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Calcaneus Surgery ORIF Success Stories?
Brian Lee Victory wrote: Hello, has anyone undergone Calcaneal Surgery that required the insertion of hardware, and if so did you fully recover? What I mean is, were you able to continue climbing and hiking with full range of motion and minimal pain after the surgery? I had taken a ground fall and shattered my calcaneus, including fracturing my subtalar joint. I'm sitting here several weeks after the surgery and just looking for hope in the form of optimistic stories of others who have had the same experiences. Thank you, Brian |
Yujal Khadka wrote: Hey Yujal- I’ve basically answered this question previously in this thread… but quickly: I shattered my calcaneus and damaged my Subtalar over 30yrs ago.. I limp and have daily pain… I’ve also climbed many 5.12’s, dozens of big walls, run 30km trail races, climbed mountains, snowboarded, skied, skateboard and surfed…
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Michael Bolten wrote: Hi Michael Bolten, I hvae a similar experience in that tomorrow I am going to have calcaneal osteotomy and subtalar joint fusion and this will send me back to square 1 I guess. I don't fully understand what your surgeon wants to do this time around so maybe look for a second opinion and try to find a surgeon who has done it many times before. I'm going for the surgery because of all my fractures calc is the most painful and limiting, it looks like the surgery on malunion generally produces good results and the surgeon has done it many times. Also the calc is affecting my knee and my back. If on the other hand the doc tells you you can get by without the surgery, weigh the pros and cons; maybe normal is not attainable as I believe in my case, so I try to make the most of the abilities I do have. Is doctors' advice keeping you away from the climbing wall or is it pain? |
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So I got my calcaneal osteotomy and subtalar joint fusion a week ago and boy does it hurt. I took some Precocet the first couple of nights after the surgery and now I’m just trying to go without opioids but it’s not easy. The surgery is supposed to increase function and reduce pain so I hope it all pans out; not to mention returning the back of my calcaneus’s look to that of a Hershey’s Kiss® instead of that of a bottle of Perrier®. My surgeon calls me “buddy”, which who cares if he is good at opening people up and fixing them. (I have to say the operating room looked straight out of a sci fi movie and I wonder if they also remove face huggers when I’m not around). I have a cast and it will be removed next week with maybe a new cast put in its place, and I am told I have an L-shaped opening on the side of my ankle that they covered with a lining made of silver which reduces the need for wound care - amazing. Thankfully I can work from a computer so I am at least good for that at the moment. Online there are medical articles that say there is a high satisfaction in patients who have this kind of procedure, so I sure look forward to that. PT will likely start in about 5 weeks when I can start putting weight on my surgical foot. I hope to be able to return to yoga and I’m curious to find out how life is when your subtalar joint has been fused. |
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On September 3rd I broke my right calcaneus in a climbing fall. Intra-articular, comminuted, multiple fractures, 6mm of displacement in subtalar joint, etc..... the CT didn't look so good to me, but I'm definitely not the expert. Not sure on the classification, but the surgeon told me it was not Class IV, so I guess there's that. Probably a 3? I didn't ask. I was able to get a really highly recommended surgeon, and surgery went well. I'm 1 week out of surgery. The incision seems to be healing up well, and I'm trying to move the foot a little bit, without stretching the stitches and incision. I will have stitches removed in 7 days. My surgeon said he recommends an aggressive approach to ROM and PT. My pain level post op was manageable with 1000mg Tylenol and 800mg Ibuprofen alternating every 4 hours for a few days..... I was very close to reaching for the opioids on day 1, but I was able to stay away from them, I think I passed out from the pain, then woke up and the pain was a little less... Pain today is at like a 2, it only gets bad when my foot is not elevated. I also get some sharp pains when I move the ankle, so I'm afraid to try forcing any ROM. Sucks I can't really get around much without causing my foot to swell and get beet red. If anyone has suggestions on this, I am hoping this will start getting better over time. I'm 39, pretty athletic, was climbing at my peak (around 5.12b/c and V6+, these grades seem so meaningless to me right now), and was having the best time of my life. I've had so much heartbreak anger and depression, despair since this happened, but I've also some hidden joys in finding friends and family that really care, and reading stories of other's successes through struggle. One thing that is keeping me sane, is I can still do ring workouts, pullups, dips, core, and hangboard. I'm hoping to get an exercise bike to do 1-leg cycling to get some cardio. Someone in this thread posted this link, and I'll post it again, because it is inspiring: petzl.com/INT/en/Sport/News… Thanks to everyone on here who has shared their stories, gave encouragement, and fought this battle before. And here's to everyone who will be here in the future. I intend to beat this fucking thing and get back to doing what I love, although I know it will take a long time, and be the hardest thing I've done so far in life. -Adam About the accident: I fell about 15-20 feet onto a ledge below. I was on a trad route, but actually directly above 2 clipped bolts, and was trying to clip the 3rd on a slabby pitch. I didn't know the ledge was even down there, because I had traversed in. Unfortunately when I slipped I just expected the rope to catch me like it has 1000 times before, but there's a pretty significant weight difference between my belayer and me (I weigh 160, she weighs 90lbs) so the rope caught me, but not before I smashed my heel on the ledge. The heel Immediately swelled up, and it felt like hell if I tried to put any weight at all on that bad foot, so I knew something was very wrong. We spent about 2-3 hours getting off the route and hobbling / hopping / crawling back to the car. Luckily we ran into some friends who were able to give their shoulders as crutches and help us down to the car. |
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Hey ND i am sending good thoughts your way and hope that you recover well! im really trying to hold off with the fusion as it seems daily it is like a drop in the bucket or 3 steps forward and 2 back as far as recovery goes for me.9 months since injury , conservatively treated about 3 months since lateral wall exostomy (removal of a big portion of lateral wall due to peroneal tendon impingement) i can only work about 4 or 5 hours (maintenance guy in a engine rebuilding factory , big building concrete floors and safety boots required.) after work i am really spent, i rest the foot when i get home then go out and cut fire wood as winter is approaching ... i fell at work so it is a work comp injury and they are ruthless as i received a text saying they will no longer be providing me with transport to the doctor as enough time has gone by i should be healed.... keep updating us how the subtalar fusion recovery goes ... as for motion at this point for me ... dorsiflection same as uninjured side. planterflexion about 75 80 percent of good side. inversion im guessing none as im thinking its just the ankle joint allowing for some. eversion seems about the same as good side .... it does seem like i am walking on the lateral side of the heel and my foot is kinda toed inwards where my good foot is toed outwards . last radioligst reprt says pes planus .... i like what was written above "life sentence not a death sentence" im off to cut some fire wood. |
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Hi All - Im a 28 male, I fractured my left calcaneus in Nov during a 10 foot fall climbing a building onto concrete. (I remember thinking, hmmm I shouldn't still be falling) Waited 3 weeks for ORIF surgery, swelling was actually down after 2 weeks but surgeon was not available. I'm about 4 weeks out from OP around 3 hours, apparently my bone had already started to heal so some additional breaks were required during the surgery. (13 small screws, one big screw and a plate). The first night was fine due to a blocker but day 2 opted for no medication and this was quite the trip. I was in a splint for 2 weeks and since then I keep my foot up 99% of the time with ice and a wrap, traveling outside I use the air boot. Right now I can move my foot up and down maybe 30%, and i can bend my toes pretty well. For a while there I didn't have much feeling in my pinky toe but that seemed to have come back slowly over time. Still completely numb on the left side of the foot. I start PT in a week still fully NWB so we will see what they will be able to do. My biggest concern right now is the endless swelling that seems to happen from having my foot down for more than 10 minutes. To echo the sentiment - Great thread for changing my mindset. Hearing everyone's personal experiences gives me hope on a more positive outcome when I start walking again. |
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Hi guys, I need a bit of moral support. I (44, f) shattered my right heel and subtalar joint in August '22 when hitting a rock under water jumping in a canyon. Had surgery on the 19th of August, then 12 weeks on crutches with maximal 10kg weight on the foot. Have been off crutches and full weight-bearing on my right foot since the beginning of November. I can walk, though limping somewhat, but the foot is still extremely stiff (particularly the Achilles tendon). I have been able to do hikes of 2 1/2 hours, 7-8km on somewhat uneven ground (forest paths and such like), but after that my foot hurts quite bit, both the tendons and the heel. I am somewhat despairing whether I will ever be able to go back to climbing and serious mountaineering. Shortly before my accident I moved to Switzerland, and the thought that I might never be able to do any of the high peak ascents or long climbing routes that I had been dreaming about is extremely depressing. It didn't help that when in hospital, one of the doctors said to me that I should accept that I will never climb a mountain again. I find it rather hard to keep up any kind of optimism. Am seeing a different surgeon specialising on foot injuries on Thursday for a second opinion, but I admit that I am very nervous about the outcome.
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No need to despair. Its still early, one year is a realistic timeline. Sounds like you're actually doing pretty well. Those long rugged hikes- you can still do them, but there will always be a bit of (not pain) but soreness afterwards. Partly this is due to a fading of the magic of youth- all injuries keep a lingering echo as we get older. And eventually (but not yet for you) we have to trim our sails and "do less, but enjoy it more". And it is Switzerland. A good cocktail with a view qualifies as moral support too. Cheers |
Livia lovesmountains wrote: Hi Livia, I realized that it's been too long since I replied to this thread I had created about my calcaneal injury. It's now been about 8 years since my ground fall when I shattered my heel, broke a finger, and fractured a few vertebrae. I made the decision to not remove the hardware, so I still have the steel plate and screws in my left foot. |
Brian Lee Victory wrote: |
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Thanks, Brian and Mike, for your encouragement! I saw a foot surgeon yesterday morning for a second opinion, and he was really optimistic! He said that the doctor who did the surgery did an excellent job, and he was confident that I should be back at climbing and high peak ascents within a year :) He also said that is was rather amazing that I could already hike again for several hours so soon after such an injury. So, I am feeling very much better! He did say that my jogging days are probably over, but as long as I can walk and climb again, I don't care. If you have any suggestions how to quickly regain my fitness, I'd be interested. I went aqua-jogging today, and that's certainly a pretty good workout and should help to rebuild the leg muscles. |
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Good Morning, Not sure if people are still posting on here, but I'm very happy to have found this forum. Im not a climber but I'm an active backpacker, hiker, snowboarder, surfer and a Firefighter. I fractured my Calcaneus on 2/13 snowboarding. I was going mock 10 down a run that I've gone down thousands of times. They changed a part of the cat track and had a poor transition that led me into a group of trees. As a last ditch effort I tried to do a heel side stop. Luckily I did, as the board hit the tree instead of my body. Ive been riding my whole life and had some falls, but instantly I knew this was different. Just had my 3rd Ortho appointment where they said I have a comminuted, depressed intra-articular fracture that extends to the calcaneocubiod joint. With some displace fracture fragments present at the sinus Tarsi. Surprisingly the Doctor said that Surgery was not necessary as it would only make my foot look better on paper. Said Surgery or putting it in a cast will have very similar outcomes. Both outcomes "may" need a joint fusion down the line. We weighed the pros and cons and he contacted 3 other surgeons who are very aggressive with wanting surgery, and they all agreed that it would not do much. So not sure if that is a win, or if they think I'm screwed... As a Firefighter, I did not know if my career was over and I started to spiral emotionally. Im in a cast for 4-6 weeks, then a boot for possibly 10 weeks. Not sure when Ill be weight bearing, but ill be patient as this recovery could affect my career. My pain only effects me really at night. Just aches and causes me to wake up constantly throughout the night. Im in good spirits, just wanted to reach out to see if someone has had a similar fracture to mine. Thanks for everyone on here, really has helped me mentally. |
David H wrote: Hi David I'm really sorry to hear about your injury. Especially since you seemed to have a really active life and a job you liked. It's unfair that you have to put your life on hold like that. Unfortunately I know little about your injury, but the pain at night will ease in time. Patience is the hardest but most important thing to have and do right now. The reason I know is because I broke my calcaneus like an egg shell on new years eve 2022. I have 3 more days left till I can see if I am good to bear weight again. I'm 17, probably the youngest person to be writing on this blog, but I was a rock climber (indoors) and loved to hike and was overall very active. I fell 60 feet new years eve from a building and broke my spine (L vertebras) , left pelvis, my talus on my right foot and heel on left foot. I was in ST ICU for a week and then trauma care for 2 weeks. Went to rehab for 2 weeks and now I'm home. I've been in a wheelchair for almost 3 months. It's taken a huge tole on me mentally. I had to get surgery in both my feet, had ORIF on my heel and surgery on my pelvis. Heel has 9 screws and a chain. Heel surgery hurt more than breaking my heel. I found this blog while looking for reconciliation on heel pain. I didn't think anyone was still active in it but, it is really nice to see that it still is, and that all over the world we are all breaking our heels haha. Breaking your heel is close to one of the worst breaks. I'm grateful to not have died that night, and that I will make a full recovery. You, and everyone on this blog will walk again and get to enjoy their long life ahead of them. This is just a minor bump that we can learn from. Cry if you need to, and be angry too it is all normal and ok. Our bodies are wonderful things, and take care of us so well, and I am so grateful for it. :) Much love!!!! |
Brian Lee Victory wrote: |
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Hi, I found your forum on google search. I’m a 45 yo NYC ff, I recently fell 16ft off of a ladder landing on my right foot. I had ORIF surgery a week ago, my Injury was almost 3 weeks ago. So far my pain comes and goes I try to keep it elevated as much as I can but I ask, the pain when I elevate it is sometimes pretty extreme. I can move my toes but I get numbness and tingling daily. Should I be concerned that this is Career ending? Thanks |
Frank Mantegari wrote: Hi Frank, First off, truly sorry to hear about your injury, especially for one of NY's bravest. Ultimately your doctor will know best, but many of us have had significant damage to our heel bones and came back to our activities and careers. My heel was Sanders 3 (broken in 5+ pieces) and I was walking again without crutches about 2 months after surgery, though I had age (I was 33) and prior health on my side. You're only a week out from surgery, so that level of pain is to be expected, and I remember pain improvement every day until it mostly faded. Make sure to eat healthy (with lots of calcium and green leafy veggies), don't smoke, don't drink, and do aggressive physical therapy and you'll maximize your recovery and hopefully have your career unaffected except for the time off. Reach out with questions as you need |
Peter Y wrote: Thank you very much. Yeah nights are the worst time for me, my foot feels like it’s burning at times, even when elevated, |
Frank Mantegari wrote: My foot felt very hot for weeks, but I took it as a sign that there was a lot of activity going on there to heal the bone. It will get better |
Peter Y wrote: Thank you. This is a first for me. I’m very active so it’s tough to sit around. I have been going to the gym but not on my feet at all. All sitting at machines and nothing with legs. My goal is push myself to get back sooner then later. |
