Welcome to the TPF Home Page.
This page has many useful sections with information, and fellow Tibial Plateau Fracture sufferer stories.
If you’ve recently suffered a Tibial plateau Fracture this is the place for you. This site was created after having myself gone through the recovery process of Tibial Plateau Fractures, and this site aims to contain information you need and want to know during Recovery. You can visit the forum to chat and share your story with others. Or, start reading in the Recovery Section Above. In the different pages you will find a lot of helpful information for your recovery period including medical information, first hand accounts of personal recovery stories as well as many useful tips & tricks. It’s Important to understand that this info is based on personal experience and research but that I am not a medical professional. This site is not intended to provide personal health advice. Your doctor is the professional source of information and if any advice your doctor gives you contradicts something written in this site- stick with your doctors opinion.
If you’re asking yourself how long your recovery is going to take, or what to expect, check out the recovery section. If you’re looking for some helpful tips and tricks from people who’ve been there – have a look at tips & tricks. We also have a Forum with recovery stories of different people Containing many inspiring stories and a place to ask fellow visitors questions.
If you’re looking for a community of people who have been through the same also check out the forum, or if you are looking for more information and references, those can be found in “further reading” which contains links to other websites and pages.
This page currently contains mostly information regarding recovery and recuperation after a surgery or non-surgical treatment. If you are still in the hospital and want to know more about your injury this is also the place for you. In future I might add some useful information for your stay in the hospital.
Hope you feel at Home, and feel free to contact about anything at all at [email protected]
Note: This site is currently in building and so some sections might not yet be complete
Shlomi,
September 10th, 2013
*Note: this website is not intended to provide medical advice. Your doctor is a much better source for medical advice. This information is based on firsh-hand personal experience and research*
Am 4 mths po and am know walking with crutches , the physio has confused me by saying that I had a deviated knee ? And would be prone to arthrities . Is this because I needed a bone graft?
Anyone know what this means?
Thanks
Hi Teresa
I googled deviated knee and it looks to me like 2 scenarios of it. It seems like things don’t line up exactly, or the ligaments can’t hold it all together. Don’t know what they do about it, but you may want to look further. The podiatrist told me that if it was out a bit a special sole in a shoe would help.
Hi Teresa
I think that the type of fracture we have just goes hand in hand with developing arthritis. Good luck
I have a question for anyone or everyone. I have posted on here before that in May of last year I was in a motorcycle wreck resulting in a tib/ fib break and a cracked kneecap. I had a plate put in and a bunch of screws. Did my rehab got off the crutches and stopped using my cane. I walk to work about a half mile away most of the week now but the last few weeks I haven’t been feeling good. So I try to eat healthy as I can afford and try to bear with the pain. Of course my leg is really crooked now and I am hunting for a better doctor that jacked me up. The question I have is, I force myself to stand as long as I can anywhere between 8-15 hours a day just at work. The longer I stand the more I can feel what feels like broken glass in my knee and my ankle (which still bruses just from walking around BTW). This eventually slowly expands and meets in the middle of my shin making standing and/or walking a almost impossible idea. I know this is most likely due to the effects of the surgery and the installation of the plate and the atrophy that I got from being inactive for the months that it was mending. However, on the left leg I am experienceing the feeling of broken glass inside of that ankle as well. This ankle was not broke and the pain of the glass like feeling is much more pronounced. What is this? Is anyone experiencing this? Is it possible that both ankle have been broke and I have been walking around on them because the doctor was to lazy to do his/her job? More or less I just need to know how to get rid of it. Its making it impossible to work, cook or just walk to the bathroom.
I also experienced a tpf on the right leg after a motorcycle accident last May. Now, the left heel , outer ankle area feels like walking on glass. Does this sound like your pain? Dr diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis caused by by my abnormal gait . Try looking it up online and see if your symptoms match. It is extremely painful. Hope you feel better soon : )
Hi. Tramadol works for me, with paracetamol and iprobufen. I had my op 14 weeks ago, and still need them. It gets better after about 6 weeks, but when you start walking on your bad leg and do the stretching excersises it hurts more again. Stay strong is all I can say.
Hi all,
I had TPF from playing an indoor soccer game. I am 26 years old. I had the surgery 4 weeks ago. I am trying to get off of the pain meds but last night I hardly slept with the pain. Can any of you give me a good OTC pain management drug? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am in constant pain. Thanks 🙂
Hi Kate,
Pain killers can be highly addictive and can sometimes decrease pain tolerance. I found that I was able to tolerate pain much better by being calm and just accepting that my injury hurt. I used Tylenol, ice, and prayer. (Four weeks seems like a long time, have you asked your doctor about your ongoing pain?)
Eileen
If your like me and a real cry baby because I would yell in pain just from the bandages being changed. You will want the meds you were prescribed Kate. I literally got no more sleep than 30 minutes at a time for the first 2 months. The first time I slept for 6 hours I thought I actually died and went to heaven. No OTC will help like the meds they give you. My TPF was pretty bad and I had a bad doc and it’s almost been a year and despite the surgery and the rehab and walking to work almost on a daily basis my pain is so bad that I still have to take OXY. I stopped using my cane while at work and walking to work but the rest of the time I always use it. I just walk very slowly everywhere. Don’t worry about getting hooked on them. Be responsible about using them only when the pain is to much. Talk to your doctor and let him/her know if they are to strong. Slowly reduce your intake. Don’t let them push you on anything. Take your time. This is not something you want anyone rushing you on. Just a little FYI for you and everyone else. Find Water resistant crutch and cane tips. Don’t end up like me falling at work and getting light-moderate brain damage. They will look at you so differently.
Have you considered that you might have CPS , I was diagnosed with this after a scinitgram .Was told to definitely keep on with the pain killers as CPS feeds on pain ,my physio’s quote .Now after nearly 8 months I am off all the Oxy unless I really overdo it ,I also have a tablet for the nerves in my leg and I use the TENS machine once a day ,for me it works don’t know why .I was told that if I wasn’t better in 2 months my doc would send me to a pain management clinic but I don’t think I am going to need it .My knee is slowly improving but walking long distances is still out of the question .And long for me isn’t very far
Have you tried Ice packs ? Ice was available freely at the physio centre I was at 20 mins then two hour break before you applied the ice again .Make sure you protect the area with a light towel to avoid ice burn .
My physiotherapist has a slider board that my heel sits in. Then I use a strap around my foot to pull my leg into a bent position and then release it down and straight. I dont force the bend, i just repeat it several times until my knee naturally loosens and allows more bend. I recreate this at home buy putting a black garbage bag over a piece of cardboard, about as long as my leg and a little wider then I put on a slick sock, like a nylon or shiny dress sock and then i use a belt and while im sitting on the bed with the cardboard in front of me I slide my foot back and forth on garbage bag from laying flat, into a bent position. It really helps with flexability. Good luck with healing.
Yeah, I had a right tpf, tib/fib, ankle and knee cap broke in May. Its not easy. Took months to heal, took months to learn to walk and my leg is crooked laterally and on a axis. I feel for you and know what your going thru since I got mine from a motorcycle wreck also. Hope you didn’t end up with brain damage like I did. Good luck to you
Hello everyone,
I have a TPF type 6 that I got due to a motorcycle accident on Aug 30th I also broke my tibia and fibula and my ankle so I’m sure that my recovery time may differ from others that I’ve seen on here. Is there anyone who has had the tpf as well as other fractures in the same leg? I’m just now getting to PWB and still have to wear a knee brace that has as of Friday been unlocked and a boot for my ankle
Hi Mary,
Well, you and I have a very similiar story. My motorcycle tried to kill me in mid-May. I had a type 6 TPF, along with a long vertical tibia shaft break, a knee dislocation, and three breaks to the fibula…and. yes, all in the same leg.
I now have 14 screws and 2 plates in the leg. I spent 15 weeks in a wheelchair and I am still in weekly PT. My leg continues to be very weak and I walk with a limp, although a few weeks ago I was able to get rid of the cane.
Yes, rehabbing is going to take a long time, and some days will be better than others. However, keep hanging in there. From the mess that my leg was in those early days post accident, I am very pleased with my progress.
Hi , I crashed my dirt bike Oct 6th and had an extremely stressful evacuation out of the mountains 2 hospitals 4 surgeries including compartment syndrome X2 all in two weeks. I am doing physical therapy 2x a week. I am at zero flat, and 121 flexed. I am working as much as I can but by Thursday I am sore and can’t get the swelling down. I have my Dr apt January 7, but they say if he let’s me do weight it will only be 25%. I have issues sleeping and constant ache in my knee, is this common? Plus it seems to bruise on its own. I am very active in life, this has stopped everything which I think is part of my sleep issues. I was told that I will need a knee replacement in the next 5 years if not sooner. So my question is does it ever feel like your own leg again, does the ache ever go away and how does one get past the trauma?
Hi Michele.
I got a TPF doing a roadgap jump on a mnt bike 26 September. Also troama getting of the mountain. I feel your pain. I had 3 opperations with 3 weeks in hospital. 4 plates and 12 screws later and a cast for 6 weeks. My problem is movement. I can’t get past 70* flexed. Have been to Phisio 3 times and I’m trying real hard with my excersises. How do you get to flex so much. I’ve been walking for 4 weeks now and still need my crutches if I need to walk for more than 10 min. Also get the swelling, they say that’s normal healing proces. Would be nice to hear from you. Good luck with the recovery.
Hi there,
I had my TPF on August 22 of this year. I have a plate and 10 screws. I am just starting now to weight bear. I have 125* of mobility which is good I am told. I still get a lot of swelling in my ankle and foot. It has to do with not putting full weight on the foot which encourages circulation. I try to keep my leg elevated so that it is higher than my waiste as mush as possible. Swelling is a natural reaction to the surgery and the metal now in the leg. Your body must adjust and get used to the repair. As long as there is no pain or redness with the swelling I think you should be fine. Just look up ways to deal with and help minimize it.
Good luck with everything.
Hi. I had a TPF on 26 September casing a jump on my mountain bike. It was a really bad impact fracture. At least 25 pieces. I’ve got 4 plates and 12 screws. Had 3 operations and 3 weeks in hospital. I was in full strait leg cast for 6 weeks. Then was given a brace for 3weeks to get movement in my knee. After 2 weeks I got to 40*. I’m now brace free and walking on it. Still need my crutches though. Only problem is I still get a lot of swelling in my calf and ancle. Is that normal? I started Phisio last week and need to do a few excercises. I’m getting more bending out of my knee, but only about 55*. Please let me know if it will get better soon. Thanks lee
I think it will get better…but unknown when.
Swelling is an inflammation process, so like all other swelling it can help to elevate it and use ice. It seemed to me I went a full month simply working on walking only to follow it up with elevation of the leg and icing.
As far as bending, you only began PT last week. That is nothing in regards to the grand scope of the timeline with a TPF, particularly one as severe as you. (Me…2 plates and 14 screws and 2 weeks in a hospital with 2 surgeries. You have me beat!).
Patience…that is the key with a TPF. You simply work everyday on your approved exercises, and that’s all you can really do. Healing will go on it’s on timeline, which may not necessarily be yours.
Hang in there!
I had a tpf operation on 5th September. Now 2 months after the operation I lost my balance and fell and hurt the leg so it aches. I am so worried. Before I go to hospital for x-ray tell me how will it affect the recovery?
It will really depend on how you injured it. I also took a really bad fall after my tpf surgery and landed head first on a wood covered floor backed by 6 inches of concrete and now I have some minor brain damage.(Mostly memory but some other stuff I don’t want to say) I stretched some muscles pretty good and it hurt really bad for almost 3 weeks. By the time I made it in to the doctor, for my post tpf surgery checkup, I was so convinced that some screws had broken the plate was bent and I had rebroke my leg along with the giant chunk of transplanted tp bone they had to replace that I would have to go thru with surgery all over again. I went in for the x rays and the doctor said that I was doing really good and seemed to be on schedule. Of course my doc was a real moron and didn’t even put me back together correctly and forgot to tell me that he forgot to put some parts back in that he took out along with other crap he pulled on our very last visit and now my leg is very crooked. My point is that if you might think something is wrong you are probably okay. If something is actually wrong you will know it just as sure as you were when you broke it in the first place.(assumed) The doc will take your x rays and if something is out of place, you will most likely know before he does. It probably hurt a lot but you are probably okay. It never hurts to go to the ER and have them double check but it never hurts to slow down and take your time or be looking down for anything that my trip you up. If people get upset because your trying to be cautious tell them to back off. Nothing is worth getting hurt again.
Sir,
I was attacked by bed-elements of society on 9-7-2014.Since then I am auffering from this problem.MY DOCTOR have advised a complete bed rest.Intially I had lot of swelling right from knee to leg.Now almost 90% swelling has gone and doctor has not advised any medication to me.
So sir under the present condition please let me know how I can resume to walking.
Thanks
Rajender Goel
B-3/73 Rajasthali Apartment Delhi-110 034 (india)
Hello Rajender,
As a new member of the tpf club myself I’m just writing to sympathise and to wish you a good recovery.
I was at one of the best physio centres in France was doing physio within 8 days of my op ,it is suprising how quickly you loose muscle .At first it was gentle exercises ,passive ones on a machine called a kinetec that gently moved your leg into a bending position .The machine goes up tp 120 ° and most people get to that degree of flexion within 8 weeks ,which is considered necessary for stairs .Other exercises were to strenghten leg muscles such as holding your leg up ,not too far toes towards you to the count of 6 ten times ,then doing this in a sidewise position.
I broke my Tibia on 6th Sept and was operated on, on 9th Sept, its now 1 month since my operation and although I have been in a bendy cast from day 1, it was fixed for the first 2 weeks and now has 90degree movement, but I’m non weight bearing for another 5 weeks. I tried going back to work at week 3 and lasted 2 days before I came home after 3 hours on the 3rd day, the pain was excruciating. I’m now home with leg up, on cocodamol and morphine and doing basic physio exercises. I was extremely ignorant to the repairing time required for my injury as I’ve never broken anything before.
I’m not someone who is constantly at the gym, but I do walk everyday and love being in the outdoors and I’m finding it very hard being sat/lay down all day every day. I mean I get up and walk with aid of crutches around the house, but I miss being out in the fresh air and surprisingly miss being at work.
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