Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery

[UUNICORN LADY]

I am 57 years young and I have Fibromyalgia, I was visiting my Daughter/Son-in-Law and Grandchildren on 2/20/2012 and fell off their top step outside their home onto some rocks. I shattered my tibial plateau, clean break below on tibia and fibia, I had to have a fachiotomy and then a skin graft to go over the large gap and the exposed muscles from the faciotomy . I have several screws holding pieces together on tibial plateau and much more hardware on tibia/fibia. I have been 100% weight bearing for 8 weeks now and I too have swelling in ankle and leg/knee and pain. My hardest part of my PT is bending knee! With the Fibromyalga and breaks I am in agony on most days! I am told by PT that I have minimum of 2 more Months! The PT says even when I finish PT, I may need my walker for awhile, however, I will be able to drive again!

I just went to Doc today and not so great news!! This x-ray was taken this time was with me standing and Doc said it looks like I have a torn miniscul (not sure how to spell) and bone healing slow due to thin bones/osteoarthritis and such a reeeaaallly bad break (from 1 to 10; it is a 9) as he explained to me; in the medical books it shows 6 kinds of tibial plateau fractures mine is not even listed as I shattered the tibial plateau into pieces!! then clean break mid tibia and clean break mid fibia!! I had compartment syndrome thus the fasciotomy and skin graft!

Doc is giving me 30 days to get knee flex to 90, otherwise he will do one of two things or both:

1: Operate and repair miniscus

2: under sedation force knee to bend and to break up scar tissue!!

Also since I have stick shift/clutch car, if in 30 days I do not get to 90 flex on knee; and he has to do option 1, I probably will not be driving for about 3 more months!!!! This will not make me happy as I miss my home, independence, and driving!!!

I am keeping positive attitude and work hard (as I have been) and hope for the best outcome!!

Prayers and speedy recovery to all!

I will keep all posted!

[scotiadallas]

Regardless, I want to get to 0.

Without question, I want to return to full mobility and if it's physiologically possible, 100% recovery. I've been told over and over that I will need a knee replacement, it's just a matter of time, but I'm only 41 and up until my injury, have lead a very active life. I would like to continue that right until my 60's or 70's.

D

[UUNICORN LADY]

Without question, I want to return to full mobility and if it's physiologically possible, 100% recovery. I've been told over and over that I will need a knee replacement, it's just a matter of time, but I'm only 41 and up until my injury, have lead a very active life. I would like to continue that right until my 60's or 70's.

D

I may be 57 years young, however, before injury I was very active (I don't snowboard or ski as I live in Florida) I hiked, ridding a bike, walked (kinda speed walking) and I want to get back to that!

Unlike Global__Dev I have extension to 0, however, flex is bad only 70 without forcing it; with force to pain tolerance I get to 87 flex (and I mean pain doing this) so it is frustrating! I am about 20 weeks from injury. I too would like to continue my active life, however, I would like to be active into my 100's!:

I just found a PT place this a.m. that has pool therapy, it is about 1 hour away (my PT now is 15 min. away)(I take a bus service for all appointments since my Family works and I cannot drive my car stick/clutch; left leg injured) near where my Doc is (FL Orthopedic Institute) but their only PT clinic that has pool therapy is almost 2 hours away, way to far for my liking!

I am hoping that with pool therapy I will progress faster on flex of knee and can avoid more surgery or sedation force flex as described in my prev. posts.

Keep your eye on the prize and you are in my prayers that all your hopes and dreams come true!

Speedy recovery to all!

[skiette]

Yes, speedy recovery to everyone though it is a long process. You are all amazing and I get so much encouragement from checking in here now and then. I'm coming in to my 18th week since surgery and have made good progress with PT (140 flex/4 ext), however I am so tired. I bike ride for nearly an hour each day and do weight lifting 3x week, but spend a lot of time on the couch and go to bed at 7 just to get horizontal. and yes, lots of tingling and numbness on outside of knee. One thing I hate is that I can feel the screws with my fingers poking out the skin on the inside of my leg ... 3 of them ... you'd think they would have trimmed them off or used shorter screws. It makes shaving near impossible without skinning these bumps. I worry about my low energy and hope it will return to normal SOON. Thanks for listening (reading) ... it does all get better each day.

[scotiadallas]

Hi All,

Yesterday, at my OS appointment, he x-rayed my TP and was very pleased with how it's all coming together. He said that I will definitely have some form of arthritis in the future and will most likely need a knee replacement, but could not say when.

The good news is that he released me to my own devices. He said I can go to FWB and I can start to learn to walk at whatever pace I can handle. He doesn't need to see me again unless I am having problems. He knows that I've been in the pool everyday, doing my exercises and generally very motivated to doing anything I can everyday to heal. I asked him about physio and he said "What are they going to do that you aren't already doing?" Good point. I'm going to continue with my version of physio.

This morning, at 6am, I slowly walked across the pool deck with the help of both crutches. I got into the shallow end and for 40 minutes I "walked" on the bottom of the pool with a flotation belt. IT WAS AMAZING. I then swam 500 meters of laps for general fitness and endurance.

My foot feels weak, painful and tingly/numb when I put weight on it. My quad is very weak but by reducing the weight on my leg using the water and the flotation belt, I could walk, almost normally. I suggest this method to everyone in this stage of recovery. Overall, the pool has been the big reason why I've felt better, recovered most of my daily stamina and now, will be instrumental in building up my walking strength.

Anyway, that's the latest. I hope this provides information that may help the next person who is heading down the path to recovery.

D

[HeatherB]

Hey Unicorn lady, where in Florida are you ?

[UUNICORN LADY]

Hey Unicorn lady, where in Florida are you ?

Hey!! I live in Polk County, however, I am staying with my Daughter and her Family in Tampa (Hillsborough County) while I recuperate as I live alone (except for my Tea-Cup Chihuahua)

LOL

as I cannot drive as I have stick/clutch!

Where do you live?

[UUNICORN LADY]

Hi All,

Yesterday, at my OS appointment, he x-rayed my TP and was very pleased with how it's all coming together. He said that I will definitely have some form of arthritis in the future and will most likely need a knee replacement, but could not say when.

The good news is that he released me to my own devices. He said I can go to FWB and I can start to learn to walk at whatever pace I can handle. He doesn't need to see me again unless I am having problems. He knows that I've been in the pool everyday, doing my exercises and generally very motivated to doing anything I can everyday to heal. I asked him about physio and he said "What are they going to do that you aren't already doing?" Good point. I'm going to continue with my version of physio.

This morning, at 6am, I slowly walked across the pool deck with the help of both crutches. I got into the shallow end and for 40 minutes I "walked" on the bottom of the pool with a flotation belt. IT WAS AMAZING. I then swam 500 meters of laps for general fitness and endurance.

My foot feels weak, painful and tingly/numb when I put weight on it. My quad is very weak but by reducing the weight on my leg using the water and the flotation belt, I could walk, almost normally. I suggest this method to everyone in this stage of recovery. Overall, the pool has been the big reason why I've felt better, recovered most of my daily stamina and now, will be instrumental in building up my walking strength.

Anyway, that's the latest. I hope this provides information that may help the next person who is heading down the path to recovery.

D

I am about 22 weeks from injury and have extension of 0, but flex is only 70. Doc is only giving me 30 more days to get to 90 or he will go to drastic measures!

So since reading these posts I found a PT place that has pool therapy and I go to first appointment 8-14-2012!! I am so excited and optimistic about it!

I too suggest pool therapy as all I have heard from rave about it!

Good luck and success on your journey!!!
You are in my prayers!

[Casper2012]

I think you'll really love the pool. For me it's the only place my leg feels good. I have an in ground pool at my home but living in Western New York state I won't be able to use it much longer. The place I was going to PT also has a pool. You'll notice a big difference in the freedom and the ability to do exercises that seem much more difficult on land. Enjoy!

[UUNICORN LADY]

Thank You!!

I am sooooo excited!!!

I came to Florida in 1986 from Long Island by way of Hawaii and then Iowa (Dad was Navy career man and from NY city; Mom from Iowa) (as Dad's Family moved to LI so they followed) Mom and Dad moved from LI to upstate NY when Dad was last Living sibling, and thus followed my older Sister to upstate, however, they only lasted 2 years and then followed me to Florida followed by my older Sister and Family!! LOL phew!!! Anyway I know how it feels to close up pool for Winter!!

Can you go back to PT to use theirs; or go to the YMCA? I feel for you!!

I cannot wait to feel the freedom you mention!

I will keep all posted in my progress!!

You all are in my prayers!

[Casper2012]

My doctor told me not to waste my time or money on PT at this point. I'm scheduled for surgery to remove the plates and screws on Sept 20th and my knee won't recover so a knee replacement will have to follow. I use a tens unit and muscle stim, do stretches and leg lifts to prevent further atrophe. Since the knee is colaspsing I can only bear partial weight using a walker to get around. On a lighter note, my husband and I have been to Hawaii twice and it's my favorite place to go. Take care.

[vaper]

well my 11 week appt is on monday and of course yesterday, a whole bunch of bullshit went down at a party that went out of control and 5 people in the hospital, including my brother (who's mostly okay) and i basically was walking all over even though i'm supposed to be nwb but keeping these kids back...i really couldn't be on crutches for that. i even tried to run before i remembered that i couldn't do it at all lol so now there's just another thing to be worried about bc so many cops were involved and bc of the multiple fights that i got myself right into the middle of

[UUNICORN LADY]

My doctor told me not to waste my time or money on PT at this point. I'm scheduled for surgery to remove the plates and screws on Sept 20th and my knee won't recover so a knee replacement will have to follow. I use a tens unit and muscle stim, do stretches and leg lifts to prevent further atrophe. Since the knee is colaspsing I can only bear partial weight using a walker to get around. On a lighter note, my husband and I have been to Hawaii twice and it's my favorite place to go. Take care.

Wow! knee replacement! Sorry to hear that!

May I ask where and how did you get tens unit? It sounds like a great machine?

How far out are you on injury/surgery? I am wondering if I will have to have plates/screws removed later? (I have so many screws due to the shattering of TP; that I can feel them under my skin when I touch under knee and around TP!; they hurt to when I move as skin/muscle rubs on them!)

I hear Hawaii is wonderful; I have no memory of it, I was born there and was 5 when we moved to Iowa? I have seen films of me there and heard stories about me and my time there, but no memory! I would love to someday go there though! Where up North are you at?

Good luck on all and keep up the great routine you are doing, you are in my prayers!

keep me/all posted!!

[HeatherB]

I live in Williston Florida, my O S is at the orthopedic institute at shands in Gainesville.

[Casper2012]

My doctor gave me a script for the tens unit and my PT supplied it. I live in a suburb of Buffalo, NY. My fracture happened on 3/18 and I had surgery on 3/21. My plates have to be removed before they can do the knee replacement but I'm not sure why. Originally the plan was to remove the hardware in a year and then wait to see how long my knee would last before they had to replace it but when the discovered that my knee was collapsing, they had to schedule the removal sooner. I hope that removing it so soon doesn't cause more issues. I haven't found anyone ellse on this forum who's had metal taken out in less than a year. I hope you get to Hawaii some day and that your recovery speeds up.

[Dgw3369]

Casper I'm a little over 4 months sense surgery and I was told at my last visit once the bones are healed the metal can come out. My dr. Said there in there but there doing nothing. So if there removing them from you, your bones must be healed enough to do so. Also to attached the knee replacement parts to the bones they need to be healed to support the new hardware. Best of luck to you. I think your going to be surprised how much better the full knee replacement is. Hope this gives you some sense of relief. Everyone's dr on here does know best. I see a lot of people doubting them but there not out to make you worse of in the end...

[Casper2012]

Dgw3369. thanks for the encouragement. I was initially devastated when the dr told me my leg wasn't going to get better without removing the metal and replacing the knee as I was working so hard in PT to get my life back to Normal. PT just kept getting more painful despite getting to 100 degree bend and I had just begun getting around on the encumbent bike only to be told not to waste my time. I had hoped to get more muscle strength back in my leg before I had to have surgery again. I've now started to think on the other hand that I might as well get the surgeries over with now. The one thing I don't know yet is if I'll be totally NWB after the metal is out, although I'm barely WB now, and how long I'll have to wait before the knee replacement is done. At least I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home. I hope your recovery is going well

[UUNICORN LADY]

I live in Williston Florida, my O S is at the orthopedic institute at shands in Gainesville.

Small World huh? FOI has pretty good Doc's!!

[UUNICORN LADY]

My doctor gave me a script for the tens unit and my PT supplied it. I live in a suburb of Buffalo, NY. My fracture happened on 3/18 and I had surgery on 3/21. My plates have to be removed before they can do the knee replacement but I'm not sure why. Originally the plan was to remove the hardware in a year and then wait to see how long my knee would last before they had to replace it but when the discovered that my knee was collapsing, they had to schedule the removal sooner. I hope that removing it so soon doesn't cause more issues. I haven't found anyone ellse on this forum who's had metal taken out in less than a year. I hope you get to Hawaii some day and that your recovery speeds up.

Thanks for info on tens, I want to ask my Doc about that!

From what I have read on here; Doc knows best and every one heals differently, so Doc is doing what is right for "you". Good luck and I'll keep you in my prayers! You are about one month after me from Injury! Man is it a long haul, huh?

My Mom, Dad and older Sister and her Family moved from LI to a Suburb outside Buffalo also; small world! (I think Aurora?)
My Sister's Husband owned a Subway in Buffalo! (1990 to 1994)

I Will keep all posted on recovery and such!

[Casper2012]

It always amazes me what a small world it is. The suburb you mentioned is East Aurora, lovely area south of the city so they get more snow then my area typically. I'm in Cheektowaga which is just east of the city. I curious to know how is your knee feeling 6 months after your injury? I know you said you're still using a walker as I am but are you FWB yet?

[UUNICORN LADY]

It always amazes me what a small world it is. The suburb you mentioned is East Aurora, lovely area south of the city so they get more snow then my area typically. I'm in Cheektowaga which is just east of the city. I curious to know how is your knee feeling 6 months after your injury? I know you said you're still using a walker as I am but are you FWB yet?

I do not know Up State NY well? My Ex and Daughter and I visited Older Sister and Family in 1991 (saw Niagra Falls and went to Canada side/touristy stuff!LOL) and again in 1992 when Mom & Dad Moved there. Mom & Dad lived across from Cemetery!! It was close to Town. They had built in pool and it was July, however, to cold for me!! LOL The temp while we were there was comfortable 70 to 72 degrees but to cold for unheated pool for me, everyone else went in; I am a wuss!! LOL
Sister lived out in boondocks!LOL (We watched dear grazing in a.m. out their picture window! ) But all reminded me of Iowa! (We lived on farm breeding/boarding Quarter Horses; 400 acres, we grew our own feed, had pigs/chickens/cows, etc. for our own use and leased some acres out to other farmers; I loved It and I miss it!)

Yes FWB, however, flex of knee is problem; thus looking forward to pool therapy and I have so many screws in TPF due to it not just fractured, it shattered that I can feel them under skin and they rub on nerves/muscle and skin when I move and they hurt; plus I have Fibromyalgia (can't spell) so it agitates this condition!! I have positive attitude so that helps. I do get aches and pains/muscle twitches; mostly after PT, but nothing I cannot handle as I have high pain tolerance! I do lots of building up leg and all around strength while in bed (see why below) along with ankle/knee and hip movement to keep joints from getting stiff! My extension is 0, so I am lucky there! where compartment syndrome/faciotomy scar/surgery scar/fixation devise scar and where hardware is is numb to touch and still tender and ugly looking! I have problem with getting ankle/foot flat as I have super high arch (mild club foot they say?) so flex and ankle/foot are areas I need to concentrate on!

My Daughter and Family live in a 2 bdr single wide trailer (small) so I don't have room to do a lot of walking or PT at home! I am on pull out coach bed in tiny living room, use a portable potty in living room as cannot get to potty in bathroom. Not enough room to use my wheelchair; thus I am SOL! Also tensions high between Daughter and I as such close quarters and Her not understanding all that goes with TPF and my Fibromyalgia; so it is stressful, I cannot wait to get back home!! I am clean/neat person and very independent! (I think that says it all without going into details?) I help out $$ wise and watching Grandkids/helping with homework, getting their chores done, etc. (the kids do most of the work taking care of me(that says it all!); they are 12/10/8, 2 girls and boy) I let my Son-in-Law use my car (their 2nd car broke down). They are having problems with Landlord so I have written Professional Letters and have researched info for them (Before I retired I was Executive Secretary/Office Manager; I have a Bachelors degree in Business Management). They want to find better jobs/careers so I have created Resume's/Cover letters for them both and searched for jobs for them, however, according to them "I" don't do enough?confused: I just keep on trucking though as I have no where else to go and "I" do appreciate what they are doing and I am not easily goaded into anger/spite like my Daughter is, I am very easy going (comes from growing up in hippy times!LOL) so I let it roll off me (being able to do this comes with age/experience and wisdom and lots of prayer!LOL even though what is said can hurt at times )

I am so sorry this is long! I guess I just needed to vent?

Other than knee what else bothers you/hurts?

Thanks for reading/listening to me go on and on!

You are so sweet and in my prayers!

[Casper2012]

Wow Unicornlady it sounds like your situation is not ideal" it's a good thing you have a positive attitude to get you through. It's difficult for others to understand TPFs, heck I have a tough time with it and the length of the recovery. My husband and son have been great through it. I'm very fortunate that my home is setup pretty well for getting around. Only problem was the upstairs where our bedroom and my office is but we had a chair lift put in so I have access to both floors. Other than my knee, the whole lower portion of my leg feels constant discomfort, because of the metal I think and I too have great difficulty getting my foot flat. Tingling and some numbness mainly on the right side of my leg and in the foot. Seems common based on what others have said here. You hang in there and keep at it!

[UUNICORN LADY]

Wow Unicornlady it sounds like your situation is not ideal" it's a good thing you have a positive attitude to get you through. It's difficult for others to understand TPFs, heck I have a tough time with it and the length of the recovery. My husband and son have been great through it. I'm very fortunate that my home is setup pretty well for getting around. Only problem was the upstairs where our bedroom and my office is but we had a chair lift put in so I have access to both floors. Other than my knee, the whole lower portion of my leg feels constant discomfort, because of the metal I think and I too have great difficulty getting my foot flat. Tingling and some numbness mainly on the right side of my leg and in the foot. Seems common based on what others have said here. You hang in there and keep at it!

Thank you for encouragement and understanding!

So it is your right leg? Mine is left leg!

[Righttibia]

Hi ppl,

hope you recovering well,

Post 6 weeks from operation, i came to office today,

doctor said, no weight bearing for another 2 weeks, so limping with walker..

and its so uncomfortable, slow, full back achin very badly..

had tough time comin to office, as i had to climb stairs,

good part, im continuing taking PT,

Fracture date : 01 July 2012
Operation date : 02 July 2012
pt sessions done : 9
range :120

wish u speedy recovery
Jay

[vaper]

well i just had my 11 week post-op appt and he cleared me for fwb! it was pretty anticlimactic bc i've been walking for a bit now anyway lol good thing i didn't mess anything up! i always based it on my pain and i never had any, so that's good. i'm just glad to actually get rid of the crutches! i think i got past most of the weak foot feeling bc that really sucked and now i just gotta get my leg strength back up! i'm moving into manhattan in a week so it'll be forced upon me either way.

anyway, i don't really have a limp when i walk and it feels better and more stable every day. it feels like i'm finally going to be over this injury! too bad i have this hardware and huge scar on my leg to remind me.

also i bought scarinex, a gel to help with the scar, not sure how well it'll work but will let you all know!