Calcaneal Fracture

[trvlarrngr]

I broke my right heel in an auto accident in Sept. I had surgery 1 week later - 9 screws and a plate. They took off the
cast after 4 weeks but I had to have it put back on again in a week due to bleeding and incision opening up.  So they put me on antibiotics and back in a cast. Should I be worried?

While I am home laying here non weight bearing...I developed a small line of funny ortho tshirts and mugs. www.cafepress.com/heels  since the accident I started my own small travel website and this silly store but I am so bored
out of my mind - not used to just laying here. Anyone have any
ideas for keeping busy and keeping spirits up?

Thanks
Lucy

[blackrose]

Hi,do you like crocheting,knitting,sewing?Have you thought about your holiday plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.If you send out Christmas cards make them up now.Look through cook books if you enjoy cooking.Read a novel that is your favorite and never have time to read.Watch your favorite movie.You can do a lot of things you enjoy.Mix up your day plans to make it more exciting.Take care and I hope you feel better real soon.P.S.The reason you probably got put back in a cast is because where the broken bone was.It does take longer for the heel,to get better.Do what your doctor tells you stay off of it.

[jackmom]

I fell and broke my calcaneous 12/16/05. Had surgery to set the bone, plate and 9 screws 12/27. I too had a trouble with the incision healing which led to another surgery on 4/27 to close the wound. This was followed by the incision opening again, smaller, but still open and a diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Had third surgery on 10/10 to scrape the bone,(new doctor, wouldn't return to the guy that did the first surgery and his partner). Also had to have 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. Yes, I would be concerned about the open incision. It took 10 months for mine to close, no wonder I developed an infection. Advocate for yourself, ask questions, and don't worry about hurting the doctor's feelings. Ask to see test results, that is the only way ANYthing was done about my osteomyelitis. I am walking on the outside edge of my foot, with limited mobility and no one will give me an full assessment of my situation or what I can expect for the future. DO NOT GO TO A PODIATRIST!  Go to an Orthopedist that specializes in feet and ankles, preferably at a teaching hospital. Sorry for the long entry but I have been wanting to talk to someone else with a calcaneal fracture for a year now. Wish I had known intially that it is a very complicated fracture and you need the best care to recover fully.

[mkjlan]

I had never heard of anyone fracturing the heel bone. That was until 11/01/2008. I fell 10-12 feet from a ladder and landed directly on a hard root that was protruding about 2 inches above ground. I never knew pain until that day. When I landed, I thought I broke my ankle. My wife had to remove my steel toe boot and sock. That probably was the worst pain of it all, along with the radiology guy who bumped my foot into the CT machine as he pulled me out. I wanted to scream but I seemed semi paralyzed by the shock of impact. I have been in cast since that day (6 weeks). I live in a manufactured home which has 4 steps to get in/out and still need help going anywhere. Worst of all maybe was the fact that a fantastic job opportunity was lost because I am in this position.

[catboss]

I have been reading alot about broken heels and you are the first one going thru this at the same time as me. :( I shattered my heel in a car accident on 11/13/08.) I was taken out of my cast last Thursday. The new Dr. does not do heel surgery. He doesn't seem too experienced in all of this. Earlier that week the original Dr. wanted to do surgery but I was scared so I went for 2nd opinion. Original Dr. was going to put a cast on it but didn't so I could get another opinion. 4 days later the new Dr. just leaves it out of cast and wants me to move it around. No weight bearing though. In the meantime, by trying to protect my broken heel, I fell on my stairs (in a manufactured home too) and wouldn't you know it...I got 2 very small fractures on the opposite foot. Now I am reduced to crawling around the house and sleeping on a blow up bed. This *****!!!!

[danes1083]

I am 25 years old. I fell off of a 6 foot platform and landed on my heel. The right side is bruised, the bottom of my heel is swollen and red, but the left side has no swelling, bruising, or pain. I can squeeze my heel on both sides but only feel pain on the bottom and right side. And I can squeeze pretty damn hard and it's not completely unbearable. I can't, however, put any weight on my heel. From all of your experiences, do you think my heel is broken? You can even e-mail me at ***@**** because I'm very concerned. I'm an athlete and cannot take time off to rest my foot nor for surgery. Thanks.