Me and my IM Nail Part 2 (3mths since the op)>>>
Me and my IM Nail Part 3 (4mths since the op)>>>
Just over 2 months ago I had a fall and broke my left Tibia (at the shin) and Fibula bones (the lower leg bones) and had to have an operation so they could put a big metal rod (known technically as an intramedullary nail or rod) down the bone to help the healing process. There is not much information available on the internet about this procedure, particularly the healing process, so I thought I would share my experiences in case it is of help or comfort to others going through the same thing.
Tibia Break
Fibula Break
My fall did not seem like a major one and so it was a shock that I had broken a bone, let alone 2 bones and a massive unwelcome surprise that the breaks were so severe I would need an operation?! I was told that they would likely do one of three options: 1) put in a metal rod inside the length of the tibia bone; 2) put a metal plate across the shin area or 3) put in some sort of metal screw/nail horizontally through the shin.
I asked what the risks were and they said the intramedullary nail does have some risks and if I was having circulation issues before or during the surgery then it could lead to them having to amputate. I thought this was just a normal disclaimer but when I pressed the issue the doctor said there was a significant risk, although small in percentage terms of about 5%. The alternative would be not to have the surgery and have a cast, which would not guarantee the bones would heal okay and would also double the recovery time from 6mths to 12mths. I gave written consent that I was alright with them going ahead with the surgery.
It was only as I was being wheeled down to theatre that I was told they were going to do the more risky option 1. I told myself that 19 times out of 20 it would be fine, but couldn’t help but wonder if I would be the unlucky 1 in 20 and looked down at my left foot (well toes, as I had a cast pre-operation) and thought it might be the last time I would see it. When I stirred in recovery afterwards, my first action was to see if I still had my leg and was very relieved to still see it there.
My leg after the operation
Looking back on it, the hospital (St.George’s Hospital in Tooting, South London, UK) did not give me much information about what would happen to me and I was pleased to discover that I didn’t have a cast. Apparently, the point of intramedullary (IM) nails are that they help the bone heal a lot quicker by keeping it in position and also partly carry the strain the bone normally endures. As the ankle and knee joints are not restricted by a cast with this approach, it means partial weight can be applied and then increased when the bone and leg have sufficiently healed.
The technique was developed by German surgeon Gerhard Küntscher and first performed in 1939 to treat soldiers and helped get them back to health (and to fight again) much quicker. Having a cast and therefore a totally inactive leg for a minimum of 4 months or so requires a great deal of time and physio work to get back to normality. Whereas the IM nail approach would sometimes have soldiers back fighting within 6 months.
I found this You Tube video clip of an operation showing the insertion of the IM nail which would have been very similar, but not identical to the one I had. Note: It’s not particularly graphic but if you are a little squeamish, then probably best not to watch it.
I was told the metal used was a stainless steel alloy. People keep asking me if that means I will set off metal detectors at the airport and to be honest I still don’t know as I keep forgetting to ask. This article here suggests I probably will, but it won’t be a big deal and that airport security staff are quite used to it.
For the first day or so after operation, with a very swollen lower leg, I was on a morphine drip in the hospital and then was given Tramadol as a painkiller along with Paracetamol. I was taking two Tramadol at a time, every 4 hours, and they made very drowsy as well as making me feel quick sick in the stomach. I let the doctors know and they reduced my intake to one every 4 hours, but I still hated the way they made me feel so decided after about day 3 to stop taking them, but kept them just in case I needed them.
I hate being in hospitals and could not wait to get out. I am in my early thirties and was in a 6-bed ward full of much older men with various issues more significant and serious than my own. Alfred, who was in the bed opposite me, was the undisputed wet fart champion of the ward. One evening there seemed to be an unconscious competition between the others as to who could fart and snore the loudest. Alfred was again the winner. One of the men was quite friendly and chatty but kept wanting to show me his stomach, which I was not so keen to do.
My view in hospital and wearing hospital slippers
I was admitted to the hospital late Saturday night and had the operation the following evening. I was told that some people, particularly the elderly, need to stay in hospital for a couple of weeks to recover but by the Thursday the doctors said they were happy for me to go home as long as the physio gave me the all clear that I was safe and competent on crutches.
I was desperate to get out of the hospital and could not stand to be there any longer than I had to so I needed to pass this crutches test with the physio. I’d been given the crutches late on Wednesday by a physio but unfortunately my first attempt was not a great success and only managed a few feet before having to lie down again. This was partly due to being very woozy from the painkillers, it also was my first attempt at being vertical since the operation and most likely due to me accidentally ripping out a poorly inserted cannular with the crutch and then started bleeding down my arm.
My swollen leg - taken when they were changing the bandages
The following day I stopped taking the painkillers and felt more awake and alert. The stomach guy on my ward had done the crutches test before and in return for finally showing me his stomach he told me what I needed to do to pass. You needed to go up and down the ward with confidence and then go up and down some stairs after they showed you the safe method of doing it.
The truth was it was an effort to get out of bed and even using the crutches to visit the toilet was a major ordeal. Having to wee into a container for several days was degrading enough, but I had refused to do a ‘number 2’ and so when I got the crutches I was able to go in a proper toilet for the first time in 4 days and boy did that feel good! Anyway, I had done a couple of practice runs on the crutches down the ward corridor and was not quick but felt I was competent.
The doctors had said I was allowed to put partial weight onto my left leg which meant when I walked with crutches I could put my left foot on the floor but not put any real weight on it. This is rather tricky at first as every instinct you have says not to put your painful foot (or rather leg) onto the floor. Keeping your leg raised in the air is a lot easier on crutches and you are assured that you are not doing any damage. When putting the foot on the floor you have to time pushing down on the crutch handles ensuring your weight is carried by your shoulders and not your damaged leg.
My crutches
The physios wander the hospital visiting different patients and so you never know what time they will come round. Whenever I went to the loo on the Thursday I would do so as quickly as I could in case I missed the physio and would have to wait another day. He finally arrived in the afternoon and was a different person to the day before. He looked at my file and wasn’t sure if I was allowed to put partial weight on the foot or not. I told him the doctors had said it was okay and he asked a nurse who said she didn’t know. He then disappeared for ages and came back and confirmed I was allowed to. We went up and down the ward and he seemed okay with that and said that was enough for today. I told him that I wanted to go up and down the stairs and he said he wasn’t sure and went off to check something. I never saw him again that day and had to stay another night.
Poor old Alfred shat himself during the night. As in he properly shat himself and stank out the entire ward. Elsewhere along the corridor I heard a woman screaming in pain needing attention. I had to get out! I decided that whatever happened the next day, whether the physio showed up or not, I was going to leave in the evening.
A close up of just below the knee
I waited patiently for him to arrive and he did so just after lunch. Being off the painkillers (I only took them at night to help me sleep) made me feel a lot better and alert and when the physio arrived I felt confident I would pass the test. I asked him if we would be doing the stairs today and he said we will see how it goes. I then made it very clear to him that he was the only person preventing me from going home and that my bed could be used by someone more deserving than me. I gave him a look that made it clear we would definitely be doing the stairs.
We got to the stairs and he asked me if there were any stairs at my home and if so, were there any hand rails? I live in a flat so the kitchen, toilet and bedroom are all on the same level so that was fine, but I live on the top floor which means going up 7 flights of steps, plus a stoop at the bottom. I could not remember if it had handrails or not but needed to get out of the hospital so told him I had 3 flights of stairs and there were handrails on both sides!
I got my wish and passed the crutches test and could go home. My parents kindly gave me a lift from the hospital back to my flat which also turned out to be a bit of an ordeal. The U.K. had been hit by snow whilst I was I was recovering from the operation and so it meant the pavements and roads were very slippy. Not ideal for someone uneasy on crutches and a broken leg.
My ward seemed to be miles away from the exit of the hospital where I could get picked up by my parents’ car, but I was determined. My parents were stressing and fretting, getting annoyed with each other and I with them. When parking outside my building, my Dad preferred to use the side street from the main road but that was far too slippy and so he had to reverse onto the main road. Walking from the car onto the pavement was really quite tricky and very cold! I wasn’t able to put shoes on (my left foot and ankle in particular was very swollen) and so was wearing these pathetic and most unsexy hospital slippers.
Hospital Slipper
My parents were either side of me looking very anxious and every unsteady movement I made they over-reacted putting their arms out to catch me and making ‘aargh’ noises. They were just worried and wanted to help and make sure I was okay. However, it wasn’t helping me and I was in pain and quite cold so I got rather impatient with them and was quite rude to my poor Dad at one point. I got through the gate and to the stoop when I first had to start going up steps. I had forgotten the exact order of the method the physio had told me, but after step 3 or 4 I remembered and was able to get up stairs a lot easier and quicker than I thought I would, albeit one step at a time.
The safe method of going upstairs (or down) with crutches is to hold the hand rail with one hand and then both of the crutches in the other hand. One of which is used as a crutch and the other is horizontal as you are just carrying it, effectively. This is a safe method, but it is slow. It is also cumbersome when going up flights of stairs as when you have got to the top of one flight, you revert back to 2 crutches as you go round the corner and then have to change back to one crutch as you go up again. The alternative is to hop round, with the 2 crutches still in the one hand, which is what I ended up doing. After a few weeks you may feel confident to abandon this safe method altogether and use both crutches going up and down the stairs. I have been doing this for the last month, although I am sure physios would disapprove.
I got into my flat and lay on my bed, in my own clothes (not the horrible hospital gown) surrounded by my stuff in my bedroom that would not be disturbed by some nurse in the middle of the night asking if they could take a swab of my nose and groin. To which my response was initially okay and then as I realised what she had asked, “Hang on, you want to do what? Why do you need to do that? You do realise it’s my leg that has the problem?”
Being at home felt great and I was so relieved to be out of the hospital. My parents tried hard to persuade me to go and be with them in Somerset (2-3hrs drive from London) whilst I was convalescing. As the bedrooms are upstairs in their home it would mean them converting the living room into a bedroom for me. It would not be ideal and also, more importantly, it wouldn’t be my home. It wouldn’t be my bed and I wouldn’t have my stuff or my independence. It was better, although harder work for me, that I was in my flat. I don’t regret that decision in any way.
I’m still single at the moment and quite an independent, self-reliant sort so it was quite hard to be in my position where I did actually need a bit of help. My parents had been to the supermarket so I was stocked up with food and would not need to go to the supermarket for a while. A lot of the supermarkets do internet ordering and home deliveries and my flatmate offered to get stuff for me too so I knew I would be okay on that regard.
My first day at home alone was interesting. It’s the day the full realisation of your situation hits you as you figure out all the stuff that you are no longer able to do. So much of what you do in life depends on you having two able arms and legs.
Showering suddenly is a very precarious activity as you are balancing really on one leg and cannot move around. You can only wash yourself with one hand as the other is needed to hold on to the wall. It was only a few weeks ago someone suggested that you don’t actually have to stand up and you could sit on the floor in the shower/bath, I wished I’d known that at the beginning! As you have bandages, you need to have something to protect them from getting wet and my mum sent me the below which worked quite well.
Lower-leg guard
I am pleased my kitchen is quite small and so I can hop from one side to the other and rest on the counter without having to use the crutches. I was very pleased when I made my first meal for myself … some toast and a cup of tea. However, to get this from the kitchen to my room necessitates only using one crutch and carefully holding said plate or cup of tea and hopping gently without dropping or spilling anything. So transporting a simple plate of toast and a cup of tea turns into a palaver of two trips and even a third one to get the other crutch if you did not think of this when you first left your bed.
Going to the toilet is a bit tricky too and you have to be quite careful initially at lowering yourself down and standing up. It helps my loo is nearby and very narrow so there is always something to lean on or hang on to. I’ve also had to go from being a scruncher-stander to a scruncher-sitter.
As important as the physical side of things, is your mental attitude. After my operation in early January I was told it would be a minimum of 3 months until I was better and actually more like 6 months before I could “do the things you want to do”. Basically, all the plans and expectations I had for 2010 had just been thrown out of the window. I was hoping to get back into my jogging routine (having abandoned it for 3mths) and now I was being told that it would likely be July before I could think about doing something like that.
I feel I have approached the whole scenario quite well and in good humour. In fact, I have been quietly proud of myself in this area. I haven’t been angry about the situation or thought about ‘why me?’ or that is really unfair. It has happened and so you just have to get on with it.
I have focused on short-term goals rather than the end goal finish line. These goals were getting though the operation okay, then getting out of the hospital and then my first hospital check up about 2 and half weeks later. The next milestone was the following check up about 5 weeks later (a couple of days ago as I write this). More of this a bit later on.
The first week at home was the toughest week by far. The leg was still very swollen and very painful when not in a well-cushioned elevated position. Whenever I stood up, it felt as if blood was rushing in to the lower leg all and would be extremely painful for about 5-10mins. The kind of pain that leaves you out of breath and so I had to psyche myself up for every trip to the toilet or to the kitchen. It would be such a relief to get back to my bed and get my leg back on the pillows.
The swelling of the lower leg, ankle and foot meant that the leg seemed distorted and when I put the foot on the floor and tried to straighten it, I could only get my foot flat by standing at an odd angle with my other leg slightly bent. I was quite concerned that maybe something was wrong and that the metal rod was misaligned. However, when the swelling went down, all was fine.
After the first week at home, the swelling in the leg went down and it started to look quite normal and the pain gradually subsided. The 5-10mins of tremendous pain every time I stood up got less and less in time and intensity and I felt a lot better and was motivated to be more mobile.
I had been house-bound for over week and felt it was now time to venture outdoors. I planned a trip to my local shop to get a few sundry items, something that previously would be a nothing task that would take only 10mins to do. Now I had to plan this carefully as I felt sure I could get down the 7 flights of stairs and then the 50 yards to the shop without any problems. However, I was concerned about the actual shopping part as I would not have a free hand to carry the items I wanted to buy.
My solution to this was to use a rucksack which when in the shop would come off my back and, using the small top handle, would rest on one of the crutch handles. That way I could walk around and simply put in the items as if it were a basket. When full of items it does become a little difficult to walk about with, but overall has been more satisfactory than the hassle of putting the rucksack on and off again throughout the shop.
When I ventured outside onto the street I felt very vulnerable on my crutches and was really wary that someone would accidentally bump into me and I would fall over and damage my leg more. That feeling of vulnerability reduces the more you heal and the more confidence you gain on the crutches.
I was more than a little chuffed at having got to the shop and back with my shopping. I felt independent and quite knackered! Two days later I went with a housemate to meet a mutual friend at a nearby pub for a drink. The pub is a 7mins walk, but on crutches it seemed to take forever and was quite uncomfortable. I had got some padded bike gloves to use with the crutches but still managed to develop blisters. Some people wrap bandages or padding around the handles and I think this may be a better approach.
In the pub we sat on stools and had a drink and it felt good to be doing something normal again. It was my first social engagement since having the operation 3 weeks previously. It was not a comfortable experience as at that point whenever the leg was not elevated it became sore quite quickly and so I was always readjusting my position to try and make it more comfortable.
The elbow crutches I have are really quite good, but the one issue I have with them is that it is very difficult to keep them standing upright when resting against something. It only takes a slight nudge and they will fall over, something that happened many times when at the pub. However, it did act as a good ice-breaker to talk to people (women) who would ask what I had done.
Not having a cast was really good but sometimes it would have been useful to have one. People would notice the crutches and then look at the leg and because there is no cast they are less sympathetic, like I’ve just sprained my ankle or something. Once the swelling went down it was easy to put on shoes and socks so apart from the crutches I look quite normal and able-bodied. So out an about on buses and trains people don’t give you as much space and are less wary about bumping you as they would if you had a cast.
My first hospital check up appointment was an important milestone I was working towards and I would need to get a bus for the first time whilst on crutches. Buses in London have a big step up to get on and I was worried about finding a seat in time before the bus started moving, not getting hit by other people and then getting off as you cannot stand up until the bus has stopped.
The bus experience was not as bad as I thought on the way there, early afternoon, and I was able to get on the bus without a major jump up or anything and found a seat relatively easily. However, the journey back was at rush hour and I had to fight a swarm of people to get on and then find a seat. It was okay, but I wasn’t comfortable.
The hospital check up went well, apart from the ridiculous waiting time and had an X-ray done and then spoke to a consultant who confirmed the IM nail was aligned exactly as it should be and that I should come back again in 5 weeks time. He said if I started to feel better that I could start putting a little more weight on the leg. Rather than stitches, I had metal clips and these were removed at the visit. They have a little device a bit like a fancy staple remover that takes them out and is mostly painless.
Metal clips below the knee, just before they were removed
Bottom left is the bruise and mark on the shin from where the bone almost came through the skin
It was the first time I got to actually see the metal in my leg and was a little shocked as I saw more metal than I expected! When I was told that I would have a metal rod in my leg I had pictured in my head a thin rod and some small screws at each end to hold it in place. As you can see the IM nail is quite substantial and the screws holding it in place are the width of the leg, seeming like they may pop through the skin at any moment! The doctor let me take a photo of the X-rays.
X-Ray of IM Nail in my leg - top left is my knee and the whitest parts are the nail and screws holding it in place
Another angle - showing the IM nail just below the knee
Passing that first big milestone was a real motivator and confidence boost as all the worries I’d had were now gone and I was feeling more comfortable and less in pain as each day went by. Thankfully I work for myself and so it meant I could now start to get back to work and earn some money. Unfortunately, I am self-employed and so I had no income at all for January and I was not cash-rich when the accident happened and so it has left me in a difficult financial position, one that I have not yet resolved.
The next few weeks I ventured out a bit more, went to a few work meetings, to a friend’s birthday celebrations and even travelled by train on my own to Birmingham (2hrs from London) for another friend’s 30th birthday. Actually that latter trip was a tough day as it was a Saturday but I was doing some work for a client in West London and the plan was to finish up there and then head straight to Marylebone to catch my pre-booked train. I realised as I left my client that I had left my train tickets and wallet in my flat so had to go all the way back to South London to pick up my wallet and then travel across London again and buy a new much more expensive ticket to get to Birmingham. I was so annoyed with myself.
Using the London Underground is not the easiest thing in the world as most stations are not geared up for people with disabilities. To get through the turnstile you have to swipe your oyster card and quickly get through the gate before it shuts on you. You feel a bit vulnerable on the escalators and it is a bit hairy if the person in front of you decides to get off at the very last moment. So far people on crowded buses and trains have been really good and someone has offered up their seat when it has been busy.
My next milestone was a couple of days ago with my second hospital check up. I have been getting really bored and tired of being on crutches and the pain has pretty much gone, just a little soreness. In the week leading up to the appointment I had felt a lot better and had been putting a bit more weight on my leg, but not too much as I still have a bruise and swelling where the tibia break was (the shin). I was eager to start physio and start the process of being able to walk again and did not want another 5 weeks of being on crutches.
The appointment went well and was told I was healing fine and that I can start putting more weight on the leg. I showed the consultant that I could stand on tip-toes unaided and could walk without crutches, well, I can do this rather slow pathetic hobble walk. The consultant made a ‘lame’ joke about is that how people walk in Clapham (where I live) and said I needed to start physio and putting weight on the leg would aid the healing process. The nurse told me that when I started putting more weight on the leg and doing the physio my leg and foot would swell up, but this was normal.
I left feeling very happy. I had passed the milestone and was onto the next phase. I now only use one crutch when moving about the flat and although it is not a fluid movement and still a bit of a hobble, it is a lot better than before. I can now put the used tea bag straight into the bin from the cup (as you need two hands to do this) rather than putting it on a plate and emptying it later.
When I was waiting at the hospital I saw another guy who had crutches. He could walk without them and had a very slight limp and walked into his appointment carrying the crutches and then came out without them. That is my next goal, to be like that guy at my next appointment in 6 weeks or so.
My ultimate goal is to be able to do a 10mins jog. Once I can do that I will feel like I have recovered, but that is a long way away and I am just focusing on the next goal.
If you have your own experiences to share or know of useful information or resources online please add them in the comments below.
Me and my IM Nail Part 2 (3mths since the op)>>>
Me and my IM Nail Part 3 (4mths since the op)>>>
Jake McMillan
March 24th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I have recently had excatly the same operation as you. Mine was on 13th March 2010.
Im amazed as to how much i can relate to your story, im interested as to how things are now?
So i can get a estimate on my recovery
Do you have a email address i can contact you ?
email me chelsea485@hotmail.com
Thank You
March 25th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Thanks for getting in touch! I sent you an email late yesterday and feel free to email me on Jake.T.McMillan@gmail.com
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hi Jake,
I’ve had a similar “Nail” procedure, only mine was an ankle fusion and the Biomet Nail went in through the bottom of my heel, up into my tibia and it was only about 8″ long. I can’t emphasize enough that you don’t rush it. I had a couple of screws that started backing out in the second month, tenting the skin up. Wow, did that hurt. Skin has the most pain sensors of any body part. Because of infection risk, I had to go back into the O.R. to have them removed. At some point they’ll probably tell you to start trying to bear weight on it because the body’s natural reaction helps speed the healing. I was given an Exogen bone growth stimulator device (sonic I think) to use for 15 min each day with the leg elevated. It’s a small battery powered box with leads to two pucks that you sqeeze some conductive gel onto and hold in place with a velcro strap. I’d like to think it worked, probably did more to improve my attitude than anything else. I came up with a pretty good way to carry groceries or whatever, up stairs and around the house while on crutches. I kept a bag of Bungee Cords in the trunk, the kind that are a variety of lengths with a hook on each end. I picked out one that was long enough to hang around my neck with at least six inches to spare on each end. Then I’d just hook on an ordinary plastic grocery bag filled with whatever I needed to carry. Works like a charm, both hands stay on the crutches and the bungee stretches but is comfortable on your neck. Since you’re leaning forward on the crutches the bag just kinda hangs steady. Let me know if that works for you. I also used a lot of freeze packs to ease the pain and bring down swelling, but you’d better check with your Doc first on that one.
Hang in there !
April 11th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Like the tip about using the bungee-type cords, wish I knew of that earlier and I would have definitely tried it!
April 15th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Hi Jake,
I had a skiing accident in Ramsau, Austria on the 6th. March. I went through a lot of pain being moved from the top of a mountain to the hospital. Took nearly 2 hours to get to hospital upon which the removal of the ski boot nearly killed me. Don’t think I’ll go skiing again.
They operated on me straight away because of the onset of compartment syndrome. Also received a nail 315 mm long and made of Titanium. Woke a few hours later on my back with a tube coming from my knee to a small bottle strapped to the bed beneath me.
My life afterward was nearly a carbon copy of yours, apart from the slippers.
I was released after 5 days with a lightweight resin plaster, which was cut from top to bottom to accommodate swelling. It was removed after 2.5 weeks along with the stitches. Now I have the same problem, ‘no plaster no problem’.
Since then I have had 2 physio visits at home to help with knee and ankle mobility. She also massages my scars, because if not they can apparently glue to the underlying tissue thus reducing mobility even more. I have also been given a scar ointment (Contractubex) to reduce scaring. Next week 20th April is my next appointment to see if I can full weight bare my leg. I hope so…
Before my accident I was a runner, running approx. 200Km. a month. With you having a 2 month advantage it would be interesting to know how you get on.
Get well soon.
Terry
May 27th, 2010 at 5:23 am
I broke my tibia in two places about three inches above my ankle and my fibula inches from my knee.lucky me! Now I can’t lift my foot or my toes. They say I did damage to a nerve around my fibula.and That it could take six months to a year before It heals. I think I can do better than that! It’s been around two months. I’m shooting for four months.then I can get back to walking without tripping on every thing my foot passes over. I like a good challenge. this should be about the biggest one I ever come across. It should be a lot of fun.ha.ha.
May 27th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Best of luck!!
June 16th, 2010 at 4:28 am
I am so happy to have found your blog!!!!! I am female and I have been through almost the exact same experience as you have. It was , Monday, April 19th and I had just come back from the most wonderful cruise vacation ever!!! (Cozumel, Mexico, Roatan, Honduras and Belize). I was in my bathroom getting ready to go to work , first night back, on my midnight shift, when I failed to turn on the bathroom light, was wearing socks and somehow slipped and fell over my travel case. I remember grabbing ahold of the towel bar on the wall and it broke loose, and I went down, hard! The pain was unbelieveable!
I was not able to get up to walk , and that is when I realized that I had a broken leg! I am a nurse and I was annoyed that this had happened, because, “I didn’t have time for this, I have to go to work!” By then I was in shock, because I had never broken anything, and I couldn’t believe this was happening to me! I had to scoot on my back to my bedroom holding my leg straight up, because the pain was making me want to pass out.
I managed to make it to the phone and called my job, told them I would not be coming in to work(an hour before my shift)and one of the nurses offered to call 911 for me. I did not know how I could open the door for the ambulance drivers, because I didn’t know how I was going to get to it.
I did manage to scoot on my back, holding my leg straight up and get to the door, unlock it, and scream for help!! They were all so wonderful, the ambulance drivers, the fire department AND the police!
When I got to the local hospital ER, I was totally in shock, my blood pressure was 238/110. They gave me Vicodin, and Morphine! I had NEVER had any of that stuff before, but I didn’t have much pain after that. The x-rays showed a spiral fracture of the left lower tibia and a fracture of the fibula. I was given a temporary plastic immobilzer and made comfortable until they could get my blood pressure down. (that took a few days) and I was so nervous and scared that I kept having to use the bedpan to pee, so they just put in a catheter and that was a godsend!
The Orthopedic Surgeon came in the next day explained what he was going to do, next thing I know, they shoved a lot of papers in my hand for me to sign and I waited until late in the evening for surgery. I was loaded up on drugs, taken to the OR, the Doctor explained again what was going to happen and I don’t remember anything but waking up being wheeled back to my room.
I don’t feel that I was given a choice to say no to this proceedure or anything else, they just told me this is what we are going to do and that was that! I am still very upset that I was told that the incision by my knee would be about 2 inches, instead it is 7 inches long, down the leg and I had 47 staples!! That hurt like H***!
The leg break did not hurt as much as the staples in the knee. The next day the physical therapist came in with a walker and said that I was going to try to get up to walk. I did ok, that day and the next day and after the catheter was removed I was allowed to get up to the bathroom as often as I needed to. I did ok,but the bathroom was close by the bed.
By Friday(April 23), they were discharging me. I spent 5 days in the hospital and was sent home over the weekend by myself, with a walker, and pain pills!
My leg was extremely swollen, and that blood rushing to your feet thing you mentioned is certainly the truth. I didn’t have a lot of pain, but I was so uncomfortable with the whole mess!! But as a nurse, I just gathered up all my nursing strength and nursed myself the best I could. I kept track of my blood pressure, when I took my pain pills, vitamins, meals and all nursing measures.
I had an appointment with the Orthopedic surgeon that next Monday, I had to drive myself to the hospital to see him, and my car is a 5 speed, stick shift!!! I have been able to figure a very good and safe way to change gears and use my right foot. It’s tricky but it works!
In the mean time, I find out that I have been terminated from my job, because I had been working there less than a year(9 June is now 1 year) and I was not eligible for any leaves and when my earned vacation time ran out, I would have to use disability benefits. That all was well and good and worked fine, but since I was fired, the disabilty benefits stopped. My last paycheck was 15 May and only for $235.
I applied for unemployment benefits, but you have to be able to work to qualify for benefits and I was still unstable and not able to walk very well.
Fortunately, where I work there is a union and a fantastic group of union reps who fought very hard for me, so I was able to get my job back, but that meant that I would have to go back to work before I was physically ready. The doctor had originally said that I would be off work from
19 April until 19 June. But I had to return to work on 5 June, in order to get my job back. And since I have just started back to work, I am and have been operating on little bits of money that people give me and praying for miracles!
This has been so hard, but I am getting through it. I am now in week 9. I have very little swelling, most of the bruising has healed, but I have pain every day. I stopped taking the pain pills two weeks ago, and just use Extra StrengthTylenol, because I have to have a clear head to work!
Going to the grocery store was not so bad for me with a walker, after getting out of the car and to the door, the shopping cart helped me to move along very well.
Now after working full time for 2 weeks, I am mostly tired and not sleeping well, still not able to walk very well, (I don’t get a physical therapy exam until 30 June and I still have another appointment with the Orthopedic Surgeon 26 June). I don’t use any walker or cane now, but I am very slow and if I step the wrong way, it hurts like mad!
But I am taking it one day at a time and thankful for all my blessings whether good or bad!
And that’s my story!
June 17th, 2010 at 9:46 am
thanks for sharing your story! The very best of luck to you and hope the rest of your recovery goes well!
September 28th, 2010 at 5:28 am
im only 13 years old, and a few weeks ago i was struck by a car while on a 4-wheeler. i broke my upper leg, they had put rods in it. i also broke my ancle and fractured my skull. i was in a coma for 2 days…i was life flyted to the hospital an hour away. but now its not just inuries were strugling with. the helecopter ride was $19,ooo and the man who hit me was 92 years old and now wants us to buy him a new car. (which i totald) he was going about 50 mph when he hit me ,but it was my fault. I just want you to know im praying for your recovery andwas wanting you to pray for me also.
-thanks, Matt.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Matt, that sounds truly awful. I’m sure anyone reading your story wishes you well and that you will make an amazing recovery. Hang in there!
October 23rd, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Hi Jake –
I had the same operation as you about 10 years ago- I was using google to see if I could find a synopsis of the whole procedure/recovery, and your post was excellent !! Informative, some good links, some humour and – most importantly – a happy ending! Well done!
The pain is still clear in my mind (both getting the injury playing soccer and the weeks of pain during and after the operation) – Horrible, but “character building”!! One difference was that after the operation I was put in a cast for two weeks (after which they removed the cast and the staples) – Sometimes my leg swelled up so much I thought it was going to crack the cast open. The pain!!
I am originally from the UK but got all this done in USA.
I have a couple of questions for you –
1 ) Did you ever get the pin removed? I did. It was after everything was feeling great again, about a year later. It toolk a long time to summon up the resolve to call the doctor and get it scheduled!
2 ) I know you are trying to help people (not scare them!) but what are the risks in the procedure (I guess I will google this myself). To be honest, at the time I was just happy to get things fixed – I didnt think about any risks
March 8th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Hi Andrew,
So sorry, just realised I never replied to your comment! Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it is very useful to hear.
In answer to your questions:
1) No, I didn’t have the pin removed and my doctor advised not to even consider this until 12mths after it all healed (which will be this summer). I am not sure if I want to do this or not? I take it you have? What was the experience like and how long did it take to recover? (also see Nick’s comment below)
2) I was told there were some risks that were not trivial, in particular to do with blood flow. They kept asking me before and after if I was getting any numbness/pins or needles feeling in my foot. The doctors advised me that this operation can lead to having to amputate in about 5% of cases. This definitely scared me a little.
January 25th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Hi Jake
Me again! Just wanted to say on this site, thanks for your blog – its so hard to ifnd anything of any use on the internet about recovery etc. I broke my tib and fib snowboarding Jan 2010. I’ve had massive knee pain the last 6 months..to the bottom right of my knee (anterior) and numbness al around that area. I cant run or squat… so am having mri scan to see if they can see what it is. Anyway my specialist suggests having the rod out, as sometimes this helps the knee pain but they dont know why. Has anyone had this done?? Has it helped the knee pain?? can you now run??
And if any of you want a laugh here’s my blog from the time of the accident.
http://boneyem.blogspot.com/ Good luck with everyone’s healing! x
January 26th, 2011 at 12:52 am
I can definitely recommend reading Emily’s blog! Thanks Emily and best of luck with your recovery.
February 28th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Hi,
I had my metalwork taken out 10 days ago (18th Feb 2011), and all is good so far. I’ve not needed any pain killers, and was able to move about the house without the crutches within 24 hours. I still use them outside of the house, and will do so at least until I go back to get the stiches out on Monday week. I think the crutches are a precuation more than anything really, as whilst there are holes in the bone there is a risk of new fractures if say you trip or slip. I’m not planning on jumping down the stairs for a few weeks either. I imagine it’s all common sense rehab from here building up strength whilst avoiding impact for the next six weeks. I’m finding it difficult to find information on the recovery timeframes, or any rehab plan as such, so anything you guys might have found out would be useful to see.
I’m hoping to go skiing at Easter this year (7 weeks after my op).
My consultant has previously said I’d be ok for skiing six weeks after the removal, I guess that’s the standard healing period for slight fractures/holes in bones !
Here’s my background and rationale for going for the removal.
I went through the same experience , breaking tib and fib in my right leg in November 2009 playing 5 a-side football. To read Jake’s blog bring’s it all back, ah such found memories ! I played football for the first time exactly 12 months on from the night I broke my leg, something compelled me to go back that night, and I’ve played a few times since. I’ve not had too many problems although suffered pain in both my ankle and knee that put me off wanting to run too hard. Either way I was committed from early on to getting my rod removed as each time I asked about skiing etc, the doctors just said it get’s really messy if you break it again whilst the rod is in there. That for me threw up some horrible images in my head of where I’d be with a new break and a bent or broken rod, or even what damage I might do to my knee if I crashed skiing to a point were it would normally break the bones, but didn’t because of the rod. Another consideration for me was a family history of arthritis problems (including my mum’s replacement knee joint), and the possibility that would come my way at some point. My consultant said to me the rod would need to be removed before I could ever have any knee joint replacement. He also said that as time goes on these things get harder to remove, I think the bone grows up and around the screws and the top of the nail slowly covering them.
For me, wanting to ski and play football again today, plus with the possibility of arthritis forcing a joint replacement in later life it was an easy decision.
Best wishes for your recovery to you all who are going through this process.
Nick
I had my metalwork taken out 10 days ago, and all is good so far (apart from a 24 hour readmittance to hospital for IV antibiotics !)
March 1st, 2011 at 12:58 am
Hi Nick! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. You are the only person I know of who has had the IM Nail removed and there is so little information out there about recovery periods and what to expect. It seems pretty positive if your Doctor thinks you can go skiing within 6 weeks!
Best of luck with the recovery and if you remember/have time, it would great to get an update from you in a few weeks time?
February 28th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Thats great news Nick! So pleased it all went well for you. As my knee pain has left me walking with crutches aavery day a year after breaking it I’m having the op in April to remove the rod. The Dr’s reckon it’s a little bit too long and is waring away soft tissue in my knee! Eek. So it’s good to klnow recovery for the removal as there’s NOTHING written about it! So pleased you’re up and about 24 hours after. And going skiing this season!! awesome. Might be a while for my knee to recover but i have my fingers crossed for 2012 season..
Good luck with everything and thanks for writing on Jake’s site. It’s SUCH help to read about other people.. It can be pretty lonely!
xx
March 11th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Jake, Emily, and to anyone that follows…
Here is a a quick run down of my recovery three weeks on from my nail removal.
I have to say it’s gone pretty well, and I’m starting to believe the Easter skiing can be a reality.
Week 1
Resting with leg up, managing the swelling. leg was bandaged to prevent too much swelling on or near wounds. This resulted in fluid sitting above the knee, and I could hear squelching noises from knee. This was a little bit concerning so called NHS direct. They said go to the hospital, er thanks for the advice, including call an ambulance if it gets any worse ! There is nothing quite like being put at ease is there.
Went to A&E and the doctor told me the noises were not a problem, just some air trapped when the knee was closed up, and it will be absorbed by the body. They did however re-admit me to hospital for 24 hours for iv antibiotics due to a high temperature and blood pressure and concern it was an infection. I think those were more to do with the heat in the hospital and the 4 hours or so stressing before someone told my it wasn’t a problem !
I remeber I was given antibiotics after the insertion op, probably becuase I was still in hosipital, but given nothing (buy your own painkillers on the way home) after the removal.
Regardless of this recovery slip up I was off the crutches in the house within 24 hours although continued to use them on the stairs for a few days. I used the crutches whenever outside the house all week.
I was treating the wound areas with a microwave heat pad 2/3 times a day. (it’s something a bit like a beanbag).
Once off the crutches, I’d be climbing the stairs with left (good) leg first on each step, and coming down with right leg first on each step.
Week two
Fluid on knee gone – so has the squelching !
I did a couple of theraband exercises to stretch ankle and bend my knee, as follows: Whilst laying down, hold the band then wrap round pad of foot and with leg extended push toes out as if standing on tip toe. Second one from same starting position bend the leg as far as possible pulling knee up to chest, and then extend out.
Towards the end of the week I found I could put some extra pressure through the joints with a degree of weight bearing doing a few mini squats being careful to balance the weight with the good leg. I find it feels good to stretch out and feel a “recovery” pain that you know is going reduce with every day. By this point’ I’d progressed to climbing the stairs left leg,right leg, although still felt more confortable coming down them right leg first with each step.
Started going out without the crutches towards the end of the second week. You’ll likely feel well able to go out without the crutches before this, and I found it hard to stick with them as I felt a bit of a fraud, and was keen to push on, but then again this is (hopefully) the last part of a 15 month process and you don’t want to go back to day 1 becuase a trip up a step or slip on a kerb. By having them you move slower and people give you a bit space.
Finished the week back driving the car. Happy Days.
Week Three
Stiches out – Day 17. discharged by the consultant. On my own for rehab. I wont bother going to the GP to arrange physio, in case I get stuck with the fella I end up with last year. Instead I’m just revisiting the steps that got me through the pain from the break itself. Compared to a year ago it’s so nice to progress at this rate and without the screaming pain in the shin. Can you remember when your physio said start hopping ? how much did that hurt eh. I changed NHS physio towards the end and the last one was not very helpful at all, offering nothing in advice on how to graduate from jumping with both feet (i.e 50/50 distribution) to hopping on the healing leg. There is only so much you can do in water before you have to do it on land. I couldn’t do it as the pain of landing the first hop was too much to let me push off for the next one. What I worked out for myself was to isolate the movements and do them separately to build up the strength and pain resistence. For landing a hop, I “jumped” off of the good leg from the bottom stair to land the healing leg on the floor (it’s a bit like a heavy step more than anything, and you can start with the good leg on the stair bent so the drop is only an inch or two). Then for pushing off for a hop I jumped from the floor with the healing leg onto the bottom step landing on the good leg (use a bend in the good leg to make up the shortfall as you won’t make the full height when starting out). It hurts like hell, but with gritted teeth it got me where I needed to get to. It may not suit everyone, but if it helps someone reaching this stage of their recovery it was worth sharing the experience.
I’ve now started some stretching. Whilst standing lean against a wall with healing leg straight and bend the other leg to feel the stretch in the calf and ankle. I’m doing heal raises (both legs at the moment), and calf stretches off of a small step. Plus have started doing a few carefully supported knee bends only on the healing leg (skiing is coming a little bit closer ).
The progress on the stairs is that I’m coming down left leg, right leg i.e normally albeit a little carefully at the start of the week. By the end of the week I feel like I’m flying up and down them, so much so that I can climb steps two at a time to help build up the strength in my leg.
I’ve starting gym work using the exercise bike as first step. I’m going to keep off my mountain bike until the six weeks is up, again a long time to get to here, don’t blow it by crashing your bike while you’ve still got holes in your bones !
Planning to do some running up and down in the shallow end @ the local swimming pool next week when the knee has closed up a bit better (only problem with this is all the “normal” people swimming along think you’re a wierdo).
Beyond that I’ll just avoid inpact exercises for the next few weeks sticking to the cross trainer and bike type stuff.
Hope this helps you Jake if you are thinking of having your stuff out, and Emily ahead of your op. You sound like you’re struggling at the moment so fingers crossed once it’s taken out you make a speedy recovery yourself.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:42 am
Many thanks for this Nick, this is really useful indeed!
March 11th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
I had my rod removed a long time ago (I went through all this about 10 years ago) –
For what its worth, I was hesitant about getting the rod taken out, because of the memory of how painful it was after I had it inserted.
To be honest, getting the rod taken out was minor in comparison. It was an outpatient procedure here in the US (ie you are in and out of the hospital in a few hours, and dont have to spend the night there). I limped for a few weeks afterward, but any pain was outweighed by the sense of relief I felt having it over and done with.
I was also able to get a fair amount of sympathy as a result of the 2nd op, which was nice in the pubs afterward
Good luck everyone
March 13th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Thanks for this Andrew. Has the leg been fine (as in completely normal) since it healed after the rod removal?
March 14th, 2011 at 1:42 am
Actually I do have one thing which is not completely normal – Every since having my knee cut up for the operation, I dont often kneel on that knee (obviously a problem for the highly religious though) – Its no biggie, I have learned to compensate, but it never felt quite right for me putting the weight on that knee
April 5th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Hay guys, thank you all for sharing your experiences, it has been very helpfull for me as i have broken my tibia and fibula, i am recovering well i think, but i am concerned about my fibula. The doctors said that it should come in to place once the tibia is fixed with the nail, but sometimes when i move i hear a click sound from the fibula and i’m a bit concerned if it is going to be able to heal properly. I was wondering if anyone had the same click sound? Thank you very much in advance
April 12th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Hi! Sorry, no, I didn’t get that clicking sound with the fibula? I would always ask about the fibula when I went for my x-rays and check ups with the consultants, but the doctor seemed very unconcerned about it. He said the tibia was the important bone and that the fibula would be fine … he was pretty much dismissive of the fibula bone situation.
April 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Nick that was really helpful! Thank you. I’m really nervous now, I’ve got 6 days till the removal…ARGH! Especially after that comment about 5% resulting in amputation! I’m not sure I should’ve read that….!! Anyway, I’ll report back as soon as I’m able. At the moment I can’t imagine ‘normal’ life as for the past 6 months I havent been able to walk without a crutch. And not since before the break have I been able to run, bend, jump etc. So I’m so excited about the prospect of being ok. Although looking on line there is lots of scary stuff about knee pain, and the link to the the way they insert/ excert the rod (through the patella tendon) and that sometimes the damaged patella is pretty much screwed forever. But I’m trying to be positive, and hope that the pain is what the Dr suspects – the rod being too long. So thanks again everyone for sharing on Jake’s site. See you on the other side. Oh am also excited by the prospect of making my metal into a wind chime! ha! Em x
April 12th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hi Em … My comment about the 5% amputation was quoted to me by a doctor about the insertion of the IM nail rather than the removal. The removal is a much easier and far less risky operation as far as I am aware. Did your doctors go through the possible risks? In any case, absolutely best of luck with it!
April 13th, 2011 at 8:56 am
oh good! thanks Jake. He hasn’t gone through the risks..no. oh well I’m sure he will 5 minutes before I go in! x
April 24th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Just thought I’d add my story so far;
17.4.11 fell off horse (minor fall lol)
18.4.11 im nail operation in the morning
19.4.11 recover in QMC hospital
20.4.11 they let me out!!! yeah!
I was determined to get home ASAP because I have a 14 month old daughter and hubbie, didn’t want to miss the precious moments.
So a week on I feel anxious and excited, staying positive and just bloody happy to be home. I am fortunate to have family who are really supportive, with childcare, meals etc, but sh*tting it tbh!!
My 1st appointment is on 29.4.11.
April 25th, 2011 at 9:46 am
Thanks for adding your own experiences … best of luck with your recovery! Are you moving about on crutches much yet?
April 25th, 2011 at 11:05 am
hello all!
Greetings from me and my metal free leg! Operation went well I think. Although i still havent seen a dr, they discharged me without seeing one. But my notes say everything went well. And they didnt find anything during the anthroscopy. So it looks like the knee pain was caused by the nail being too long for my bone. At the moment its been a week since the op and i can get around with one crutch and sometimes none. But I havent been outside walking down the street yet, I’ll probably go with two for the first couple days to feel safe. the pain has got better but it was pretty intense the first two days. It didnt help that they offered me a nerve block but said i wouldnt be able to go home so i said no. Then when i came round i was in so much pain and on so much morphine that i couldn’t go home anyway! so my advise – take the nerve block!!!
So the site of the anterior knee that hurt before really hurts now but i’m guessing thats from digging around in there and also the stress of having the nail removed. Fingers tightly crossed that the pain will go. I’m scared to get excited, as the dr did say that having the nail removed might not be the answer to the knee pain. but i’m reeeeeally hoping.
anyway. just wanted to let people know, having it out isn’t half as traumatic as having it put in with all that pain of a broken leg. and the op only took an hour. no complications. So at the mo, my advise to anyone would be just whip it out if you’re even a tiny bit concerned about it.
I’ll be back to report on the healing. In case anyone’s interested!!
Em xx
April 25th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Hi Em! Great to hear your operation went well … please do let us know about the rest of your recovery.
April 25th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Yep, on crutches, have been gliding around! Since day 2. Can do my 12 stairs (cannot imagine 7 flights!!)
Bloody painful and swollen, seems to have worsened the last day, my foot goes blue if I try and do too much, and where the break happened has gone like a bulge. Phoned the ward they said fine, it doesn’t feel fine! Having never broke anything before, having a radiating hot leg is weird.
Feeling a little sad today watching my baby girl playing outside and waving at me, it’s emotional not being able to play with her.
Though also positive that I am at home x x the rollacoaster has begun lol x
April 26th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Best of luck with everything! My first week at home was very painful and the swelling made me worry the operation had not gone well as I couldn’t straighten my leg/ankle. However, when the swelling went down, all was a lot better.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:27 am
Went to emergency clinic yesterday, have a blood infection, something to go with cell protein and White blood count.
Feeling alright just p*ssed off! Back to clinic on Friday for follow up.
Thanks for your support, glad to hear your op went well Emily.
Great site Jake
April 27th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Hope the infection clears up quickly!
May 10th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Hi guys,
A little late coming back, but just to confirm the Easter skiing became a reality. To be able to ski again was my “redemption day”, I’d done the other things I’d wanted to be able to do like walk, run, play football over the last year or so, and this was the box that needed ticking. Seven weeks after the nail removal and 16 months on from the breaks I was back on ski’s, fantastic. I haven’t done much running since Easter, but the early sign’s there are I’m now free of the ankle discomfort I’d had as well.
For anyone going back to skiing in similar circumstances watch out for your skiboots rubbing on the bump on the healed tibia (I assume we all have them ?), mine got pretty sore over the course of the week. Pack some big plasters ! And make sure your travel insurance covers you for all you want insured post broken leg.
Emily, I hope you are now feeling the benefits of the removal op. Jake any thoughts on going for it yourself now ?
Best wishes to Galia and Lisa as you recover, and to all those who might share the experience in the future.
Nick
May 12th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Hey Nick, this is fantastic news, really glad the IM removal has worked out well for you. I’m definitely thinking about doing it and will be scheduling an appointment with the doctors to discuss it.
February 11th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Nick, you are my hero and an inspiration!!
May 12th, 2011 at 9:15 am
Unfortunately still got a lot of pain in the same part (anterior of the knee) but am trying not to think about it for another few weeks as it could still be a result of the op and all the hammering and poking! Great news though Nick, very jealous of the skiing!! x
September 13th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Hi Jake Ive been reading your blog since my 14 year old son had this procedure on 29th june after snapping his tib and fib during a rugby match, it has helped me enormously so thank you, after he had his 6 weeks x-ray he walked out of the hospital without crutches, I was so surprised! He has been walking long distances on it, but i’m too paranoid to let him run on it until after his 12 week x-ray in october, when he sees his surgeon. He still gets shooting pains in his Tib and has had a bit of rubbing from his screws in his ankle, although it is only occasional, he hasn’t been offered any physio yet and he says he dosen’t need it, this isn’t his first broken bone, he has had a few, but this is the worse. He had physio after breaking his other ankle in march, so we still have the green and blue bands. But he hasn’t used them yet for this injury. He is keen to get back to training but i’m scared of him over doing it, he is also part of a potential rugby scholarship program, they are aware of his injury and said they will involve him at his own pace so as to keep him involved. He will also be having his metalwork removed, they have told us 9-12 months tho. He is not allowed to play rugby until it is removed, also his fib is not properly lined up, but the surgeon told us that its not important as its non weight bearing. He has lost feeling on the outside of his knee which has only came back slightly and it hurts slightly to kneel . I hope this helps others and also thanks to all the other comments as it gives me hope for him when he does eventually get his hardware removed. I will update you all when he does eventually go back to training in case it helps others. Thanks again Jake for all your excellent info.
September 13th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Many thanks for posting. It sounds like your son is doing really well! I hope the rest of your son’s recovery goes just as well. I will be very surprised if he doesn’t need some sort of physio, even if he is a very healthy young man.
September 14th, 2011 at 7:59 am
hi jake thanks for replying, he was given basic exercises to do from day one, like wiggling his toes, stretching his ankle up and down, bending his knee up and down and leg raises, whilst lay in bed, to prevent anything stiffening up (the advantage of not having a cast on) But no other exercises yet. And since he’s been able to walk has been doing a few of the exercises he was given for his previous ankle injury,(but hasnt used the bands yet) and is able to stand on tip toes and stand on one leg already, he has even played badminton in P.E. at school, (But is only allowed to referee things like football matches) he has done a couple of metres of gentle jogging whilst out with his friends, I think forgetting that his leg is still healing and says he gets burning where it is broken/healing. I have to keep reminding him not to try and push himself too soon until the bone is strong enough, but I will discuss all this with his surgeon, its hard to keep an eye on such an active teenager!! Also I put him on a strict diet when he came out of hospital, loads of fruit (especially apples they are rich in boron), protein (fish, eggs, soya protein, cheese, beans), cereals, salad, vegetables, vitamin supplements and he was only allowed to drink water (loads of it) milk and fruit juice. He wasn’t allowed anything with refined sugar in it as i read this is a ‘bone robber’ he is still sticking to this diet now with the occasion treat thrown in, so i’m wondering if nutrition has helped him with his recovery also as well as having age on his side. I think I will get him to start using the bands before returning to training just to strengthen his ankles to prevent any injury and I am also thinking of getting him a ‘wobble board’ too, anyway, I will keep you posted when he returns to training to let you all know if he gets any pain etc. Thanks again .X
October 1st, 2011 at 11:12 am
Hi all,
I’m approx two months since the op. I had a communited fracture tibia and fibula from a bike accident.
I was told put as much weight as felt comfortable on the leg and after about 7 weeks could make my way across the lounge unaided, if a little lop sided….
The day before my 8 week checkup I felt some movement when i got out of a taxi and has been difficult to walk ever since.
On the check up the xray showed that the top screw has bent allowing the bones to move together more. The doctor said it’s all looking fine, but still 3 days on I can put little or no weight on my sore leg.
For some reason I had only one screw in the top and bottom of the nail. Has anyone else had a smiliar op or bending of the screws?
December 6th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Hi Jake/ Everyone… I’ve posted a few times on here and just as an update I broke my tib/fib in Feb 2010 snowboarding, had an IM rod inserted everything ok for a month or so then started having lots of anterior knee pain. Nothing showed up in Xrays/ MRI’s so they decided to take the rod out in case it was too long and that was causing the pain. They removed it but there was no evidence of it being too long or causing harm. That was in April. I STILL have the pain. Pretty much every day. I can walk around fine but cant run/cycle or bend down (its the squatting motion that really effects it) More MRI scans and they cant see anything. its very frustrating as you can imagine!! Anyway I am currently 2 sessions in to a course of acupuncture. I am open minded, I think I have to be at this stage. Am willing to try anything! He seems pretty sure that there is some sort of blockage there that is preventing the healing in that area. I still have swelling in the area (to the right of my knee, anterior). So he is trying to promote the flow of blood to that area. I have no idea if it will work. And since I’ve been having it I’ve been experiencing more pain in that area (and at the site of the breaks, and the old pins, weirdly) but it’s easing off. I’m hoping it was just the effect of blood rushing to the painful areas. I’m not going to make any conclusions till I’ve finished the course of 6. I will report back! But just wondered if anyone else out there has had acupuncture to help the healing process??
Thanks, and good luck to everyone out there recovering from a break! xx
December 6th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Many thanks Emily for you update! However, really sorry to hear that the removal of the rod hasn’t helped the pain you’ve been having. Hope the acupuncture has some effect!
January 20th, 2012 at 11:02 am
thanks for this blog was very useful to me, much appreciated gave me hope as i had not long broke my leg and felt i could never get up after reading this i got up!!
January 20th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Also it was the rushing of blood pain feeling that put me off getting up. I found that by putting your leg on the floor and sitting on the end of the bed for ten to fifteen minute before getting up fully really helped in the transition from laying with your leg up, to standing up fully. I wish i had done that from the very start and am sure i would of been on my feet sooner.
January 20th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
That’s a good tip!
January 20th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Many thanks!!
February 16th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Hi – I had an IM fitted a week ago after breaking my tib-fib while skiing. Your site looks like it’s going to be really helpful, thanks! So far my swelling has gone down considerably, and I’m getting around on crutches OK. Question: does anyone have any tips for flying? I travel regularly with work, and I am committed to a short haul flight only 3 weeks post-op, and a long haul flight 4 weeks post-op. I’m told I should keep my leg up and take anticoagulants, but should I be avoiding flying altogether so soon after surgery? Doctors don’t seem to have a strong view.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Hi, I’ve not heard anything at all about not being able to fly shortly after the op? Doctors certainly never warned me about doing it.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Hi Doug. I think it’s if you’ve got a cast, its tricky to fly. But I flew back from France a week after I had my IM rod in. Although it was pretty horendeous as I couldnt bend my leg (they gave me 3 seats!) there’s nothing medically stopping you flying. I wasnt given any meds. good luck and hope you mend well xx