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Hi everyone, had my first therapy session since hardware out. Fought very hard to get in and so glad I did. My PT said I could never had done self therapy on my own at first. I was scared I had no feeling around area felt like it was asleep. I feel its been sleeping these past 5 months time to wake up. He spent over 45 minutes working with my stiff unfeeling area and now can actually move the actle so much better and actually have feeling come back. PT told me had I not come to see him the ankle would have gotten comfortable stiff and numb. I am so glad I fought for the right to have therapy and be able to walk almost normal. PT says he will give me 90-95% and I would still have some areas of no feeling. My OS ok'd 3 session a week until July 10th. PT said they will cram teaching me everything in that length of time but I said if they feel that's not enough then I will fight again for more therapy. It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to move the ankle and have ROM again.
I broke my leg March 9th 2009. The fib and the tib bones. I had surgery the next morning. 1 titainium rod was placed in the large bone and 1 screw in my knee and 2 in my ankle.
The doctor saw me a few weeks ago and told me that my leg was healing very slowly and there was very little new bone growth. That was at 10 weeks after surgery.
I then at that point was allowed to pur 50% weight while still on crutches. I am still doing this. but that did not even start until 11 weeks post op like i said. I have still to this day never had physical therapy of any sort......i am worried that maybe that should have started by now. Is it normal to NOT have PT? My leg is still sore most days but not unbearable....I am starting to get a knot of calcium growth at the sight of where the bones broke. ( i guess thats good) and that started since my last doc visit when i started putting 50% weight. The doc talked about maybe taking two ankle screws out if the bone doesnt start healing better/faster. How commin is that? Also...after reading this forum....I am so discouraged because so many people were walking or starting to walk in 3 months and here i am in my 13 or 14th week post op and I am still on crutches and dont know if id be able to walk if i tried! It still feels so weak. Will I ever get off these crutches? It is such a pain. LOL (by the way i am 40 yrs old).
I just want to know if its still going to be a while before i am allowed to try to start walking again and when that happens do you just start doing it or do you slowly stop using crutches? how long is it normal to have a limp? I am just mortified about this. and also....this is silly...but will i ever wear any type of heels again (shoes).
I have been very lucky in the sense that i have an awesome range of movement in my ankle....my knee too....my knee does have some stiffness but nothing that bothers me too bad. I can move my leg around and bend like a normal person pretty much. I just cant put much weight on my leg. I really really want to feel like i am progressing soon. I want to walk so bad. I want to be able to carry my own plate or my own drink. Sheesh I feel SO dependant on everyone.
Any advice? words of encouragment?
thanks!
Linda
Welcome Linda,
So sorry about your injury, I cannot imaging flying on a plane that soon after surgery.....that had to be tough, but I understand needing to be at home. I completly agree with Bev's advice to fight for PT! There is now way I could get through this without PT, it has helped me tons!
I was not able to put weight on my leg right away either, I think it was 8-10 weeks NWB, then I started out very cautiously with help from my PT. Are you in an aircast boot? When I first began to WB it was in the aircast boot so I am just curious. I started with a walker, never did like crutches, then I used a cane. I was given the ok by my OS the first week of May to FWB as tolerated without my airboot cast and now I am in a regular shoe with no walker or cane.
It has been almost 5 months since my injury and I can walk without a limp if I go very slow, if I try to walk faster I still limp. I also limp without my shoes on, it is much harder to walk barefoot, but it is beginning to get a little easier. Most of my problems are around my ankle and just above it, I am still working on flexibility and ROM. If you have good flexibility and ROM in your ankle and knee, I would think you will do pretty good when you begin to FWB. I still have some pain and stiffnes and swelling, I elevate and ice at least 3 times a day to keep the swelling down.
As far as ever wearing heels again, I wonder the same thing. All I can wear right now are my gym shoes and crocks (very attractive). I know what you mean about not being able to carry anything, it is soooo frustrating! I was so excited when I could just carry a cup of coffee to my chair! You will get there soon too.
Goodluck on getting started with PT and let us know how you are progressing!
Hey Nanny...I am so happy to hear of your good news and positive progress. You've been such a helpful advocate and confidante for all of us and let me say this on behalf of everyone, there is no better person to have such great news.
It has been a while since I've logged on so in case you were wondering how my condition has worked out, it has been a total of 3 months now and I have been working with 50% for the past 3 weeks. Recently went to see the OS last Thursday and he would like me to start walking with a cane and start putting full weight on my leg as he is happy with the progress of my bone growth. Still going to PT twice a week but will probably decrease to once a week in July.
Just a little scared to really put full weight and I can start feeling my screws in my leg as the swelling has decreased a lot.
Keep truckin' y'all!!
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful and kind words, it really means alot to me!
I am glad to hear your bones are healing well and you are progressing forward, that is great news! I was also fearful when I began to FWB.
Just take it slow and listen to your body, it will tell you what your limits are. It can get a little tricky as you want to push forward to keep progressing without overdoing it.
I can also feel some of the hardware in my ankle now that the swelling has gone down, it is a weird feeling, but I am getting used to it.
Goodluck as you continue to FWB, we are all pulling for you! And let us know how it is going .
Wow - a lot of good news is flying around this site! Congrats to all on the improvements. Bev, I am so excited to hear that you got your therapy and Nanny, how cool to be DONE!
I have been reading the stories of our newest members and I'm so sorry that you all had to join our group, but this is an awesome bunch that can help you through the tough times.
I'm doing okay, I guess. Today marks 6 weeks since I had two screws removed, and Monday was 27 weeks since my accident. I am getting nervous because the incision is still not completely closed, and it should be by now. That was the only sign I had of infection the first time around except for the pain. I don't have the pain right now, but I've been on antibiotics since March and am not sure what will happen when I take my last dose. I see the OS again on the 17th and hope that he has some good news for me.
I agree this is a great grp. I am learning so much just from reading the various posts. It is really good to hear all the people who are doing so well...so there is a light at the end of the tunnel
I start again tomorrow when I have my surgery to correct the original attempt to put Humpty/Dumpty back together again. I cannot wait when I too will be able to post that I am close to being done with this journey! Congratulations again to you all for your preseverance, resourcefulness and moreover, your willingness to give hope to all us "newbies".
Hi everyone, had my first therapy session since hardware out. Fought very hard to get in and so glad I did. My PT said I could never had done self therapy on my own at first. I was scared I had no feeling around area felt like it was asleep. I feel its been sleeping these past 5 months time to wake up. He spent over 45 minutes working with my stiff unfeeling area and now can actually move the actle so much better and actually have feeling come back. PT told me had I not come to see him the ankle would have gotten comfortable stiff and numb. I am so glad I fought for the right to have therapy and be able to walk almost normal. PT says he will give me 90-95% and I would still have some areas of no feeling. My OS ok'd 3 session a week until July 10th. PT said they will cram teaching me everything in that length of time but I said if they feel that's not enough then I will fight again for more therapy. It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to move the ankle and have ROM again.
I am so happy that your PT went so well! Congrats and keep up the good work!
When i was 7, I fell off of a swing and broke my right femur for the first time. I was in a Half-body cast for awhile. When i was 12-13, i fell/jumped off of a cliff and broke it again in many places. A rod was put through my leg with weights attached and i was stuck in bed for months. My first day outside in months, in a wheelchair, I was going too fast because i was happy to have sunlight hitting me, and i hit a rock, lifting me out of the chair onto the leg where it snapped, and another hole was made and a long time in traction AGAIN. I tried to get out at one point and even tore flesh and god knows what else. I JUST WANTED OUT!!! Now i am 24... I have pain that radiates/ burns/ from my lower back/hip down the back of my leg. And my knee kills me alot. EVERY morning when i get up i hurt. I have become addicted to a variety of opoids that i have found i need in some form or another. I get tired of them and quit for awhile because my life begins to evolve around them. But months later, i am right back because of the pain. You should see the looks i get being 24 and being on pain medicine. Like im a junkie. I cant stand it. I guess in a sense i am a junkie. It gets me depressed and very very angry. I get so frustrated that i ball up my fist and hit my leg, without thinking. The doctor told me after the third break that i could have problems with running and so on. ... so in junior high i won track and after high school i joined the military ..... ofcourse i never told them of my breaks. now im out and i hurt. This is some of my story..... Am i just F*****?!?!?!?
Wow - a lot of good news is flying around this site! Congrats to all on the improvements. Bev, I am so excited to hear that you got your therapy and Nanny, how cool to be DONE!
I have been reading the stories of our newest members and I'm so sorry that you all had to join our group, but this is an awesome bunch that can help you through the tough times.
I'm doing okay, I guess. Today marks 6 weeks since I had two screws removed, and Monday was 27 weeks since my accident. I am getting nervous because the incision is still not completely closed, and it should be by now. That was the only sign I had of infection the first time around except for the pain. I don't have the pain right now, but I've been on antibiotics since March and am not sure what will happen when I take my last dose. I see the OS again on the 17th and hope that he has some good news for me.
Christina just stay postive. I noticed this last time my incision on left side did not completely close so I have kept the skin pinched in with a neosporin band aid on it. Let's think positive that your OS on 17th will definitely have good news for you and do not think any other way. You have been through alot and come along way so nervousness is not alowed now everything will be okay. Bev
Nanny of 2, Again thank you for your positive and helpful feedback to me and everyone here!! You have been awesome in your words of wisdom and encouragement..You seem to be coming along great and you deserve it after all you been through..As for me I have gotten away from the walker,and i am on a cane very little now.MY leg still swells and the knee and ankle area still hurts but I am just lucky to be walking again. I do limp and hopefully that will go away later. Still in PT and prob will be for a quite a while yet..I meet with the OS monday and will see what happens after that..Thanks again for all your help and being there not only for me but for others here!! Mike 13 weeks Post op for me
Linda, I broke my Tibia right at the bottom of the knee and they call it a Tibia plateau fracture..simular to yours. I also broke mine 3 days b4 you did(mar 6th) after falling on stairs. Yes i have screws and a plate as well. And yes i have pt and will for a qiute a while.i am weaning off a cane now. I was in a walker for about 12 weeks. I have a limp and the pt is teaching me how to walk. Yes you should have pt..Ask for it..it is needed. And yes it does feel good to carry my own plate and beer..lol I treat stairs with respect now and will always use the handrails..I am an avid bike rider and have never wrecked a bike or fell off really but the other day i wanted to ride it so bad i tried and got fearful of falling and injuring this leg so i traded my bike in and got a 3 wheel recumbent bike which i love..I have changed the way i do many things as you will too. Good luck and keep in touch!! Mike
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