Recovery


A Tibial Plateau fracture is really not much fun, but it helps if you are prepared and in many cases doctors will not prepare you properly for daily life after your injury. If I had to give you only one piece of Advice on Tibial Plateau eracture recovery it would be: be patient. And in the end, it’s not as bad as it looks.

Below is a more elaborate list of time-tested knowledge and information on different subjects related to your Tibial Plateau fracture. There are also separate sections for the different stages of recovery (from the menu above choose “1-8 weeks” etc.)

*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*

What to expect – overview

You will be leaving the hospital on crutches, usually with a hinged brace. For the first few weeks you will experience quite a few different uncomfortable symptoms but these all pass quickly. Natural symptoms include limited range of motion in your leg (in the knee and ankle joints) as well as pain, heat flashes, edema and stiffness Some of these will be caused by the fact that you are not completely mobile. Things will progress from here until in the end you are (in most cases) completely able to do your everyday activities, but it will take some time and hard work.

Time to recovery

Recovery from a Tibial Plateau fracture is different from person to person. It depends very much on the exact type and specifics of injury, your age, prior issues, level of physical activity, physiotherapy, nutrition and many other factors. Given all of these differences it is still quite safe to say that for most people, if you the injury was treated by surgery, you will still be in some kind of recovery for a complete year after your injury¹. In most cases it will be more than that, Improvement showing up to three years after. This sounds like a lot, and it is, but I can assure you that it does get better and that for most people after a few months your the injury will not prevent you from continuing with you daily life and you will be able to do all your daily activities to some extent including walking short distances, going out, meeting with friends, going to work etc.

Weight Bearing

For a period of about 6-8 weeks after the surgery you will be NWB (non-wait-baring), this means that you can not put any pressure on your knee and leg and will need to use a wheelchair, crutches or both. For some injuries it might take up to 12 weeks until allowed FWB(Full weight bearing). Depending on your doctor and your specific health condition you will be moving from NWB to PWB (Partial Weight bearing) or FWBAT (Full weight bearing as tolerated). This period of NWB will cause many mobility concerns and will affect your daily routine.

Mobility

You will be spending a few days in a hospital bed then progressing to a wheel chair and crutches, which you will be using for about 2 months, possibly followed by a single crutch and walking stick (see paragraph above – “weight bearing”). It could be up to 3 months on crutches, and up to 6 still using a walking stick (but usually much less). Also expect that initially you won’t be able to bend your knee much for a few weeks. This is called limited ROM (range-of-motion). Crutches are hard to use at first, and may be painful on the hands and shoulder, but don’t worry you will get used to them very quickly. And as a bonus you will develop very strong arm muscles. In some cases, overuse and pressure on your hands can cause secondary injuries to your wrists, arms or shoulders. If you are in pain from using crutches take it easy and use a wheelchair for a short while. You should also consider testing different types of crutches. Forearm crutches are usually more comfortable (then underarm) and come in ergonomic varieties. Today many advanced crutches also support ergonomic designs, anti-slip, and special features (link, link). Underarm crutches are usually safer then regular forearm crutches (link), but tend to be less comfortable, and don’t come with as many smart designs. Platform crutches might be good for people with a poor grip, but I haven’t tried them myself. Some crutches will also have shock absorbers to help your wrists and arms absorb shock (link).

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All this will require that you prepare for a period of partial mobility. Things you might be limited in doing include – walking up and down stairs, house jobs (cleaning, cooking, washing), carrying things from place to place (no free hands when using crutches), reaching high and low cabinets, showering. At first, you might also have trouble getting dressed and undressed but this will pass quickly. The best way to deal with this is have friends, partners & family help you with everyday chores and prepare the house as much as possible to make things easier. A few things you could do are:

  • Get a shower chair so that you are able to shower without bearing weight (link) and possibly also invest in some big bags or drycast or other cast covers (link) so that you can shower without taking your brace or cast off during the first few weeks.
  • Be very careful when using crutches in a wet surface because you could easily slip. Even more dangerous is if the crutches are wet and the floor is not. Make sure to dry the bottom of your crutches on a towel before leaving the shower.
  • If your crutches are very old and the tips are cracked, replace the tips with new rubber tips. The come very cheaply (link)
  • Use a gripper (link) to be able to reach those unreachable cabinets and to be able to grasp and retrieve items you would not be able to otherwise while on a wheel chair (link).
  • Make sure that someone prepares food and goes shopping for you. Other options include ordering in prepared food and ordering groceries online.
  • If your bed is on the second floor, Consider sleeping in a different room if you find it hard to get up the stairs. You can also climb stairs with crutches, or sitting down.
  • High and low cabinets are are hard to reach. Try moving things around so that they are easier to reach. Doors on low cabinets can also be unhinged to allow for easier access with a wheel chair. They can easily be put back on later.
  • More useful ideas can be found in the “logistics” section and “Tips & Tricks

Physiotherapy

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Physiotherapy is going to be a regular part of your life. The are several goals: increase ROM, increase muscle-mass, teach your musculoskeletal system to operate as before and increase your stability. It is very very important that you start physiotherapy as early as possible and keep at it until you are completely better. This is the one factor that will affect your recovery more then any other and it is completely up to you. I’ve written a complete section on physiotherapy alone. Usually you will be given exercises to perform from your physiotherapist. At the very beginning you will probably not be able to bend or straighten your knee at all. This can be quite frightening but don’t be alarmed. Initially exercises will aim to teach your neurological system to control the leg again. It might even only be hours before you will start to be able to bend your leg, or it could be a few days.  After this, during the NWB (not in all cases) period you will be performing gentle exercises to enhance your ROM, strengthen your muscles and reduce stiffness, sometimes using stretch bands(link). Exercises might be done at home or in a medical center. It is very important that during this stage you follow PT instructions and do the exercises as soon as possible and as much as possible. This will reduce stiffness, boost recovery and give you a better chance at developing good ROM. When you progress to WB, physiotherapy will include many exercises with weights and machinery with the aim of gaining stability and muscle and to exercise everyday activities like walking. I can not emphasize enough how important it is that you keep at it (even if it means you go to work less). To be able to do physiotherapy at home you can consider purchasing light ankle weights(link).  For more info and tips, have a look at the physiotherapy section.

Medical professional

Several medical professionals will be involved in your recovery process, including the radiologists, the OS (“operating surgeon”), Physiotherapist and sometimes others. You will be having regular checkups with them. It is very important that you make sure your OS is a good one, and that you consult with him on every question you have. Be curious and ask everything you want to know. Sometimes doctors will not be generous with information, make sure that you get your answers. You deserve them. Seek extra information in sites like this one (more sites in the further reading section). In many cases the PT and the OS will be discussing your condition either directly or passing notes through you. Make sure that they talk if they are not already talking, but remember that when they give contradicting advice – the opinion of the OS is always the one to go by. You might also want to consider getting a second opinion both before or after your surgery.

Diet

Bone healing requires quite a lot of nutritional help, especially during the first 3 months(This is when the bone is healing), so make sure to eat well, and consider supplementation. For your healing to progress well you need to make sure that you get a lot of Calories, Protein, Antioxidants and minerals. During the first few weeks of healing your body will consume about 2-3(!) times as many calories as normal. This is about 6000 calories per day, so no need to feel bad if you’re eating a lot and very hungry. It’s all going to healing.

Protein is an Important nutritional ingredient. By volume, roughly half of your bone is comprised of protein, and you will also need to get a lot of it to reduce muscle atrophy as much as possible. If you think you are not getting enough protein consider using protein powder to supplement your daily protein intake (link), or adding protein rich food to your diet (meat, eggs, milk products, nuts & seeds).

Minerals are very important for several reasons. By weight bone is about 70% minerals. These are the building blocks of your bones. The high need for minerals will mean you might no be getting enough of them, which can cause other problems. If you are depleted in magnesium for example this may cause muscle cramps which are not much fun during a Tibial Plateau fracture. Consider using a multi-vitamin(link) containing minerals during the recovery process just to be sure. Studies have shown a lower rate of complications in healing in people taking multi-vitamins (link). The most important minerals to consume are Zinc, Copper, Calcium and Silicon.

Vitamins are the catalysts for the process of healing and are also in high need during recovery.  Vitamins that play an important role in bone healing include: Vitamin C, Vitamin K, the Vitamin B-series. Be sure to eat a varied diet and Consider using a multi-vitamin for Vitamins and minerals (link).

Anti-Infalmmatory Nutrients help reduce inflammation and pain. Bone creates a lot of inflammation which causes pain.  Unfortunately it is not advisable to take NSAID (Non Steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs) during the bone recovery process as these slow recovery. Natural Anti inflammatory agents that may work to reduce pain include Vitmain C, Omega-3 (link) and others.

There are many foods you should avoid. Some foods will interrupt normal absorption of nutrients and their consumption should be limited. Some of these are:

  • Salt or foods prepared with lots of salt
  • More than one cup of coffee or other caffeine beverages. If possible, avoid coffee altogether.
  • Sugar
  • Chocolate (because to caffeine content)
  • Soft drinks and carbonated beverages
  • Alcohol (it inhibits calcium absorption)
  • Caffeine (it increases rate of calcium loss and inhibits absorption)

Pain

Pain is an unpleasant but normal part of recovery. You will be experiencing different types of pain and discomfort throughout your recovery. Pain might be felt in different parts of the leg, and won’t neccesarily concentrate only around the knee. Most pain comes during the first few days and weeks after the surgery. Pain management is an important part of your recovery and you should not be in constant pain. You should use pain medication as advised by your OS or hospital medical staff. If you are unable to use the medication prescribed by your doctor or are more comfortable using a different type of pain medication remember that some types of painkillers should not be taken for long periods of time(read the label!), and that you should never take NSAID as pain-killer while the bone is still healing. These types of medications will postpone healing. Brands included in the NSAID group which you should not use include Aspirin, Motrin, Ibufen, diclofenac, naproxen and others. Don’t use these. Instead use what is recommended by your medical staff or another medication that is not a NSAID. In some case, mostly in the first days you might experience more severe pain that can be treated with stronger drugs. This is normal, but if you experience abnormally strong pain or other abnormal symptoms, get yourself evacuated to a medical center as this is usually nothing but could be a sign of a complication. Make that in the first few weeks you have a bottle or box of painkillers in your pocket so that it’s always handy. Remember – liquid pain medication usually act faster then the tablet equivalent of the same brand.

Staying at home/Mental Health

You might be staying at home a lot and will be quite immobile for a while. This can get affect your mood very much and can at some point get depressing, especially if you are used to being very active. There is no magic pill for this, choose a good book, and a good TV series and try to regularly talk to as many friends, family and close people as possible. The proximity of  friends and close ones is very important. You might also want to find a community of people who have suffered from Tibial Plateau fracture before who share your experiences and feelings. There are several such communities, and some of them they can be in the further reading section of this website. Also, try to do as much exercise as you possibly can. Even if this means exercising while sitting or lying down. This can give real boost to your mood. Another good Idea is to start watching a new TV-show you’ve never had time to watch, or subscribe to online video providers like netflix or amazon prime (link). If in need, consult a psychologist or mental health professional. It is quite normal to be affected by a prolonged period of immobility and recovery, and a psychologist will be able to help with this.

Physical Activity

You will eventually probably be able to do anything you were able to do before your injury. However, this might take a long time (1 or more year for some sports) and you might have to be careful when doing extreme sports. There is a limited amount of things that you may not be able to do exactly as before, for example some yoga postures will not be possible with limited ROM, but you can always work around these limitations by doing things slightly differently. Also, you might experience some pain which will be limiting. If you want to take up a fitness activity shortly after the injury bicycling and swimming are both good options which will also help with recovery. Upper body weight training might also be a good option but will not directly advance your recovery.

Work

You Might be dying to get back to work or could be in need for a vacation. Going back to work is something that very much depends on you and on your specific job and state of mind. Some people go back to work on crutches after 4 weeks (me, for example), while others might wait a whole 6 months.  There is a good side to going back to work (aside from money) since you will be interacting with people all day long and will not be bored. The important thing to remember is that you must avoid overworking and stressing yourself out. When you go to work it is important that you leave enough time and mental energy to be able to do your physiotherapy as much as you need, to rest, to relax and to visit your medical professional. This will allow your body to recover. You might be tempted to sacrifice your physio for your career. Don’t do that. Your career will still be there when you recover, the condition of  your leg is something you will be living with forever.

Sex

There is no physical limitation from having sex as soon as the initial pain has subsided, but this injury can affect your sex life, something which you will not find a lot of information about and your doctor might not tell you. Decreased mobility in one leg and one leg which is half the strength of the other can naturally affect sex. This gets better as your leg heals and strengthens, and you will need to ask your partner to be patient as you progress through the recovery process.

On a good note

Tibial plateau Recovery takes a long time but at the end of the process you are looking at excellent recovery and usually a fully functional life.  Moreover, trying to find the good embedded in the bad, this injury can help you put things in perspective and appreciate all the things you have in life: friends, family, health, a loving spouse. It gives you an opportunity to stop and think about what matters most.

2,212 thoughts on “Recovery

  1. Hi there Lindsey ,you are lucky to have CPS doagnosed early as it is so much easier to have a successful outcome ,I,was diagnosed at about 10 wks with CPS my leg looked like bloated crocodile skin.,my knee you could have fried an egg on and the pain ,well I needed morphine to even touch it .Good news it can be treated ,it is a very complex condition with lots of variations .I think mine is gradually after 8 months going I can drive ,walk within reason and live a normal life .I still have physio 2x a week and find their pool a godsend .I have also started Aquagym .So,there is life after for now start planning after,read lots of books ,crosswords ,scrabble and treat it as a holiday!TENS worked for me ,maybe not for everyone and doctors + physio’s who understood the condition. for me it was STOP when you are hurting ,pain is telling you to stop ,ice and hugs from a loved one help also plus drugs !

  2. Malek,
    Hang in there, it does get better. I have a TPF type 6 that happened 5 months ago. I’m still only pwb..u should be able once your staples or stitches have been removed to take a shower. You will probably need a shower chair..I still have to use mine..as for the pain at this point all u can do is keep taking your pain meds and ice it..everyone I’ve seen on here has the same problems with the ankle..I’m about to have surgery on mine due to torn ligaments..again though it is a long process so just hang in there.

  3. I had a TPF 10days ago had a surgery done. It, still hurts and i feel there is no blood circulation going through my leg. Sometimes i feel like my ankle is on fire. I cant walk cant take a good shower. I feel useless. My caliph muscle hurts like crazy and it feels like the muscle being ripped. I am going crazy

    • Hang in there Malek. It will get better, even though it doesn’t feel like it now. Yes you can’t walk or do anything and I’m sure your butt hurts from laying and sitting. But try to be patient, just say this time is for my leg to heel and that is my job now. It was my foot that hurt like crazy. After 4 months it still does hurt, but not nearly as bad. I really don’t know why all the other parts hurt when it was the knee part that had the injury. I guess everything else tightens up protect the actual hurt part. Good luck and you’re not alone.
      Francine

    • Yes hang on in there ,sorry to hear you have joined our ever growing club . It will get better but it takes time .And unfortunately some suffer more than others ,lets hope you are one of the lucky ones .I can honestly say for me it has taken 7 months and I am just about pain free and walking with no limp ,but not up to running a marathon yet ! Nor up to doing all of the contortions my physio expects of me ! And some times they HURT.For me it was prompt physio at a physio hospital where I was a reluctant inmate for 11 wks that helped ( no getting out of the 3 hrs a day exercises ) and a pool .Start reading a good long book ,physio and rest is my advice for this horrible accident .

    • I know EXACTLY how you feel. I am on my 11th week post op. My leg hurt so bad in the beginning, I dreaded getting up at all. It had no feeling in some spots. Swollen, dried out, ripping pains, but as time goes on it all seems to fade away to a distant memory. I felt like I was completely useless and I was going to go crazy too, but it does get better. I was panicking every day, calling access centers in the middle of the night for counseling. I was a mess. And I have five children that needed me and it was during Christmas. Time and patients is what you need to focus on. IT WILL GET BETTER. It took me several people telling me that, but it is finally sinking in. Keep up with the gentle exercises that they gave you upon discharge. Dont just lay around all day. Get up and try to sit at the table for a few minutes a day and then a few more the next day. Try to get up every few hours. Get that physiotherapy scheduled so you can start getting out to at least go to that. We have all been where you are, so take it from us we know how you feel and It really does get better. Promise.

    • Hi,

      I had an ankle that was on fire for some time as well – In fact – I woke up from surgery yelling at the nurse because my ankle really hurt. Turns out there is a mega nerve that runs down there that has gotten damaged in the surgery. It will repair itself eventually, and stop hurting. I am 18 months past my accident, and have more surgery coming up for that nerve, but only because it is now caught in a muscular hernia from a complication. Hopefully you havn’t got that problem.

      But hang in – you have some time to go – but it does get better eventually.

    • I had tpf fracture 6 weeks ago, I have just been diagnosed with crps as a result my whole foot burns, shooting pains up my leg, pooling of blood in my foot, pins and needles and my big toe is dead it just will not work. Now obviously I am 6 weeks into recovery but maybe something for your docs to bear in mind. Give it time though 🙂

      • I too was diagnosed with CPS apparently it is goes hand in hand with TPF ,I have found the A TENS machine works wonders for me and has enabled me to cut down enormously on my meds .However my physio has warned me that CPS thrives pain

  4. I haven’t been on here in a few months. I was 51 when I suffered my TPF on June 23, 2014 in a car accident. Screws and plates. Was NWB for 8 weeks, then partial for the next 4 weeks and then full after that. I no longer notice the injury. it is 100 percent healed. When I saw the doc for my last checkup at 5 and half months, he asked if I wanted to take the plate and screws out. I told him no need. I have no discomfort. There is hope. I just think it takes a different amount of time for each person. I would also say that PT, which I started after 8 weeks, helped a lot.

    • Holt, your comment is very encouraging. it seems like recovery varies for everyone. It has been over 4 months for me and I still do have pain when I’m on my feet for very long. But when I look back to a month ago I am more mobile. Reading what you said now and what you wrote some time ago gives us hope. Thanks!
      Francine

    • Hi Holt. If you do read this, what did you do exactly for PT? I am on week 5 after a ski accident. No surgery needed. Xrays after 4 weeks indicated the crack is just about gone. My muscle mass is gone too unfortunately. But I want to start doing things to build the muscle back up. I hate waiting but know that I am lucky that nothing actually broke. Regards!!

      • Ok you are now training for the BED olympics ,lie flat on your back on a firm surface and first lift your good leg ,not too high and hold to the count of 6 your toes should be towards you ,metre or 3 ft off the ground .do this 3 times x6 to begin with .Lower it slowly .Then try it with your damaged leg .Now for the killer lie on your side and lift your good leg ,same idea with your toes towards you .For this exercise my physio had my other leg bent for comfort but it might not always be possible .When you can do these easily lie flat and push your heels fwds as if you are pushing them in sand then relax .When you are happy with this strap light weights to your ankles and repeat exercise

  5. I am also in my fifth month .. I had physio before my op ( I had a 3 week wait for a trauma hospital,) I had my splint off 2 weeks ago and am now walking with crutches and can walk to the shp. Very tired and achy especially in the morning, phsio climbing stairs plus swimming seems to have helped a little.

  6. Good luck getting back to work. My accident was almost 5 months ago and I still can’t walk and still not working, but I have read on here where some where able to return to work within a few weeks to a couple of months.

  7. Hi everyone, this website has kept me positive through out my journey. On the 5th December 2014, I was playing bubble soccer as part of an end of year networking function. I was hit from the side and suffered a TPF, broke my fibia, compressed the bones requiring a bone graft and also tore my medial ligament. I waited 10 days on my back in hospital waiting for surgery as my swelling was so bad. I also found out that I was at very high risk of suffering compartment syndrome. Thank gosh I didn’t!
    I left hospital on the 18th of December and came home on a frame with my leg in straight zimmer splint. Went back to hospital on the 31st, where I had my staples removed and placed in a hinged brace with 90 degree range. There was no movement in the knee at this point really. I was told no weight bearing until my next hospital appointment on the 12th February.
    As at last week I reached 92 degree ROM at the physio – totally happy with that! I have a personal trainer (rehab) coming to the house twice a week, physio once a week and a massage every two weeks. I definately think that is helping me tremendously.
    I have a question for anyone that knows?? How long do you wear the hinged brace for?? Mine only goes to 105 degrees? Do you think they will give me a new one? How long do you partial weight bear for and whose decision normally is it to go to full. Reason being, I am going on the 12th Feb (hopefully partial) then next hospital visit not until 3 months after that and then thats it? Seems 3 months is a bit extreme to be partial?
    Anyway – interested in anyones comments on moving to partial. How it feels and tips on what you can actually do in this period.
    Thanks again everyone!

    • I have a TPF, Lateral TF, Fractured Fibia, and a fractured bone behind the patella. Your actually doing excellent. I did have compartment syndrome and they had to cut my tissues to release the pressure. I am at 11 weeks with lite weight bearing(still using a walker) and my knee is so stiff I can only get to 62 degrees. I cant get to my PT due to transportation issues and they cant come out to the home. I have only had four sessions with PT so far. They are talking about using the pool to see if I can bend my knee more if gravity isn’t playing a roll in this. I am afraid of all sorts of things through this. I want to be able to walk right, bend my knee, etc. I get my xray this week to see if they will release me to weight bearing and start using a cane.

      • Thanks Janelle. Means alot to hear such encouraging comments. Shame your ROM hasn’t progressed as far as you would like. I sit on edge of bed and try and bend my leg back and hold it. That helped. Alot probably has to do with swelling – that’s if your knee is still swollen?
        Good luck with moving to weight bearing – scary and exciting all at the same time!

        Kate

    • They sent me home with the hinged brace and I don’t think that they give you another one. I think that you go to cane from here after you start weight bearing.

    • You are doing very well. After 12 weeks, I should be getting the go-ahead for partial weight bearing tomorrow. I’ve been told that it will be done first with my walker to ensure balance then moving to a cane. I have pretty good bend at 105, however temporarily crooked!, with my weakness being in my ability to lift a straight leg up from a prone position. I’ve been told things will go much faster once PWB starts with the issue being with endurance. I’ll be going on a family vacation in 2.5 months and my MD says no problem walking with a cane but rent an electric stroller as I’ll tire easily. But then again anything would be faster than lying/sitting around waiting for bone to heal! Not sure if I could touch my chest or my bum before this happened -lol

      • How did you go getting to partial weight bearing??
        With the leg lifts, I roll a towel and place under my knee whilst lying on my back. I then clench the upper thigh muscles and push the knee into the towel whilst trying to hold my leg straight. Its hard and I had to get my partner to hold my leg straight first whilst i clenched and pushed. I could only hold it straight for 10 seconds. Now I am able to hold for a minute. You can also do leg lifts from this position.

        • Thanks for asking – my PT just gave me the same exercise! I’m having no problems with weight bearing on my leg but I am having problems lifting my good leg off the floor vs scuffing. Within 24 hrs of my go-ahead to PWB, I was able to walk continuously for 30 minutes before getting tired (grocery store shopping). It is very slow going but I find progress if I really focus on marching my way forward and picking up my walker vs rolling it. My PT has me practicing stairs with crutches – I actually got to see my second floor of my house yesterday for the first time in 3 months!! I couldn’t psychologically go down the stairs from the top (I think I’m going to fall over and those stairs are where I had my original fall) so I slid on my bottom until the last 3 steps then used the crutches. Works for me! No constant pain except for the usual stiffness and if I overdo it but I’m excited about the progress! We are constantly having snow here so I need to find places to practice my walking – hopeful bonus: burning off weight gained during last 3 months. My MD has me on a cane and driving (if I’m off meds) in a month!!!!
          I really feel for those in the awful pain stage – it really is a soul searching time. But it does end – promise. Pain meds and for the breakthrough to those, ice packs, hot camomile tea and reruns of good comedy shows in the background – sometimes that worked for me.

          • Wow! That’s very exciting! I am having my review in hospital this Thursday. Having an x-ray done first then hoping for the go ahead to PWB. But what does PWB actually mean?? You say you are walking? I didn’t think that happens until FWB? How do you know you are only putting partial weight through? Exciting and nervous at same time.
            Lucky for me, I have no pain. Just swelling of the knee, ankle and foot. Cant put a shoe on my foot 🙁
            Where do you live? I am in Melbourne, Australia.

            Kate

          • Having an x-ray done first then hoping for the go ahead to PWB. But what does PWB actually mean?? You say you are walking? I didn’t think that happens until FWB? How do you know you are only putting partial weight through? Exciting and nervous at same time.
            Lucky for me, I have no pain. Just swelling of the knee, ankle and foot. Can’t put a shoe on my foot 🙁
            Where do you live? I am in Melbourne, Australia.

            Kate

        • Hi Kate!

          I live near Boston Massachusetts in the states. It’s constantly snowing so it has been hard to find places to walk. Your summertime should give you some great opportunities! I am on 50% PWB – they had me put my foot on the bad leg on a scale and my good foot off the scale and stand, placing pressure on my bad leg until it reached 50% of my weight. That way, I can get a feel for how much weight I should be putting on that leg (which in a normal stride should be 50/50 anyway). You can “walk” but I still need the walker for balance and to put pressure on when I only use the bad leg in my strides. The goal is to be able to use that leg without needing the walker though I will still need a cane (provides less balance support). One week out, I’m still far from that! In the mornings, it takes me a couple of minutes to stop scuffing my good leg along and I’m tending to overdo it requiring meds. Yesterday was a lot of trying to use crutches on icy steps and shopping for shower equipment. I try to do something each day in the hope that things loosen up.

          Have you tried a graduated compression stocking? It was a miracle – my ankle and foot didn’t fit into anything and were quite painful because of the swelling but since the sock, it looks like my good foot and fits into shoes.

          Please let me know how things turn out for you!

          Vicky

          • Snow!! Oh know, that presents a whole new set of problems for you then! We never get snow, well in the mountains we do. But yes, lucky that it is summer here. The only thing is my leg gets awfully sweaty in the brace.
            I have got a compression stocking. I wear it when its not hot for a couple of hours from the ankle to above my knee. Is that where you wear yours? My foot is still quite swollen unfortunately.
            I have another question. Do you still have your brace on now??
            I am very nervous and excited for my appointment Thursday. I feel really ready in myself to go partial. It will have been 9 weeks since surgery. So there is a chance they will make me wait.
            How did you do your injury and what exactly did you do?
            Thanks for chatting with me btw.
            Kate 🙂
            How did you do your accidet

      • Hi! I guess each season has its drawbacks and unfortunately the healing goes across seasons. I pray that you’ll go on PWB on Thursday – my MD was insistent on 12 weeks when I saw her at 8 weeks but I’ve seen folks on here that did get the go-ahead sooner so crossing fingers!
        I don’t wear my brace anymore – frankly the Velcro was not adhering well anymore so it kept popping off anyways. I’m so sorry that your swelling is still there – definitely ask your doctor about it as it can be a sign of poor circulation and they might be able to give you something for it. It will also make your imminent walking (thinking positive!) much more comfortable. I spent most of the day today sitting or walking with my walker trying to remember to put pressure on my leg, trying to straighten my leg and not scuffing with my good leg. Pretty sore now and had to take some meds but it’s the only way to get those muscles activated again (that and this morning’s PT session!).
        I slipped on my home carpeted stairs with my heel and managed to land both feet a few levels of steps below – both feet at once perpendicular to the floor (I think gymnasts call it “sticking the landing”). My right leg immediately collapsed and I think I heard a crunch……but I quickly went into shock. Luckily I had my cell phone on me for some reason at 10p and was able to call for an ambulance. Couldn’t move the leg at all then just barely after EMTs gave me some fentanyl for transport (as the only other option was to bring the entire staircase and me in the ambulance!). I really need to think about a great gift for those guys – they were all wonderful.

        Good luck on Thursday and please let me know what they decide. If you do need to wait a couple more weeks, it’s all for the best – you want to make sure those bones are in place to start reusing them and you’ve come so far already! 🙂

        Vicky

    • I suffered my tpf type 2 with depression, on Nov 11th 2014 (courtesy of my EnglishBull Terrier!)and had an Open reduction op , with a plate and bone graft. I have just passed the 11 week post op mark,having been wearing a hinged brace since release from hospital on 28th Nov. They set it to 90 degrees until 20th December when it was unlocked by my OS. I was told last week by my surgeon that I must wait the full 12 weeks NWB, then start PWB and gradually build up to
      FWB over the next 3weeks. I have got to 110 degrees ROM at this point and seem to be getting some progress every week, which gives me hope! I think the treatment seems to vary based on the progress of the individual. My next OS appointment is 2 weeks after PWB starts so he can see his it’s going.

    • I had physio within 6 days of my accident on a machine called a Kinetec a passive machine that gently slid my leg backwards and fwds ,this was for 20 mins at a time plus One and a half hours of std physio a day .120 ° is rarely achieved before 4 to 6 wks according to my physio. ,they aim for 120 ° for ease going up and downstairs .

  8. I had my accident on aug 30th 2014. I also had extremely limited ROM but my doctor did a knee manipulation last month and the results were tremendous. I know have about 100 degrees ROM it is still very stuff in the morning and unfortunately I’m still not walking but the knee manipulation may be something u can ask your doctor about.. Good luck to you!!

  9. I could ,after 5 months touch my chest with my knees easily but touching my bum (but) with my heel is still impossible and I am working on it with my physio .I presume I coyld do it before my accident !

  10. Glad it’s not only me suffering from stiff and painful knee. I have started to sleep again with my leg in the gutter whic helps a little. I am having physio but still struggle to bend my knee which is still sore and stiff. I had my accident in sept last year and really want to be able to walk distances again. I was walking up to 6 miles a day .

  11. Oh dear,it sounds as if your husband can’t cope with someone being incapacitated ,it is not unusual .You look like yourself ,talk like yourself but cannot do things that you used to do .For some it is hard to come to terms with .Let’s face it ,it is difficult for us with broken bones to come to terms with .To say no ,I just can’t go to that restaurant too many steps or go on girlie shopping days .He is a victim of the circumstances just as much as you are .Things will slowly get better for all the family I am sure ,try to keepositive and not get too down .

  12. Wow!! I am so sorry that you are having to go thru this basicly alone..I was very lucky and my husband was able to take off work and get me to all my appts and take over doing all the things that I can’t do anymore..I’m almost 5 months now..I still can’t walk without crutches and it gets very frustrating at times. Sometimes I feel like I will never get back to normal. I just had a MRI done on my ankle and they found torn ligaments so I’m back in the boot for another 4 weeks..just keep trying to do your exercises and I really hope things start looking up for you soon.

  13. You will walk again AND normally but give yourself time and don’t be too hard on yourself .It seems as if I am always talking about me ! So stop if I get too heavy ! I was knocked over by 2 boisterous labs at the end of May .Not mine ,she was walking quietly too heel .I fractured both my tibia x2 and fibia .I was transfered to a physio hospital in France near where I live ,I was lucky as it is one of the top centres in the country with lots of sports stars on the walls as past patients .I was originally taking 2 slow release morphine ,8 paracetamol ,1 tramadol and quick release morphine on demand .The latter usually after physio .Now I am down to 6 paracetamol BUT it has taken 6 months .I was diagnosed with CPS in Sept and was told to STOP exercises if I was in any pain including walking as I could make it worse .So I was doing really simple boring exercises that put no strain on the leg atall .January ,now I walk but not in slippy conditions ,drive everywhere and am 50% pain free .It will come ,muscular pain is good and normal ,knee pain is not and should be listened to .Keep posting and let us know how you get on we all fel for you .

    • HI: I am 54 and o-wise healthy.This happened on 01/01/15. I was run into by my dog at the dog park. It was an accident. She was chasing a doggie pal and I was not paying attention. At the time I looked up she was about 10 ft away going full speed ahead. I hollered her name and she looked at me w/o enough time to adjust course. I stood still no time to move and she side slammed me with her 80 pound muscle chunk body. I heard a loud pop and so did my friend who was 6 feet away. I fell, or was knocked to the ground.
      My knee swelled immediately. I knew something grave was wrong.

      My dog park friends got me and my dog home and my son and his ladyfriend took me to hospital. Tibial Plateau fracture with displacement. I had an open reduction with a buttress. I am now doing PT religiously but no weight bearing. I am hoping to return to work in 3 mos. or I will be broke as a joke. I am still NWB. I am very fortunate to have a lot of help from my sister and family. My doggie is still my bestie though. I still have reduced mobility and am working on flexibility. I use both wheelchair and crutches. Good luck to all of the folks whose storied I read ! Never give up!

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