Broken heel?

[Bruce11]

So, I work construction and fell on November 15. Ifractured my L1 lumbar vertebrae and broke my left heel. Has anyone had either or both issues? Im just looking to see how those that have had these issues have recovered and what the real world issues and prognosis is.
Im 49 years old, but in very good shape (maybe not mountain shape, but close)
I need to know if there is a realistic expectation of me making it back to the hills of Wyoming by September or if im setting too high of goals. My back is fractured but im not in a brace so im hoping to be able heal reasonable quickly from that, but my heel broke like an egg shell and needed some titanium screws to put it back together. I have read some of the past posts, but I think I need more confirmation that with the right mind set I can do it and be back to rucking 65 lbs a day before September. Any info or thoughts,good or bad, would be great.
And I know, and I thank the good lord everyday, it could have been substantially worse!
Thanks again for any info or encouragement I can get.

 

[Idaboy]

The heel can get better, you got 9 months. Find alternative things (bike, swim) if your PT or doc says you can....

 

[Shaymos94]

Just stumbled onto this, but ide fallin off a cliff back in 2018? Shattered both heels. It absolutely blows. But it gets better. There were so many sad sacks on the internet that made me believe ide never do most of the things I loved to do again. I hope your feelin alright by this point. Took me a few years.

 

[BBBoat]

Shattered my right heel and fractured my L1/L2 vertabraes from an Army airbrone training accident about 10 years back. Back brace for 4 months (no surgery) and 4 surgeries on my foot to include hardware install and deal with complications. Took about 18 months of recovery/physical therapy to get to the point I could meet minimum fitness test standards for the run and about a year after that I was running faster than I ever had before the accident.

I have been there myself. Recovery will take longer than you think it should and it will bring you down mentally at times. Best advice I can give you is to keep your spirits high (hunt the good stuff), religiously follow your physical therapy plan, and be patient with yourself. You will get better but it takes time as not only do you need to recover from the injury but to also get yourself back in to shape after all of the atrophy. For me, I would not have been ready to throw on a 65lb. pack and run up and down the mountains for 1-2 weeks less than a year after my accident....but I can and do now, regularly (multiple backhunts up here in AK every year)

Regarding long term prognosis, I personally believe that will entirely depend on how you choose to deal with it mentally and spiritually. My back is fine with regular exercise, but my right heel/ankle always hurts, ranging from a mild dull ache at rest to pain and stiffness high enough to change my gait. I could choose to dwell on that and give up what I love to do...but I dont, its as simple as that.

I hope the best for a speedy recovery with no complications. Dont let anyone bring you down but remember to be patient with yourself...it always takes longer to recover than you think it should.