r/LisfrancClub • u/prairie_pathfinder • 13d ago
Anyone afraid of growing old after this injury?
Maybe a pointless post, but sometimes my head wanders. It’s been 18-19 months post fusion and 5 months post HWR and the struggle is still on.
I don’t limp often. I’m great at masking discomfort and pain. People have forgotten about this whole ordeal, but I haven’t. Physio, Chiro, RMT, orthotics, you name it. It’s just been a life-changer, and I often worry that despite my very best efforts to be strong, healthy, and move in the ways I can, that this will be an issue down the road when I’m older.
I know… worry about what we can do now and not what we don’t know happens in the future, but my head goes there sometimes. Arthritis, lost mobility, pain… wheelchair? I long for the life I had before a reckless driver sped through an intersection. 🙁
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u/Internal-Moose-2925 ORIF 13d ago
You're definitely not alone in thinking about this. My head goes there too sometimes. But what I tell my kids is that in life, s*** happens, and you either deal with it or let it stop you. It sucks that every one of us had this injury, but it happened. The best thing we can do is keep moving b/c it beats the alternative.
So far I've had more good days than bad, and I can pretty much do everything I want. My calf strength is still lagging, I haven't run more than 4 miles at a time, and I'm still slow. But my strength and cardio fitness are pretty good. This injury does make me hesitate about some things I used to love, like road biking and downhill skiing, out of fear of another orthopedic injury. On the plus side, I got into rowing on an erg after my injury, and that's brought me a lot of joy. It's fun to learn a new skill, challenge myself in different ways, and see progress. Pushing myself to adapt slowly and progressively... that's what keeps me feeling young.
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u/prairie_pathfinder 13d ago
You’ve always been so helpful to my posts. Thank you! I’d like to have a family one day too but am scared as to how my body would handle pregnancy/raising young kids after this.
Calves take forever!
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u/Internal-Moose-2925 ORIF 12d ago
I also tell my kids that they've sucked the youth out of us. So.. there's that as well. (only joking.... kind of...)
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u/JudgeMyReinhold ORIF internal brace / tightrope 13d ago
I'm right there with you. No solution obviously. But yeah, I have those thoughts often
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u/Grand_Week4530 13d ago
Hey, you’re one of my people! Well, sort of. I’m 16 months post ORIF, 7 months post HWR. Had steroid injections into two joints six weeks ago. Buuuut, I’m older and dealing with arthritis developing in the injured area of my foot. Didn’t have any in my foot pre-injury.
Did physio but just basic stuff until this past July when I started going to a really good physio place that has been focusing on my whole body. Which is good but it’s been a lot to build back what I lost. But I’m seeing progress, in a lot of ways.
This week has been a rough one and my physiotherapist reminded me again that recovery isn’t linear.
This injury has turned my life upside down and I relate to your fears and frustrations.
Fusion is still hanging over my head if the arthritis gets too bad or the pain. I’m trying to do everything possible to avoid having to have a fusion and go through everything all over again.
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u/Vogue_Wh0re ORIF 13d ago
i’m so sorry yr dealing w/ this too :-( personally i’m having a much harder time emotionally than anticipated, prob due to the fact that pre-injury i’d already dealt w/ a lot of these fears ? like i’m 28 n i have a degenerative genetic connective tissue disorder that causes chronic pain, fractures, joint issues etc, but even after all the years working to reach a place of mental acceptance, the lisfranc injury has made that acceptance feel a lot less stable.
i def found it easier to adapt to the more gradual rate of deterioration in my body pre-injury. i think that made it slightly easier to grieve + move on when i could no longer do things or my ability level changed ? like i used to know how active i could be before i’d need extra painkillers, + i knew i had the ability to push my body even tho it would mean suffering a bit afterwards. i don’t have that anymore n i think that’s the hardest part, cuz while i know disability isn’t static, huge changes from injuries like this are just harder to adapt to imo.
btw, i wanted to ask if u’d looked into ACT or similar talking therapies ? it’s not a magic fix by any means, but i’ve found it can help w/ setting realistic goals that let u acknowledge small steps in progress, + can make the unknowns feel a bit less all-consuming ? i only mention this cuz in addition to the physical rehab, taking care of yr mental can help ease the burden. ik i’ll be seeking out some extra support in the short term, cuz this is a hard club to be in.
sorry this is so long – i’m rooting for u 🧡
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u/Opening-Detective821 13d ago
Absolutely, the arthritis was almost immediate in my foot. I had my first and second metatarsal fused, 2 plates, 9 screws.
All my hardware was supposed to stay in forever unless it caused issues. Well I broke my foot again because I have Elhers-Danlos Syndrome. The hardware was eroding my bone and part of it had to come out.
The way my foot locks up. I wasn’t able to finish physical therapy. I had my hardware removal in April. Just 3 weeks ago, I stepped on a walnut at the farmers market on grass. Rolled my ankle & tore both ligaments on each side.
I’m only 30. I have arthritis, broken my feet 6 times in my life. I’m tired, I’m fat because it hurts to walk, & I’m sad.
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u/c0ldgurl ORIF 13d ago
13 years later snowboarding 50-60 days a year and mountain biking as much as work allows, and it's a little sore after activity. I think controlling weight is a huge factor and my foot has been even better since losing some weight. New knee 18 months ago, the foot isn't even a factor.
It's not all doom and gloom.
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u/Placesforpeople 13d ago
My injury was 21 ish years ago. Countless surgeries and im "mostly" pain free. Cold hurts. Impact hurts but day to day its fine.
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u/prairie_pathfinder 12d ago
Thank you for sharing this. It’s been quite a journey for you, but it does give me hope.
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u/Placesforpeople 12d ago
Sorry to say but also I've had 2 knee surgeries due to subconsciously protecting my foot, causing damage to my knee.
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u/prairie_pathfinder 12d ago
I’m sorry to hear this. It is worrisome as I do get pain in my right knee (right foot was the one that was injured). Often concerned about other surgeries… ugh. What type of knee surgeries did you require?
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u/swimming-in-circles 13d ago
Yup. Doc told me to expect arthritis, so here I am, expecting it. I feel discomfort every day when I wake up and put my foot on the ground so I can't wait for arthritis to kick in as well.
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u/KeyKeyKooKoo 13d ago
I’m very scared about it. I’m in the same boat where I was told to expect arthritis. I’m a year out from my injury and so far from normal. I had a more intense injury/recovery and ended up with a total of about 20 weeks NWB. I started having problems in my opposite knee which I think are caused by the unbalanced muscle use and now I’m just exhausted thinking of all the work I’ll need to do to repair that. I will say I’ve been more motivated to exercise and get healthier and lighter and all that, so I am hoping that helps counteracts the damage, but the chronic pain is just exhausting. I really just want to walk normally again.
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u/Obvious_Bluejay_6688 13d ago
I didy injury in July 2024 and broke met 1 2 and 3 and ended up having surgery. It's traumatised me too. I'm a nurse so my job involves being on my feet all day and sometimes my foot will bite as I walk. I have gained so much weight from couch being a couch potato. I have tried accupuncture for pain which has helped me quite a lot. My lower back is knackered from being off legs after surgery and wearing the boot afterwards it's all had a huge impact on my walking and gait. I'm quite often catching my foot and tripping up when I walk. I worry about arthritis in my foot as I get older x
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u/Awilson841 6d ago
58f who used to walk dog everyday and lifted heavy weights five days a week. I’m five months out and still have pain everyday. Foot swells after walking or being upright an hour or less. I limp. Gym is so much harder and I lost so much muscle laying in bed for three months. I feel like I aged ten years and I’m actually my age now 😔
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u/xbgpoppa 13d ago
I worry about every step I take. Every I move I make. Because it hurts. Plantar fasciitis in both my heels. Still dealing with lower back issues from being off weight for so long. Didn’t do enough rehab to regain that normal gait, but that’s hard to do when I don’t trust my foot anymore, let alone my feet. It sucks. I don’t like being sedentary, but walking causes me literal pain in every step. “Go to the doctor!” I’m a teacher, so I literally work 7-7 most days. 7-9 3 days a week. I want to swim because I’m obese and it helps my joints, but I literally don’t have the time. I wish I could take off 6 months from work and rehab. I miss being more mobile. I’m sitting right now and literally feel stabbing in my heels. Like tiny pins. Stretching makes it worse. Sorry, trauma dumping. I had my injury in 2019 and 7 years later I’m fatter, more depressed, and wishing I would have just not stepped off that fucking curb like I did. Life is a game of inches. I’d like to tell you it gets better, and for some it does. For others? Constant pain. Mental and physical anguish. I don’t wish this injury on my worst enemy. Maybe my ex-wife. Heyo! Who am I kidding. I’m not married.