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

[jaqcap]

My boyfriend fell off a ladder landed on his feet and shattered his heel. We go back to the doctors to see about surgery its only been a week but i know what the outlook is and its going to be a long recovery, the worst part is that he just started a new job and his down time is going to
be long. I now am very careful when i jump down from things dont want all of problems he is going through.

[Lisette53]

I fell out of an attic and fractured my heel.  I desperately want to talk to anyone going thru this or who has been thru this.  I had surgery and have a titanium plate and screws.  I have to wait until October (2011) to start putting weight on it.  Who knew a heel could be so difficult!

[daughter141]

I am posting for my father who fell 30' on 11/28/09.  He crushed several parts of his body on the left side, but we are most concerned with his crushed heel bone.  He has already had surgery to fix his arm and leg.  He has yet to have surgery (today is day 49) due to fracture blisters that covered his entire foot.  The skin is healing, but the surgeon still doesn't think he is ready for surgery.  In fact, this week the surgeon said that my dad's best bet for recovery is amputation of the foot.  Obviously, we are seeking another opinion.  We have contact the fracture center in Florida, and are also going to contact the Mayo Clinic the beginning of next week.  Does anyone have any Dr.'s that are well known for treating this type of fracture?  My father is only 56 years old and wants to keep his foot and have as pleasant of a life as possible.  We are trying to be realistic about his future, but want to get as many second opinions as possible.  
Please contact us if anyone has any information regarding Doctors or hospitals that have centers that specialize in the heel.  Location is not a problem.  We live in Ohio, but are willing and ready to travel anywhere in the US.

[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.

[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 *****!!!!

[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.

[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.

[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.