Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery

[bikerdude]

I just found this board and love it, lots of insight. My situation, MC accident 12Jun2012, surgery 20Jun2012, 11wks post op. Started PT 3wks ago with about 40 ROM. On my third week of PT, only gained 5 degrees ROM and still no WB. I have heard LOTS of different situations on here and realized that no 2 situations are the same. Eleven screws 1 plate to repair displaced TP FX. Will post xrays after 11Sep2012.

[scjohnson07]

Update: went from 32 deg ROM to 40 this appt. feels like needles jamming me behind my knee cap. Got electro shock treatment today and it wasn't pleasant to say the least!

[Dgw3369]

I hope everyone got to enjoy their labor day weekend outside while the weather is still nice. Just was thinking how hard the recovery from this injury would've been if this happened during winter time and trying to crutch around in the snow and ice. Probably would've have delayed recovery time quite a bit. At least I did one thing right when getting injured and that was doing it in the spring. Lol. Anyways I hope everyone is recovering well and moving forward. I myself quit going to PT about a month ago cause I felt I was not seeing any results anymore. Not that my pt was bad, quite the opposite I give him a lot of credit for where I'm at right now! But I felt I was doing more for myself at home and about and seeing better results. The one thing pt did for me besides help me with my knee was it made me want to get in better shape with my entire body. I started to enjoy excercising and never thought that was possible and I credit that to my pt training. Not that i was ever in bad shape but now more so then ever I'm trying hard to be in the best shape of my life. I just don't want to ever be crippled like I was with this injury and it was crippling mentally and physically. I believe by building muscle and eating right chances of this ever happening or something similar can lesson dramatically. So with that thought In mind I joined the gym three weeks ago. I've been doing upper body m-w-f and legs t-t-sat. Sunday my rest day. So I've been using the eliptical machines and can't recommend that enough for our type of injury. There's no impact which we all need and it's a combination of running and bicycling standing up, as if you were climbing a hill. It's great cause it gives you the sensation of running again and that we were all told not to do again. I've been doing 45 min on the eliptical at 6.5 mph, averages a little over 4 miles in 45 min and from there I do leg presses 80lbs, calf presses 70 lbs, quad curls 90lbs, and hamstring curls 70lbs. By strengthing the bad leg it's improved my walking dramatically in he sense that it's more comfortable to walk again and being able to be out and about on the leg more hours of the day without any lingering pain. Also my knee looks almost exactly as the other one. Sounds funny but it tells me it's almost back to normal again.when I wake up in the morning I can walk without limping anymore. I think for me at least the biggest obstacle is the atrophy. I think this is worst then the break itself because without muscle strength in your leg it's practically useless, that's what amazed me the most with this injury. My thigh is not up to size yet but soon enough I'm sure. Well that's my update and I hope it gives others encouragement to push harder and overcome your injuries.

[HeatherB]

I am supposed to be starting PT, but have been putting it off for fear of the pain and fear of the unknown. Tomorrow I will be 8 weeks post op. Started FWB 3 days ago, limping along with my walker. I know it's something I have to do, but the fear is stopping me.

[Casper2012]

HeatherB-don't be scared of PT, instead think about being able to walk normally again. That's what encouraged me to get over the fear. Go to a good PT and try to go to one with a pool. It will work wonders and yes it will be hard but you'll learn to trust your leg and you'll see more progress.

[Dgw3369]

Heather just go to pt. you need what they can do to get your leg back in shape and functioning correct. If its a pain your worried about then just go cause they don't cause you any pain. There was never any time that my pt ever caused me any pain. There not there to hurt you. Once you go you're going to wonder why you put it off. As with most of us, you've already experienced the worst Pain already, if you lived threw that, pt will be a walk in the park. Good luck

[scjohnson07]

Has anyone had a suggestion from ortho or PT of getting "knocked out" to force ROM? I'm making little improvement at 40 deg ROM and 5-7 deg extension. Severe pain but it's not stopping me since I want to be normal again but if this will work I'm all for it.

[HeatherB]

How long have you been at 40 degrees ? Has your PT told you that you may have to be knocked out ?

[scjohnson07]

Yes PT said this. Ive either been making no improvement or 5 degree with a lot of pain over several days.

[scjohnson07]

But my leg was immobile for 3 months and I've been out of brace for 3 weeks.

[peaton]

scjohnson07...I have read on here a ways back there have been people who have ret'd to the surgeon to be knocked out to have the fibrous tissues torn free. Years ago my husband had this done when he tore his ACL, but back then, they didn't knock you out!

[peaton]

I have had 3 PT sessions now and doing pretty well. I have almost full ROM and Ext. I still have a lot of swelling and pain mid-line medial side.

PT is not all that painful, there are 2 exercises that I don't like due to pain/discomfort but they are necessary. I still have much difficulty with stairs and kneeling, but I'm sure that will come with increased strength in my leg.

It is so nice to take short walks, take care of my animals again and to just do normal things without any walking aids!!!

[scjohnson07]

If its something that will work I might do it. I've now had 6 sessions and that's what led me to the 40 degrees. Now I do still have to have meniscus repair so I am going to ask if he can do the ROM thing while he does that. Don't know if that's possible but worth asking. I don't wanna get knocked out twice!
Glad to hear your back to your animals! I got my big show gelding out yesterday and led him around on my crutches he definitely took care of me and it felt good!

[leejem]

6 weeks for me today. Back to the hospital tomorrow for a check up and hopefully start weight bearing. I'm planning on going back to work on Tuesday, though suspect it will be reduced hours. I was out and about quite a bit last week and ended up with alot of swelling in my knee and foot. Spent yesterday on the couch with my leg elevated.

I have about 70 degrees ROM, and my PT said it probably won't improve much until I start weight bearing.

[global_dev]

Just spent the last 3 wks in the pool and it felt great. Also spent a week in the carribean sea in Aruba. How I missed moving around with ease... it was sweet swimming and floating and moving my injured leg. A bit swollen after all the action but well worth it.

Went back to the office full time, feels nice to be transitioning to almost normal activities.

Even though doc said no weight on injured leg, I've accidentally put a bit of weight and didn't feel too bad. Not walking on it by any means, but locked the knee and put some weight while on crutches.

Already started coaching my daughters soccer team again and while it feels strange to be doing it on crutches, its nice to be "active".

End of next week is the 12 WK post op and I am excited and nervous...

[lgillingham]

This is another hopeful posting....I am 6 months pose surgery. Here's a quick summary of milestones:
1. 3/7 surgery with plate and six screws
2). Fwb on the sixth week. Told I could walk and low impact and pt
3). 6 weeks later walked a marathon with a cane but was able to complete the 26.2 on my own.
4). Next three months moved back to trail walking/hiking. I credit that for strengthening more dormant muscles. Needed some help on up or down hills.
5). Went for my six month check Jo and I'm cleared to run and train for a marathon again
6). It's been four days and I'm up to ten miles (ran 7 and walked 3). It's a slower pace but I'm still improving.

Learnings.....you have to push yourself and learn to trust the weight bearing. I know the first time my pt wanted to put an ankle weight on it, I wondered if my leg would be able to bear it....no problem. Once the bone is healed it's up to you to push it. After every long walk or run I always felt more movement in the knee, rom, etc. I do use one compression sock. It has always been helpful. I walk normal, wear heels again, and my running will improve. Pain is all relative. I have worked through it but I do check to see if my pushing it ever made me feel worse than when I started and that never happened...however sometimes my quads or shins were sore. But I believe that's a sign of waking up the muscles....not a tpf issue.

Best of luck to everyone. I love reading the posts...it reminds me how far I've come from those depressing nwb days....

[leejem]

It is inspiring to read of others further along. I'm so looking forward to being normal again!

[crystalteras]

So the past 2 weeks I have made a TON of improvements and I've got to say. I've been proud of myself! one day almost a week ago, I just decided to try and use 1 crutch to see what it was like and I did it! A lil sore the first few days bc I was putting more weight on my leg and my muscles were just sore but yesterday I tried to see if I could walk at all without it....I can!!!! It's just more like a bunch of hopping than walking tho lol but hey, that's improvement! :-)

[CJMac]

I broke my tibial plateau in a fall in February. I crushed part of the knee, so that had to be rebuilt and I have a plate and screws down the leg. I'm having a hard time getting my gait back to normal and have foot problems because of this. Any suggestions on a good shoe that will support my foot, yet be comfortable with the swelling that I still seem to get when I'm on my feet alot.

[global_dev]

So the past 2 weeks I have made a TON of improvements and I've got to say. I've been proud of myself! one day almost a week ago, I just decided to try and use 1 crutch to see what it was like and I did it! A lil sore the first few days bc I was putting more weight on my leg and my muscles were just sore but yesterday I tried to see if I could walk at all without it....I can!!!! It's just more like a bunch of hopping than walking tho lol but hey, that's improvement! :-)

that's great! I am about 3 weeks behind you and yesterday I snuck in a try of 1 crutch walking and hopped and hobbled for a moment and realized it's gonna be quite "fun" relearning to rely on the injured leg to walk...

[crystalteras]

Yes! Good job! Also found out I went from 95 degrees to 120 today!

[itsdeenah]

Does anyone know what the outcome/lifestyle is with 110* ROM flexing (OS said that's all I'm getting permantely and better than what he expected 90*) kinda bummed about it. I'm walking with a slight limp more in the evening when it feels weak & swollen. Pretty much off crutches except in crowded places I take 1 too keep me balanced & as a warning for people not to bump into me. Done with PT but still using small weights and bike at home for quad building. Ughhh not happy about the 110* what is in there blocking it? I asked for an MRI but the OS said no? I'd like to see what's in there. I dunno its a frustrating day today sad face

Date of Injury 4/20/12
Surgery 4/27/12
Type IV TPF with 1+" communited depression of the plateau surface
1 - Fx Tibial Shaft
Shattered medial meniscus

[scjohnson07]

So glad there's other people I can check up on that know what I'm going through. I've been recovering now for 4 months. Family doesn't understand the pain we go trough. Any suggestions for people who are starting weight bearing with one crutch? The pain in my foot and ankle sometimes outweighs the pain in my knee!

[SHarper]

I just found this forum too. Great to hear all your stories. It is truly a unique injury with a huge variance in outcomes. I have a TPF from a skateboarding accident. Date of injury 7/4/12, Still non weight bearing, 1 month of PT with ROM at almost 60 degrees. I go to the doctor on thursday and he is considering "knocking me out" to bend the knee and break through scar tissue for better ROM. Anyone had this done? Is this the best option, or should I continue PT since I have shown improvement with gaining 30 degrees ROM in the past month.

[peaton]

I just recently went through what you are asking about. Even when you go full weight bearing w/o a crutch, you still have the pain in your foot & ankle. Mine is slowly getting better but is still a problem if I over do it. Just stick with it, it will get better. Your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones in your foot and ankle haven't been used in quite some time, so they too have deteriorated.

So glad there's other people I can check up on that know what I'm going through. I've been recovering now for 4 months. Family doesn't understand the pain we go trough. Any suggestions for people who are starting weight bearing with one crutch? The pain in my foot and ankle sometimes outweighs the pain in my knee!