Update 3 weeks in.
I busted my foot on April 19th, and I wanted to share a real, honest update on where I’m at now.
I’m 3 weeks and 2 days since the injury and exactly 2 weeks post-surgery. The surgeons put metal plates and pins in two separate places in my midfoot (pics attached — warning, they’re pretty gnarly).
The First Week (Pre-Surgery)
Straight into a cast while we waited for the swelling to drop enough for surgery. Pain was manageable with meds, and I could still get around on crutches.
Post-Surgery – The Tough Part
After surgery I moved into the living room. We put a single bed in the lounge (thankfully we have the space) so I could stay close to everything.
Elevation was everything. For nearly two weeks my foot was up 23 hours a day — only down for bathroom trips. The pain when the foot hung down on crutches was next-level. It felt like it was going to explode. There were multiple times I’d get back to the bed, prop it up again, and scream into a pillow. It was brutal.
I quickly learned to minimise movement. The pain meds helped but also blocked things up (wind was painful on its own), so I used a pee bottle while lying down to avoid unnecessary trips. The golden rule: the more time you spend with your foot elevated, the better.
One side note: the stronger pain meds can cause serious dizziness — I felt sea-sick and vertigo at the same time.
The Turning Point
After 10–12 days I ditched the painkillers completely (no codeine, nothing). I wanted the side effects gone, but I also noticed the pain actually eased when I moved a little. Less pressure, more room in the cast, and I could wiggle my toes better.
Then came Day 14 post-op — hospital check-up. They took the old cast off, removed the stitches, and put a new one on.
Instant relief. Zero pressure. It was like night and day.
Where I Am Now
I’m now 5 days with no pain meds at all. I’m still non-weight-bearing and on crutches, but I’m elevating less — only when my foot tells me it needs it. I can work from home again without that constant painful distraction.
Best of all, I can meet my kids at the front door when they get home from school. It’s the simple things that hit hardest.
I’ve got 6 more weeks in this current cast before moving into a boot. Then, in about 7 months, another operation to remove all the metalwork.
It’s a long road ahead, but it really does get better. That initial “holy crap, will this pain ever go away?” stage does fade. (Thank god lol)
If you’re going through this yourself — hang in there. Small wins add up.