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. Am nearly 4 months out from a major wreck that damaged a Tibial plateau in one leg and meniscus tear in another , plus a fractured c2min spine. The good news it has been healing w/o surgery .
    W/o weight on right leg for 2 mos. Cervical collar gone. Still walking with cane. Experiencing pain in calves. Did have severe spasms behind both knees for 2 weeks , that relaxed using a muscle relaxer.
    Very lucky not to have any pins or other assorted metal inserted. Good healing to all!

  2. Thank you to every person who has contributed to this extremely helpful site. I broke my tibial plateau when my dog ran into my leg. I had surgery almost 3 weeks ago : a plate, 8 screws and bone graft. It is most helpful to read about other people’s experiences. Good luck to everyone.

  3. Teresa,
    120 degrees at 4 months is spectacular. I was at 90. I was hit by a car in January 2016 and had my hardware removed January of this year. I’m extremely active too. A certified gym rat, haha. I’m just now able to go up and down the stairs, though it becomes more difficult by the end of the day. I still cannot sit cross legged or sit on my heels at all. I can ride my bike and do weighted squats (with very respectible weight) but like you, want my rom to return. I do feel I’ve made some progress since the metal was removed. I think you’re doing really well. Just give it some time. I bet you get there!

  4. I was in an auto accident back in November 14 2016, which caused a displaced tibia Plateau fracture. I have been doing partial weight bearing for 3 weeks now. My biggest issue right now is swelling in my knee and calf. This is getting in the way of my range of motion exercise. When I start to walk around with the aid of the walker I swell within an hour. If lay back down and raise my leg the swelling doesn’t go down. The only time it goes down is when I sleep at night. Anyone have the same problem. I has surgery on November 28 2016. Two plates and six screws.

    • Conan,I sure can relate on the swelling problem.I had surgery 5 weeks ago for a tibia plateau fracture and repair a ligaments.Plates and screws etc. yes when i stand up on crutches the knee to foot start to swell and like you mentioned with yours,my swelling does not reduce with elevation.So frustrating! I was off pain meds 2 weeks out and last night had to take another cause of the throbbing knee pain, but the swelling does seem to go down overnight.I hope your recovery accelerates for the better soon,hang in there….Mike

  5. Like DJ, I had severe spazms – lasted for about a week after injury and surgery. I’ll share what helped me.
    I had a traumatic injury that crushed my tibial plateau on 1/22, fixed through surgery on 1/24 with 3 plates and 12 screws and cadaver bone. My large muscles went into spasm any time my foot, heel, ankle were lifted or rotated or the angle of my knee was changed at all, because the muscles were trying to grab and stabilize the unstable knee. Excruciating. I discovered if I could relax the tendons/muscles behind my knee during transfers, and making sure the foot wasn’t lifted more than knee (aka, like straightening more during movement), it was less likely to trigger the upper leg spasms – I started with a narrowly folded long sheet under my thigh to lift the leg for me, then I finally got a stabilizing brace that helped me keep those tendons behind the knee from engaging. I wasn’t able to get the brace until 8 days after injury, so I was confined to bed until then due to the instability. What a joy to get the brace and be able to get out of bed (without spasm) and into a wheelchair!

    For lower leg spasms, I found two things: keeping the foot braced in a neutral position (not allowing foot to droop) when sleeping helped to avoid waking up to lower leg spasms, and working on stretching the foot toward knee (used an elastic band for passive stretching) to avoid cramps under foot when I had to stand up (on the good leg) for PT/OT.
    Medication that helped: Anti-spasmotics starting with Robuxin, and if that didn’t work, Baclofen to improve effectiveness.

    I had a broken shoulder blade as well, so I needed to stay in a wheelchair until my broken “wing” healed enough to tolerate limited walker use to hop around. About 5 weeks.

    I lost about 10-12 pounds, probably because I wasn’t hungry due to pain, so make sure you keep high calorie/protein shakes to sip on so your bones have what then need to heal. I mean, losing weight is great, but the priority is feeding those bones.

    Agree that having a shower/tub chair and installing a handheld shower head, helped me to shower independently. That shower chair doubled as a technique to get up and down stairs easily if you can’t do it with crutches or a walker (ask your PT – you just take off half the back legs so it straddles two steps but the seat is level). It takes 2 people, but it’s quite fast and stable.

    Tomorrow will be 6 weeks post-op. For two weeks I have desired to work (from home on computer) but found it tough to stay focused. Now I am starting to work from home a few hours (computer), and hope to go back (in wheelchair) maybe part-time next week. I really appreciate the info you’ve put on this site so I can visualize the stages of progress.

  6. I’m 61 yeas old,i fell hit my left knee and fracture my tibia,I did not have surgery my doctor said it can heal without surgery.i was none weight bearing for 12 weeks,I started therapy in January 2017,it’s now march still can’t walk on my own but I only using one crutch.desperat to get back to work frausted because I am an home health aide I am afraid I may not get to work any time soon any advice please pass it on.

    • Karen,
      Have you tried hydrotherapy–exercising in a heated pool? I recently started and it is helping. I am 11 weeks post op and still NWB, but my OS allows me to walk in the pool. I am hoping this will train my muscles and joints how to walk again so once I’m cleared to be PWB in a couple more weeks my leg will be ready. I find I can really push myself further with ROM exercises in the pool than I can even at PT. I do hope you find something that works for you so you can walk unaided again!

  7. Hi DJ,
    Yes, I had spasms after surgery too. Can’t remember for how long. Flexeril (a muscle relaxer) helped and also deepened sleep. My doctor prescribed them. They’re very safe and non-addictive. A few Advil may help as well.

  8. I don’t remember getting muscle spasms or at least, if I did, they weren’t bad enough for me to remember them. I do remember a tightening feeling a few days after surgery around the knee; almost as if my knee was in a vice grip, which I was told, and had read, was normal. My doctor told me to cut back on my exercises to twice a day instead of 3x for a short period. That helped as did the ice. After my stitches came out, I began p/t outside of the home but still did my daily at-home exercises.
    I would ask the doctor about the spasms and see what he or she says.

    • Yes I woke up from surgery with a severe muscle spasms. That had to give an anti spasmatic through my IV. I had off and on spasms for two weeks after. Now I’m having issues with swelling.

    • Yes I did, the day after my surgery. I got a leg cramp so bad i literally thought i was about to die.I would mostly feel them coming on when i did my ankle pumps or attempted to move my leg.

  9. I was in a car accident on 02/23/17 I have a Fractured Tibial Plateau & a ankle fracture. I had surgery on 03/01/17 I had plates and screws put in. It’s one day after surgery and I definitely feel the pain. My question is how long did anyone have to wait that perhaps had similar injuries to mine to bare weights? Did anyone take glucosamine pills? Or does anyone recommend anything else to perhaps help speed up the bone healing process?

    • It was 9 weeks before I was allowed to put weight on my right foot following surgery for a tibial plateau fracture. The last few days delay was a result of a long weekend & physician availability. Renting walker, a raised toilet seat, a wheelchair, and a shower stool made a world of difference once I got home.

    • I agree with Wendy–I have a combo raised toilet/shower seat that has made a world of difference. I also rent a wheelchair which is especially good for trips outside the home. I was told 12 weeks non-weight bearing–am at week 8 now. I followed the nutrition advice on this website to try to optimize bone re growth and healing. It also helps with not putting on too much weight since you’ll be less active. The big things to remember are feeding the bone–I was ravenous from about week 2 to 5 post op and really warm, as this website predicted, from healing the bone. The other key concern is getting enough protein to help with building back the muscles once you start PT. It is amazing how quickly the leg muscles atrophy, and you’ll want to help them grow when you start the exercises. I wish I had restricted my sodium intake even more than I did as it has a direct affect on the swelling in my leg. i can really see how my diet impacts my body now.
      I hope this helps! The beginning can be very overwhelming and there are definitely tough times, but try to stay positive and do as much as you can to help yourself heal. All the best to you!

    • I had a tibia plateau fracture and a fibula fracture I have 9 screws and 2 plates I was 10 weeks nwb then I could put weight just to pivot this happened 6/2016. Went through lots of physical therapy but still can not do steps and constantly in pain. I’m 50 years old and unfortunately gained 20 pounds during this recovery. I did take a powder supplement called rapid bone repair to help speed the healing process

    • 12 weeks before I could put partial weight on my leg. I only had a tibia plateau fracture. I do have question for you? Did your car have a knee airbag. I was wondering if that caused my problem.

      • In reply to Conan, I just sustained tibial plateau fracture in my left leg due to a vehicle accident. I was a passenger in my girlfriend’s sedan and we t-boned a full size suv. Her car had air bags but no knee air bags and I sure wish it did. Although I think the airbags the car did have saved us from major damage or death.

  10. Hi. I had a tibial fracture on 2nd February. Today the month is complete. I was got injured from the miss leg adjustment on staircase… I was with my 2 year old son. With the God’s grace my son was survived that time . He has no injury at all. By the way I’m completing a month. Now I m trying to walk with the help of Walker. On free time I used to do Google all the time. Your article is so useful for me to know the actual prospect of tibial fracture & cure. Thanks. Doctor says it will still take a month for starting a walk. Hope everything goes well…

  11. so I found this site, and the information is helpful. and I injured myself a few months ago, so im on the road to recovery at the moment, and luckily im stubborn and young.

    I have a type 4 tibial platuea fracture in my right knee. I also punctured a hole in my tibia under the cartlidge, repositioned knee cap, pulled I think the tendon in the back of my knee and its all scared up from what my doctor has said, and the bone that held the acl was crushed and the acl was free moving. So I have 8 pins and a plate in my leg.

    from what Ive been told the numbness on the side will never go away, I was down for the first month and started to work again by the second month. (thanks to working with computers, I have a desk job). I have been doing therapy for the last few months as well and so far after about 4 months I have 120 degrees of motion and im allowed to start putting weight on my leg now, But my doctor says I might need another surgery in a year from now for the tendon. not sure which.

    how ever if I put too much weight on it, the knee just buckles. I am guessing over time that goes away. I want to start walking normal again by next month.

    the one thing I really want to know is will my knee ever get to a point where I can do things like run slide jump climb ect. I want to get back into paintball mainly by next year but I have no clue if such a thing would even be safe for my knee injuries. or what time window am I looking at for tasks like that?

    • Austin,
      It sounds like we have similar injuries except I don’t have the tendon issue. Elsewhere on this website people have said they have returned to running, even when they were told they wouldn’t, but it takes a long time. My surgeon said it would take a year to recover, but due to torn ligaments the knee would have stability issues that would prevent me from doing plyometrics and sports with quick stops and turns, like basketball. With your tendon issue this could be a concern as well. Your doctor should be able to give you an idea of your specific recovery prognosis, keeping in mind that a lot of what is possible is up to you. But if you’re young and do as instructed, I would think you’ll be able to return to most if not all of your activities, although You might need to wear a brace on your knee for support while being active.
      Best of luck to you on the rest of your recovery!

  12. Hi – I broke my tibia and messed up my ankle roller skating on Valentine’s Day. I had surgery the next day. I had a rod put in stabilize the tibia and 4 screws to help the ankle be more stable. Doctor said no wight bearing for 4-6 weeks, I can bend my knee pretty good, I’m just wondering if anyone here has had the same injury/surgery and how long did it take for you to walk without assistance. I’m 35 going on 36 male, maybe 15-20 pounds overweight, but always walking at work and home. I own a pizza joint, so I’m on my feet 8-10 per shift, and drive 6-8 hours too. I’m a week PO and I’m able to drive just fine, injury was on my non-driving leg. I feel so fortunate to still draw a paycheck even though I will be off for at least a month. I feel for those here who’s companies are not as accommodating. OD thinks I should be fully heeled in 4 months, but I’m hoping to be able to deliver pizzas by April 1st. Any one around my age can tell me how long it took them?

    • Hi Ed I’m 55 so a bit more advanced in years than yourself but I shattered my tibia so had bone graft plate and pins 4 months post op and walking with one crutch building up to walking without I get a lot of stiffness around the plate but getting stronger each week my goal is to walk to work as I don’t drive so fingers crossed I’ll get there just hang in there with determination we will get our lives back x

  13. Hi Mary,
    Sorry for your injury! Maybe they are talking about an MUA? Manipulation Under Anesthesia? That’s when the doctor puts you under a bit of anesthesia and bends your knee which is supposed to improve the soft tissue movement. I have heard of this before with respect to tpfs and also knee replacements. If your ROM isn’t where it should be, then the doctor may be considering this technique.

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