TPF Recovery Status, 55 year old...
I have been lurking here for months...nearly cried the first time I came upon this forum. Reading about all of your experiences certainly put things in perspective. It has been almost 8 months since my surgery (skiing accident; active 55 year old male; left leg TPF Type 2 depressed; bone graft, plate and 6 screws; FWB after 11 weeks; released from PT at 6 months).
I feel quite fortunate that I am back to most physical activities (spin bike class twice weekly; other gym work-outs 2 or 3 times a week including execises dedicated to the recovery, sporadic road and mountain biking). Tried running a few times, but didn't feel very comfortable so have dropped it for now. It took a lot of time and work, but managed to get all ROM back (160 degrees+). I still feel every step that I take...not pain, but a tightness like there is a big rubber band around my knee; also a "clunking" when moving through a deep squat (this may be diminishing; my PT said this may go away as the muscles are re-built). I tend to overdo the exercising from time to time which makes the knee tender and a bit swollen, so I have to back off for a couple of days (this, too, is may be occurring less frequently).
Not sure if this will be as good as it gets; as one of you have stated, "it depends" on a number of factors; we all would like nothing more than to be back to "normal"....
Any runners out there who have suffered this injury, but were able to get back into running?(Or should I listen to my young nephew, who stated "You're old, forget about it!")
Question re:feeling worse after pwb
Haven't been on in awhile but just saw the "scar&shaving" note- it's like you folks anticipate my questions.:smile:
One answer I can't seem to find: did anyone feel like they were regressing at the pwb stage?
I was feeling good (all things considered) with hardly any pain from surgery although hamstring giving some trouble in pt. Got some of my calf back, having difficult time with quad muscle memory. Pwb started on 11/13, 2 months to the day after surgery. Also finagled os to let me drive short distances.
Did great for a couple of days and then pain and swelling that won't go away. Swells up like weeks 3/4. Wakes me up at night. Pt switched to water last week (HEAVEN -- although I feel like Shamu at a marine mammal stranding center being lowered into the pool by that chaise contraption). I am getting pretty good rom and flexibility and was able to to 10 min on stationary bike with full rotation 1 pt session after pwb clearance
Because of pain and knee instability which may be psychosomatic I have spent the past 2days in the recliner fending off some insidious depression.
I absolutely know this is going to be a long haul but I have been lucky with progress..x-rays are good, os conservative.. and wonder if I am doing something wrong now. Os expected to clear me to fwb and stairs first week of December but I can't see my leg being strong enough without a walker.
Stats
Injury 9/7
Surgery 9/13 : S3, plates, screws, bone graft
Pt started 10/23
Pwb 11/13