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Hi, My mom fell at home as well and broke her Tibia last Friday night, she has 2 plates and a few screws. She was in the hospital for 4 days and is now in rehab. She is getting physical therapy 2 times a day and she has to use a machine that bends her leg up and down twice a day for 2 hours. She is 67 and she has never had a broken bone. The doctors are saying at least 3 months before she can put full weight on that leg. She still works full time and will be out for awhile. The break was pretty bad plus she had shattered bone fragments. The surgery took 3 hours. Not sure what an air cast is but right now her leg is wrapped and she has one of those bledsoe leg braces that allow you to bend your knee. I am sure everyone's recovery will be different. I am worried when she does finally go home because her insurance won't pay for full time nursing care so I will have to stay with her or she has to come live with us. I am fine with that but it's her decision where she wants to rest after rehab is over. She will be in rehab at least 3 weeks.
Three months is a reasonable amount of time.
She should be able to manage on her own if she wants to while she's recovering, there are some things she can't do like carrying in groceries or laundry or taking out trash, but she shouldn't need someone with her around the clock. She probably will need someone to drive her places because she'll be on meds for a while. It would be good to get her a bench for the shower so she can sit down with the leg in the cast hanging out of the tub, and also a shower attachment with a hose.
She should be able to manage on her own if she wants to while she's recovering, there are some things she can't do like carrying in groceries or laundry or taking out trash, but she shouldn't need someone with her around the clock. She probably will need someone to drive her places because she'll be on meds for a while. It would be good to get her a bench for the shower so she can sit down with the leg in the cast hanging out of the tub, and also a shower attachment with a hose.
She cannot put full weight on that leg for three months, she is not allowed to even climb stairs, carry bags or laundry. She can only sit up in bed, in a chair or use a wheel chair. She can with assistance use the bathroom. She will need help getting into the house once she goes home. She is doing occupational therapy and physical therapy at rehab. She can use a walker but she has to hop using the other leg and foot.
She cannot put full weight on that leg for three months, she is not allowed to even climb stairs, carry bags or laundry. She can only sit up in bed, in a chair or use a wheel chair. She can with assistance use the bathroom. She will need help getting into the house once she goes home. She is doing occupational therapy and physical therapy at rehab. She can use a walker but she has to hop using the other leg and foot.
I understand completely...it's been three years since I broke mine, but it's not something you forget. She will learn to manage the bathroom on her own with the walker. It might be easier to rent a wheelchair for her during her recovery, because you can cook and do your own laundry and things like that with a wheelchair. It would really depend on how much space there is in her house and if the bathroom is big enough to get the wheelchair in. Also, the wheelchair tears up your walls a little bit and it lets your whole body get unused to walking so it's hard to get walking again. I had a wheelchair for my recovery because I had small children to take care of, I had to feed and bathe and dress them and get the oldest one to and from school which was across the street. The only things I couldn't do were drive and clean the master bathroom, because my doorway was too small to fit the wheelchair in. Other than that, I managed all of my usual chores because I had to.
If her house has stairs, she will need help arranging things so that everything she needs is downstairs...move her bed downstairs if it's up, bring down whatever belongings she will need. But help her to be as independent as possible during her recovery, when you're injured in a way that limits your mobility, being able to do things for yourself can be really important to your self esteem.
Hello everyone, wondering if anyone can help me? I had surgery on January 22nd of this year after falling down the stairs. Broke my Tibia and Fibula. I have 2 plates and 10 screws! It has been 3 months and I am still in a walking aircast, but the problem is that my foot feels like mush..lol....not funny really I just don't understand why I cannot put much pressure on the foot. I can't hold up my weight at all..it is so sore. Anyone have any answers for me??.........please help
I know some doctors are not as well trained in how to talk to patients and it sounds like you have one of those> You haven't posted in 5 months, how are you doing?
I understand completely...it's been three years since I broke mine, but it's not something you forget. She will learn to manage the bathroom on her own with the walker. It might be easier to rent a wheelchair for her during her recovery, because you can cook and do your own laundry and things like that with a wheelchair. It would really depend on how much space there is in her house and if the bathroom is big enough to get the wheelchair in. Also, the wheelchair tears up your walls a little bit and it lets your whole body get unused to walking so it's hard to get walking again. I had a wheelchair for my recovery because I had small children to take care of, I had to feed and bathe and dress them and get the oldest one to and from school which was across the street. The only things I couldn't do were drive and clean the master bathroom, because my doorway was too small to fit the wheelchair in. Other than that, I managed all of my usual chores because I had to.
If her house has stairs, she will need help arranging things so that everything she needs is downstairs...move her bed downstairs if it's up, bring down whatever belongings she will need. But help her to be as independent as possible during her recovery, when you're injured in a way that limits your mobility, being able to do things for yourself can be really important to your self esteem.
Her lauandry is in the basement so that's not good. I will do her laundry for her.She is a widow and lives alone so there is no one there to help her unless she stays with us or I go and stay there until she recovers. She sleeps downstairs anyway, and her bathroom is just a few feet away. She is very nervous about going home and being alone but at the same time she wants to be independent. She still works full time but will be out for awhile. I do not want her being by herself just yet. She has at least 2 more weeks in rehab. My brother is the senior VP of sales for a medical supply company so he has already ordered the shower chair, toilet extender and walker plus cleansing wipes and other things she may need.Thanks for the advice
I found a site like that for broken ankles years ago when I broke mine. Very helpful info!
I agree with nerve damage. I had "floppy foot" for years because of numbness and not being able to feel my foot on the ground real well. That happened 6 years ago and I still have the hardware in there and a numb spot on the top of my foot. It doesn't really cause problems but I'm not surefooted anymore, I'm always careful about stepping.
Update: My mom is doing great in rehab, she is doing really well with her physical and occupational therapy. She looks better and feels better. I saw her incision yesterday. She has about 10 stiches on both sides of her leg and a few stiches on top of her knee. It looks really good and is healing nicely. She goes for a follow up to the orthopedic doctor on the 14th.
Fractured Tibia and Fibula (Broken Lower Leg Bones) with Fixation Surgery
Just joining this forum. I too on Feb 9 2013 fell down stairway, broke tib, Fib and ankle, just on the edge of breaking through the skin. 2 plates and 12 pins.
At 3 months starting walking without boot. Healing way ahead of schedule. Memorial took a trip to Florida. Could walk painfully to local restaurants, couldn't walk on the beach sand, by 4 pm had it propped up for the evening.
4 months business trip. walked shopping center about 3 hours then foot up at 2pm for 3 hours then walked to dinner about 4 blocks then back to hotel, ice and elevated.
5 months business trip. Went much better.
6 months business trip. Went much better.
Now 8 months. Took a 4 mile walk. Yes, completely over did it. It's been swollen and sore all week.
Question: Anyone, with experience to tell me when the swelling goes away? Will it ever be normal?
Just joining this forum. I too on Feb 9 2013 fell down stairway, broke tib, Fib and ankle, just on the edge of breaking through the skin. 2 plates and 12 pins.
At 3 months starting walking without boot. Healing way ahead of schedule. Memorial took a trip to Florida. Could walk painfully to local restaurants, couldn't walk on the beach sand, by 4 pm had it propped up for the evening.
4 months business trip. walked shopping center about 3 hours then foot up at 2pm for 3 hours then walked to dinner about 4 blocks then back to hotel, ice and elevated.
5 months business trip. Went much better.
6 months business trip. Went much better.
Now 8 months. Took a 4 mile walk. Yes, completely over did it. It's been swollen and sore all week.
Question: Anyone, with experience to tell me when the swelling goes away? Will it ever be normal?
Deb
It's been five years since I broke my fibula and had a plate and screws put in. I still get swollen and sore when I walk too much.
You might try riding a bike for exercise, it doesn't put the same strain on your lower leg as walking and it will help smooth out the scars (as you build muscle underneath them), help with the swelling, and make your leg feel stronger and better in general. I'm sure it's possible to overdo bike riding too, but usually I end up with a sore butt long before I would end up with a sore leg so I can tell when to stop
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I just don't understand why I cannot put much pressure on the foot. I can't hold up my weight at all..it is so sore. Anyone have any answers for me??.........please help
Fractured Tibia and Fibula (Broken Lower Leg Bones) with Fixation Surgery
