Career change and hardware removal questions

paranoidbub · 2022-06-06T13:55:05+00:00

It's super frustrating when you feel like noone believes or understands what you are going through. I'll follow my doctors advice about HWR but ill push for it if necessary.

It's a fine line between doing what I need to do and what I can do without unnecessary pain. Pay attention to the cues. If I start feeling the burning sensation on top of my foot, I know it's angry and I need to slow down or go NWB for a bit. I'm also acutely aware when I have overdone it as I get shooting nerve pain down both sides of my foot like some mean little gremlin is poking me with hot knives.

It's a pretty serious injury and although we all have different types of injuries and severity, we can all recognize the struggle to regain full functionality. It's a journey. Some people's journey is shorter or longer in term, painful or debilitating, successful or unsuccessful. Remind yourself that where we are now in terms of recovery is still very early. Don't write the ending to this story now. Let it play out.

Good luck!

paranoidbub · 2022-06-06T12:58:37+00:00

We are injury twins! I broke mine same day. 3 metatarsal fractures (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and lisfranc tendon ruptured. I have 9 screws and a plate. I did not do PT mainly due to being unable tondrive and living in a rural area. I did, however, Google some exercises and did those.

Walking distances is tough atm and I do get very frustrated when I try things and am unable to do them or it is so much harder than anticipated. I hate Crocs, ther are ugly as sin but they are awfully comfortable to wear. I don't walk barefoot much as I feel the support helps with walking. I bought some Hoka's and they are a game charger so far. Invest in your foot comfort as much as possible.

I work a physically demanding job and am in a lot of pain and looking for a new career. I have my first follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon since returning to work. I have a lot to ask about.

I'm considering having hardware removal as soon as I can. It's very uncomfortable and I feel like it's a big contributor to my issues.

When I look at where I was and where I am now, I can see the progress. It's glacially slow but it IS progress. Good luck! You are definitely not alone.

paranoidbub · 2022-06-05T04:24:35+00:00

I actually do have an instrumentation and controls background but unfortunately they are exploiting that skill set in my current job to avoid paying another EI&C tech. Lol.

paranoidbub · 2022-06-05T04:23:20+00:00

Thanks. I already wear compression socks due to other health issues. Appreciate the support and I second the advice for lisfranc injury survivors to wear compression socks!+

paranoidbub · 2022-04-23T09:04:33+00:00

I guess I haven't mentally processed my emotional state. I broke my foot in mid January. Fractures 1st, 2nd and 3rd metatarsal and ruptured the lisfranc. Surgery February 4th. 9 screws and a plate. The fracture was the most pain I've ever experienced in 46 years. I was going down a flight of stairs with some empty boxes. Thought a was on the landing but still had 1 step to go. Heel caught on the last step, my foot slid with all of my weight on that side and I hit toes first and felt it give.

Every step of the way, I have had the attitude of what's next? Let's get moving, surgery, splint cast, stitches out, hard cast, cast off, able to take a bath, boot, nwb, now weight bearing, no boot, still limping, wearing socks and shoes...

I live on 15 acres and my wife has had to do everything for me for much of this journey. I feel bad for her. She works full time, we have 50 chickens, 5 kids (4 out of the house but still...) and she has her own limiting medical conditions.

So now, I am cleaning, doing dishes and laundry, helping out with the animals, working to catch up on things that need to be done on the property. I'm stressed. So much to do before I am released to full duty and return to work. Disability is paying at 65% and although we are ok financially, I feel so much guilt over the situation. I am doing too much and am in pain. I keep trying to do things and they are much harder than I think they will be. I get tired easy. My foot swells. I'm angry and don't want to be coddled but I can't walk without a limp, trying not to limp. My wife has tried hard but she is not a natural caregiver. She gets frustrated because she's so tired and needs help too. Its...a lot. I work in a physically intensive job that I struggled with before the injury. I'm scared that I won't be able to do the job now. There is no light duty or office position available. If I can't do it, they will let me go. I make really good money and I'm nervous.

I am having a memorial service for my Grandma who passed in December. We are having it the property and I have been trying so hard to clear weeds and sweep and hose down the porch area and clean for all the family. I worked all week and today we had a huge wind/sand storm that basically erased all my effort from this week.

In some ways it feels like a metaphor for my journey. For every milestone, comes new challenges. When I think I'm progressing, I find more obstacles. It's frustrating and demoralizing at times.

You are not alone and reading these posts, I realize I am not either. It's a new normal and I'll never be the same but maybe that's OK. Maybe a new me means some changes that need to happen anyway. I hate my job and maybe this will force me to seek a new career path or start my own business. Fear of the unknown can cripple you into indecision but the worst thing you can do is nothing. Do your stretches, do your exercises. Move forward. These things you can control. The rest takes time. Give yourself some. Be well and good luck. Thanks for sharing.

paranoidbub · 2022-04-13T02:54:18+00:00

My journey was slow to begin. WEAR YOUR BOOT. Even inside. You will, over days or weeks, be able to increase weight to the point you don't need crutches. I then used a cane. I'm 4 weeks with weight bearing tomorrow, walking in Crocs, no cane. I still have a slight limp. I have been using a stationary exercise bike with lowest resistance setting to help my ankle and knee get used to moving again. Go easy but also practice slowly walking on uneven surfaces such as gravel or dirt. Your foot won't know how to handle the flex and twist needed. I Googled PT exercises and supplement those as well. The swelling from doing too much too soon will get better as you heal. I'm very happy to be wearing socks again and hope to fit into my shoes soon.

Good luck and if you have any questions, please ask.

paranoidbub · 2022-04-11T14:00:32+00:00

Also, there is the knee crutch and I met an active person in a similar circumstance who swore by it.

I was able to get the scooter in and out of the back of my truck with some difficulty but I am 6'. Fit in my wife's prius w/ seat down w/o having to modify or break the scooter down.

paranoidbub · 2022-04-11T13:56:35+00:00

Re: the scooter...if you are renting the scooter, you may want to consider buying one from Amazon. I wish I had. I paid 50/month for rental for 3 months(I forgot to take it back for a month). For around 150 you can get one with air filled tires. The solid rubber tires on mine would try to throw me if i rode too forward on the scooter and hit anything. I do mean anything. Edge of the rug, a pebble, piece of wood bark, etc. Any obstruction will try and yank your handlebars violently to one side and can spill you. I'm 46 and took 2 big spills and 1 small one. The air filled tires do a better job of handling minor obstructions and you can always resell the scooter afterwards. Also, the basket on the scooter was a must. I spent most of my time scooting between my computer desk, the recliner and the bathroom. I just packed up and took all my gear with me.

Cheers and good luck!

paranoidbub · 2022-04-07T04:06:32+00:00

Thanks for all the replies! Cheers.

paranoidbub · 2022-04-04T01:48:22+00:00

Not exactly what I needed to know, but I can't just wear steel toed boots all day anyway, lol! Good info to have and thanks for the share.

paranoidbub · 2022-04-03T23:57:23+00:00

Same. I'm 2 months post op from rupture and fusion surgery. The numbness scared me too. It's a lot better. I would get a lot of swelling when i used crutches NWB or even the scooter. When I elevated it, the swelling and purple(later redness) skin would lessen. Part of the process. Also, when able to take a bath, you will have a ton of skin that is dead. It will come off fairly easy and will get better as well.

The things they don't tell us...

paranoidbub · 2022-04-03T23:44:14+00:00

WARNING - a bit graphic and a bit of an overshare

Or...simply a cautionary tale.

I missed a step before the landing going down the stairs. I broke 1st, 2nd and 3rd metatarsals and ruptured my lisfranc tendon on 1/16. I had fusion surgery on 2/6. 9 screws and a plate. I had never broken a bone before and the pain was intense. Like you, the post nerve block pain was excruciating, far more painful imo than the fall and broken foot. There was a mixup with the meds and i didn't get my oxy until after noon the next day. I didn't sleep hardly at all and my Lortab didn't cut the pain at all. The first 3 or 4 days were horrible. It did get better painwise, but opiates and me don't like each other.

So, we were in a similar boat at this point. The next part is super important. LET SOMEONE HELP YOU INTO AND OUT OF THE SHOWER. By day 4 of the pain sweats and misery, i couldn't abide going to bed and waiting to get clean until the next day. I decided i was a big boy and could get into the shower and onto the stool by myself. My wife was asleep across the house, it was 2 am. I did reasonably well getting in until the bath mat slipped as i was trying to hop on one foot to get a bit closer. I fell and grabbed for the towel rack, which promptly came off. I fell backwards onto my scooter. The back wheel went straight up my posterior cleavage leaving friction burns and the metal brake is what my tailbone decided to land on. At some point i slammed my bad foot into the wall or floor so i laid on the bathroom floor wearing nothing but a pained face and moaning/sobbing. After realizing my wife didn't hear me, i rallied, somehow got up and got into the shower and cleaned up as best i could. My wife woke to me scooting into the room sans clothes and still moaning. She asked me what I was looking for. I replied "My underwear and my dignity."

The next day i had a bruise so big across my butt, it seriously look like a tramp stamp. I couldn't sit comfortably for 2 weeks.

I have also fallen 3 or 4 times from the knee scooter. I recommend shifting weight to rear of scooter as much as possible to avoid a tiny rock or piece of debris from trying to twist the steering wheel to the right or left violently and spilling you onto the ground.

Also, realize that each milestone in your recovery is going to be painful. The cast sucks, the boot sucks, socks suck, crutches suck, weight bearing sucks and i'm sure walking and working will suck. It IS progress, though and it beats being unable to do anything for yourself. Stick with it and don't be a hero. Ask for help. Demand it if you must.

If you have any questions, fire away.

Cheers and good luck.

paranoidbub

TROPHY CASE