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The end of my last post a month ago ended on quite an optimistic note with what I thought was a conservative aim of jogging for 20mins on nearby Clapham Common. A visit to the physio a couple of days later was a reality check and led to a readjustment of my goals.
The physio visit initially was going well and she said I had good mobility in my ankle and feet. She asked me to stand on one leg which I could do (although wobbly) and stand up down on tip toes which I have been able to do with ease for ages.
She then asked me to try going up on tip toes but just on my bad leg. My cockiness went as I thought, oh, I’ve not tried that. I couldn’t do it at all.
5mths since the operation and the bruise from the tibia break and scars from IM Nail operation are still quite visibile
IM Nail scars 5mths after operation (just below the knee)
She said that I should stop running on the treadmill as if I couldn’t go up on tip toes on just my bad leg (the left) I would be significantly over-compensating on my right leg and this would cause problems. She also suggested that when I practice going up on tip toes that I try to do it more on my bad leg as I had been relying, without realising, on my right leg too much.
I left gutted and annoyed that I wasn’t able to do this and for the next week I practiced a lot every day and it was so frustrating I couldn’t do it. Then, whilst at a work event where 2012 Games chairman Lord Sebastian Coe was visiting my client, I suddenly realised I could do it! Not very well, but I could definitely do it.
I really felt quite happy as I had worked hard for just over a week to be able to do this and also noticed that my limp seemed even less pronounced and was virtually gone.
The next physio appointment was 2 weeks later and felt I had improved although I had noticed in the week leading up to it that I was getting a shin splints pain in my good leg when I did the 15mins walk to my local London Underground tube station.
She came out to the waiting room and called my name and I walked with her to her treatment room. As I sat down I felt good that I had walked well. She had a very different view. She thought my limp had got worse! Whereas I didn’t think I had a limp at all?
Basically I had subconsciously got so used to walking with a slight limp that I had stopped noticing it. She asked me to walk slowly up and down the corridor and describe what pain/soreness I had that was preventing me from walking normally.
She identified some joints in the front part of the ankle that were rather stiff and tried to massage them a little without any effect. She stressed that I should try staying on my left longer as I would put my right leg down too quickly. She also suggested holding off from jogging on the treadmill until this was sorted.
My physio gave me a blue rubber sex aid to add to my collection
This was also very frustrating as I felt I had been impeding my own development by not realising I was still limping. So since then when I walk I really try to stay on the left longer. This means it feels sore but it is necessary to loosen up the stiff joints that are causing the limp. It really means concentrating as it so easy to slip back into limping.
I thought I had been doing well but my neighbour last week said she saw me limp back from the local shop whereas I thought I had been walking well.
In spite of these setbacks, just over a week ago I went for a 9 mile ramble (4hrs) with friends near Windsor. A ramble, for those unaware, is a fancy term to make walking in the countryside seem more interesting and dynamic.
The Long Walk to Windsor Castle
The first two hours went very well and I coped with it fine and my friends said I seemed to be walking normally. Stopping halfway for lunch caused my ankle to seize up a bit so when resumed I started to limp again, but this went (I think) the more I walked. As we got towards the end of the ramble, we walked down the aptly named Long Walk to Windsor Castle and I was starting to suffer a bit.
Windsor Castle - I made it to the end of the 9 mile walk
We got the train back into London and when I got off at Vauxhall station I realised I had a massive pain in my right foot (the good one), on the right hand side almost at the heel. It wasn’t a blister/skin type pain, but felt like a metal bar was digging into the bone every time I put weight on it. So I was in the odd position of now limping on my right leg and the left one was the good one!
It took a good 3 days of rest for the pain to go away on the right foot, but all is fine now. I have another physio appointment next week and hope to be given the all clear to run on the treadmill again.
So it is slow progress, but it is progress and my leg is starting to feel like a proper leg again.
June 17th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Great to hear your progress. I also had a double leg fracture in Jan (Tibia smashed and nailed). Interesting to hear your comments about tiptoeing from the physio. Just got clearance to jog but suspect will have same problems as you as can’t balance very well on right foot on tiptoes (bad leg).
Keep up your posts
May 3rd, 2011 at 8:14 am
Hi,
Great to compare another persons progress, I had a double fracture about 7 months ago, still have pain in my knee and ankle joints.
I have some nerve damage down the outside of my leg but about to have an operation to remove some screws that appear to be pressing the nerve.
Look forward to your next post.
October 1st, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Hi
I am now 5 months in (break in April 2011), I am having issues with a non union! So am booked in for another operation in November am absolutely gutted, it’s basically not healed at all! So I’m walking around on a broken leg.
I have been doing weight baring exercise and going yoga, spin etc to keep my fitness up, just started talking a bone growth supplement in the hope it will help! Consultant at Queens basically said get on with my life live with the pain an hope it heals… The reality only 15% non unions go onto heal without surgery
So the plan is to have a bigger IM nail, push bone closer together and fingers crossed that’ll help it regrow and stop hurting as much.
Am trying to remain positive but it’s bloody hard, working, having a 19 month old and a broken leg has it’s daily challenges. Must stay focused on recovery
Li
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:24 am
Sorry to hear your recovery is taking longer than you’d hoped for, but you seem to have a really positive attitude and am sure keeping up the fitness will help a lot. Best of luck and hope the operation in November goes well!
October 4th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Hi Lisa,
I’m sorry to hear that you are having issues with non union, but impressed that you are managing to work, go to the gym and look after your little one! I have a few questions for you; I had an IM nail inserted in my tibia in June after being run over by a taxi which I thought was healing but have now been told that I too have a non union issue!
I’m curious to know when it was decided that you would need further surgery, after how many months? I have an appointment with the surgeon in two weeks which is when I’m hoping a decision will be made as to whether I will need further surgery? It will be 20 weeks since my original surgery. My GP has known for a month that my leg isn’t healing as I’ve had two xrays in that period.
Also, did they suggest any other options for you or is surgery the standard option for non union? And was is it your original surgeon who made the decision to do a second surgery?
Thanks and all the best in November!
PS. Jake – Your blog has been really helpful, so thank you and hope your recovery is going well!
Elena
October 5th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Many thanks Elena! Sorry to hear about your experiences, hope the healing improves!
October 5th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Firstly I broke mine on 17th April 2011, was on crutches until 1st July. Then was basically told to get on with my life. So I did! Went back for check 26th August to be told non union and that 85% of non unions will not heal. So need bigger nail.
I’ve never seen GP only consultant specialist at Queens med. He gave me this advice, weight bare and do weight baring exercise (I do body pump, yoga, spin), drink skinny milk, eat healthily, avoid sugar and alcohol. I’m also taking a bone growth supplement.
As far as he’s told me they will wait at least 7-9 months to confirm non union. If you need 2nd op it’s 6 weeks on crutches then back to walking.
I’m assuming you’re not on crutches any more?? Are you doing physio/other physical activity? Need to build up muscles around bone.
My attitude is purely one that I am 29, a broken leg does not affect my day to day life. Yes it hurts physically and emotionally but I suck it up and get on with it, because I have so many reasons to stay
Sent from my iPhone
October 5th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Positive
October 28th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Hi Jake,
I broke my leg on 4th August and my injury is very similar to yours. I found your blog very interesting and amusing and it’s great to have another case to compare mine with. As you rightly state there’s not much info on the net re IM nailing and I don’t know anyone else who’s had it done. I’m at the no crutches stage now, but have a really comical pronounced limp! I can’t walk far without the pain becoming bad either, but it’s so much better than being on crutches. I’m really fed up with the whole thing now and just want to be normal again! I’d love to know how you’re doing at the moment so I can see if there’s light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Cheers,
Sue, aka (as my husband calls me!) Hopalong!
November 2nd, 2011 at 12:40 am
Hi Hopalong!
Thanks so much for your comments and glad to hear you are off the crutches now. It feels so good to be off the crutches and have independence again doesn’t it?
Yes, there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel so please keep up the good work, battle through the soreness and really concentrate hard on your physio exercises. Even when the limp seems to have disappeared, it is really helpful to keep it up so that you don’t get muscle imbalances when you walk or run around. This can lead to very pain shin splints or other complications.
For me it is nearly 2 years since the accident and my leg generally feels good. It is not the same as it used to be and after I jog (I go 2-3 times a week) it does feel stiff and sore just below the knee. I am contemplating having the IM Nail removed and need to arrange a meeting with the consultant to talk through the options and risks.
December 5th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
thanks for your blog it was good to read, I had a fib and tib break on the 21st august this year and an IM nail. I have found swimming is good for the leg and mind, but am getting a lot of pain and stiffness in my knee yet , I guess I will have to see around the 6 months mark. I am 52 and did it fell running, not sure if I will be able to get back to my sport but swimming and walking will do for me. Thanks again for sharing your healing. good Luck .
Amanda R
December 6th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Many thanks Amanda! The very best of luck with your recovery and hope the pain and stiffness reduces very soon.
December 10th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Brilliant blog pal. I am a week into breaking my tib and fib and this has given me hope and a great idea of the challenges ahead
December 10th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Thanks!! Hope all goes well for you!
December 15th, 2011 at 10:30 am
So pleased to come across your blog. Broke tib and fib in September after being hit by a car and now 12 weeks in. Last xray at 6 weeks showed no healing. Seeing consultant next week so hoping to see progress. Great to hear other people’s experiences to know what to expect and what is normal.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Hello!
My name’s Erin and I’m 21 years old, I had a compound fracture of my tibia and fibula in my left leg after a girl kicked out my leg in a soccer game. I am currently 8 weeks post op today – but I am getting better by the week. Tomorrow I go for my check-up appointment to see if everything is healing properly. I am hell’a nervous to tell ya all the truth… I really hope that things are healing the way they are suppose to. I really enjoyed your post because it was easy to relate too… and I could definitely agree with many of the post – op landmarks that you described. My doctor did not refer to me physio because he said my range of motion was excellent at my 2 week check – up. I do though practice stretches everyday with my leg and act as my own physiotherapist. Definitely a difficult bone break to recover from!!! I can relate to you all… I was able to walk without crutches at about the 4 week mark. I still walk with a limp today, but I try really hard to correct it – because like you stated, it starts to become instinct to walk with a limp. I try to push myself everyday by doing walks outside and practicing working on my balance and range of motion. I hope to be playing soccer in a few months again. (cross your fingers for me everyone…)
Best of luck to you all!
February 26th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Although one thing that I forgot to mention was that I had signs of healing at 2 weeks… so I am really hoping that it has continued to heal as fast as it was 2 weeks after surgery!
February 27th, 2012 at 11:52 am
sounds like you are doing really well, I found that it wasn’t the break site that caused me the most grief but my knee after the im nailing I am 6 months on and walking is o.k. but I feel it all the time running is still a no no , my advice is get your head round the fact it will be around 12 months and anything before that will be a bonus, but you are younger than me I am early 50,s so you should heal up really quick, I wish you all the best.
February 27th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I am almost 18 months post IM rod surgery and 3 locking screws removed, I still have pain in my knee walking and tightness from the knee down. I keep positive that it will improve. I am also very close to 50.
February 27th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Hi Les! Many thanks for your comment. When/Why did you have the locking screws removed?
February 27th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Hi Jake, they were removed to release pressure on my peroneal nerve which caused numbness down the outside of my leg. my surgeon thought one was too long. still giving me some grief!
February 27th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Sorry to hear that! Were they removed long ago? Hope the situation improves for you!
February 27th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Hi, They were removed in june 2011 and I returned to work on protected duties until recently, pain in my knee got too much going to visit doctor again. Running unfortunately still a no no. But could be worse!
February 27th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Best of luck!!
February 27th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Hi Erin! Many thanks for sharing your experience! Hope your check-up appointment has gone well today and you are feeling reassured you are well on your way in the recovery process. Tibia breaks do take a long while to heal, but being 21 your bones are made of more magic stuff so hopefully you should be back playing soccer again soon
May 28th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Hi jake,very pleased that i managed to find your blog,i broke my tib/fib last week after slipping on a wet pub toilet floor and had surgery on tuesday resulting in an IM nail being inserted.
I came away from the hospital with very little information regarding my injury,so your blog has been a tremendous help,a crystal ball that i can peer into to see the challenges that i face.
Just wondered,a few days after your operation,did you experience any strange feelings in your big toe?,i have a kind of hot/not quite numb but almost,sort of sensation,and a tightness in my calf.
I was lucky that a friend gave me a wheel chair,as the crutches aren’t really practical at this early stage of the recovery process,but find i cant have my leg down for more than 5/10 minutes before it starts to swell and change colour.Like yourself,the medication/pain relief doesnt seem to agree with my stomach,resulting in constipation,sickly feeling and drowsiness,but the pain at this stage is still fairly severe,especially during the night.
Anyway,im a little over a week in,with what sounds like a long road to full recovery ahead,again,your blog has been a brilliant read,so thanks for that,my first check up is friday,so im looking forward to that,i feel a little more prepared and clued up now after reading your posts.
many thanks
ian
May 29th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Hi Ian,
Do go back to hospital if you have the tightness in the calf as if can be a DVT and its best to be safe than sorry so if your concerned dont wait to check it out.good luck and I hope your recovery goes well I am 9 months on now and doing most things but no running yet which was how I did it .Still having some pain under the knee but I think that is normal at this stage. Keep cheerful and things do get less painful if you want a non medical anti inflammation Boswellia is good with turmeric you can do a search most good herbal supply has them, you can also get the doctor to give you a stomach protecter which you have on an empty stomach at the start of the day . Codeen(not sure of spelling) causes constipation as the Diomorphine they give you have some dried figs they work works, hope all this helps.