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).
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.
Thank u so much barbara mam…wish i could see u on any other social media….u gave me big support through my pain…thank u so much..
You are very welcome and I am glad to be of help. I have received so much support, too, from you and others as well!
D.Priyanka,
There is a Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery Group on Facebook. Lot’s of support and helpful info there. You should join.
Hi D. Priyanka,
Glad to hear from you! When I first began to walk, it would take me some time to get my balance before I could walk freely and then when I started to walk, it was slowly. It took a few minutes before I was comfortable to walk alone. As the day progressed, my walking was better; however, each time that I got up from a sitting position, I had to steady myself and regain my balance. I believe this to be normal as I am now 7 months post-surgery and I no longer have to steady myself upon standing. I am also able to pull myself up when getting out of the car without holding onto anything which indicates that my strength is getting better. My balance isn’t 100% yet, though, but I am getting there.
With respect to the pain, yes, I had pain on the inner portion of my knee. My left knee was the affected knee so at times, the inner right side of that knee would hurt. Also, continue with the icing of your knee. Keep icing it! That helped me very much. I also take an anti-inflammatory once a day which is wonderful. Check with your doctor to see if you can take some sort of anti-inflammatory.
I wouldn’t push yourself to walk if you are in a lot of pain. I would stop, rest, and ice the knee. Also, continue with your physio. I am still doing some exercises daily. Keep up the good work and keep us all posted on your progress!
Hi barbara mam…now am 6 mnths post op…doctor askd me to walk freely wthout walker and knee brace..i do my physio 2 times per day as am preparing for govt exam..daily when i strt to walk i have a starting problem like i struggle to get my balance wth that leg..aftr 5 mins am able to walk straight…and i get pain near knee region (ie.. knee part wch is inner side.. in my right knee the pain is at left upper part) while am walking and that pain hinders my walking…is it normal…shud i do more of walking to get over the pain ….the pain is too much mam….my doc dint advise me any tablet….the pain is sprain like ..plz do advise mam
Determination and persistence with PT is key! Every day I tell myself ” I am not sick; I am injured and this will pass”. It helps me keep focus and deal with the pain.
I had my tpf 4/10/16, surgery 4/14/16. 7 weeks of hell trapped in that brace. At that time OS said to go ahead and bear weight. Wow…got hit with both ankle and knee. Started therapy at my request in May before the brace was even off. Light and steady but it really helped. You have to push yourself and do the therapy you are told to do…no matter how much it hurts. I was way ahead of the game and it has paid off. I am walking without a crutch or cane. 2 weeks after the brace came off I used the crutches as I needed them only. I walk every day, have been using the pool for exercises now too. The ankle/foot is worse than the knee. Had xrays done to make sure nothing in there was broken. Go back to OS 8/2/16 and if it is still hurting they will do an MRI.
If it were not for the ankle I think I would be doing better but this too shall pass. Determination is your est ally. Use it. My limp now is mainly from the ankle. The knee is really doing well. Had a great OS which helped and therapists that cared. It just takes time. Do the exercises…it is a must.
Hi Shauna,
Sorry to hear about your injury but happy to hear that you were and still are dedicated to the physical therapy. Keep it up; you will be fine!
Just wanted to comment on the ankle/foot issues you are having. When I began to weight-bear, my foot and ankle would throb by the end of the day. My husband would have to rub it for me. This appears to be normal after beginning the weight-bearing. It will gradually get better and eventually go away. Just keep up with what you are doing. I also had swelling around the knee which caused me pain so my doctor prescribed an anti-inflammatory which helped tremendously for both knee, ankle and foot. I am now 7 months post-op and walk without a limp. I had 6 months of physical therapy, 3x per week, and I continue with quad exercises at home and leg lifts with weights. I still take an anti-inflammatory but only once per day. I am awaiting an appointment for the hardware removal, which should be soon.
Keep up the good work and continue to keep us all posted!
Barbara,
Thanks for the info. I am wondering….why do you want to have the hardware removed? I have been reading a lot of statements regarding that. Just wondering.
I forgot to mention that while down I started taking vitamin C 3 times a day. Read somewhere along the line that it helped with healing. I really think it did. I still take it, lower amounts and also disolvable calcium.
Hi Shauna,
Yes, I have heard about the Vitamin C helping with healing. I take calcium 2x per day and also Vitamin D3 for general bone health (I am 60 and this is what has been prescribed to me by my doctors). I agree with you about these things helping.
With respect to the hardware removal, I never even knew that the hardware was removed by some or most doctors. The first time that I heard about hardware removal was when I read about it online. Honestly, I was shocked when I read about it. I wondered why my surgeon never mentioned it to me when I first saw him. When I saw him at the office visit shortly after I read about it online, he explained that he removes the hardware from 98-99% of his patients. He went on to say that once the bone(s) have healed, the hardware is no longer necessary and that all of his patients that have had theirs removed, have expressed to him how much more comfortable they are without it. I am 7 1/2 months post-op and I definitely feel the hardware most days just walking, especially when it is humid out. Kneeling is not pleasant on that knee and I am thinking that once the hardware is removed, it will be better. My surgeon thinks that I will be more comfortable. I should be having the hardware removed soon. In case you are interested in reading about hardware removal, I found these online and it helped me to better understand what to expect: http://pattysbrokenleg.blogspot.com/2012/05/hardware-removal-updates.html and
http://pattysbrokenleg.blogspot.com/
So I finally had surgery on my tpf on Friday July 15th. Got home from hospital today.. phew what was supposed to be minor arthroscopic surgery turned into major surgery due to damage…but finally on the road to healing.. keeping positive 1 day at a time…
Yes, Philip, try to stay positive. This is a long recovery but if you do what you are told to do, you will get there and the time will pass quickly. Don’t push yourself right now; rest is very important and eating healthy, too. The physical therapy is very important, also, so when you are told to begin that, do so. I had exercises to do while in bed which I did 3x per day, with the brace on. I also had a CPM machine that I used 2-3x per day for the range of motion. The brace stayed on with this, also; however, it was in the unlocked position. I used this machine for 1 month following the surgery. I am now 7 1/2 months post-op, doing well, and waiting for my appointment to have the hardware removed. Keep us posted on your progress and take everything one day at a time!
Thank you Barbara…yes on the cpm machine 4hrs a day at least with brace off thank God….doing exercises also..gonna be at least 2-3 months of no weight bearing so I’m in for the long haul physically and mentally…
Hi there. I started full weight bearing 4 weeks ago and my knee is still not getting full extension all the time. It is a trying and often painful journey. We have to remain patient and continue to do range of motion excercises daily to attain the full extention as we had before our injury. The physical therapy component is so important! Yesterday I measured 0 which is full extension and it is getting easier to straighten with persistence. It is not an easy path but so worth it achieve our lives back. I would not worry about what others say…. That is just ignorance. They have no idea of what you are going through! If you are not going to physical therapy – look up range of motion excercises for the knee and do them at least once a day if not more. Many you can do while watching tv. Good Luck to you
Rosemary
thanks so much. God bless. I would keep doing range of motion exercises and ofcourse have lots of faith my leg would get better and straightened
Yes, keep up with the exercises; they are SO IMPORTANT!! I am 7 months post-op surgery and walk 3x per day for 1/2 hour each time and walk up and down stairs all day long. I also continue with weight-bearing exercises. I do leg lifts with 5 pound weights strapped to my ankles and also do quad exercises before I get out of bed in the morning. All the best to you and keep us posted!
Hi Rosemary,
I spent so much time worried about achieving flexion (which I was grossly behind in acieving) until I saw my second PT who stressed the importance of extension over flexion. She said I would continue to walk with a limp until I consistently achieved full extension. I do Bikram yoga which focuses a lot on locking your knees. This seemed to help me tremendously! Good luck to you! You’ll get there!
Hi Barbara, I am over 3 months post-op surgery. Recently I began FWB. I have dumped my walking stick and began walking smaller distances due to small pain noticed if I walk longer. However, I noticed something, my affected left leg is slightly bent i.e. bowed-leg. I really dunno how to go about this. At times, I feel a bit embarrassed, when people laugh at my back at how my leg is unlike before. And cos of that I hardly want to walk in public. I don’t know what to do to get my leg back in shape. Is it cos of the metal plates or what or can the doctor do something about it cos I am beginning to feel less confident or is there any thing I can do? please advise urgently.
Hi lastdon,
Please try not to feel embarrassed. As Rosemary stated, this is a very long journey. Some of us get back to normal faster than others and I am guessing that is because they may be more athletic to begin with or a lot younger and also a lot depends upon the type of physical therapy that you have done and continue to do. The first thing I would do is check with your doctor. Ask him or her if this is normal for the 3 months. At 3 months post-op surgery, I needed my cane. At 4 months post-op surgery, I put down the cane and walked with somewhat of a limp, especially in the evenings when, after walking a lot during the day, my knee and foot were swollen. This is a very frustrating recovery at times; however, I promise you that as long as you are doing what you are told and keeping the lines of communication open with your doctor, you will get back to normal or as close to normal as possible! Take it one day at a time and please do as much physical therapy as possible. Ice the knee, too!
Laston,
I agree with Barbara. You should ask your doctor. I remember my doctor telling me to look out for bowing of the leg. That said, I too felt like my leg looked to bow a bit but think it was due to swelling on one side of the knee. It gave it the appearance of sticking out further on one side. Could this be true for you as well? Just a thought!
yes Jen, you are right. There is a swelling on the left side. As Barbara advised, I have spoken to a doctor. From the xrays, he recommends I should try to walk properly as much as possible with my walking stick and not to limp. And with more effort, patience and exercises, I would get back to normal fitness. Upon my next visit in the coming months, we would talk about the removal of the metal plates and any other issue. I have to thank you all, Barbara, rosemary and co for the wonderful support. Reading all the comments in this blog gave me hope that I would recover after my accident in late February. I would have suffered more if I had continued receiving treatment in the trado-orthopedic clinic I used to go to until I read about you guys. God bless the day I barged into this blog, I would keep giving hope to all who need it based on my experience. Thanks. You guys are the best.
Hi Lastdon, so glad that you spoke with the doctor and received good advice. I, too, am soooo grateful for this website. Without it, I definitely would have been lost. As I have said in earlier writings, my surgeon is a great surgeon but I didn’t get much advice as to what to expect in the months immediately following surgery especially with respect to my mental state, etc. This wasn’t a planned surgery for me as I was hit by a car and 5 days later, operated on. Not only was it difficult dealing with the physical aspect of a tpf injury, I was dealing (and continue to deal with) the mental issues of being hit by a car. Very traumatic!
This website has been instrumental in helping me get through my days and feeling more confident about my future. It will do the same for all who visit it!
Great site.
I had a comminuted fracture of the Tib plateau last October and was NWB for four months. I’m self employed and with no insurance got into serious financial straits as well as suffering deep depression and social isolation. Anyhow I’m 8 months in now, back at work but still experiencing some discomfort and stiffness. Short message. Try and keep your mind straight. I have an unsupportive partner and that meant I gave her the Spanish archer (elbow) as soon as I wad up and about. It changed my life for the better in the end so try and use the time to reflect on what’s important.
Get well soon all you newbies. It does improve. Love. Peace.
I can totally relate to your message regarding keeping your mind straight. I’m lucky to have a supportive partner but it seems to be him I’m snarling at because I feel so frustrated not being able to do things for myself. My Mother even rang me yesterday, rather than visiting…could be a clue there, and told me to get a grip on things as losing the plot wouldn’t be beneficial. Feel suitably told off and have started today as calm and pleasant as I can…long may it last!
Rose
One furthe suggestion is to seek the advice of a orthopedic surgeon that specializes in children’s injuries. There are so many more issues to consider with a child i.e. Growth plates and how they may have been impacted by the injury.
Rosemary
Hi there. Thank you for this site. I’m a 50 year old male and I broke my Tibia Plateau into several pieces following a mistimed and poorly performed 270 degree turn to final while skydiving. The surgeon explained it was a bad break. I’m at 25 days post surgery today and I’ll see the surgeon again in two days.
My regular job is as an airline pilot, so I will need the ability to apply fairly substantial pressure on the feet during some (mostly emergency) procedures. I’m hoping the return to work will be at the 6 month mark at the latest. Skydiving? I’m thinking it will be longer, given the risk of a hard landing further damaging the knee.
No questions I guess. Just killing time one boring day at a time.
Hi Rose: Several questions come to mind.
Was your doc a qualified orthopaedic surgeon with experience dealing with such injuries? Did he seem confident in handling the whole process? Based on what you’re saying, I would definitely get another opinion from someone with lots of experience dealing with this injury.
Were X-rays taken before and after the healing period? Did you see them? Could you see the crack? Could you tell that there was no displacement? At the end of the 8 weeks, could you see that full healing had taken place?
Yes, there could well have been other damage to cartilage and ligaments which would not have shown up in an X-ray but would have been evident from an MRI and/or physical examination by a sports injury specialist. Was any of that done?
Has he been doing PT during that 8 weeks recovery? If not, then for sure he will be feeling sore as his leg muscles/tendons/etc will have atrophied and weakened even if there was no other damage done. He would need to build back up to normal strength and flexibility before he could, without danger, get back into the level of performance he was capable of before the injury.
In my view, he should not be playing hard on his leg until fully able to do so without pain. While he may be healing faster because of his age, this injury typically requires 12 weeks without weight bearing then another twelve of rehab once off crutches. Your son sounds like he’s going at it much too soon.
I’d start by getting another opinion and keep him out of any strenuous movement until you get that opinion and until he can do so without pain.
Rose
I would go back to the doctor and then get another opinion as well. He is so young and still growing. Most others on this site are adults and have also required surgery I have noticed.
Good luck to you and your boy
Rosemary
Hi Andrew
I stopped taking narcotics because of side effects while I was NWB and found that Tylenol worked on my pain at that stage ( 6 weeks post surgery) .On May 27th I could start placing weight on my leg and my surgeon told me to expect pain and that I might need narcotics again. The first week was fine because I wasn’t placing more than 25% on it but since then the pain has increased. I have been taking a half dose when I need it. After 7 weeks of weight bearing I am still taking my half dose but less frequently. I’m looking forward to not needing them at all. This is a very slow process and I try to remain positive but it’s not always easy. I still feel very hopeful that I will attain a full recovery but I now realize that it will take at least a year.
Keep up the hard work
Rosemary
My son fractured his tibial plateau in a basketball tournament 9 weeks ago. He was on crutches for 8 weeks ( he is 12 years old) and now that the fracture is healed the doc said he can begin playing basketball again as long as there is no pain. He didn’t need surgery as it was not a displaced fracture. He still has a minor bone bruise which the doc said is last stages of healing. He did Knicks basketball camp last week. But he was slow, and jogging a little awkwardly. He has soreness in his ankle and now the side of his knee is sore and slightly swollen ( not the place where the fracture occurred tho). Did he do more damage by returning to sports too quickly? I am making him take next week off to do PT to strengthen the leg. I’ve read stories here of people taking much longer to return to sports than he did. The doc cleared it as long as he didn’t have pain. Was that wrong ? He is not yet the player he was before. What I want to know is , will he get his speed and attack back relatively soon if he does more rehab now and avoids compete Playing for a few more weeks ? Thanks and ugh. Very sad. He was playing so well in national tourneys before the injury. He is very distraught thinking that after he came off his crutches he would be 100 percent. He is still not near the player he was before due to pain and soreness in other areas of his leg. Thanks.