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.
So sorry to hear that you’ve joined our group and that you seem to be badly suffering seems so unfair .Have you asked for stronger pain killers ?You really must speak to your GP or OS Have you tried ice ?A bag of peas or a flexible ice pack if you can’t find something on the internet .20 mins max for the ice and then wait 2 hours .It will get better I promise you ,my leg more than doubled in size and looked like alligator skin in June 2014 ,it is not fully back to normal yet but I am getting there .Try to be patient it is a horrible experience but people will understand that your health comes first apart from the fact that if you try too much you will put yourself back a week or two .I was 11 wks in a physio hospital having physio twice a day and still have physio twice a week for 90 mins a time .Try as soon as you are able to get to a pool and do lots of silly walks in the pool.Take care .
I am just worried that because I can’t take the pain and do my exercise like I should be; that I will never bend my knee again. I through myself into panic attacks thinking about it. I have found an online counseling services that has helped me get through the panic attacks. I am trying to get to my PT, but we have snow here with ice on top and no one cleared it up so that I can get out to my PT. They want me to start using a pool soon, but I have to get there. It is a challenge getting out when it is dry outside as it is. You find out who really cares about you when you go through something like this.
You will bend your leg again and your leg will regain its shape :). This injury is so isolating that it’s so easy to have all sorts of fears run through your head, especially with the pain. You really do find out who your friends are – a lot of people go through life not having that clarity of who these angels are in our lives to be treasured as they obviously treasure you. My key angel among many is my 82 yr old extremely healthy dad who picked up everything to live with me through this – he got a quick education in anxiety attacks, pain relief and 2am crying jags. I’m in my mid 50s and live alone so I guess you’re never too old and I’m blessed to have a parent to take care of me.
And I know it seems like never but the pain will subside and change – in a few weeks (at most hopefully), you’ll shrug off the achy pain from PT having been through the comparative pain war that you’re going through now. Make sure to do something nice for yourself (pedicure, massage) once you’re more mobile to reward yourself – you deserve it! It would be a fun thing to do with your caring friends 🙂
I live in Massachusetts and can relate to the snow – we just got 3 feet. But I still have a few more weeks of home PT left with my insurance before I need to go to an outside facility (definitely with a pool!). Is it possible for you to get something like that in the home?
Well I made that comment because the people that I thought cared for me have left me fending for myself. My husband won’t make arrangements for me to get to PT, or my Ortho appointments. He says he is taking over the financies, and getting a separate bank account for our tax refund. He already said that he and the kids where fine without me when I was in the hospital. Wow..I like to know what I did to make him feel this way. He is constantly picking arguments with me over some of the most stupid things. I have started to do some of the dishes(standing as long as I can take it with the walker) and fold and put away clothes and now he seems like if I don’t do it then I am not pulling my weight around here. He gets mad when I tell him that I can’t do anymore because my foot and leg are too swollen. I feel like a stranger in my own home.
So, anyway I don’t have any friends; its just me. My kids try to help but I don’t want to put everything off on them, that’s not fair to them.
I was just thinking about coloring my hair in a few weeks and maybe cutting it a little differently. We’ll see…
I have PT rescheduled to Monday morning now but it is supposed to snow here Sunday into Monday with accumulations of about 12 inches. So needless to say I won’t be going to PT again. I asked my Ortho Dr about in home PT, but she said as long as I do what PT says I will be fine and there’s no need to have someone come out. Well that isn’t working…
You are truly blessed to have a father that would do that for you. That is wonderful. He is a real man.
Bless your Dad! <3
Hi – I have exactly your situation (including the ever-sliding brace – got to love that Velcro!) minus the 5 children. It’s been 11 weeks of non weight bearing (4 more days to partial hopefully!). Although I was on a LOT of narcotics, the pain was excruciating at times. Ice packs and hot camomile tea (more to calm me down!) helped but take heart – that type of pain ended for me at week 9 pretty suddenly – night and day. Only achy now, still need meds but at least they work and doing some of my PT in a standing position helps too. I so feel for you but you’re probably just about to turn that corner so stick in there! I had elephant legs, ankles and feet. Elevation helped but as long as I was elevating which was challenging with the pain! What has made a huge difference are compression stockings – put them on in the morning first thing. It has allowed me to sit for much longer periods of time and not look like my foot is going to explode! Make sure to ask your MD about it too – my surgeon had me taking a full aspirin a day for DVT while non weight bearing but as soon as my primary care MD saw me, he put me on stronger meds instead. Hope this helps – I was on this site in the middle of each night when I was in screaming pain to get encouragement. I pray you’re almost there turning into the upswing!
I have a TPF that occurred in November. (TPF, Fibia fracture, and broke a piece out behind my patella)After a fixater bar and another surgery to place a plate and 15 screws in I am on my way. I am still using a walker and now trying non weight bearing steps with that leg. I was so scared at first, but it is getting easier. I am still using the black brace that bends. It is so annoying because it never stays up when I get up to move around. I try to do my PT exercises, but the pain is unbearable at times. I just want to vomit. I can’t sleep at night either. I toss and turn all night long. Swelling is my biggest issue at night, I feel like my leg is going to explode. I try to elevate it as much as possible, but then it hurts my fibia(which I broke as well). I am just so afraid that I am never going to regain full ROM. My knee is so stiff, my muscles are so tight; I just now, after 10 weeks got my ROM in my knee to 70 degrees. This is awful! I do the leg lifts; front, side, and lye on my back for the back leg lifts to strengthen my glutes. I use the band to stretch by calf muscles and tendons, ankle rotations, but the biggest (pain) is the knee bending. Oh my oh my…I get mad sometimes because I want this to be over and back to normal, so I push myself through the pain and push my leg as far as I can take it. (crying the whole way through It) I got to get back to normal. I have five children and a house that is falling apart. I struggle every day to keep going. I know things will get better eventually. But eventually couldn’t come soon enough. Way to go to everyone else out there that is dealing with this same situation. It’s a fight….
Don’t you have any physio lined up ? I slept in a gutter but stopped before I started walking ,my foot was slightly pointing in the wrong direction ( outwards) .Did they tell you why you still need it? I did alot of leg strengthening exercises ,infact I still do 6 months after my accident ,both in and out of water .I also do balancing exercises every day on a wobble plinth .But I stop as soon as I have any pain and I do not do any exercises that knowingly cause me pain .
Hi everyone
Just got back from physio and have a trick for learning how to go down steps properly. Before I was going 1 step at a time or really bending at the hip. But this is what I learned. Have hand on railing. Stand on your tip toe with good foot, step down. Then stand on tip toe with bad foot and step down. This made it seem much easier. You just role off the bottom of your foot then. Hope I explained this ok. I was excited when I could do it.
I also practised walking with lifting my knees high with each step. This made me limp less. Looks a little strange, but gets rid of the limp. After you do this for awhile you can start to not lift knees quite so high.
Hope these 2 tips are helpful.
Francine
Hi Francine, thanks so much for the 2 tips you’ve left us, will be having a go at the stairs one for sure, may try it on the bottom couple at first though to be safe! Yes I’ve heard about the knee lift as you walk, doing it indoors though as getting ribbed at work for doing it! I’ve also got a small stepper exerciser, my physio had me using a cross trainer in rehab, but I haven’t the room to have one at my place. its also got a setting for lateral stepping which I thought would be excellent for the muscles on the inside leg next to the knee (sorry, I don’t know the correct name) that in my case are proving the hardest to get back the muscle tone.
Hi Emma
My Physiotherapist explained to me why my shin and upper calf were hurting when I walk. He said that when a bone heels it gets wider at the heeling spot. That wider spot goes down slowly , but never entirely. That widening process puts pressure on the bone and tissue around it, causing a tight hurting feeling. I have been out of surgery 4 months and he said that that feeling should soon subside, and I think it slowly is. I am not positive that this is the reason, but it seemed to make sense and when I googled how bones heel images, the pictures did show a wider area on the heeling bone. Also the calf gets tight due to the muscles not being used and the body wanting to protect the hurt area by tightening. Hope this is helpful.
Francine
I am know a week without my splint and have been walking with the aid of crutches. I am however in more pain stiff and sore in the morning wakes me up, I still struggle to bend my knee and my ankle is still painful though I don’t have to wear the boot anymore which is a bonus.. I find sleeping with my leg in the gutter the hospital supplied helps a little.
Should I just exercise lots ? Thanks
Oh my I have that same problem in the mornings. I am so stiff and achy; I think that it is not even going to bend at all. I use two pillows between my legs to prop it up but then I can’t lye on that side every night all night. I actually end up lying on the side that I have the broken leg, because my hip hurts so bad on the other side. It is a struggle every night. One that I am so sick of now. I have a big struggle with bending too. I just want to cry.
Yes I remember now. ,the toes heel exercise is for lifting the foot before slapping it down ,try to do some ankle/ hip exercises as well .With your foot flat on the ground move your foot clockwise and anti clockwise keeping your heel in one place and your hips facing forward 3×10 .Then very similar keep the ball of your foot on the ground and move your heel clockwise and then anti clockwise again keep your hip facing fwds.My physio was one of the most elegant ladies I have ever met ,she gave me 2 light poles to carry at my side ,with my wrists facing outwards I forgot all my aches and pains trying to walk like her and not the lump I usually am .Try also walking on tippy toe ,walking on your heels and walking backwards on your heels ,in the pool is a good place to start. .Wobble boards are excellent ,try doing it with your eyes closed .
Has anyone tried TENS ? It works for me but how? And
why ? Is it permanent ?
Hi all, although I was discharged from hospital and physio in December, and I am obviously still doing the exercises my PT sent me home with, I still cant shift my limp, can any one help? I’m doing the “heel toe” step that I’ve been told to, but still can’t control it. Also, I still get what feels like shin splints which I think also makes me want to limp, any thoughts or help much appreciated…..
Dear Emma ,glad to hear you are out of hospital ,do I gather that you now have no physio ? First , I thought it was toes ,then ball of foot then heel ,practice this sitting down .then practice flopping your foot down and really I can’t think ot a more appropriate phrase ,again this can be done sitting down .After that it is hip exercises you need to do ,lie down and lift firsr one hip then the other in a slight lifting and twisting movement ,you should feel the muscles in your groin .Another good one that can be done lying down is lie flat then push your heel as if you were pushing sand ,then relax 3×10 for all exercises ‘Itake it you’ve done the leg in the air ones ready for the next Olympics ?
Hi Emma
I don’t know if this will help with the walking, but it is a heel – toe motion. Physio told me to be sure to strick down with my heel on each step. Be sure to strike heel down with each step on good and bad legs. I also found that if I put my hand on my hips I could feel my hip on bad side come up higher, so putting my hands on my hips made me aware of weight distribution on the hips and move accordingly. I also have what feels like shin splints but have no idea why. It seems like it is just below where the plates end.
Thanks Francine, I did think it was a heel toe motion! I thought doing toe heel movement would have me walking like a horse (Sorry Marion!). I’ll try putting my hands on my hips aswell and see if that helps. That’s exactly where it feels like in my leg too, it’s not a pain, just uncomfortable, every now and again it disappears and the walk seems to return to how it should be. Seems like its just patience and perseverance then really, just really frustrating as just want to be normal again!
Hi Francine
Sorry to hear you are having these problems because I very much know how annoying and frustrating it is. My surgeon did tell me that it can take a year or more for the nerves to repair themselves and unfortunately some of them may not. I don’t know what type tpf u had but mine was a type 6 and the bone shattered and as my surgeon said bone fragments went everywhere. Are you now walking? Mine has been about 4 1/2 months and I still can’t put full weight on mine due to tremendous pain in my ankle ( I broke my ankle also) its getting extremly frustrating. I’m just trying to get an idea on how long this is going to take before I’m able to walk again..
Nice to know I’m not the only one having these issues .my leg and ankle are numb down one side yet painful to touch .since I have started to pwb with crutches my leg is painful when I try to sleep , continuous ache can’t sleep or get comfortable, also my leg gets cold very quickly.
Hi Theresa,
I don’t have the issue of my leg getting cold that may be something to speak to your doctor about just to make sure your getting good flow thru your leg as for the numbness that hurts to touch my surgeon told me that usually means that the nerves are repairing themselves so that could be a good sign..hang in there!! And I hope you improve soon
I do find it amazing that doctors don’t tell you what to expect after your accident .If you take pills there are always little leaflets in the pill carton with what could arise and when to worry .It is not rocket science. ,just an A 4 sheet of paper with what you might feel,or not would put your mind at rest until the next visit to them.
I’m also pwb after 5 months and using crutches..I also have numd spots that hurt to touch and the Dr told me this is normal especially if u had any nerve damage due to bone fragments..I have numbness on one side of my leg and the whole top of my foot.
Hi Mary
It has been 4 months since I fell and had my injury. Had the tibia plateau break on both sides. Had 2 plates and several screws. I was NWB for 6 weeks. Ever since my surgery the inside of my foot has been numb. It also often hurts. It has changed somewhat and I now have feeling there, but it feels weird. The surgeon told me he did not know why it was numb. I find it difficult for him not to know why, but the physiotherapist said it is probably nerve damage and will take time to heel, as nerves regenerate very slowly. It is very annoying and makes walking more difficult. Let me know if yours improves or if you find out more on why it is numb.
Stay positive.
Francine
Thanks for the imput 🙂 I had my splint removed Thursday after almost 4mths nwb ,
I visited the phsio Friday and they got me up on crutches very wobbly at first.
I am now pwb its hard going and a new problem has arrison aches pains in leg when at rest . Also is it normal that my leg is numb in places yet sore to touch ?
Thanks again.
Thanks for the imput 🙂 I had my splint removed Thursday after almost 4mths nwb ,
I visited the phsio Friday and they got me up on crutches very wobbly at first.
I am now pwb its hard going and a new problem has arrison aches pains in leg when at rest . Also is it normal that my leg is numb in places yet sore to touch ?
Thanks again.
I too was terrified to put my foot down. It was like trying to put your hand on a hot burner. It takes time for your brain to tell your foot it is okay. It did not hurt just needed time to figure out how to work again. I am 4 weeks post 14 weeks nwb. Lots of screws plate glue and rebuilding. My leg is still stiff and gets tired at end of day. Physio, pool at gym, walk as much as possible even little bits. I also do massage once a week and have just started laser treatments. Make sure you do lots of foot and ankle exercises, as it to has been dormant. One step at a time. you will get there. Pauline
After 3 mths of being nwb after an op for level 6 complex injury. Have now been allowed to thrown away my splint. Something I have been desperate to do. Trouble is I am now to scared to put down my foot. Any tips to help me csnt belive how worried I am .
You don’t say if you are still having physio I presume you are .I tried the first tentative steps between parallel bars after that I practiced getting my weight evenly balanced on two pairs of scales .When it was equal I graduated to crutches then never looked back !Take it easy and things will progress don’t force yourself for it me it seemed things just clicked into place .Be kind to yourself and if in pain or unsure STOP.
I would also suggest hip exercises so your gait is smoother ,they call it re education in France and it certainly is !Relearning to walk ,after 6 months .I now fortunately only have problems with kneeling ,they exercises are by far the most painful for me and getting in and out of cars elegantly .