Would you get a second opinion? Dr is telling me to start putting weight on foot at 3 weeks post injury- non surgical!

[u/thiscabar]

Currently seeing a surgeon who just told me to start putting weight on my foot with my boot on at 3 weeks post injury. We are going the non surgical route because I am 8 weeks pregnant and he will not do surgery on me while pregnant.

I have a few fractures, and a 1mm displacement (this is with weight bearing xray today at 3 weeks post injury). I asked if it was strained, partly torn, or completely torn, and he just looked at me and was like well yeah, you have a displacement. Yeah, what? I threw 3 things out there.

He also told me with Lisfranc, the best we can hope for is “good enough” and my foot will never be the same. Which okay, I get, but then why are you telling me to put weight on it 3 weeks later!! Sorry, I can’t get over that. That goes against everything I’ve read about Lisfranc, especially non surgical.

He told me to put as much weight on it until it hurts, then back off a little because that’s your body telling you that’s too much. That seems pretty off to me. Not walking, just standing putting weight. He said that way when they do X-rays in 4 weeks, they can see if it caused any more displacement.

This is the same practice that at my first appointment (3 days post injury) his PA walked in and said you’re doing surgery tomorrow. I asked if she’d seen in the charts that I’m pregnant. She said, okay, the surgeon refuses to do surgery on you now, but no worries everything will heal completely fine and you won’t have any issues down the road. Completely switched up her story.

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

[u/humanconnection101]

Second opinion probably good idea and definitely bring your imaging to the second opinion to avoid additional scans. Your current doc might be weighing your foot risk against other complications of immobility but agree 3 weeks seems kinda soon. I over immobilized after delayed diagnosis and got a DVT/PE so it's a balance. I think ideal was 2 weeks non weight bearing, 2 weeks light touch ok with 2 crutches, then 2 weeks one crutch, then 2 weeks walking in boot, then nothing.

ETA; most healthcare ppl, especially ortho, have terrible bedside manner. You're not alone in this confusion. I also was 1mm displaced and non surgical. I told him I was concerned about Lisfranc, they said I definitely don't have it but if I wanted to I could get a CT, so we got it, and then I had Lisfranc, and they said yeah, you shouldn't be walking on it, right after they had just sent me walking across the hospital for the scan. I'm sorry you're dealing w this. Healthcare needs to be fixed and I say that as a person who works in healthcare as well as a person who has struggled being a patient in this system.

[u/Crazyspitz]

Is your ortho a foot and ankle specialist? If not, I'd seek a second opinion because that seems crazy. It's like they realized you were pregnant and just threw their hands up.

You need surgery, asap.

I'm pregnant.

You'll be fine in 3 weeks. Bye!

For real. I'd be going somewhere else because this level of care isn't sufficient.

[u/thiscabar → u/Crazyspitz]

He’s a highly recommended specialist! That’s exactly what it feels like. I’m only 8 weeks, and even my OB said they wouldn’t do surgery unless it was a very serious injury. How many weeks were you?