Heel graft and fractured calcaneus

[Mikevac]

It's been eight wks since surgery. The screws in my heel bone feel fine, my problem is the skin graft is still black and scabby and is draining a watery blood when it splits open. The edges look good but feels like burning pain, is this normal? How much longer? I can't walk with this.

[Mikevac]

It's my twelfth week post op after ORIF, doc cleared me for weight bearing. I've been doing motion exercises 3-4 times a day. Feels like walking on a spained ankle with the scabby skin graft splitting. Wow !  It's good to be finally walking. How's ur recovery going since that setback?

[Foggy2]

Another thing that helped me was getting what's called a shoe balancer.  It's something that goes on the opposite shoe (on the bottom on the shoe) to heighten the other leg so that you're not off-balance while wearing the cast.  This is especially helpful if you're having any back, hip, or knee pain from being thrown off balance due to wearing the cast.

I had an unfortunate incident last night.  Because I did so much damage when I injured my legs I cannot feel my legs at all; my nerves never grew back.  Last night I must have accidentally bumped into something and I got a laceration over part of my graft.  So now I've learned to be extra careful and be aware of my surroundings to avoid injuries in the future.  So now I'm doing more wound care, trying to elevate it, and using compression.

Applying for disability does take time; at least a year and you're better off having an attorney on your side.  Even then, you're often denied the first time around.  Like you said, if you can return to work after all of this you're better off doing that.

So don't feel alone.  As you can see from my experience, setbacks do happen, but don't be discouraged.

[Mikevac]

Thanks for the advice with the extra foam in the air cast surrounding my skin graft. I just had a set back on my calcaneus fracture, doc ordered another 4-6 weeks non weight bearing, thankful I didn't damage any screws. This will make it almost four mos. since my accident. How's your rehab going? I checked into and applied for disability if it takes longer than 12mos. According to the attorney it doesn't sound very promising. Oh we'll it's all they can say is NO. I'd much rather go back to work if possible as a millwright of 22 years. This injury is putting me in the poor house.

[Foggy2]

Do you put any cushions in your aircast?  That helped me.  Even if you have to be creative and make them yourself to help you avoid friction with your wound I would try it because there is very little cushioning in there as you know.

Yes, I had a very rough go with my healing, and did re-injure it several times afterwards.  I've learned to be very careful of my surroundings since.  But the skin of the graft is very fragile afterwards for well after a year.  Again, I was told by the doc that everything looks normal like you.  So give it more time.  The colors of the edges and the graft will change over time as it goes through the healing process, and keep up the good work on recovering.

Let me know if you have any questions. :-)

[Mikevac]

Yea I change the graft dressing daily. Doc said it looks normal. I guess every time I advance in my range of motion or rub it raw in the air cast it keeps splitting. Sounds like you had or have it rough with your heeling. I'm tryin to be patient but persistent with recovery and definitely don't want to re-injure.

[Foggy2]

When are you do to follow up with your doctor post-op?  Grafts change color and the "skin" changes texture over a year (at least) depending on the depth and size of the graft.  If the "watery blood" is more like blood with urine in it, that may be normal, but again check with your surgeon.  The darkened edges are usually normal and lighten up over time.  Did you surgeon tell you to use a cream or apply a type of dressing on this while it is healing?  If not, ask him/her about it.  The burning may be from air hitting the exposed healing area or nerves regrowing...again ask your surgeon about this.  Without seeing it, it is difficult to say.  

I had a very large graft done from my knee down to my foot for the entire leg that they initially wanted to amputate my leg because all that was left was my bones.  After living in a Hyberbaric Chamber 5 days a week on/off for a year, I re-grew enough to have graft surgery, but it was very extensive.  I'm not 2 years out and still healing.

Are you being followed by a Wound Center?

Given what you have told me, please all your surgeon to report your problems, and he/she will either reassure you or instruct you further.  Let me know if you have any further questions.  Thank you,