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.
Hi I had a load of wood fall on.my leg on 4 th of feb, I went to hospital a&e in loads of pain and swelling, could not walk, they took xray said no breakage sent me home on crutches and pain killers, 5 days 9 feb later leg was swollen and bruised up more , went back to hospital ,said the looked at previous xray I had tibia fracture, then took ct scan I also had fibula fracture, said I needed surgery I refused, they put me in cast said to see knee specialist next day , he said surgery could make it worst so would treat me conventionally if thats what I wanted I said yes, xray me 3-weeks later saw different doctor said I needed sur I said no, as he also said bones were healing, 3 weeks later bones were healed cast off brace on 50% wb 90 Rom felt great , never used crutches as prefer walker was ok no pain just slight twinges round inside os knee, started physio 2 weeks later 8 weeks since break 2 weeks since cast of another xray all good told to go fwb, now I am getting pain on inside of leg by knee is it normal also the brace has given me bruising on top half of leg
Thank you for this information.
I recently obtained a multiple tibia plateau fracture in a motorbike accident last week and am in the transitional days of hospital to home
David, I broke my TP June 12,2016. Riding also. I began walking without crutches Sept.20. 7,began to lightly jog Feb.3. I’m 7 months in rehabbing getting around good but,still have a ways to go. Hang in there.
I just started my journey and have not seen ortho yet i had to postpone it because it was recheduled for 2nd day after the injury.. I just could not get myself in and out of a truck again 2 days in a row.I needed a couple of days, but its not getting any less painfull.. Appt is for tomorrow. I’m not used to being homebound, i hate asking people for things, and i have a feeling this will take a long time for me to heal. Im 43 fairly active so hopefully i recover in a good timeframe. My hubby just bought me a wheelchair so hopefully i get around good w it.. Im gonna attempt to take a bath/shower today. Heres to wonderful websites w info and people that know what iI am going through
I am so thankful for this site. I am a 66-year-old female chiropractor who weighed 107 lbs, practiced yoga several times per week and has a diet similar to the paleo diet. I sustained a TPF on December 23, 2017. I was riding on my EZ semi-recumbent tricycle with my dogs running beside me as I held on to their leashes. One of the dog’s leashes got stuck in the handlebar brake as he decided to chase and Iguana and the bike flipped with me under it and the pedal smashed into my leg. I was taken to the ER and they took x-rays and did a CT. At first, they were going to admit me but I think they were intimidated because I was refusing pain and other medications since I am chemically sensitive and have multiple allergies. Also, I don’t think they could find an OS because it was the beginning of the Christmas weekend. They gave me a name and told me to call the OS in 3-5 days and sent me out with a fiberglass splint. It was horrible because I had to be completely horizontal and getting me from the gurney to the back seat floor of my husband’s truck and then out of the truck was challenging. My neighbors and family used a folding table as a gurney and transported me on this. I thought of renting one of those carriers they used in the Cleopatra movies. LOL. I consulted with five different surgeons over the next few weeks until I found one who agreed to use Titanium instead of stainless steel hardware. I brought in my Clifford blood test( a test that demonstrated how your blood reacts to different materials that an orthopedist would use) results to him and he viewed them with interest. I recommend this test to anyone who is considering having metal put into their body. I didn’t have the surgery until January 26, 2017. When I left the ER, the first time, the doctor convinced me to get the pain medication prescription filled for Tramadol and Vicodin. I gave in to my physician and health professional friends and took the medication for two days until I experienced such intense gastrointestinal pain that superseded any pain from the TPF. It took three weeks to get my gut calmed down. I used homeopathic remedies for pain which worked amazingly well and I didn’t have pain as long as I didn’t try to move my leg. When I went in for the surgery I was pain-free, except that I could not hang my leg down because it felt like it wasn’t attached. Since I am a physician, I ordered an MRI of my leg which revealed medial and lateral displacement of the tibial plateau with the medial side dropping 1 cm, medial and lateral meniscal tears, grade 4 sprain of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, an avulsion of the ACL and a huge lipo hemarthrosis( which means the bone marrow poured out of the bone and was sitting in the back of my knee. This finding was exciting to me because I viewed it as stem cells being sent out into my body to heal me of whatever was not healthy and regenerate the fractures quickly. I was hoping that my body would heal itself and I could avoid surgery. After I read a description of the displacement being referred to a piece of styrofoam that was dented and would never be able to regain its shape, I agreed to the surgery. I had to wait for my surgeon to return from lecturing on repair of TPFs’. I had to do a lot of praying because I was frightened that I would react to the medication or the metal and not make it through surgery. I was in the hospital for 2 nights before returning to my new home for the next 1 1/2 months: the couch. I had a bed pan and didn’t leave the couch. When I could sit up, I used a commode since I could slide from the couch directly on to it. This wasn’t so comfortable after about a week so I ordered a cushion for it which brought me much happiness. I know this is very graphic and I hope it will help some of you going through this. At one point I also bought adult diapers and cut them open and just laid on them. This is when I was urinating every 3-5 minutes from the UTI. so sliding from the couch to the commode was too much for me. The UTI resolved in two weeks but was much better at the end of the first week.
My family was amazing and I am so grateful for them although it started to get old for them and we had a few blow ups. I threw a jar of ghee at my daughter after she made me feel that I was bothering her. It’s funny now, but she was so upset at the time, she went upstairs and left me to clean up the mess from my wheelchair. I had realized that I never complained of pain, but I was restless from the pain, and the blow up was an expression of how much pain I was in. Has this happened to anyone yet?
The worst part of the surgery was the urinary tract irritation that I developed from the catheter as soon as I got home. Again, since I am allergic to most antibiotics, they gave me Clindamycin during and right after surgery IV. I wasn’t planning to take another antibiotic since bacteria was not showing up as a cause of the symptoms on the urine dip stick. I had asked the OS to give me a pain prescription without a NSAID in it so it wouldn’t tear up my gut similar to my first attempt, and he gave me straight oxycodone. I took this while I was in the hospital and when I got for 2 more days until again, I started having burning pain with strange spasms. I couldn’t believe that I had to go through this again. The pain and urgency to urinate and constipation with spasms was so much worse than the leg pain. I again used homeopathic remedies and Berberine which started to help after two weeks. The GI symptoms persisted for the next month. I finally sent in a stool specimen to the lab which revealed C. Diff, a bacteria that is associated with taking Clindamycin. I treated this with Berberine so, by the time I got the results back, the symptoms were gone. I had started home PT, 5 days after the surgery and I continued until March 30, 2017. I go back to the OS on April 18, 2017. I am still NWB. I have lost 16 lbs and until three weeks ago, had significant atrophy of my thigh and gluteal muscles. The bones of my sacrum had no soft tissue over them. I started to do Feldenkrais exercises and I have lymphatic drainage once per week. The PT was coming 3x/wk but often I was so swollen and stiff that we couldn’t do much. When I convinced her not to push me to follow her protocol, I did much better. My ROM is now 120 degrees, 9 weeks post surgery. I continue to get stronger, but there is still significant swelling in my foot and toes. I also find that the level of inflammation in my body that is influenced by what I eat affects the swelling in my lower extremity. This was most significant during the days post surgery when I was having the intestinal issues. At times it was so uncomfortable, that I had to have an enema. The following day, the swelling in my leg was significantly less and my ROM improved. The therapist was amazed and started to listen to suggestions. I never used crutches or a walker until this past weekend. I do exercises from the wheelchair and am mindful of working my muscles isometrically all day. I started going back into the office two weeks ago to do consultations with patients for 3 hours 2x/wk. Yesterday, I developed phlebitis in my left arm. Very strange. The day before, a mosquito bit me right on the cubital vein and I’m wondering if this is the cause. I have significant atrophy of my gluteal muscles and my left hip clicks quite often and at times is painful. I’m hoping this is just due to muscular dysfunction and will resolve once my glutes are strong again. Recently, as I was laying on the couch worrying about something concerning my recovery, I watched a YouTube video of John Osteen on “The Power of Words.” I suggest that anyone who feels despair about their recovery tune in to get a different view about healing and what is possible. After I watched this and started to practice what I learned, the fear dissolved and I am much more at peace as I continue to improve daily.
This is a great site! I’m a nurse who had a skiing accident approx. 9 weeks ago. Compressed Lt Lateral TPF. Bone cement with 2 screws. Doing pretty well now having some trouble coping with NWB. Using a walker, wheelchair, and crutches. I now have calluses on my palms and Rt shoulder is giving me some trouble. My ROM is good but my Lt foot had a lot of swelling and plantar fascia feels thick. My PT is really good and has put a lot of time into my foot but still feels funny. Wished I had found this site about 6 weeks ago lots of good advice. Thanks!
Hi, Great site. I am 61 years old and at 7 months from falling from a deer stand and having 2 plates and 12 screws put in. I had a fixator on for the first month while swelling went down, horrible month with a lot of pain and needing constant help from family. Today is 6 months since the repair surgery. I was in a wheel chair needing a lot of help from family for the first 3 months then after I went to two crutches, then one and now on a cane. I never had any pain what so ever after the repair surgery except during therapy. My main issues now are fatigue and how much my leg swells when I use it a lot. I am extremely active for a 61 year old and not being able to do as much is hard. It is good to hear from all of you that it does get better with time and that I can eventually get back to a normal life. I hope all of you do well and get back to your normal soon. God Bless
Thanks, you answered a lot of my questions. I am 15 days post op and am still have a lot of pain. I am already getting stur crazy!! I want to walk and I want to just put my foot down and stand on my own…and I know I have a while for that. Thank you for the advice!!!
Hi Teal, I know how you feel. You are at the start of a long journey. Accepting the fact that things are going to be different for awhile was and is hard. Try to accept the situation and do not put any weight on your leg until you are told it is ok. My surgeon said a lot of people do thinking it would be ok and end up making the bones shift and requiring more surgery. Hang in there. Best of luck to you!
It was nice to find your site, I wish I would have found it right after my break and surgery. When I googled tibial plateau most of the stories and blogs were really negative. I am now one year out and here is my experience. You can judge if yours was similar to mine. My injury occured while skiing. I got 2 plates and 13 screws. I was 48 at the time and now 49. I had 3 month no weight bearing by doctors orders and needed them. I started therapy and hiking as quickly as I could. At about 9 months I tried skiing again. It was aweful, I thought I was done with Skiing. But I got a 3 month membership at a gymn and started working had. In a few weeks I was back skiing and now at the end of the season I am back in the trees and bumps and hitting it hard. I still do not have full range of motion but getting close. It has some ache but no pain. Still feels a little ooky. Here is my advice. #1 right away do research a get a good surgeon. After my first meeting the doctor I saw said he would use one of two different people. I used one of those second surgeons. #2 Do everything the doctors and PT tell you. #3 Don’t just assume normal daily walking or stairs will be enough. You will have to intentionally work at it if you want to get back to normal. #4 Don’t get discouraged this is a serious injury, but you can fully recover. I’m not 100% yet, but there is nothing I want to do that I can’t do. I plan to climb some serious mountains this summer. Prayers to you if you are going through this it is tough, but you can make it!
Thanks for sharing, Philip! It’s good to know there is hope of resuming a fully active life. I hope to try to ski again (I’m an advanced beginner) maybe next year, but really want to be able to hike with my husband–the sooner the better since we are only stationed in Europe for 2 more years. I see the doctor in 6 days (14-week mark) and an hoping to be PWB and walking soon! Blessings.
What a great site! I’m almost 4 weeks post-op, and NWB for another 6. I went back to work (mostly remotely) after 1 week post-op, which I think helped with my emotional health. That said, having such a strong dependence on my loved ones certainly gets difficult at times, so it’s comforting to read all of your comments — I certainly feel less alone now and comforted by the progress many of you have made. For those recently injured, I hope you have a speedy and full recovery!
Thanks for A REAL Life explaination of TPF. Dociors dont tell you what you NEED to know anymore. Thanks for taking the time to do so. Be Blessed, Amy Brown
Hi Paul-your wife is correct; you will walk again and I would think that you definitely will be able to resume your gardener job at some point maybe with some modifications at first; however, don’t be disappointed if at the 3 month mark, you are not “fully recovered.” You very well may be as I don’t know the exact nature of your injury, surgery and doctor’s exercise regimen for you but I hope you will be. My surgeon told me that “I will walk out of his office” at 3 months post-tpf surgery which I did. However, it was with the use of a cane and I definitely was not the way I was before my tpf occurred. Even with all the exercises and physical therapy that I did during those first 3 months, the leg was weak and by the evening, my leg would ache and my foot would swell. It took me another month to completely get rid of the cane and walk unassisted. By approximately 5-6 months after my surgery, I was doing very well. I am now almost 16 months post-tpf and am doing great! I am 60 years old and not an athlete.
With respect to the sleeping, I, too, was napping during the day and only slept about 6 hours at night. I wouldn’t be concerned about that. Your body needs rest so just go with those naps. Although I didn’t take a 2-3 hour nap during the day, more like 2 or 3 much shorter naps, this is what my body needed to do. I would eat breakfast and shortly after that, take a nap. Same thing would happen after dinner. I couldn’t keep my eyes open! My advice is just nap. Your sleep pattern will go back to normal once you get back into your usual routine and are up and about more.
Use ice as much as possible especially once you fully weight-bear, eat well, keep in touch with people, and rest.
Good luck, be patient, do your exercises, and please keep us posted.
Dallas, perfectly stated! Everyone’s break, surgery and healing is different. The similarities are isolation, some depression at times and lack of independence. Please everyone, know that it gets better. It’s been almost 16 months post-tpf surgery for me and I am doing really well; just experiencing a bit of weakness in that leg. I am a 60 year old woman who wasn’t an athlete; just basically walked as much as possible as my activity. It gets better!!!! Keep up with your exercises and physical therapy as long as possible!!
I would like to just let everyone know, that everyone’s break can be less or more severe. However, in the beginning it can seem like life as you know it is over. I’m a highly active 37 year old male, I had a tpf surgery just over a year and a half ago. And it’s still improving! Don’t jump to conclusions in those first few months after surgery of what you think you will never be able to do again. Pain is part of physiotherapy. Be diligent with your physiotherapy. But don’t try to rush it either. I was trying to get it better faster, and I would go 2 steps ahead and 1 back. Since I have no cartilage left on that side of my knee it would get real sore. But all I have to do is think back to the shape I was in a after surgery, and wat hung my thigh and wholecleg disappear in mass. Hang in there if your resently out of surgery. I had to rely on my family for a lot of support, physical and mental. I’ve never been used to being so vulnerable and having to rely on others. But the sooner you accept the help the quicker you can get through the difficult parts of your day to day problems. Good luck everyone.
I’m on my 8th week of recovery. I fractured my tibia plateau and my tibia. The surgeon regraphed my tibia plateau and put all kinds of pins In my tibia. He told me I’d be fully recovered and back to work by 3 months from surgery. Right now I’m non weight bearing but I go see the surgeon in one week. I can do a lot of things such as use the toilet. Walk using a walker with toe touch weight bearing. Stand up on my own without the Walker. Things are complicated though and depressing because I live with my senile mother who tells me I’m worthless and need to get out of her house but my wife comes over to visit me everyday to help me. I’m scared I won’t walk again and I won’t be able to work as my job was a gardener before my injury. My wife said I’m going to walk again and to be patient but that’s hard. It’s also hard to sleep at night. I find I tare a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and I sleep 6 hours at night. Any thoughts???
My PA told me to try benadryl or metatonin
melatonin lol
Hi Julia! Sorry to hear about your injury. I began walking at 12 weeks with the use of a cane and at 16 weeks totally unaided but between 12 and 16 weeks, I had days when I didn’t need my cane at all. At the 16 week point, my surgeon made me totally eliminate my cane.
Just to let you know, those weeks following when I was newly walking, my foot would hurt a lot by nighttime and be swollen so don’t be alarmed if this happens to you. Keep icing and elevate your foot/leg as much as you can. Good luck and keep us posted!