Need some positivity

This injury has been an absolute nightmare. After initial injury in March 2024, non-surgical treatment recommendation, 8 months of unbearable pain and swelling, I finally got fusion surgery a month ago on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd TMTs.

I’m still fully NWB and will be for another 2-4 weeks, but I can’t stop going down these rabbit holes online and reading story after story of people who need surgery after surgery and still never live pain-free or go back to their regular activity level. I’m losing my mind wondering why I did this if I’m going to come out the other end still hurting all the time and never able to run again.

I know this is a likely outcome for me too, and I don’t expect to be told it’s not - but is there anyone for whom this surgery meant a significantly increased quality of life? Maybe even a semi-athletic one?

For everyone else in this sub, I feel you so hard, and I wish you continued healing and a pain-free future.