Fractured heel - Anyone done this?

[Win]

I fractured my heel, a week less a day ago, in the usual manner - a vertical drop and then rolled the ankle, causing an extra articular fracture of the heel, and an intra articular fracture of the talus - calcaneus joint, that did not displace, the x rays show it's still in alignment.

Anyone had this injury, and, if so, what was your recovery time? Some of what I've read on the internet is rather shocking for what looks like a relatively trivial injury.

The ankle is in one of those removable boot things now. I'm 52, active, healthy, not overweight, not a smoker, drinker, or any of that stuff.

 

[TC]

I don't know or recall the details, but we had an employee in our plant (I'm an EHS mgr) who had what appeared to be the same injury. She was out for a few months as I recall. (Sorry!)

 

[Chris142]

Don't sound like any fun at all.

 

[daves87rs]

Ow....

 

[chainblu]

I had a similar injury to yours back in 2006. The specialist/surgeon I was seeing for it said if I was a professional athlete, it would be a minimum of 12 months of ZERO weight before I could even think about playing sports again.
Well, since I'm just an average 'Joe' who needs to work, I was back in my work boots in about 10 weeks, including 5 weeks of PT. Fortunately, my employer gave me light duty in the meantime.
It was a long healing process though. I'm sure being on my feet all day didn't help. Some mornings I'd wake up and it would feel like someone had driven a large nail through my heel...especially cold, damp days.
These days I'm pain free and feel like I'm healed. Time will tell if arthritis sets in when I'm a little older (probably).

Sorry to hear about your injury. I'd wish it on no one.

 

[eljefino]

Left or right? If it's left you can at least drive more easily.

Having broken my ankle last winter I can commisserate: Crutches suck, and the cheapo chinese ones they give you in the ER are terrible! The 1/4 inch allthread wingnut rod in the handle wore through the plastic part of the handle on mine. The short walk between toilet and sink... well, I don't want to touch the crutches with pee-hands, now do I?

It's those little things that'll drive you nuts. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: chainblu
I had a similar injury .... I was back in my work boots in about 10 weeks, ....


Glad to hear you were on your feet so quickly. I'm hoping eight weeks to be walking without crutches. I was taken aback by the number of people who report months to years to recover.

I wouldn't wish it on anyone, either.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Left or right? If it's left you can at least drive more easily.

....


No such luck, it's the right, and all our cars have close spaced pedals.

My chinese crutches are not that bad, as crutches go, but I went and bought some at a medical supply place.

 

[mechtech2]

Being in alignment is a very good thing!
You should recover nicely.
Don't expect to be in perfect shape when the boot comes off!
more healing, growth, and retraining will take place.
6 months to a year. And you will have to specifically address it.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Being in alignment is a very good thing!
You should recover nicely


Yes, staying in alignment is apparently a really lucky break, to make a bad pun, as it seems to make a huge difference in recovery time.

The Doc gave me the go ahead last week to begin putting weight on it as pain permits, and I can already walk on it a little bit, albeit with some pain and a pretty bad limp, at a day less than four weeks. Drove for the first time yesterday and drove to the office today in a soft shoe.

I think if I keep after it, I'll be walking without a limp, or very little limp, six to seven weeks after the event and without a need for any PT.

Side benefit: dropped about five pounds that I needed to lose, and my upper body strength is better than before. Wouldn't recommend this as a weight loss plan, though.

 

[tdpark]

Definitly get PT if you can- your balance is going to be affected due to the weakness from being off of it. I broke my ankle years ago and had surgery and the PT really helped in getting rid of the limp and making sure i strengthened all the muscles without re-injuring the ankle or causing trouble with the other leg.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: tdpark
Definitly get PT if you can- your balance is going to be affected due to the weakness from being off of it.


Well, weakness in that leg and ankle is one of the things that has really concerned me, and is part of my motivation for trying to get back on it asap. I've been doing leg exercises, but I know muscles get weak fast from non use, and I think part of my limp is just weakness and stiffness from non use.

I don't have any balance anyway - banged my head pretty good in a motorcycle accident as a teen ager and really bad balance has been one of the artifacts of that event.