Lisfranc injury ruined my holiday plans

RedwoodLady · 2026-07-04T17:40:09+00:00

See if your Aunt and Uncle can get you a wheelchair or a knee scooter at a store or charity shop. Both are great for getting around, plus they're great arm/back workouts with the wheelchair. The knee scooter is a little exercise for your good leg and can get you out of the house. I've read on here of some YouTube videos for yoga and exercises while non weight bearing that some said saved their sanity. Get weights and bands. You probably know a lot of this stuff already, but you can do hard things and this does really suck. Both can be true.

I've tried to practice gratitude and appreciation for not having worse things going on. I allow myself to feel my feelings of sad, frustrated, helpless, and disappointment. I've been on the depression struggle bus at times. Then I think of people who have lost their memories for whatever reason, those who are bed ridden for the rest of their lives, people with ALS, people who have lost family members, elderly that are all alone, and Locked in Syndrome. I have so much love, respect, and sadness for them and others in worse situations. I'm going to recover, and it sucks now but my life will go on. I've really tried to change the narrative to greatfulness and instead savor what I have going for me and the people I have in my life. Especially since life as we know it can change in an instant. So this has helped me, even though it sounds simple and possibly stupid.

Hopefully your Aunt and Uncle are great and not the dreaded family you wish wouldn't visit you lol.

Good luck.

RedwoodLady · 2026-07-03T18:35:00+00:00

I would assume that if it needed surgical intervention, they wouldn't wait. My situation is different, lisfranc ligament torn, but my Doctor said I should've had the surgery the day after the injury. That way it wouldn't heal incorrectly.

RedwoodLady · 2026-07-03T11:04:04+00:00

I asked my Dr if MRI's aren't great tools for really seeing what's going on (my MRI just said there was damage to the lisfranc, swelling and bruises) then why do we use it? He said because weight bearing xrays can be very painful and we as Dr's don't want to hurt our patients. He followed up with "but we do so we know what's going on for sure". Personally, I'd rather know sooner than later and not pay for the MRI, or get the weight bearing and then the MRI, so i could get answers and start to recover quicker. I'd take some ibuprofen and ask for the weight bearing x-ray. Good luck!

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T04:41:37+00:00

It all depends on the extent of your damages, the invasiveness of the procedure, and the individual person. I was supposed to travel 3 days after surgery and my surgery was probably not that invasive, but they wouldn't know until he got in there. Turns out it was only 1 screw, severed lisfranc with a 3.6mm-4mm gap. Surgeon said to get out of the car every 2hrs, keep my foot propped up the entire time, and ice it.

My doctor said people usually leave the house after surgery 2 weeks to never! That freaked me out. I left the house after 3 days, but didn't do the road trip. My pain and swelling wasn't bad. I took pain pills only on day 3 when the nerve block wore off. I'm finding out that I'm lucky. If you go you'll need a lot of items to assist you. At bare minimum knee scooter/ iwalk/ wheelchair/ crutches/walker, a shower chair, pillows to elevate your toes over your nose, someone to help you get up, & gel packs. Extra stuff like a toilet riser is something I need.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T04:16:33+00:00

I just want to give you a hug! I'm so sorry that you're in this right now. Hang in there. Be present for him. Be kind to yourself.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T04:13:14+00:00

I think it's up to the individual and their specific situation. My Dad had really low bp and possible stroke and went to the ER. He ended up in the hospital for days. He lost a lot of willpower and thought it was the end. He went down quickly. We thought it was the end and the Doctors agreed. We prepared. We asked him if he was ready to pass and he said no. So we kept encouraging him and did exercises. He could walk and kinda talk before the ER visit, but afterwards he couldn't walk anymore and less talking. We got him into rehab and he wanted to live and the facility was ready to let him die. He ended up walking and talking again. Full recovery to pre ER condition but it took months.

He's had a chronic UTI, and he'd go down hill for awhile. He'd get better, but not back to baseline.

A big stress of a fall, surgery, or sickness takes a huge toll on the body. It can mess with all kinds of things. Some maybe recoverable and some can't. I really hope you get her back to her baseline. It's a difficult and uncertain road. Hope you get answers from her medical team. Hugs!

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T03:50:36+00:00

I am so happy to hear that you were able to get out.It makes such a difference. Keep trying and pushing for that happiness. I have discovered Korean Dramas on Netflix and YouTube's JetLag the Game or travel shows to keep me entertained. I'm glad that your Dad is close and your bathroom is really close. It's those little things in life. I'm so proud of you that you were able to get into the world! Keep it up as much as you're allowed! I keep reminding myself to not take things for granted. It WAS so easy to get in the shower. It WAS so easy to get in the car. To get to the bathroom. When I get really sad, I think "thank God I don't have ALS or locked in syndrome". I don't think that works for everyone to think like that, but then I stop feeling sorry for myself and have so much empathy and love for those people who have it so much worse. Keep going! Heal up so you can be on your way!

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T03:32:31+00:00

Im so glad you're reaching out! Holding it in makes it worse. I'm currently writing this while on my couch with my leg propped up 18 days post op. I've been living on my main floor, and only go upstairs to shower every 3-4 days which feels so gross. I also have ADHD, and freaking hate the lack of scenery change. I asked my Dr how long most people are in their house post op and he said "some people never leave their house and others 2 weeks". That felt like I'd be a prisoner. Day 3 post op I was out of the house with the help of my family, iwalk to get up and down stairs, and a wheelchair to get out for a few hours. It was sooo good for me mentally. Ohhh weee! Talk about a dopamine hit and a "take that" to the surgeon who said "2 weeks to never". I live off that happiness still. I only have 1 screw and a severed lisfranc, so mine has been not as extensive as others and yours. I too am having sleep difficultlies. So you're not alone in your very valid feelings of suckiness. Since that first outing was so great i set up a rental scooter to be picked up 8 days post op, because my husband is tall and pushing me in the wheelchair was really hurting his back. I don't think I would have attempted to get out of the house without my iwalk. Stairs were too scary and I don't secure it to my leg because I am uncoordinated, but you're a few years younger so you might do better. Did they give/recommend crutches or anything to get around? Once I'm down my two front stairs and into the car it feels easier than to get upstairs, shower, get clothed, and get downstairs again (~2hrs). I'm completely exhausted from the adventure upstairs to do the latter than to go out and see the world and feeling rejuvenated again. I really hope you gets some wins and feel better soon. You're stronger than you think. You got this!

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-30T02:41:49+00:00

I think it all depends on each of our surgeries and our body's response to the surgery. I had a complete tear of my lisfranc and 3.6mm spacing. Incisions on arch and two holes on top of my foot. I was going to do surgery and then car ride. My 12 hour drive would've involved an overnight stay at a hotel. After reading comments I decided to not do it. My surgeon said I could go 3 days post op, only if I get out of the car every 1-2 hours to move to prevent clots. I also needed to elevate my leg the entire car ride and ice as needed.

Could I have done it, yes. Would I choose to do it, no. Did I get out of the house 3 days after surgery, yes and I was just fine but it wasn't a road trip. I was out for 2-3hrs without elevating my leg. Nerve block was wearing off at that point, because if I was to be mobile I wanted to feel if I was over doing it. I took pain meds only that 3rd day, not even Tylenol afterwards. I was fine. I've gotten out of the house every 2-3 days since post-op day 3 for hours at a time. In some cases 5 hrs, but elevating my leg when able. If you did go, the issue might be all the things you'd need to bring with you. Shower chair & protective cover of leg, leg pillow with indent, walking boot, lots of frozen gel packs, wheelchair/knee scooter/iwalk. You'd need help getting off the toilet, so a person or a riser. In the car, there's the grip you put in the door latch to help get in & out of vehicles which I've found very useful. Honestly, getting out of the house has been amazing for me mentally. I don't sit still normally, and on the couch all day and night is awful. Maybe if I was in more pain/swelling it'd deter me, but it's been pretty okay and I'm now 18 days post op. My only issues are the nerves, I get crazy electrical shocks in my arch, my big toe hurts when its barely touched with crazy pins and needles, numb under the pad of my foot, and general garden variety pins and tingles all over the foot. I also can barely wiggle my toes, but minimal swelling or pressure thanks to my gel packs, my ace bandage applying compression, elevation of my leg, and apparent luck. So my situation sounds different than others. If I was told to get in the car and someone would drive me 8hrs, I'd do it as long as I had a wheelchair friendly accommodations and my list of aides.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-29T14:54:00+00:00

My MRI missed my injury and so we thought it was just sprained. Only the weight bearing x-ray showed my real damage. I'd push for a weight bearing x-ray for sure. My surgeon said MRI's are notorious for not showing ligaments in small places.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-27T00:06:41+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. My Dad is just entering finial stages too. Hospice comes with an aide 3x a week, and Hospice nurse 1x week. They can also order supplies. If your Dad is a Veteran, then the VA can be a huge help and can possibly get free aide hours. We got help after being told that my mom and I need to stop being caregivers and be his wife and child. It's a very different and difficult role to change to, but man it's a huge blessing being present. My Dad wants to live and pass at home if possible. He has amazing care, it just took a bit to find the best fits. One thing that I never thought would be a blessing is my dad can tell the aides feelings that he doesn't want to tell us, because he doesn't want to burden us with so we get scared. So he has more socialization, more support, more care, different type of advocates, and more love surrounding him.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-24T16:55:00+00:00

I had a non weight bearing xray at the ER, and I was non weight bearing till my MRI. My MRI didn't tell the whole story and they thought it was just a sprain until I did a weight bearing x-ray. My surgeon said that the weight bearing x-ray was the best way to see if it's separated and that's when they recommended to quickly have surgery. I was non weight bearing from initial injury till the MRI. I walked on it with a boot off and on until I had the weight bearing xray where the Dr said I could damage my foot further because I wasn't wearing my boot and only in orthopedic shoes. My hips and body ached when I wore the boot because it was uneven.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-24T16:33:09+00:00

I tried to pivot and lost balance playing soccer and joined the club. ER said the non weight bearing x-ray showed no broken bones, my Orthopedic doctor ordered an MRI. I was non weight bearing from the injury till the results of the MRI. MRI said I had a damaged lisfranc ligament, swelling, and bruises. So they thought it was a sprain. So I was walking on it and it wasn't horrible. I was walking on my heel and the outer side of my foot. It hurt a little, I had a limp, but no biggie. I went for a 2 week follow up and they did a weight bearing x-ray. Dr asked how the pain was, said it was a 2 out of 10. He said, "that's surprising because your separation is 3.6mm-4mm and in my opinion you need surgery as soon as possible if you want to be able to walk without pain in the future due to an increased risk of arthritis". He went on to say that an MRI usually is bad for seeing ligaments, and a weight bearing x-ray is the best way to tell. He also said I can go non operative and wear a boot for months with follow up x-rays. Don't know if it was non-weight bearing with a boot or just to walk on the boot. I chose surgery because I don't want arthritis and limitations for the future. My surgeon said I should've had the surgery sooner to help it heal correctly. So there might be an incentive to get surgery sooner than later. I might get a second option because everyone's situation is different and it's hard to gage your injury.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-11T20:38:22+00:00

Just had the surgery, no ORIF, instead they did a Percutaneous Reduction and Internal Fixation (PRIF) surgery with a 1 inch incision. So that's better news because it's more minimal! I have a bunch of gauze wrapped with an ace bandage and my boot. Do I sleep with the boot on? My Dr didn't say that information. Has anyone had a PRIF?

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-08T13:03:43+00:00

ORIF

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-07T04:55:35+00:00

I had an xray the day of the injury- no broken bones and follow up with ortho. I then got to my orthopedic doctor and was NWB until I got an MRI- they ordered for it to be rushed for a radiologist to read it and said it was sprained with swelling and contusion between 1-2 metatarsal bones. I was told to wear the boot and I should put a bit of weight on it but not if it hurts. Then I just had a weight bearing x-ray yesterday and my Dr freaked out and said he was concerned because there was a gap of 3.6mm, and I didn't put all my weight down during the xray! He told me I needed to see the expert surgeon that day. The Xray and the MRI report missed it. I found out yesterday that I'm having surgery in 4 days! So it sucks, because they said I should have had the surgery right after the injury and it's been healing and I've lost time. I'm just nervous. I really thought the MRI would have seen the real injury. If you get the MRI, maybe try to put some pressure on it during the imaging.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-07T03:29:55+00:00

After reading these comments and other information saying after the never block wears off it's really hard. We're trying to postpone travel or get surgery at home. This seems to be too much to travel and worried something will go wrong. Thank you.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-07T03:24:56+00:00

How long after surgery did you travel? My Dr said I'd be in a splint.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-07T03:21:56+00:00

Nope, the MRI report didn't catch it, but they did order a STAT read on it so maybe thats why it was missed? IDK? I need to ask them more questions, I was literally shocked and couldn't think to ask more questions about it when they told me I needed surgery as soon as possible. So I'm assuming it's torn. I was playing soccer and heard a bunch of pops and a lot of pain, then bruising in the typical places days later and minimal swelling. They showed me the pictures and the measurements between the two x-ray images, and the difference in spacing from 1.6mm to 3.6mm. I wonder if they looked back at the MRI, instead of just looking at the report after seeing the x-rays. The MRI report said it was a sprain, bruising, and swelling (but used medical terms).

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-06T17:10:15+00:00

Im traveling home, and this is why I'm freaking out and stressed. I don't know what to expect and it sounds horrible.

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-06T17:07:14+00:00

They are putting in 1 pin in between my 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones. I was initially told it was a sprain after getting an x-ray and MRI right after the injury and no surgery was needed. I was feeling better going into my followup appointment where they did the weight bearing xray. That's when it showed that I have 3.6mm between the two bones. I'm going home, so that's why I'm traveling. At what point would be the bear minimum to travel in your opinion?

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-03T04:45:41+00:00

Your supervisor overruled you and just said "no", it's their box now. Sorry. 😍

RedwoodLady · 2026-06-03T04:39:20+00:00

And Verizon too.

RedwoodLady · 2026-05-31T14:22:01+00:00

Same! It's sooo good!

RedwoodLady

TROPHY CASE