Lisfranc physical therapy exercises

21 weeks after my lisfranc surgery, my pain level when walking has significantly decreased with some steps that are completely pain free. 

My physical therapist gave me a band which I use for my  stretching exercises.  I have found that if I do these exercises in the morning, it helps take the stiffness out of my foot for the rest of the day.

Physical therapy after lisfranc surgery

             Here are the other exercises I do daily to help me
                                 recover flexibility. 


 (These exercises are hand tailored for me at 21 weeks following lisfranc surgery and may not be right for you.  Check with your Doctor, surgeon or physical therapist before doing any of these exercises as your needs and abilities may be different from mine.)

Lisfranc physical therapy exercises at 21 weeks after surgery

In addition, I am walking on the treadmill for 6 minutes at 1.5 MPH and walking backward on the treadmill for 2 minutes at .8 MPH.

My insurance authorized 20 physical therapy sessions and when I used them all and was only 45 -50% recovered, my physical therapist fought hard to get me 8 more sessions.  I have only 2 sessions left and am not ready to say "good-bye" to the safety of the therapy room.  And I am dreading saying good-bye to my therapist who has painstakingly taught me to walk again......

Pain level after 17 weeks recovering from lisfranc surgery

 Remember the last time your foot "fell asleep" and you tried to stand on it?  As it wakes up you feel tingling and eventually it feels like needles being poked into your flesh.  As the nerves in my foot regenerate, I have had that feeling multiple times on the top of my foot and especially in my big toe.  

But lately, the feeling has become more intense. For the last couple of days, my big toe feels like it is being stung  numerous times by small bees, not just on the top of my big toe, but underneath as well.  It is a different kind of pain than the feeling of needles in my foot.  It is a sharper intense "ZING" sort of pain which makes me suck in my breath.  It only happens when I am at rest and not when walking on my foot.

I talked to my physical therapist about this today and he said this was great news! To be able to feel sharp intense pain in a toe that has been numb for 17 weeks means my feeling is starting to come back in full force.

In addition, regaining feeling in my big toe is integral to being able to put weight properly through my entire foot.  When I can't feel if I am transferring weight through my big toe, I cannot make the proper follow through for walking. 

My therapy session today included .13 miles on the treadmill (1.5 miles per hour for 5 minutes) and 1 mile on the stationary bike.  I also did leg lifts, calf strengthening and lots of balance work on the bosu ball.  My new therapist is gentle and kind but makes me work up to my potential.  I am so glad my insurance cleared me for 8 more therapy sessions, which means my total for lisfranc surgery recovery will take 28 sessions.  (I have also had 36 HydroWorx sessions as well.)

As far as pain free walking goes, I tried walking through Macy's today without my cane and in my sneakers.  I had to walk slowly and very carefully, but I was able to do it with a minimum amount of pain!  I was stiff,  but it felt more like when you first wake up in the morning kind of stiff and not the "I have to sit down right now" kind of stiff.

 After Macy's I went to Kohls and also left my cane in the car for that errand.  There again, I walked at a snail's pace, but I did it!!!  I cannot tell you the amount of pleasure I got from walking through 2 stores without any assistance and almost pain free.

I am spending the rest of the day resting in my chair, (with ice) but I am satisfied, happy and have a sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt since before my lisfranc injury.  There is light at the end of this lisfranc recovery after all!!!!

Meeting with my surgeon 12 weeks post lisfranc surgery

I was really looking forward to seeing my surgeon yesterday for my 12 week post lisfranc surgery follow up.  Armed with my list of questions and notes from my HydroWorx therapist, I was well prepared for my appointment.  I even went as far as to have a fresh pedicure with hot pink toe nail polish to match my sneakers.  

I was fully expecting my surgeon to be extremely pleased with my progress and tell me I was way ahead of schedule.  After all, I have been attending either HydroWorx therapy or physical land therapy 6 days a week, plus performing my at home exercises given to me by my physical therapist.  I knew I had worked hard these last 6 weeks and was well on my way to pain free walking again. I expected my surgeons  full endorsement and recognition of my progress.

After I arrived, I was escorted into my patient room where I removed my boot and headed to the X-ray room in my stocking feet.  I was in more pain than other days, so I did have to use my cane, but I kept up with the X-ray technicians gait which made me smile proudly to myself.

I was able to step up easily on the X-ray pad without difficulty and even mentioned to the technician how much easier it was for me this time as compared to 6 weeks ago.

Shortly after returning to my room, my surgeon walked in.  He sat in his chair and said, "you are still limping quite a bit."  I was surprised he knew.  After all, I fully intended to demonstrate walking without a limp so that my surgeon could see my gait during the times I am not experiencing pain.  BUSTED!!!
 Apparently, he had observed me walking to his X-ray room.  (I guess that is the best time to asses a patient is when he or she does not know he/she is being watched. )

I then admitted I was experiencing pain when walking and asked him realistically when I could expect to be able to walk down our driveway, which is a steep hill, and pick up my mail pain free.  Not running or jumping or anything fancy, just pain free walking doing everyday activities.

My surgeon said realistically it will be 3 more months until I can walk comfortably.  I was stunned and I started to feel my world shatter once again. I had to try hard not to burst into tears, which most certainly would have embarrassed us both. 

I sat quietly with this information for a few moments, not wanting to meet his gaze.  When I collected myself I looked up at him and repeated quietly   "three more months???"  He nodded slowly maintaing eye contact.  (My surgeon is quiet, gentle and a man of few words.)

Desperate for my surgeon to revise the remaining three months of recovery to something shorter, I asked him if he had a chance to read my physical therapist report and the report from the HydroWorx therapist.  I thought certainly he must not have had time to read the glowing endorsements from both modes of therapy.  

(Hint to my surgeon,  this the part where you are  supposed to "pat me on the head" and tell me what a good girl I've been!!! )  My surgeon didn't get the hint.  Instead he nodded quickly and asked me why I was in such a hurry?   I said, I was determined to walk like a normal person again and that I was tired of the lisfranc recovery.  

We briefly discussed stress fractures and I found out it would not be uncommon for that to happen during this period, especially if I am pushing myself too hard.  My surgeon said I needed to cut down on the amount of therapy and just relax and give my body a chance to heal.  "Healing takes time and cannot be rushed," he said.   He looked at me long enough to make sure I understood and then he smiled and said, "look at it this way, you are half way there."

I slowly nodded still trying to comprehend that I am not almost at the finish line but am only halfway through this journey. 

Post lisfranc physical therapy land exercises

Someone who is going through a similar surgery asked me to post the therapy exercises my physical therapist is having me do twice a day.  Please be sure and check with your own physical therapist, surgeon or physician before doing any of these exercises as your limitations may be different from mine.

All of the exercises have been helpful in learning to put weight on my recovering foot as well as gaining the flexibility and strength to learn to walk again.  

The exercise I have found to be most helpful is the Ankle/Foot toe curl.  Instead of using a towel, I bought  30 small marbles that I try and pick up with my toes.  I have started regaining toe flexibility because of this exercise.  My big toe is now less numb and I have regained about half of my big toe flexibility again!

Try leaving your therapy marbles out when you have friends over! You will be surprised how many will want to try out their own toe flexibility.