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I broke my fibula on Feb 09 2012.After an X-ray and a cast I was sent home to wait to see the surgeon on Feb 14. He had the break X-rayed then told me there was no sign of displacement and to return for another X-ray on the 21st
I have fiberglass cast and experience swelling when on crutches and red-purple toes till I elevate my leg.
I'm sure happy to have found this forum.
Danlon75- Rest, ice, elevate, compress, (spells RICE!) Me too- and swelling a part of recovery. My doc says for a year! Anyways- ice feels good! all best, Jack
Thanks Jack.I'm doing the rest elevation and ice part and the cast provides the compress part.
Just wanted to let you know, i just got my full cast, the swelling was gone (i did the the elevation part), and now i just have to wait another 3 weeks... :smile: :D
Hi. i broke my fibula feb 17 from a bad fall in a basketball game. i sat on my leg backwards thus all of my body weight went to my Left Fibula. was sent to the ER immediately and they made a back slab after 3 days the ortho consultant told me that it needs an ORIF they will put 9 screws and a long plate. was operated in feb 21. so far so good. no pain in the bones and some itchiness on the opsite. hoping for a good check xray this mar 5. and hoping that i could walk again approx 3-4 weeks after the accident. i was not taking any pain meds and was drinking milk, eating leafy vegetables and a multivitamins for my fast recovery. im on a backslab cast right now. there is no swelling thats why the doctors are very positive for mt fast recovery. God Bless Me.
Broke my R fibula at roughly 1 inch about the ankle joint on Dec. 29, 2011. Was in a fibreglass cast until Mar. 2, 2012. Am currently in an aircast and am to see the orthopedic surgeon today. The x-rays are discouraging, showing very slow healing. I have given up alcohol, caffeine (except for 1 cup of tea in the morning), I don't smoke and am taking Calcium and Vitamin B to help speed the healing. If anyone has any suggestions about other things I can do to hurry this along it would be much appreciated. Surfing season is coming up fast and I need to be ready!
The fibula is the bone commonly referred to as the calf bone. This important bone bears a lot of weight throughout our lives, and damage to the calf bone can make it incredibly difficult to walk. Proper recovery from a broken fibula takes time and effort. Doing it incorrectly can cause further damage to your leg. Don't drive until you are recovered.Quote:
Originally Posted by sixpackalab
Bones heal on average in about six weeks.
A well-balanced diet high in protein will help promote faster healing. Eating more fiber and drinking more fluids will help prevent any potential constipation.
A healthy diet will aid your body in the healing process. Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, low fat diary products and drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. :smile:
Apparently "pure" oxygen speeds up regeneration.If you have swelling you must keep your leg higher than your heart level ,because swelling is keeping that old blood and you must keep it elevated,then the new blood will come and bring oxygen and everything it needs to heal faster, and if you do that the swelling will be gone in few hours...
I can hear that you need to be moving again, but beware that doing too much too soon could re-injure your leg and slow the process. You will have some restrictions from sports :skijump: after that for a few weeks.As it is, you're likely to be back on your feet.
That's It (well almost) ,so do everything correctly and you will be up and :mummy: walking in no time :D :smile: :rolleyes:
@Brutal Hamster: My break looks very similar to yours. I broke my fibula 7 weeks ago (Jan 23rd). I had a splint and after 2 weeks, I got a cast for 4 weeks.
@sixpackalab: When I got my cast off I was expecting that little gap to be closed up, but it wasn't which is discouraging.
I'm one week removed from having the cast and I still don't feel like I'm anywhere near close to being able to walk. Swelling is constant and when I put weight on it, it feels like it is crushed in the joint. I'm able to put 120lbs on it via the scale but I weigh 212 lbs. Of course, the achilles tendon is very tight.
@Bingo: I also broke my fibula playing basketball. I felt like such a klutz doing it, so I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I'd be curious to share experiences with a few of you that are going through similar injuries at the same time as I am. Feel free to hit me up.
JDfromBR@ I broke my fibula on feb13th.I got my cast off yesterday.On the X-rays the fracture was almost the same like before 3 weeks.When i saw the image i was shocked:eek:. The gap as you sad was open.But the doc sad it is OK,and that you cant see the healed bone on scan even after few months.He also sad that i must do some workouts(like moving my foot in circles,stretching on fingers and heel) and reduce the swelling.After i got home,i tried to stand on it,i am about 165 lbs last when i checked.I also read somewhere that when your younger the healing time is also much quicker.I was just 2 weeks in a full cast,and before that one week in a temporary(because of the swelling).
The first day i wasn't trying to walk, just did some low pressure workouts around the joint.I also applied some gel on the spot(i think its called "Fastum Gel" somewhat),it reduces swelling and relieves pain.
Next day-today i started to do some workouts with my leg and joint.But i was using
crutches all the time.This morning, it was impossible to walk ,but i could stand
with all my weight on it,although i felt some pain mainly because of the swelling.
In the afternoon i tried to walk again,without crutches,my doc sad if i try to stand
first few days i will definitely fail:nonono2:,but i didn't:cool:.I managed to maintain balance,and walked :biggrin:,but just one step:wink:.
And right now while i am writing this to you i did it.Just two days after i got my cast off.
But yet it cant be called a normal walk:mummy:,and i felt some pain afterwards.
The list:
-Do the workouts (they are inevitable to walk again)
-Apply any gel against swelling and pain (It helped me,the swelling and pain is reduced)
-Ice therapy (get some ice and rub it on the swelling, it takes important part in recovery)
-Special diet (fruits,vegetable,-you will need a lot of vitamin C)
-Elevated leg (if the swelling is extreme,then you must keep your leg above the hearth level,all that old blood gathers up and block new blood with oxygen and other
substances needed for healing process, getting there)
-Drink water (you must drink at least 6-10 glasses of water a day)
All this you must have did while having the cast on,and even after you got it off the leg isn't fully recovered,it will maybe take a week to start walking,but even after a
month the gap wont be filled fully :nonono2: if you don't do things that are on the list..
Sources: "personal experience...:biggrin:"
Hello:rolleyes:, I broke my fib skiing on saturday and now I have to bear a plaster cast. The docs first decision was to practice an operation due to a slightly displacement of the bone but later when they put a plaster cast and made an Xray, everything was in the right place and now seems that I should bear the plaster cast ofr 6weeks unless something happen. I mean if the bone goes again to another strange position. The sweelling is not heavy and the pain is not big enough to take pills. I dont know if I should be worried about the first displacement the docs found. Please I need some support from the forum, I don't want to stay so much longer than this 6 weeksm in this situation. thanks :biggrin:
Hi "inacas", i was 4 weeks in a cast,then finally when i got it off i hoped i will be back to walking in few days, but it wasn't, i had to use crutches next two weeks, and go to physiotherapy's for my leg...Now i can walk almost normally,but i cant jump or do anything similar.In the next month i will need to have additional diet, to get the Calcium, and other vitamins.You can see from my past posts how the some points of healing were
distributed..After that 6 weeks, you would need to practice walking about two weeks before you could go on your own, and without crutches...
And you shouldn't be worried about the displacement they found,maybe its just a small
fracture of that part.the new bone will come and replace the old one, so everything even
not 100% in place will be fixed and healed.But be aware that diet is crucial to your healing time.You may not have much swelling, but even a little swelling can keep blood from flowing around that area which is very important.It brings everything needed for healing...
And don't take pills, only if they are the last option and the pain is unbearable...
Sorry for late reply, but it takes some time for admins to review the post before publishing...I love helping people, if you need anything else, feel free to ask, i will try to be more active on here.. :D :D :D
Hello All,
I have gone thru this thread and read everyone's recovery views. I had my Fibula fracture surgery 6 weeks ago with 1 plate and 7 screws..!! It was just above the ankle. Got my X-ray today and everything seems good..! Now I am allowed to walk without crutches..! :)
Just wanted to tell everyone out here who are just in the recovery phase to have patience and dont be in a hurry. Its recoverable and gets better day by day..!!
Plz let me know if any queries..!
Thanks,
Pals
Two weeks later i'm off the plaster cast but with some hardware in as you can see. Docs said that i should wear a bandage three more weeks and they recomends non-wide movements with the toes and the foot. Pain after surgery was huge, but the they after it's just ok. And swelling is ok. Docs said that I heal very fast and after three weeks they will encourage me to walk a bit.
http://www.tgrmedia.com/i.ashx?w=200...ap_730X550.jpg
I'm on week 9 now and I've been walking with a cane for around two weeks but it's not getting anymore comfortable. there's a lot of bruising and pain just below whatever you call the bottom part of the fibula (the ball).
Not sure if I did too much, too soon but I'm due for a doctors visit on Tuesday.
It's been around 4.5 months (I think)
The bone feels healed up but I still have a limp much of the time, but not all of the time. it usually hurts in the morning and late at night.
I also experience a good but of pain in my lower ankle when I roll my foot inward as if it were still sprained. does anyone else have this issue after 4 or 5 months?
47 years old, broke left fibula yesterday half way up playing soccer. In a splint right now. Quite painful. Very upset about this. I have been exercising a lot and watching what I eat and shedding pounds recently. Hope this doesn't set me back too much. Woke up 2:30 am - pain meds wore off.
8 months away from break in fibula. all ok, some swelling at night. soft tissue takes a while to recover. carry golf bag no problem, fish. all best to all- Jack Crowley/Seattle
I broke my fibula just above the ankle joint on July 5th this year. I rolled my ankle hard hiking down a steep snowbank and sprained it extremely bad, while breaking it just above the ankle. I was put in a cast the day after it happened and had the cast on for 6 weeks. I've been in a walking cast now for 3 weeks and go in on the 11th to get it checked out again. Hoping to lose the brace and start strengthening it for the winter! Bearing weight feels fine, but definitely still stiff and limited in motion. Gets better each day though!
So, I had the displeasure of destroying my ankle on 7/29. I was sliding into 2nd base during a softball game and it just got caught under me and dislocated my ankle and snapped my fibula. The thing I thought was weird was the doc wanted to wait almost 2 weeks to start surgery because of the swelling he said. I had a soft cast for 2 weeks after the surgery and was put in a hard cast after.
It's been 6 1/2 weeks since surgery and I'm getting a little antsy. I have been putting a little weight on it gradually the last few days and it takes it fine. I can limp around in my hard cast with crutches as long as I don't put all of my weight on it, it does fine. It is taking everything I have right now to not rip this cast off and put it in a boot a week early (have one from a previous incident. Anyways I feel like 6 1/2 weeks should be sufficient and the doc is being overly cautious. I'm ready to get back to work. I'm 27 and in good shape so I feel like this should be a suitable recovery time. What do you guys think?
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps88858fd8.jpg
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b0dc155.jpg
when you guys broke it how bad was the pain? I landed backseat on a pretty large drop about 4 days ago and thought I had just gotten really bad shin bang. I'm able to walk fine now, but when I put pressure my pressure forward and outside on my ankle I feel a very sharp pain, just a couple inches up from my ankle to the outside of my shin bone. The pain kinda shoots up my leg. I've never broken a bone but it feeling kinda how I imagine a minor fracture would feel.
I know... "go see a doctor". But that what I'm trying to avoid, if there is no reason to.
I had a boot-top fracture last year and it was very painful initially but then much like what you're describing. I walked on it for a week or so before I decided to drag my ass to get an x-ray. I wound up without a boot (made things worse) and basically just iced it and took it easy for 3-4 months. In the end it was nice to have someone monitoring the healing but my out of pocket costs were fairly low so it's easy for me to say that. Tough call.Quote:
Originally Posted by iLLbiLLy
Highly unlikely you have a treatable fracture if the area isn't swollen like a grapefruit, you can walk on it and have decent range of motion. Probably just swollen bursa sacs or some torn up soft tissue that will heal with RICE. No reason to see a doctor at this point. Harden the fuck up, walk it off, pull up your big girl panties or whatever other homilies you want, and go see the doc if you aren't better in a month.Quote:
Originally Posted by iLLbiLLy
Gnarly. What's the stud for on the medial side of the tibia? And are those staples on the distal side or something in the boot?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeret
Heal up mang, happy that the recovery is going well.
Stud on the medial side is a Tightrope-type device - uses a strong type of suture to repair the syndesmosis (thick ligament holding the fibula and tibia together) rather than a screw. You can see the radiolucent line where the drill track lies, and the metal part is what's the suture pulls against to draw the tibia and fibula together. And, yep, the metal objects in the skin on the lateral side are the staples used to close the skin (xray's taken in a splint, not a boot). I hope you're doing well half a year later!
Hello, I broke my distal fibula 7 weeks ago, the dr said i was lucky and i didn't need surgery but it sounded close, he put me in a fiberglass cast and had me come back and do a through the cast xray, he checked it and said it was healing nicely and was right on target, said to come back in 4 weeks and he would do a off cast xray.
I don't have a lot of itching like people say i would but i have swelling, especially the toes, feels so uncomfortable. I'm going to be 54 on 7/21, see dr on 7/19.
He did say something about physical therapy after the appt. but i think he would obviously have to see the xray.
Any pointers, it's non weight bearing so i've been sitting on this couch for 7 weeks, hopefully my sanity will still be intack.
Pam
glad to find this and other threads on Gimp Central.
my honey was fishing a riffle-pool near our place when she went down hard - not wearing those goofy fly fishing treads :mummy: i traded part of my gear rack for … anyways, diagonal fracture just up from the base; also a nasty gash mid shin down to her tibia to top things off.
she was with granddaughter #1 and 'had to drag herself out of the bush "Joe Simpson" style, GD#1 leading the way … way to go Nana :cool:
ortho said likely not needing to plate her up, but she's in an air cast taking it super easy … vit C, D, calcium … follow-up rays this Thursday.
she's a tough bird and i'm handling the grand babes :smoking:
ditched the crutches for a four-post walker...
looks like 6-8 weeks with some Stash videos, and I like the Clint Eastwood marathon suggestion - Josey Wales !!
CSM
In Park City and wrapped my board and 59 yr old body around a tree Monday. I was sure I was just banged up but could not sustain weight on my left leg and sure enough the X-ray showed a clean fracture midway up. Even though I am here for only a few more weeks the Doc's are so highly reccomended I am going in tomorrow to see one. I have very little pain and wonder if anyone has advice....head home and stick with my local Doc's or get an opinion here and have it treated? I am a bit caught of guard by the length of recovery for so little pain. Fractured ribs hurt a helluva lot worse than this and they didn't do anything for that.
Thanks. If nothing else this is a very well informed thread that I am appreciative to have found.
If the fibula is broken half way up or more proximal it's likely that you tore the sydesmosis, a fibrous membrane that stabilizes the tibia and fibula and ankle joint. They probably won't fix the fibula but likely put a screw in to hold the tibia and fibula in their natural position while the sydesmosis heals. The screw will be removed later. It is a good idea to have this surgery, it's not like rib fractures.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesums
I Spiraled my Tib & Fib and ended up with a Plate and 6 screws. I was at home for 3 months with the ability to walk around on it (in a boot) after 3 months. this was 8 years ago. My leg still hurts every day. Get a good doctor and a good PT to help you heal! Both for me where Shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by AaronWright
Well, I joined the broken fibula club on Monday (3-20). It was a clean break just above my ski boot with no displacement so no surgery is needed. They put me in an air boot and gave me crutches. This is my first broken bone. I have no idea what to expect from this ordeal. I've been told to drink plenty of water, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, to R.I.C.E., and to avoid pain killers as they can slow the healing process. Is there any other advice people have for me?
Don't ski for awhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kopi_Red
That won't be a problem...Quote:
Originally Posted by NW_SKIER
man, what a bummer, kopi. heal well.
don't get so literal with the treehugging and get well soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesums
Thanks! The well wishes are most appreciated!Quote:
Originally Posted by wyeaster
I think we have identical breaks and only a couple weeks apart. Wish you the best. I have so little pain that I have gone back to doing yoga here in PC UT and have delusional hopes of getting back on the MT the last two weeks.
Mike (the boarder above)
The term sydesmosis was never brought up by either the ER guy or the Ortho I saw a week later. Thanks for the heads up.Quote:
Originally Posted by AaronWright
I achieved a fractured distal fibula while doing a float down on tubes on the river. I had gotten out of my tube and was pulling it up on the river bank when I fell...was fine got back up..by this time my left leg had sunk pretty far down into the mucky sand dirt ...I'm calling it quick sand because I'm pretty sure that is what it is. Well I fell again and my body fell and my leg stayed stuck in the quicksand and we soon all realized something was wrong when I was unable to walk on it.
it has been 10 days since the injury. I have had a fiberglass cast on for 6 days. Went to see the orthopedic dr today to re X-ray since casting.. the person who casted me had pressed the cast (and my fibula) in to try and push the bone back into place..the surgeon says it looks like they did a good job, there is a small gap and in his opinion it will heal back into place with this cast. Wants to see me back in 5 weeks to do another X-ray to be sure. I am so happy that I do not need to get the pins and plate put in as my PCP and the Orthopedic PA had said was a high possibility.
Orthopetic surgen says zero weight on it for the 5 weeks keep elevated and iced as much as possible. I have disability leave approved from work... I have a long term disability insurance so money is a non issue right now.
my question:
my husband says I can't lay in bed for this healing time... All I'm really good for is folding laundry right now.
I don't want to upset him and I see where he is coming from as we are both very hard workers and we are trying to build our life up.
What other types of things should I be doing around the house? I'm on crutches which suck I have a lot of stairs in my house... I can't just stand on one leg for too long because that leg becomes strained..so there goes dishes, and laundry I can't carry by myself. Vacuuming/sweeping nope... maybe half way clean the bathroom if someone puts the stuff there for me... it just all seems like too much, this cast is heavy.
how do I react to him? Should I stand up for myself because of healing time? Or what idk what the right thing is... I don't want him m to see me as lazy. Does anyone Have advise on this?
I have the same break as you! Zero weight on left leg... husband says I can't lay in bed for 6 weeks.. it sounds mean but I understand where he is coming from...6 weeks of lazy sounds ridiculous. I mean I can move from the bed to the couch..but then every time I have to pee I have to go up and back down stairs on one leg with my crutches. then the next day it hurts bad, I definitely look like the sad crying pain face under the number 10 at the dr office. If I stay in the bedroom the bathroom is on the same floor. Idk how to react to him... tell him to get off my case and be more understanding or do what he wants? Do u have an opinion about this? I feel all I can do is fold laundryQuote:
Originally Posted by pmerfeld
Listen to your doctor so you can heal up. I broke my fibula this past spring. It was the first broken bone I've ever had. The pain wasn't pleasant but the worst part about the experience was the inability to do anything. It made me feel useless.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beezinthetrap
Being on crutches sucks and going up and down stairs on crutches sucks. Around 10 days in I decided to do laundry (in the basement) and carry the clean clothes and bedding up the stairs by myself. I overdid it, hurt myself and luckily that bonehead maneuver only set me back a few days. The lack of mobility is frustrating but your main objective should be to heal up ASAP. So listen to your doctor.
As for what to say to your husband, I'm single so I really don't know what to tell you. I guess I'd ask for him to empathize with you in your situation. Have him use your crutches for a bit around the house with ankle weights on his "broken" leg so he can start to understand the incredibly inconvenience of using crutches. I never realized how bothersome crutches were until I had to use them. You cannot carry anything when you're using them and that was so freaking frustrating! I wore a small backpack just about everywhere to help remedy that problem.
Find a good book or two to help pass the time; celebrate the victories and progress that you're making (no matter how small or insignificant they seem);
and heal up soon!