot?

8. When can I do Cardio again so I can start losing some of the 5-8 lbs I think I have gained.

9.  How long will it take my chicken leg to look normal again?

Anyway - Long post of reflection.  We got power back today.  Many 1000s in CT still without power and another Hurricane churning in the Atlantic.   Life moves on......  I plan to move on with it...

Stay positive, life and time does move forward, and hopefully so do we.

Unless I do something stupid before next Thursday, I will not post until my next visit to the surgeon.

G

After The Storm 2

OUCH!  View at my marina

After the Storm

Coastal CT got hit pretty hard.  Been without power now for 24 hours and just borrowed a friend's generator who still has power.  Thankfully, fridge and freezer contents still cold - due to putting ice bags in yesterday.  They say we could have no power for 10 days!   The boat is already back in the water and thankfully I am told no damage to her - will check tomorrow.  Our house has no damage, but the neighborhood is full of fallen trees and debris.  Working remote thru wireless card Internet access.

Before the storm my foot really started to swell - Wow!  Low pressure systems can really have an effect on the body!

Prepping For Hurricane Irene

As Jimmy Buffett sings - "Trying to reason with hurricane season".  Looks like the NE is in for a direct hit - Cat 1 or Cat 2.  Pulling the boat onto land and prepping the back yard.

Root Canal

One of these days I hope to catch a break!  Saturday morning I started to feel some pain in one of my teeth.  By Saturday night I was popping the Advil.  By Sunday night the pain was so intense that I tried the Vikodin left over from my first week of post-op.  By Monday am the Vikodin was not even working.  I went to my dentist ASAP and he started the root canal on one of my molars that has historically had a lot of fillings and given me trouble in the past.  I can't even bring myself to make a joke - like "I'd rather have a root canal than have a Lisfranc injury"  Now I have both!   :-)

I hope to be relatively pain free by tomorrow.  

How to get a Lisfranc - but you were afraid to ask

So we all have our own personal stories as to how we got this injury - tripping on steps, curbs, missing a step, falling off a ladder, a horse (the original), wrestling, martial arts, snowboarding, skiing, wind surfing, auto accident, industrial accident, ballet, football, surfing, walking, tripping, tripping on high heels, playing with your kids, jumping off a sailboat onto a dock, and walking off of a boat and hitting the cleat - which - you might ask - what is it - ?   Here is a pic to "re-enact" my injury...

I just happened to be passing a mooring cleat and had my friend take this pic - I want to piece together the source to the end.   I have some rather gruesome pics of what happened after this - complements of one of my friends that took the pic the night of the accident.  It took me two months to even want to view those.  And I will not post those pics - I''ll leave it to your imagination!

8 weeks Sunday...  3 more weeks NWB!     Have a nice weekend all!

G

Supplements

Part of the healing process is definitely related to diet and life-style.  My Surgeon seems pleased with my healing so far and I attribute some of this to my use of dietary supplements.  I have a very good friend who owns a Vitamin company called Designs For Health.  They market directly to Nutritionists and Physicians.  Since she is also a Nutritionist, she has recommended a supplement routine that I am on twice daily.  I don't know exact dosages - and it may differ by individual, so I will provide the general supplements I am taking.  Check with your physician before taking anything.   But I am using:

- Men's Multi daily
- Large Bayer Aspirin daily - for blood thinning
- Co-Q-10
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- Glucosamine
- Calcium
- Vitamin C
- MSM

and then two proprietary formulas from Designs for Health - One called Arthrosoothe  and one called Inflamatone

In general - This mixture is helping to prevent, enhance or reduce - inflammation, bone growth, soft tissue healing, skin healing.

I have to say I am a believer and that I'll take any edge over not doing nothing at all on this front.

I took another tumble - Ugh!

I thin I need to slow down.  Ever since I received the knee walker I have been out and about as much as possible, I trundle up and down short flights of stairs on this, thru gravel driveways, thru rocky lawns, sidewalks, the Metro-North train to NYC, the streets of NYC, - you get the picture - and I am not what I would call a dainty guy!  After getting my cast off on Thur we stopped for lunch at a favorite waterside restaurant.  Knapps Landing overlooks the mouth of the Housatonic river which empties into the Long Island Sound.  After a nice lunch I was wheeling down the handicap ramp and the front wheels came off the walker. I caught myself - no big deal.  Called the medical supply company Friday am and they delivered me a new one no questions asked by 3pm.  Yesterday, I got to take my boat with a few friends to Milford CT for lunch.  It was nice to finally get back out on the water - with an experienced crew I had nothing to worry about. Once I navigated the dock ramp I made my way up the hill on the new knee walker.  We get to an intersection and begin to cross the street.  As we are crossing I sort of notice the handlebar is a little loose.  I hit a small crack in the road - my steering wheel goes one way, and I start to fall.  Instinctively, my left foot goes out to catch myself - For an instant, the boot hits the ground - I feel a dull pain from deep in the bone and I throw myself in the opposite direction, falling to the ground in the middle of the street.  My friends and wife are helping me up along with some other passersby.  The knee walker looks broken again!  I am very shaken up at this point.  I hobble to the curb to sit down.  Scared out of my mind that that instant of weight bearing has damaged 7 weeks of healing.  I am waiting for the on-set of pain.  My friend ran back to the boat for tools - and luckily only needed to tighten down the handlebars.  We surmise that the medical supply company did not tighten the handlebars properly.  I have a good mind to call them up and complain - but I'll let it slide.  I was nervous throughout lunch and the rest of the day - waiting for any strange pain.  To my relief - the foot seems to look and feel the same as before.  So I THINK, no damage done.

Has anybody else had a similar oops experience and put weight on their foot during NWB?  What were the effects?

My wife says she now wants to wrap me in a large bubble   LOL!

After the Cast

Look familiar fellow Lisfrancers?   6 weeks, 5 days post op.  Little swollen, a little purple, and bandaged where the K-wires were removed.  No real pain, but feel very vulnerable without any covering....

Cast Away!

I got my cast off today after 6 weeks and 4 days.  Went into X-Ray - My Doc says everything seems to be healing ok.  Afterwords, he pulled the three K-Wires out that were holding my three smaller toes together.  Really, as others have testified, it did not hurt at all. I was then fitted for a boot - which I have to wear non-weight-bearing for another 4 weeks.  This is 2 weeks less than I anticipated.  So overall, I am happy.  The boot, while bigger and bulkier, is a whole lot more comfortable than the cast, and I will be able to take off to shower, but still - no pool, and no sleeping with it off.   Just VERY happy to be progressing.  I can begin to weight bear in 4 weeks - that would put me at 10 weeks.  Seems pretty standard.

Here is a pic of my "walking" boot.  I assume, this will be the boot that I start to weight bear in come Sept.

Doggie Sprain

Well, It turns out I did not break her leg - but she did sprain it - Talk about misery loves company!  I am glad she is OK!

Not so good day

It is bad enough having this cast on for so long - worse when your injury causes somebody or something else to get injured.  I was on the boat all weekend - but Saturday alone with just our dog as the family was off doing other things for the day.  Coming out of the galley into the main living area is a small step - I tripped and fell on top of my dog.  She let out a yelp and immediately held up her front leg.  Thinking I broke her leg I called around for an emergency vet and finally talked to a doctor who advised me that I most likely pinched her leg and to give her a baby aspirin and let her rest.  She is doing ok this am but still limping.  We will take her to the vet tomorrow to make sure she is ok.  Needless to say I feel terrible about this.

Just Chillin on Just Chillin

Music

On my playlist for the weekend:

Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band Featuring my all time Favorite - Jimmy Buffett
Good To Be Me - Uncle Cracker & Kid Rock
Felt Good on my Lips - Tim McGraw
Incredible Machine - Sugarland - My second all time favorite band
Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland
Farther Find Me Now - The Coal Men - You may recognize this song from The Deadliest Catch TV Series - One of my favorite TV shows
All Roads Lead Home - Garden State - Also from Deadliest Catch
You & Tequila - Kenny Chesney - Featuring Grace Potter - An Excellent new song
Only Prettier - Miranda Lambert
Heart Like Mine - Miranda Lambert
Toes - Zac Brown Band

This list is heavily weighted "new country" but I would say the songs are mostly all feel good pop songs in nature.  I have a very eclectic taste in music - ranging from hard rock, Jazz, some classical, new country, pop, surf, and anything that makes me feel like I am near the Sea - hence some of my favorites being Jimmy Buffett, Zac Brown, Kenny Chesney.

If anybody gets a moment to download these and listen - let me know what you think

G

One week till cast removal!

OK - I am one week out for cast removal and hopefully K-wire removal, and into the boot.  I am getting soooo sick of the cast!  Feels like I am dragging an anchor around on my foot all day - or wearing heavy wool socks in the summer time.  When my foot swells I feel the wounds pressing against the cast.  Every day I dream of the technician using his 'saw' to cut it off -(the cast - not my foot :-) )   and the relief I will feel - ahhhh!    So - I am a little anxious - I know they will take an X-ray - and I am assuming foot is healing well, wounds healing well - that I get to the boot and not any bad news - like 'you need to go back into a cast'.   Not too worried about the wire removal - you all tell me that it really does not hurt.  Time does fly though - It will be six weeks since my surgery on Sunday.  Hard to imagine that my left foot has not touched the ground in 6 weeks - and that I coped this long.

You see - We ALL have the capability to endure these types of things - You need mental stamina as well as physical.  Keep positive my fellow elite Lisfranc injury club members!  (Not a club that we encourage anybody to join).

Reflection - The past 5 weeks

Well, a few of you have found my blog and I am appreciative of your posts.  It is nice to talk to folks that have or are going thru the same journey as me.  Keep up the comments!  Reflecting on the past 5 weeks.  It has not been easy - but it is what you try to make of it.  Today my reflection is on how much family and friends are affected by this.  All the "heavy lifting"  that I used to do now has to be performed by my family.  I am appreciative of their help and support - and its sometimes hard to remember how much they are affected.  Whether its taking the garbage up Monday nights, fixing things around the home or even cooking (I am the real cook in our house ;-)  ) they are pitching in doing things while I sit back on the couch.  I owe them!    So I thought I would re-post my initial questions from the first week sitting at home  - and sort of my answers to my own questions.  In another month - I will re-visit.

How do I get myself out and about more?   - This is a time thing  - I learned that this is all dependent on the nature of one's injury.  Take it slow - but don't be afraid to get out.  I even went to see the new Harry Potter film!  Kept my leg propped up on the seat in front of me - worked out just fine - and the movie was the best of the series in my opinion!
2. When can I start to drive? - In my case - since it was my left foot - I got out about 2 weeks post surgery - but I am limited on my time behind the wheel as my foot starts to swell
3. How long before I don't have to keep my leg elevated constantly? - Plenty of posts from my friends here - but it seems this will be at least 3 months
4. Doing some weight training (I was in the gym previous to this 4 times a week for weights and cardio) - Trying to keep doing this as much as possible
5. My diet - for healing, and keeping weight off - Ahhh - I fear this is my big unknown.  I love to eat and the only way I kept weight off was exercise - So will continue to keep an eye on my diet and my weight.  If I gain a few I am not going to stress over it - just get back to the Gym as soon as I am able.
6. Becoming more independent - I am not one that likes my kids and wife always having to do everything for me
7 No more boat trips - BUT - At least using her as a floating condo for the rest of the summer - This is working out for me - I go down Friday night and I don't get back off the boat till Sunday.  The view is great and my friends have all been coming to my boat to hang out.  We even had a great dance party last Saturday night.  I sat on the couch and watched everybody else dance and chose the music off of my IPOD.  Pretty much what I would do anyway since I am not a dancer :-)
8. When can I go to a restaurant and sit at the bar again? - ASAP!   Just do it!  As Foredeckwannabie says - Bring a good book and a pillow to prop your leg up on.
9. When can I shower?  I HATE SPONGE BATHS!! - Id say as soon as you are able - get a bag to cover your cast.  You may need a shower seat.
10 6 more self inflicted needles with the blood clot medicine - Can't wait for THAT to be over - Yea - those su*ked


I am sure I will think of more of these as time goes on.    2 weeks till cast comes off!!

Use for Orphan Socks

It just dawned on me - All those orphan black socks in my sock drawer are now coming in handy when I go to work!   LOL!

Post Suture Pain

5 days after the sutures came out and I am feeling some pain that I did not have while the sutures were in.  Sort of a burning sensation on each of the wounds.  Since I am still in a cast, I cannot see what is going on.  But I assume that the wounds are still raw, and with the stretching of the skin due to swelling, this is normal.  Hopefully this will die down after another couple of days.  Not bothersome enough to take any pain medication for, but none the less bothersome.  I'd also say that when I was re-casted, they put the cast on tighter this time. Time will tell...

Sutures Out!

Finally, my stitches came out.  Went to the outpatient facility at Yale Hospital yesterday to have the stitches taken out.  Once the cast was off, I was able to get a good look at my foot.  Not too bad really.  My surgeon personally removed my stitches.  I thought it was going to be painful but really only felt an occasional pinch - sort of like somebody snapping a small rubber band on my foot.  Surgeon said my foot was healing very well and he was pleased with my progress.   Back into a cast I went - for three more weeks.  So I will have spent 7 weeks in the hard cast once it comes off.  At that time, he said he would remove my three K-wires and do an X-ray to check healing progress.   It looks like I would be non-weight bearing in a orthotic boot for another 6 weeks after that.  So, no weight bearing until at least October 1st is my guess.  That would be a full 3 months.  No mention of PT just yet so I will just hang in there.    Good news is I am getting out more.  Actually in the office twice this week.  I'll continue to increase my activity as the foot permits and try to live life vs put life on hold.

3 Weeks - The Good, Bad, and Ugly

I just hit the 3 week mark since surgery.  Some things going well, some things not so well.  As far as my injury, it seems stable, and I am in no pain.  I do still need to elevate whenever possible.  Otherwise, I can feel the swelling come on.  I do feel pinches and pins and needles from time to time - but nothing serious.  I have been getting around pretty well.  I've been to work, my boat, outside, even cooked a little while on my knee rider.  Even went to the movies.  What is not going so well is the fact that it is such a chore to do anything - get upstairs, in the car, dressed, showered, the bathroom.  Everything takes twice as long.  I need to rely on people for anything major.  My gardens are filling with weeds - (not that I enjoy pulling weeds or spending anytime in the garden, its a necessary evil).  My pool has a minor leak I need to attend to.  My car battery is dead, and my home office chair needs an adjustment.  All these things require a trip into the basement for proper tools and require 2 feet to really fix. These things add to the fact that I am facing at least 3 more weeks in the cast - and then the boot.  So the shear duration of the healing process for this injury REALLY can get you down.  My best advice and the advice of others - keep busy, try not to feel sorry for yourself - and make the best of each day knowing that SOME day in the future, you will be walking again without crutches, knee-walker, boot, cain, walker, etc.

Getting into the office

Well yesterday was my first trip into the office.  I had a scheduled meeting that I had arranged awhile ago with all of our regional staff so I had to be there.  My wife drove me, and the trip took about 40 minutes.  Once I arrived I used the knee-walker to get into the elevator and up to the 3rd floor.  No problems.  I did get a few curious looks though.  One guy even asked me what happened.  Which became a story I had to repeat over and over and over.  The meeting went well, I even stayed around for a small cocktail reception that I hosted - and the conversations slowly turned back to work vs what happened to my foot.  I kept my foot propped the entire meeting and thru dinner.  For 19 days post surgery I was prepared for some swelling which did not happen.  Back into my home office today and then I will attempt to get back into the office next week for meetings - by myself, and possibly into NYC by train for a client meeting.  I am encouraged that staying off of my feet and propping my feet up *most* of the time, will allow for some jaunts out to get business done.  Taking it slow and adhering to all the advice from my fellow Lisfranc friends and of course the Doc.

Last Needle

Finally, today is the last time I have to self administer a blood clot shot.  After today, doc says I should use one full strength aspirin a day till further notice.  I have hated giving myself these shots.  First off, I hate needles, and to have to do yourself - into the stomach or leg has been way over the top!  I really feel for diabetics for have to do this on a daily basis for life.   Hopefully I will not have to repeat this when the 2 screws come out.  Yesterday was an interesting day for me.  A little over 2 weeks from surgery and I could feel my foot swelling come way down, and my discomfort level dropped significantly.  I am still 1 week out from having stitches removed and fear my cast may become a bit loose.  Also worried he left the stitches in a week too long.

Over Doing It

Today is 2 weeks since my injury and surgery - since they both happened at the same time.   The med students, interns, residents, and surgeons of Yale must have done something right.  For 2 weeks in, I came off of the prescrips after 1 week, and I have minimal pain.  While I have spend most of my time on the couch with my feet up, I have managed now to get out of the house twice this weekend for lunch.  I even made it down to my boat and managed to climb aboard and spend the afternoon on it with friends and family (just at dock - with me on couch, inside, AC on,  with foot up).  However, I know know the feeling of overdoing it...  It's been hot here in Connecticut, and I find that the injury does not like the heat - I can feel my foot swell from the heat.  Also, crutching around or just getting up and about adds irritation.  Once others find my blog - my BIGGEST question is - How long before you can sit without your leg elevated?   I can deal with the cast, crutches, walker, but I would at least like to rest my foot on the floor vs its own chair all the time!    Last night, my family wanted to go to dinner out - and I really had no energy, plus a throbbing foot to even move off of the couch.  After a nights rest, I am feeling good again - but now know there are some very strict limits...

The Knee Rider

After a number of phone calls to find a dealer in my state that is covered by my insurance plan, I finally received my Knee Walker.  This little buggy takes the place of crutches, allows me to be more mobile in and out of the house.  After a bit of practice, I find it to be a whole lot better than crutches.  Even got out of the house for the first time in two weeks for a late lunch / early dinner.  Worst part was propping my leg up on hard wooden bar-stool.   If your insurance pays for one of these, or you can find one used I highly recommend.  They are pricey new though.

Took a Shower!

Ahhhh - After almost 2 weeks of sponge baths I convinced my wife to help me take a shower.  Not easy to slide in over the lip with crutches, and you do need to cover the cast with the plastic wrap.  But once in and sitting in the shower seat (mine molded in thank God), felt great.   Next goal - getting to the point where I can do this on my own.

The Boat

Me in better times

My Story

Hello all -- This is my story  - On June 24th my family and I started to head up the coast of Connecticut on Just Chillin - our Meridian 368 MY to watch fireworks for the weekend in Branford CT.  Our homeport is Stratford. CT.  We were followed up with approx 7 - 8 other friend's boats for a weekend of BBQ, Wine, beer and fun.  After the fireworks Sat night I was closing up the back of the boat for the nigh around 10:30pm when I stepped off my swim platform onto the dock and tripped. (I now know I tripped on the dock cleat).  At first I felt some terrible pain, then none.  My wife asks me if I am OK and I said - don't think so.  Some friends ran over and told me not to get up - bone was poking thru my foot.  From there on, it was like a horrible nightmare.  I heard another friend calling for an ambulance, and the next thing I know I am being wheeled down the dock towards the ambulance.  I am asking who will get my boat back to Stratford?  Who will watch my kids? (My 10 year old son, 16 year old daughter, her boyfriend and our Shit Sizu  were still on-board).  I get to Yale New Haven Hospital and had immediate x-rays (nothing broken) but my entire lower foot bones all shifted to the right and broke the skin.  After wound clean - a fun exercise in extreme pain, I was prepped for surgery.  Has surgery around 6am Sunday.  Left with 2 pins and 3 wires.   Spent two days in the hospital. They actually wanted me to discharge Monday and I told them that I did not have the pain management down so they let me stay another day.  First week was a lot of sleeping, keeping my leg elevated, dealing with the pain, dealing with crutches, dealing with all the WTF? moments - why me? When can I get out of the cast?  when can I walk? When can I drive? when can I shower? etc. etc. etc.   Lucky for me - I had planned vacation the following week - had to cancel my boat trip to The North Fork of Long Island (Greenport).  Instead, I spent the weekend on the couch.  

Week 2 - I came off the narcotic pain meds Sunday and have been on Advils twice a day now.  Throbbing has stopped, and last night - 12 days in I did not get the stabbing pains in the middle of the night.  Went to the outpatient part of the hospital Tue for wound check.  Stitches look good - no infection and my swelling was down enough for them to put me in a hard-cast instead of the soft cast.  This will have to be removed the week after next so that they can take the stitches out though.  They would have come out next week but my surgeon was taking holiday to the Outer Banks - lucky stiff!

Oh well - so here I am - trying to telecommute as much as possible.  I am a partner in a large international consulting firm - so I can do a lot by phone and email.  Going to try to get to my office next week.  Yesterday, after reading some very dreary web postings I became pretty down.  I found a couple of blogs that inspired me to chronicle  my journey in hopes of helping me and others stay sane!

Today trying to track down something called a roll-about.  You rest your bad leg on this thing and propel yourself around like a scooter.  Seems like it will be better than crutches.    Coming to grips with the following this week:

1. How do I get myself out and about more?
2. When can I start to drive?
3. How long before I don't have to keep my leg elevated constantly?
4. Doing some weight training (I was in the gym previous to this 4 times a week for weights and cardio)
5. My diet - for healing, and keeping weight off
6. Becoming more independent - I am not one that likes my kids and wife always having to do everything for me
7 No more boat trips - BUT - At least using her as a floating condo for the rest of the summer
8. When can I go to a restaurant and sit at the bar again?
9. When can I shower?  I HATE SPONGE BATHS!!
10 6 more self inflicted needles with the blood clot medicine - Can't wait for THAT to be over

All for now!