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I'm a little over 5 months out from my injury and surgery. Daily pain - yes. Tolerable with extra strength tylenol and worse when I get up in the morning or have been sitting for a while. Swelling has finally gone down. I'm still trying to decide if I want to have another surgery to remove the hardware but if it might make any difference in the pain I'll be considering it just to get back to "normal." I've got at least 3 more months before my OS will do anything so time to think about it yet. I can walk on the treadmill for as long as I want and don't seem to have any problems walking anywhere I want to go other than really slow on the stairs still. Can't move at my old walking pace yet but I'm not walking really slowly anymore either. Won't be running any marathons in the near future I don't think.
Speedy recovery everyone.
For me, had daily pain, was tolerable (just learning to accept it, I think) and also worse in morning or sitting for awhile, swelling down but still wore compression sock -- all same as you at 11 months. I even wore a "splint" last 2 months while at work sitting down, to push foot up and to pointing position to get better ROM to hopefully help get rid of limp -- don't think it worked. I am already optimistic about my hardware removal and it's been 3 days-- it was an out patient surgery and you can WB as tolerated right away. I think I will be back at work next week. Stay tuned!
Hi! In reading all of your stories, I find that I have been given VERY little information (most of which has proven, in time, to be incorrect) from my surgeon & nurses. I broke my tib/fib near to the ankle. I was told there were two incisions (in fact only one was made). I was told there was 2 plates, but again, there is only one. Only from seeing the x-rays, finally, do I know that I have 1 plate & 10 screws on the tibia. My LARGEST concern is that my foot is still not straight (it was 90 degrees to the right of where it should be, after I fell, and is just under 45 degrees to the right now). I have a hard time weight-bearing because I can not walk properly. Either my foot is not straight when I walk, or I have to compensate by turning my leg or hip, which causes pain in those joints. I have mentioned this to both my surgeon and my physiotherapist. My surgeon seems to just not really take any notice. He told me "maybe physio can fix this". Physio has tried, but I have very little range of movement increases since starting therapy 3 weeks ago. My PT says she would LOVE to see the x-rays, because she can't figure it out. My question is... Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'd love to have a second opinion, but I am having a hard time getting an appointment with my family doctor so I can have a referral to another surgeon. I am also terrified that they will have to perform another surgery... I feel like I am at the end of my rope already. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I suggest changing docs - I've had 3 OS's - but one was because broke my leg in a different state. And, I hate to say this, but get a woman OS if you can-- I am almost convinced that men are just not that detailed based on what I have experienced with all men docs lately. My primary care is a women and there IS a difference in care. (sorry guys)
[quote=Nannyof2;13078238]Michele53,
Good luck with your surgery, I hope all goes well for you. It has been about 13 months for me and I am also pursuing HWR of the 2 plates, 16 screws. I truly hopes the HWR surgery helps you and please let us know how you are doing after the surgery. Just a few questions:
How long in hospital? no hospital - surgery center - was there 5 hours total
How long you will be NWB? can WB as tolerated but on pain meds - I think stitches or cuts hurt (he said they were going to cut in same spots as other surgery)
How long in the Darth Boot? he said I can wear boot or shoes - supposedly screw holes take about 6 weeks to fill in (but probably longer for me since my bones have healed slow)
Will you be doing PT again and for how long? Don't know about this yet.
Today I go back to OS to have bandage and stitches cleaned up,etc. I should be able to go back to work next week (work in office). I think I can tell the pain in my ankle is gone but give me time to get off meds to report back. (too many screws concentrated at ankle area)
Hi, I am from the UK and have a spiral fracture of my tibia and fibula which happened on Christmas Day whilst skiing with my family in Italy - not the best Christmas! I returned home 2 days after the accident and had surgery, an IM Rod in my tibia, 2 screws at knee and two at ankle. The fibula was left to mend on its own. I had a cast for 6 weeks and have had an air cast walking boot for the last 4 weeks with instruction to PWB progressing to FWB in two weeks time. I wondered if anyone can offer me any advise - I have had relatively little pain until PWB with one crutch. It feels as if the screws at my knee either dig in or touch a nerve when I walk, I also seem to have pain in the area of the broken fibula. This pain is putting me off walking in case I am damaging something. There is no pain at the fracture site and the swelling is minimal, mostly at the ankle. I have not seen my OS since the surgery only 2 different doctors at each appointment and neither offer much information with regard what to expect at each stage. I think being issued with a "Broken Leg Manual" would have been very helpful! I have read many other posts and have now decided to add my own. Any advise would be much appreciated as I am feeling really fed up with all of this. Thank you.
Michele53,
Good luck with your surgery, I hope all goes well for you. It has been about 13 months for me and I am also pursuing HWR of the 2 plates, 16 screws. I truly hopes the HWR surgery helps you and please let us know how you are doing after the surgery. Just a few questions:
How long in hospital? no hospital - surgery center - was there 5 hours total
How long you will be NWB? can WB as tolerated but on pain meds - I think stitches or cuts hurt (he said they were going to cut in same spots as other surgery)
How long in the Darth Boot? he said I can wear boot or shoes - supposedly screw holes take about 6 weeks to fill in (but probably longer for me since my bones have healed slow)
Will you be doing PT again and for how long? Don't know about this yet.
Today I go back to OS to have bandage and stitches cleaned up,etc. I should be able to go back to work next week (work in office). I think I can tell the pain in my ankle is gone but give me time to get off meds to report back. (too many screws concentrated at ankle area)
Michele,
I am glad to hear your surgery went well and you are doing good and that you already feel some relief from the pain in your ankle. Thanks for answering my questions, I truly appreciate it. Goodluck as you continue to progress!
Take Care,
Nanny
Well I found out at my appointment with my OS last week that I will have to have HWR sometime end of June or July. I'm going to be following Michele's recovery closely. I'm hoping that it will relieve the pain I keep feeling at the screws in the top of my ankle and my knee. I am not looking forward to another surgery but do want to get back to the best I can be in my recovery and it seems that the HWR is my next step.
Michele - I'm so glad to hear your surgery went well and things are looking up. I'm hoping for the same when I get my HWR. Guess we probably won't hear much more from you around here. And that's a wonderful thing that you are moving on from your injuries and back to normal. Best wishes.
Hi, I am from the UK and have a spiral fracture of my tibia and fibula which happened on Christmas Day whilst skiing with my family in Italy - not the best Christmas! I returned home 2 days after the accident and had surgery, an IM Rod in my tibia, 2 screws at knee and two at ankle. The fibula was left to mend on its own. I had a cast for 6 weeks and have had an air cast walking boot for the last 4 weeks with instruction to PWB progressing to FWB in two weeks time. I wondered if anyone can offer me any advise - I have had relatively little pain until PWB with one crutch. It feels as if the screws at my knee either dig in or touch a nerve when I walk, I also seem to have pain in the area of the broken fibula. This pain is putting me off walking in case I am damaging something. There is no pain at the fracture site and the swelling is minimal, mostly at the ankle. I have not seen my OS since the surgery only 2 different doctors at each appointment and neither offer much information with regard what to expect at each stage. I think being issued with a "Broken Leg Manual" would have been very helpful! I have read many other posts and have now decided to add my own. Any advise would be much appreciated as I am feeling really fed up with all of this. Thank you.
BrokenK--I second your suggestion in the need for a 'broken leg manual'. I've gotten other such documents regarding medical treatment, and this one seems as good a subject as any.
I'm no expert except by what I've gone through, but I sometimes wonder if knowing that I have hardware (screws and plates) makes me think things about the pain that have no basis in reality.
If you've been referred to a physical therapist, that person can tell you what to expect a bit better than your OS. I had pain, but it was on the minor side. I'm still taking Naproxin on a daily basis, but the pain is mostly gone after a few months of weight bearing. Warning--I did not get a rod in the tibia. I got a plate screwed onto the front of the tibia at the ankle and shin. There are probably differences in your prognosis if you had to get hardware in your knee.
Just thought i'd give a little update as to my healing progress in case anyone else can take something from my experience.
Went for a checkup with my OS last week (week 8.5 since operation/break) and he was very pleased with my progress. He said that it was one of the worst leg breaks that he has ever seen (shattered my lower tib & fib into so many pieces and shards of bone). He did an experimental technique by trying to minimise the incisions and sliding the metal up into my leg. I believe this helped the many pieces of bone to fuse together.
Anyway, I was given the go-ahead to start full weight bearing however with assistance from my crutches. After 2 sessions with my PT, i'm now able to walk (more like limp) which is a massive boost. Lower leg is still swollen however i'm expecting this will be the case for a while. Still painful when walking however as I understand it, the muscles/ligaments are being stretched out as well as my joints compensating for my lack of ankle movement. I'm able to start swimming and road cycling again. Hopefully be back on the dirtbikes in the next 6 weeks.
Keep up your spirits as you will recover. I'm only 50% there but the light is visible from the dark tunnel.
Hi all, I was lookin for some info about my injury and stumbled on your stories so I thought I would share mine. Dec. 29 I was gettin off my kids bunk beds and fell. I broke my tibia and fibia. I was taken to the nearest hospital for x-rays and such at which time I knew it was broke but not the severity. My break was so severe they couldnt treat me, they admitted me and attempted to find a specialist who could. I had surgery the next day and I received 15 screws and 2 plates, I broke both bones clean in half and they also splintered in several places goin into the ankle joint, I was placed in a splint for three weeks. After that I received two casts and I was on crutches/NWB for 11 weeks. My 6-8 weeks turned into 9-12. At first it was really ruff feeling helpless but you gotta be a take charge person and look for optimism. I just got my cast off on 3/17/10 and I'm still gonna be on crutches with a walking cast for several more weeks. As you can imagine atrophy set into my leg but I can walk on it a little. Here's the kicker....no pt for me cuz I have no insurance.
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For me, had daily pain, was tolerable (just learning to accept it, I think) and also worse in morning or sitting for awhile, swelling down but still wore compression sock -- all same as you at 11 months. I even wore a "splint" last 2 months while at work sitting down, to push foot up and to pointing position to get better ROM to hopefully help get rid of limp -- don't think it worked. I am already optimistic about my hardware removal and it's been 3 days-- it was an out patient surgery and you can WB as tolerated right away. I think I will be back at work next week. Stay tuned!
Not Fun
