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.
I probably have a different take on this as I shattered my tibial plateau 22 years ago. I was non-weight bearing for four months and it took two months to walk properly again. I was a floor nurse and a single parent at the time so it was a devastating injury. I do remember going back to full duty after six months. I had the hardware removed after 18 months. The first week after the surgery was the hardest, controlling the pain, being able to stand to brush my teeth or even change positions. A friend bought me a tool belt and it was a lifesaver! I could get a can of cola by myself, which was extremely liberating. The depression was/is real. Then again, so is the recovery. Since the original surgery I’ve had three arthroscopic knee surgeries to clean out and resurface the knee, approximately every five years. My ortho surgeon agrees that delaying knee replacement is important as I am now 50 years old. The injury is always at the back of your mind and forget about running or skiing. If you take good care of your knee and follow PT you will do great! For family members, be kind and supportive as this type of injury is life altering. Hope this helps others see light at the end of the tunnel!
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disaster!! any comments welcome .my partner had tibia plateau fracture grade 6 surgery on th 14/12/15 doing well with 3 screws and 6 pins until 2 weeks ago when xray found pin had snappedand metalworkhad come away fromtibia .2opsto follow fist to remove allmetalwork and then back to non weight bearing until 2nd op 6 weeks after to have a new knee! hes resigned himself to this cant blame the surgeon he was SUPERB but backtosquare1after 10months of hard work .they just say bonehas crumbled so .nonviable. any body out there had same senario? any thoughts please ??
I had my bicycle accident on Jan. 28, 2014, I broke my tibia plateau and tibia on my ankle. I t has been nearly 3 yrs. Biking is my number 1 exercise I can ride miles without knee pain, and I can kayak.
However going up and down stairs is painful, house and yard work are painful, I cannot squat, walking 1/4 of a mile to get the mail is painful. I did hike but it is also painful, but I am determined I am going to do what I want no matter what. Stubborn maybe! No more crawlings on the floor with the grandkids. I can’t do any kind of jumping. Weight bearing is my enemy. The main thing is to keep trying to do your best and keep as fit as possible. Everyone has a cross to bear in this life.
Hi Dawn,
I was hit by a car last January and suffered a tpf, completely torn mcl, fractured ankle and soft tissue damage to my leg. I mention all of that because it sounds pretty close to the injuries you’ve described. I too had difficulty regaining ROM. As a matter of fact, I felt for a long time like the only one with that problem. At two months post op I was at 45 degrees. I thought I’d never hit 90, much less regain full ROM. My doctor “threatened” manipulation under anesthesia several times. I too had been immobilized and scar tissue seemed the culprit. In hindsight, I don’t think it was. While there’s a school of thought that thinks you can’t achieve further ROM once you’ve been stuck for awhile, I continued to improve, though very slowly and am so glad I didn’t have MUA. There is a gravity fitness stretching strap on Amazon for $16.99. I would lie on my stomach, loop it around my foot and try to pull my leg to my butt. Doing that daily, plus working on extension (ironically) helped me slowly regain flexion. I truly believe you’ll get there so I’d hold off on the MUA. Some injuries just take longer than others to heal. Good luck to you!
On 9/17/16 I fell which resulted in Lateral TPF along with displaced trimalleolar fractures in my ankle with soft tissue damage in ankle and knee. 3 plates and 23 screws later, I was put in a full leg immobilizer for the next 14 days. This all happened out of town and I came home from rehab center on day 10 and now see top notch OS and have great PT. My biggest problem is my ROM and PT thinks it is due to no movement for 14 days which allowed scar tissue to set in, but that is what I was advised…no movement. It is 8 weeks today and currently can get about 55 degree on my knee and 85 degree on my ankle. PT mentioned “manual manipulation”. I do exercise to break up the ST but not progressing like they want me to. I am discouraged and wondered if anyone has had scar tissue issues and what they did or anything that can help me. PS: Glad I found this forum 🙂
Hello barbara mam….now its 8 mnths post recovery frm tpf surgery…still my ankle is spraining if i stand for few mins also.please do advice…..
Hi D. Priyanka,
I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with your ankle. You should ask your doctor about it. I had an issue with my ankle on my other foot (not on the injured leg where I had the tpf) and it turned out to be a tear in the tendon. I am now in a soft cast and a special shoe (for 6 weeks) and then, at that time, the doctor will evaluate my situation to see if I need to continue with a soft cast and shoe. Please get this checked out. It could be the same thing as I have, which is from overcompensating during the time when we could not use the injured leg. Good luck!
I had a tibial plateau fracture with surgical repair in February. Also tore ACL, which was not repaired. 3 months non weight bearing. I seemed to progress nicely for 6 months and then about a month ago started having a lot of stiffness and pain. Am able to walk relatively normally – limp when I am tired. Can walk upstairs with some pain but still cannot walk down stairs normally – have to bump down with my injured leg first on every step. The trauma surgeon released me a couple of months ago. He may be a good surgeon but bedside manner is terrible – from the beginning was hard to get him to answer questions or help me understand what to expect. Can anyone speak to how long it took for pain to subside and to be able to do stairs? Thanks!
Hi Linda: Well I feel for you. My wife had her ski accident in February, TBF surgery a week later, and ended up with a bunch of screws and a big plate (at least it looks big under her skin). She went through the misery you, and others have described but is doing fairly well right now. It does take a long time to recover but similar to what others have reported, we all appear to get better eventually.
How long does it take? First, there seem to be a lot of variables: what physical/mental shape were you in beforehand? how healthy are you overall? how serious was your break? what was the extent of the surgery/restoration and how much hardware are you now carrying around? how well was the surgery done? does your surgeon have a good track record? has your surgeon ‘been there’ to help you with recovery? how diligent were you about following the no weight bearing instruction? do you have regular physio sessions? do you have a good physiotherapist? do you follow the prescribed (by the physio) at home exercise program? do you eat well? do you smoke? etc, etc.
Depending your answer to above questions, and given your timing, and considering my wife’s recovery as average, you should be near or at the stage where you should start to see continuous improvement to the point, in say 2-3 more months, where you don’t think about your knee too much anymore.
Reading your note again, your OS does not seem to be as helpful as he/she might be. I would consider getting another opinion from another OS or other caregiver, including a physiotherapist with experience in dealing with this specific injury.
Finally, good luck and just know there are many who have gone through this miserable injury and are doing just fine now.
just got back from seeing the orthopedic specialist. was given no instructions, no cast, no brace, nothing. just a come back in three weeks appointment and a follow up xray. my primary Dr found the fracture on Monday of last week. is all this normal? doesn’t seem or feel right. it hasn’t gotten better. actually it feels worse. no one will listen or point me in the right direction. i don’t know what to do. I’m in pain. no it’s not as painful as a kidney stone or labor but it’s constant. just want to be treated appropriately and not shoved off to the side. i don’t want to do more harm than good. any advice? my health insurance isn’t the best. almost nothing, actually. i don’t want to have to wait another week or two to be told something else
Hi Nicole,
So sorry about this. Do you have a tpf injury? It sounds to me like you need to get another opinion. I understand that you don’t have great insurance but is there a clinic of some sort that you can go to or even a hospital emergency room? These places usually will see you because they often have patients who have little or no insurance. If you are in constant pain, that is not acceptable and not normal, in my opinion. I would try my best to get to another orthopedic person for a second opinion. Please let us know what happens and all the best of luck!
Hi Nicole I was just diagnosed with a Tibial Plateau fracture. I felt like my Doctor did not at all take me serious when I saw him after a visit to the Urgent Care, and an x-ray didn’t know anything. It wasn’t til I got an MRI and they saw that it was a non-displaced Tibial Plateau fracture. I was told to stay off it and come back in 3 weeks for an xray, too. So, that says to me that your’s may also be a non-displaced fracture. Which is a good thing. However, you have to stay off it or it can become displaced, and that would require surgery. My husband had a displaced tibial plateau fracture 2 years ago and required surgery. Much longer recover period!!! So that’s is why the 3 week follow up. Hang in there, ask questions and be your own best advocate. I hope you have a good support system. You will need help!! I injured myself on OCt. 14, so I am about a week or so ahead of you. Try to find whatever good you can, otherwise depression is a serious side affect due to the lack of mobility, socialization and other activities. The best advice I can give, is do whatever it takes to stay off your leg. Also, don’t take Ibuprofen or any NSAID for pain, it’s an antiinflamatory. With bone fractures, you need the inflammation. Take Tylenol. I’m taking Norco, which is a narcotic with Tylenol. My husband went out of town while I was awaiting the MRI, and the Doctor was very apathetic about instructions until we got the results. So, I was on my leg for a few days while he was gone, until I learned of my results. The Physician’s asst. delivered the news (she had even said the Dr. was really surprised when he saw my results – It’s a dime a dozen practice – Orthopedics). The PA said I might be able to use a Knee Trolley. I dont think so, nothing I see says a knee trolley can be used for anything but ankle and foot injuries. Anyway, good luck to you!!
My surgery was June 6…At first I couldn’t wait to get better, in fact EAGER , but now at 5 months out on Nov. 5th. I sometimes cry. Walk with a heavy limp.I have PT + I go to my own gym. Somewimes I think this hardware is too heavy to tug around. I’m glad to know on some of you guys stories, that it does get better. As I’m messaging this too you, my knee throb. OS. Dismissed me Oct. 5th. He said no more PT. Strengthen my leg so I won’t have a permanent limp. I went for a Routine check up and another Doc. Said I needed more gait training so she wrote the orders. Screaming! IM SICK OF THIS. IM AT THE GYM ON A WALKER. And at home on a cane. Use to be very actived until I fell on a uneven floor at a store. +++ I’m afraid to fall . I look handicappi. I need to know there is light in THE end of this!
I had my surgery 1 week ago today so just starting the healing process so any tips people can offer is great. At the moment I’m obviously very nervous about getting around as I can’t manage the crutches but can get around well with a walking frame. I don’t have severe pain but find the weight of the brace pulls and seems to pull on my leg and worry it is causing additional damage to the wound and wondered if others had this same sensation?
I am 57 years old, 56 when I had my bicycle accident & surgery. I felt the same as you’re describing when they took my cast off & put the brace on. I think it’s just part of the process. It didn’t do any damage to my leg, it was just uncomfortable. I broke the femur, tibia & smashed the tibial plateau down about 1/2 an inch. I’m well on my way to a full (I hope) recovery. I was non weight bearing for 3 months. This has been hard on the ole lady! Best of luck to you! Believe me, it DOES get better! Be very patient & do everything your doctor tells you. The sooner you can start physical therapy…the better.
I am 6 weeks out from surgery with plate and screws following a motorcycle accident. Patience, rest and elevation are the only tips I have if you are early in your recovery. I started home PT about a week and a half after surgery and just got the ok to ditch the knee immobilizer and begin 20lbs of weight bearing. My foot and ankle were the most painful and swollen up until this point. Ankle pumps are key. I was able to put a shoe on for the first time last week but I finally feel like I may be on the up side of recovery. I hope to be back to driving and work in a week or two.
Hi Barbara many thanks for your reply it helped a great deal I was given info on adjusting my brace as I find my knee swells up at night but goes down during the day. The worst thing is the stiffness first thing but once I start to move around this eases off.
You’re very welcome and I am glad that you are aware of how to adjust your brace. Yes, the stiffness is annoying but it does get better. Right now, almost 11 months after my tpf injury and first surgery, I barely have any stiffness. After sleeping and/or sitting for long periods of time, there is an audible clicking sound in the knee. It doesn’t hurt but it just clicks. After walking around for about 5 minutes, the clicking sound goes away. When I go back to the surgeon in 2 weeks, I am going to mention this to him. I also, unfortunately, am having an issue with the hindfoot of my other leg. I was having pain in July and went to the podiatrist. He took an x-ray and said that nothing was broken but he surmised that I stressed the tendons/ligaments in that area due to having had to put all of my weight on that leg during the healing process during my tpf injury. He gave me a cortisone shot and the pain disappeared until 3 weeks ago. I went back to him and he ordered an MRI of the hindfoot and that showed an actual tear in the tendon. I am now in a softcast and special shoe for 6 weeks. I was so discouraged about this as I thought all of this was over with. I went back to work on September 1 after being out for 9 months but at least with this new injury, I am allowed to walk on the leg. I just have to try to keep off of the foot whenever I can. I am hoping that when the 6 weeks is up, the tear has healed and I can go back to somewhat of a normal life. Keep us all posted on your progress!
Hi Katie many thanks for your comments the were much appreciated I find the pain in my ankle and foot worse than my knee. I just feel numbness down where the plate is which feels uncomfortable and very strange. I have my first outpatient appointment in 10 days so will ask lots of questions then. I am getting around on my walking frame which gets easier as the days go by and will have wheelchair next week so hubbie can take me out for some fresh air which I miss the most! thank you again x
Hi Sandra,
First, I am so sorry about what you are going through. December 4th will be 1 year since my tpf injury. I was hit by a car. I am now walking with barely a limp. I, too, could not manage the crutches very well so I used a walker. Much better for me! The brace that I wore was from my upper thigh to my ankle. It is known as a Bledsoe Brace. It definitely feels heavy but I did notice that when my swelling went down, the brace felt like it was falling down and I would pull it up. When I went to the doctor shortly after my surgery for my follow-up visit, he tightened the brace, so maybe what you are feeling is looseness from your swelling going down. I would speak with your surgeon about this just to make sure. I had no idea that I was allowed to tighten the brace. I only learned it when I went back to the doctor for my visit.
Keep us all posted on how you are doing and good luck!
Hi Barbara many thanks for your reply it helped a great deal I was given info on adjusting my brace as I find my knee swells up at night but goes down during the day. The worst thing is the stiffness first thing but once I start to move around this eases off.
Hi Sandra,
First, I am so sorry about what you are going through. December 4th will be 1 year since my tpf injury. I was hit by a car. I am now walking with barely a limp. I, too, could not manage the crutches very well so I used a walker. Much better for me! The brace that I wore was from my upper thigh to my ankle. It is known as a Bledsoe Brace. It definitely feels heavy but I did notice that when my swelling went down, the brace felt like it was falling down and I would pull it up. When I went to the doctor shortly after my surgery for my follow-up visit, he tightened the brace, so maybe what you are feeling is looseness from your swelling going down. I would speak with your surgeon about this just to make sure. I had no idea that I was allowed to tighten the brace. I only learned it when I went back to the doctor for my visit.
Keep us all posted on how you are doing and good luck!
Hello,
Thanks for all your info it really helps. On the 14 of September I slipped and fell while doing weight training in my garage gym. The 60kg weight fell on my tibia bone and I ended up with a comminuted fracture. I received 4 screws and plate. I’m in my fifth week. It’s only my ankle thats swollen. My motion in my knee and ankle has improved alot I’m doing regular stretching exercises. I am still on crutches and starting hopefully on the 8th of November with physio only if my X rays shows good healing. I’m currently wearing a brace. I am just finding it frustrating sleeping on my back whole time. I’ve read from the comments that physio will be painful when bearing weight again. I’m also taking supplements like whey protein and a bone health supplement that consists of calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and zinc. Is drinking one cup of coffee in the morning fine and going out with crutches to visit family and friends or should I rest more often and keep leg raised with a pillow?
Hi all and Sandra and Martin,
I am 71 and have always been physically active and prior to my injury had been working out at a gym to maintain upper and lower body strength. On Sept 28 I lost my balance on a step stool and landed, like a basketball player, on one leg and sustained a TPF. I had a doctor in the emergency dept. who acted like I was taking up her time therefore I was not given full info regarding my injury, nor emotional support which I needed at the time. A hinged immobilizing brace, which goes from my ankle to the top of my thigh was placed on my leg and I was sent home. I then made an appt to see a qualified orthopedic surgeon 2 days later in order to get my questions answered and make sure I did not have any other damage to the area. I left feeling validated and comforted by additional knowledge of my injury and was also able to see the results of my xray and Cat scan. I have been NWB and using a walker, since I did not feel secure using crutches, and I attached a plastic bag to the front of the walker to be able to carry food, phone or whatever I need to transport from one room to the next (handy). I am eating chicken,yogurt,cottage cheese as my main for calcium and protein but do throw in salad,etc and try to maintain healthy diet, also take a daily vitamin and will add a protein supplement such as Boost. I have started stretching exercises for my knee, with doc’s permission, since my knee is stiffening and have maybe only 55 at best flexion right now. Plan to go to Physio with doc’s permission on Nov 7th. to resume at least upper body strength (altho the walker certainly as helped in that area) and work on tone and strength and ROM on the effected leg. I try not to rest much except to get 7 to 8 hrs sleep at night for healing, try to get out at least once a week for errands and socialization (friend drives) and I do have 2 cups of coffee a day(one cup is allowed). I am fortunate that the fracture was not displaced and did not need surgery. PATIENCE is a biggy (I am not a patient person with myself), no weight bearing until doc says so and keeping myself healthy and following doc’s advice. I have had physio in the past on the same leg so I know what’s coming – there will be discomfort, not necessarily pain, and stiff feeling in the knee however they advise that if you reach the point of pain not to go further only up to that point. Muscle aching is normal as we all strengthen and tone our weakened muscles. Eventually and slowly you will gradually move past the point as you do your exercises. “No pain no gain” is not fitting for improving actual injuries – do not want to do more injury.So much for my past experience Good luck to us all and here’s to rapid and successful healing!
Hi again – BTW – taking a pain medication about 30 to 45 min before physio helps alot
I am 69 years old and had a fall. This was July 24th.I am done with the doctor and the physical therapist. I was in a wheel chair for 8 weeks. Now I am walking but with pain on my outside of my leg below the break when I walk. Also, a lot of pain in my ankle. My lower back had a lot of spasms in it when I walked The chiropractor did the electro charge treatments and manual adjustments. That is better now but still leg pain. Does anyone else have this. I think I am doing well except the pain.
Agree with the author that from the start its hard to get convenient with the crutches, but later in time you get used to it and its not so bad.
I purchased a secondand scooter for £150 it really helped me get about i woud recommend one you can take to peices to put in your car boot