Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Traumatic broken left fibula and tibia 1/14/2011, surgery next day - IM Rod and screw in place. After reading various people's postings here, wished I had found it sooner! I'm also super active with hiking, biking, snowboarding, tennis, etc... on-the-go type. I don't even have a sit-down office job. Don't watch tv.. it's been real hard having to elevate the leg and slowing down for the recovery but try to be positive. It's difficult not to get discouraged. After 10 months, I wished I had known some more info on this type of surgery but you do not think clearly at the time when you're in so much pain.
I have this advise. Eat well and do PT, and seek out second opinions. During the healing process makes all the difference, esp for anyone trying to be back to their old active lifestyle like me. You have to work the leg muscle and tendons. Seek info and ask them more questions. My surgery was in a smaller private ER hospital with the surgeon on duty that did a great job but didn't have the right type of team expertise for this type of trauma compared to say, a huge research type facility. Yes, there are orthopedic surgeons and then there are orthopedic surgeons who specialize in this type of traumas daily.
Had I known how badly my leg was, I would have just had my husband drive me 3 hours to this other state of the art facility the next day, because the ER stabilized my leg temporarily for the nite until the surgery next morning.
I used to live for many years in Chapel Hill, NC which has top knotch hospital facilities (UNC, Duke) but I've never had any traumas on my body like this so never had to use them... Anyhow, to make a long story short, after 10 months of still being in much pain and efforts I put forth to work the leg back, I made an appt with the head trauma ortho specialist in Chapel Hill. My concern is that I felt I could be doing much better with the progress after putting alot of effort on my part but felt my leg was not where it should be! And just seeking out more info.
Being thin and small framed, the screws were all poking out, esp the ones on the ankle kept me from relearning how to walk properly. I could walk, but not correctly so it threw off my balance and my left side of the body (hip) was starting to ache in different places.
Just visiting the team of expert trauma specialist was like nite and day. I was like man, why didn't I come here the nite of the accident, when my foot turned around 360 degrees? It didn't look like that because I was wearing tall boots but when they cut the boot, the foot flopped over. Anyhow, I won't go into how painful this whole ordeal has been because noone will EVER know until they went through something similar...
So, 10 months of slow progress (in my opinion), the new surgeon ortho specialist recommended removal of all screws. I asked to have the rod also taken out (read through tons of postings from other active people about the rod left in which is 50/50), but he did not recommend taking out the rod at this time. Said let's remove the screws and go from there.
Removed the screws last week and I am back doing PT. I will say that I felt much more comfortable in the hands of the hospital facility at UNC. They are more thorough it seems because maybe they have more budget, staff and are more efficient. Also seemed so much better equiped.... It felt like they took their time and was much more thorough instead of rushing through to get their money. For example, at the first surgery, I kept telling them I was allergic to latex and sure enough after my surgery, a week later, I had a bad allergic reaction where my entire leg was purple and they acted very surprised I had such a weird reaction. duh. I don't do well with any type of medication so in the second surgery, they were more receptive to make sure I wasn't going to be nauseated from the anesthesia and meds, etc.
It makes all the difference where you go, who you talk to and what you do from the start. I think the more questions and info you seek, the better you are off. If something doesn't seem right, go somewhere else. Yes, it's alot of time and effort, but that's the most important thing right now is to do the best things possible to get back to being as close to where you were before the accident. That is my goal is to be back snowboarding, hiking, biking, etc... because that's who I am. So yes, slow down as I have forced myself to, because the reality is you may not get back to being where you want to be. We just have to do the best to get there and that requires alot of work on the person who wants it bad enough.
At this point, I have not given up on being back 100%, it's just my stubborn nature lol. The original surgeon said sometimes the leg will not get back to being 100% and that's the reality. I understand he did the surgery and the recouping is my responsibility so I found a new facility with a different team of doctors who is willing to help me seek options of getting my active lifestyle back. The new doctor said he does not see why I couldn't go snonboarding in 6 weeks as long as the holes where the screws were fill back up. I told him I don't want to just manage the pain but to get back most of my old life and he does not see any reason I should not make that a goal, so since he believes it, I am sticking with this new doctor and doing what he recommends.
In the back of mind, though I can't help but think the rod should come out after a year... That's later though... Right now, today, after a week of having the screws out, I have relief on the front part of my ankle where my foot can now flex and I am moving on to re-learning to roll my foot and trying to walk properly instead of walking with a limp and planting my foot down like frankenstein.
I won't put up xrays since yall know what that looks like. Here's the screws taken out last week. I only had 3 screws but they are huge considering I am small!!! 6 months after initial IM Rod, I could poke the other side of the knee screw end and feel it poking my meat lol
yes, there's pain from this surgery but I already feel relief in areas where I was having pain from the screws.
October 31,2010 i fractured my tibula and fibula.And i was scared.I had surgery two days later..after numbing my leg (they stuck a needle behind my knee..it didnt hurt..) i had fixation surgery.a plate and 3 or more screws put in my leg.After my surgery i made my first mistake and hopped my way to use the restroom..i was scared..i thought i had just ruined my surgery..but i was ok.my leg was fine.
When i got home the first two days were hard.i was stuck in a room watching tv and eating.my leg would hurt off and on..almost like my bones were shaking.(im not gonna lie i cried).when i got to return to my home i elevated my leg as much as possible .95 % of the time my leg was up to improve the circulation in my leg.
I ate healthy and resisted every temptation..(thats how scared i was for my leg)
After a while i returned to see my dr ,(before hand though i fell and used my leg to keep me standing.when i told the dr. he said i he couldn't tell.but he could tell i was following his orders.my leg was healthy.) to have my real cast put on.
Before hand they cleaned around my surgery scars and removed my staples (wich stung) and showed me my x-rays
They bent my leg (and yes..it hurt).It felt like my leg was being stretched and it was tender.After my cast was put on i continued elevating my leg and eating healthy.i quit smoking.
After 2 and a half months i moved.I had no dr and was scared.i kept my leg up this time slowly putting pressure on it.letting myself sit normally.While there i hit my leg..against the floor...and it scared me.i practiced my crutches and let myself little by little put pressure on it.
One day my cast got wet and was removed.to keep my ankle straight i bought an akle brace.
3 monts after i broke my leg i went back home to see my dr.he said my leg was fine.it healed straight and i could start walking little by little...
I stretched and started eating normally..without fear.
my experiance was scary and there were times where i thought it would never end.but here..over a year later im ok
i dont have a limp and i only have pain less then a dozen times this whole year.
good luck.and believe there's hope
nothing is gonna go perfect but if you take care of yourself.you'll be fine
Last edited by kushielsheir69; 12-28-2011 at 07:29 PM..
My husband had a frature to displaced tibia x2 places and fibula x1 he had an IM nail put in and several screws 10 mths ago. He had another fall just 1 mth ago and traumatised the pin, he is now weight bearing again(on medical advice) but after his return to work can only walk very short distances and is in lots of pain. The pain is in his heal, ankle, broken area and knee, the knee is also swelling and giving way. He is very stubborn and thinks this is all part of the healing stage and won’t take further advice(he is due to see fracture clinic in 2 weeks)till his next appointment. Is anyone having problems of this sort?
Delighted I found this site; it’s hard to know what’s going on when you break ankle/foot/leg.
I dislocated my ankle and broke some bone (I think fiba) in my leg; I have a plate in around ankle and a plate in leg with 8 screws. I broke it 16 Dec 2011, at my Christmas Party.
I got operated on 3 days after I was rushed into hospital by ambulance. I got out a day later. I had crutches and weight bearing cam boot.
Week 1, I was strangely surprised of how little pain I was in. I was having problems sleeping; I don’t like sleeping on my back, but had to keep leg elevated up all the time. I was on anti flammatories and pain killers of course but I thought I should have been in a lot more pain.
Week 2, boot was really irritating me at night. It was like it was getting tight. During the day I seemed ok. I wasn’t taking my pain killers as much and anti flammatories. So I went to my own doctor and he gave me tranadol tablets but they were making me vomit, if I took 2, if I took 1 I was ok. But I had to start taking tablets at night to stop the swelling (this was the boot getting tight but I was not aware of this)
I went for a check up in the hospital where the procedure was done. The doc was very happy with my x-ray. He even said he wished all his patients were like me. So then I had to go down and get my stitches out. The nurse was extremely happy with the way the stitches have healed up. So I was delighted about that. That was the first day I was out of the house in over two weeks. It is hard work hopping around on crutches when you are not use to it.
I am getting a horrible burning sensation across foot but this is not where I was operated on. The boot irritates me big time.
Week 3, getting use to sleeping with the cam boot. I am still waking up a few times but better then the past 2 weeks, still not sleeping great. All pain and swelling seems to start at night. Plus if I sit down or have leg down and not elevated for a good while, my cam boot feels like its getting tight again and I have to go and stick leg up in the air again.
I still get the horrible burning/stingy sensation.
Week 4, Still lying down with leg elevated. Pain is coming and going but not taking pain killers as much as the previous weeks. I shaved my hairy broken leg even this week but felt really weak after it. Don’t know why! Probably the ordeal of taking the boot off and thinking what’s underneath the skin.
Went to my own doc for a check up. He was saying a foot break or anything lower leg can be 3 months off work.
Susshhh I have been taking my boot off, but been very very very careful with it and I don’t put my foot on the ground, as I was told not to by the doc. But when it starts to irritate me at night, I take the boot off and let my leg rest.
Coming into week 5 now, to be honest them 4 weeks have flown. Strangely enough I am not bored yet. I am sure I will be soon but I have a few things home from work and I will be working from home and I have a course to finish so that will keep me busy.
I am back to the hospital on the 15th Feb. I am wondering when you can actually stand on your foot again. I would imagine that will be a scary moment. Fear of leg breaking again
Few LiL Tips
Take your tablets the minute you feel pain including the burning/stingy feeling.
Try to get 2nd foam for boot, so you can wash it.
After 3rd/4th Week if you really need to sleep on your side, sleep with pillow between legs.
Keep your calories to a minimum so you don’t pile weight on.
Keep leg elevated as much as you can.
Do everything your doc tells you to do.
Drink milk etc for calcium
That’s only a few lil things. If I come across new sensations etc I will post it up
I broke my tibia and fibula on 12 Nov 2011. Had surgery the following day to insert plate on fibula and screw on tibia. In hospital for six days with a nwb cast for 8 1/2 weeks. Nightmare. Hopping with frame for two weeks then went to crutches. Cast finally removed on 11 Jan and started physio a few days later. Swelling still painful and exercises even more so, but now getting upstairs and hobbling with one crutch. There has been a little improvement. Am using ice and elevating my leg. One thing I've noticed is that when my leg is at rest it's as if my ankle is pressing on something, like there's something behind the bone - perhaps the plate? It's not painful, just uncomfortable. Anyone else had this? Don't get out much as I can't drive yet (bad leg is the one I need to brake). Have to depend on others which I hate. I live alone so it can be pretty miserable. Read a lot and watch tv.
Sometimes I feel I shouldn't be this disabled. I keep thinking I have to defend my condition. Probably my state of mind but feel I should be doing more but can't. I'm 62, but surgeon tells me there's no reason for me not to get back to normal. I just want to be independent again.
I know that a lot of people have horror stories to tell and that I'm fortunate but I suppose I'd like someone to to tell me I'm doing ok.
I broke my tibia and fibula on 12 Nov 2011. Had surgery the following day to insert plate on fibula and screw on tibia. In hospital for six days with a nwb cast for 8 1/2 weeks. Nightmare. Hopping with frame for two weeks then went to crutches. Cast finally removed on 11 Jan and started physio a few days later. Swelling still painful and exercises even more so, but now getting upstairs and hobbling with one crutch. There has been a little improvement. Am using ice and elevating my leg. One thing I've noticed is that when my leg is at rest it's as if my ankle is pressing on something, like there's something behind the bone - perhaps the plate? It's not painful, just uncomfortable. Anyone else had this? Don't get out much as I can't drive yet (bad leg is the one I need to brake). Have to depend on others which I hate. I live alone so it can be pretty miserable. Read a lot and watch tv.
Sometimes I feel I shouldn't be this disabled. I keep thinking I have to defend my condition. Probably my state of mind but feel I should be doing more but can't. I'm 62, but surgeon tells me there's no reason for me not to get back to normal. I just want to be independent again.
I know that a lot of people have horror stories to tell and that I'm fortunate but I suppose I'd like someone to to tell me I'm doing ok.
Thanks for reading.
Audrey
It sounds like you're doing really well. I broke mine when I was half your age and it took me a lot longer to be able to do my normal activities again...even walking across the street to get my kids from school was really difficult, six months after my surgery, and I was still using a walker at that point. (crutches never worked for me, I'm too uncoordinated) So give yourself time, you're doing great.
One thing that has helped me a lot...and of course, you'd have to check with your doctor to see when it would be safe for you to start...is riding a bike. I started with an exercise bike because I was worried about falling and breaking my leg again, but when I got bored with the exercise bike, I moved on to a regular bicycle and it's been great.
I didn't break my leg but my arm.
I chipped the elbow and shattered the Humerus .
It took 3 surgery's a bone graph and a surgical plate to fix.
I found the plate to be very annoying.
The area was tender and if you hit the area of the plate on something it hurt like #@!!. The mussel also got sore running over it
So I opted to have it removed.
My Doc. told me around 10-15% of folks have them removed.
The other concern I had is what if I get into another accident and my are is insured again, what would the plate do to my arm?.
Humerus
Good luck and if the hardware continues to be a problem you might look into having it removed.
Thank you to Hedgehog Mom and snofarmer for your responses. Have been on the exercise bike at physio. Of course there was little resistance but I assume that will change next time. May invest in a used one. Have had to increase pain medication, although I'm still only taking half the dose. I suppose I just have to be patient but as you all know it's very difficult. I'm lucky I get paid when I'm on sick leave. Thank you Hedgehog Mom for your positive comments. They're appreciated. Good to know I'm doing ok. Good luck to all.
4 wweks ago i stepped up on a 2 inch metal bar lost my balance and fell literly detached my foot from my leg broke tibia f ibula and 3 more fractures and 4 dislocations between my foot and ankle was imediatly taken in for surgery on the dislocations and following day surgery for fractures as far as i know i now have a rod 2 plates and 2 screws told no weight berring for3 months had 16 staples removed on outside of leg and 2 from inside ankle dr is good but when i asked what was outcome and wanting to understand exactly what i did got answer of " well you have everything but kitchen sink " well at least i know how a kitchen sink works i still have no conclusion about my leg sound familar to anyone on this kind of fractures
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
screws removed from tibia IM Rod after 10 months
I want my leg back
