I had the exact same injury, and it happened almost the exact same way. I was a little over 40 years old when it happened and the on call orthopedic surgeon in the ER that night told me I may never return to the same level of activity again. I had surgery that put a few titanium screws in my heel to hold it together. I was non-weight bearing for almost 4 months And then I had to walk with crutches, and then a cane for a while. I went down the rabbit hole of reading people’s experiences on the internet, lots of horror stories out there.
Fast forward a few months after the cane went away and I was backcountry skiing again. By the next summer I did a solo backpacking trip in the Winds. Hunted that fall. Yes it hurt, but it was mostly just sore at the end day, nothing I couldn’t push through. It’s been six years now and I honestly don’t know that I‘ve thought about it lately. Hunted bear this spring, elk this fall, and mule deer late, all in tough terrain and long walking miles.
The next few months may suck, but you’ve got this. Listen to what your doctor says and follow instructions to a T. If he says no more than 10 percent weight on that foot, then listen and don‘t push it. Be very clear with him what kind of activity you expect to return to and when he gives you the green light, rehab like crazy. All of those stories of debilitated people on the internet are not you, don’t read them because they don’t apply.
As far as the future, my doctor said that I would probably also reach a point where I needed a fusion due to arthritis in that area. But I have some other Injuries that are adding to that as I had broken that ankle before back in my late twenties, and had two additional surgeries for that break. Maybe I will and maybe I won’t but as of right now, it feels awesome and I don’t think it slows me down at all.
As to your original question, I wear Kenetrek hunting boots and Scarpa hiking boots for summer. I developed a bone spur that turned into a Haglunds deformity where one of the screws was in my heel. That heel requires a pretty good heel pocket and both of those boots seem to work really well. Hang in there and get off those opiates ASAP!
