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 love your writing so so much! percentage we keep in touch more approximately
your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this house to unravel my problem.
May be that’s you! Taking a look forward to peer you.
Dear Sir
I had the surgery 6 months back but still im not able to completely bend my leg. Pose guide me.
I broke my tibia plateau March 28, skiing. I am a 58 year old female. The bone was depressed 5-7mm.
I had surgery 2 weeks after the accident, where they reconstructed the plateau and used cadaver bone which resulted in a plate and 9 screws. I slipped during the first week post surgery and fell. Now it looks like my knee is pointed inward when I put weight on my leg. I am not sure if that is due to swelling or if I reinjured it when falling. Has anyone else experienced this?
Hi Becky, I did the same thing as you and had the same work done as well except I have 2 plates and 15 screws. My knee is bowed inward too. It is still swollen and my last surgery was on Feb. 5th. And now, to top it off, I think one of the screws is loose and it is stabbing me inside my leg near the incision on the left side of my knee!!! This has been a nightmare. Please write back if you want.
My accident occurred on 2/27/17 and surgery 3/6/17 (have a plate and 8 screws) started PT first of April. I was non weight bearing and used a walker until 5/10/17 and now use a quad cane and still attending PT. Have terrible sciatic issues and is getting better since walking. I still have pain at the base of the plate, my calf, and at times my knee locks up and have to stop. My husband feels as though I should not be using a cane but I have told him that I am not comfortable without it and that it takes longer than 12 weeks for recovery. I Crossfit before my accident and cannot wait to at least start working out again. I’m 66 years old. Can anyone tell me their experiences on total recovery time.
Vicki, each recovery is different and takes far beyond 12 weeks. I didn’t start walking really until 15-16 weeks, and sometimes use a crutch if I’m having a bad day. I was told it’s better to use it than to limp without it, as that just reinforces bad muscle behavior, poor alignment, etc. Do what you feel is right in the parameters set by your doctor. I am 2 months ahead of you (ORIF 1/5/17) in recovery, and have at least 4 more months of PT, and have been told it will take 18-24 months to fully recover. Hang in there and know you’re not alone! All the best with your recovery!
Thank you so much Starr
Hi Vicki – from what I’m experiencing and from what others have wrote 12 weeks is not too long for recovery. I am 62 and am told and expecting a minimum of 6 months to a year for what I will consider total recovery and maybe even more. Luckily unlike me it sounds like you are more active and fit than me but be patient and continue to use your cane especially if you are having pain and locking up. The last thing you want I’m sure is to reinjure yourself! Take care and God Bless
Diane Woit Thank you so much
Hi Vicki, I am 65. Fracture of the rt. Tibial Plateau on 2/3/17. A plate and 7 screws. I am still recovering. It takes me a little time to stand and get my balance but once I begin walking, you can’t really tell anything happened to me. At just past eight weeks post injury and once I was walking, I had problems with foot and heal pain and swelling. After a few trips to the Dr.s and some x-rays, it was determined that I had a stress fracture of my heel as well. I was told that sometimes, because while we are healing, the body sends a good portion of our calcium intake to the injury to heal it and there will occur a stress fracture in the foot. How lucky am I! I wore a confining boot for two weeks and then was able to walk without pain or swelling in a soft cushioned shoe. We are all different in our healing times. Just keep moving and try not to get discouraged.
Hello everyone…My name is Tina. I had my accident on the 13th of March like Barbara. My tibia plateau shattered and I was operated on the 24th of April. My surgeon did allow any weight on my fractured leg until 9 weeks after the surgery. at this time i am allowed 25%. I started my physiotherapy 10 days ago and after 5 sessions my knee bends only 50%. The physiotherapist said that it is stuck and doesn’t progress. I experience a tremendous pain while exercising. My PT sent me back to the surgeon to check if everything is healing properly. My knee I am told, should be bending at 90% at this point. I am waiting for my appointment impatiently. I am sooo distressed and getting depressed.
You are not Alone, that is why I appreciate this forum. It is hard and if you have not been in our situation can not appreciate what we go thru. I have felt like you, cried many times. I worked on bending my knee while in bed put foot on towel and pull towel towards you, I sat on side and would work bending and also sat in chair and bend. Move little more each day but when start hurting rest.
I am in my 2 week walking 14 weeks total and still hurt. I go to Kort for PT.
I agree with Vicki that you are not alone and helps to communicate with other people on this forum. I feel your frustration and sympathize with your depression too! I haven’t had problems with my ROM thank goodness but I have constant issues with my plate digging in under my knee every time I straighten my leg to sleep or stand or walk. And both my regular OS and a second opinion doctor have told me it will be a year before it’s safe to remove it. I’m at 4 months today since my injury/surgery and am walking with a walker/cane, been off work 4 months and probably at least 2 more. So, all I can say is keep your chin up, be patient, work hard at recovery/exercises, and use your friends here to vent/cry/ or just update where you’re at! Take care, Good Luck, and God Bless! 🙂
Hi, I was wondering if there is anyone who has had any of their hardware removed, when you had it removed and how long it took you to get back to work. I have 2 plates and 15 screws. My surgery was Feb. 5th and my doctor is saying he would like to remove some of it. I am just praying it helps with my mobility. I just started back to work 5 hours a day and even that is killing me because my job requires me to be on my feet the whole time. Thank you (in advance)for responding. I really would appreciate some feedback.
Hi Susan – My TPF surgery was Feb. 6 and I have one plate and 6 screws and am having pain around the top of the plate constantly. I asked my doctor this week when he would consider removal of the hardware and he said at one year and not before. So, I’m surprised at what you write but glad for you if it is possible in your situation. At this time I am not returning to my job before July 1 and my job is half sitting. He has prescribed some anti-inflammatory cream for me which I am just starting to use today so I hope it helps that pain and improves my mobility. Take care and let us know what you find out and how it goes. God Bless!
well the anti-inflammatory cream did not help at all and now I have 5 tubes of the stuff! All it did was tighten my skin to the point of being more painful and uncomfortable than without it. Have not had much luck with pills either but my main problem is more where/how the top of the plate is placed so close to the top of my tibia so that the upper bone bears down on it all the time. I’m seriously thinking of contacting a knee surgeon specialist that I know of for a second opinion appointment but it will probably take forever to get in. Am getting really tired of the doctor that I have not being able to help me with the pain! Oh well, the good news is that my therapist is working hard with me and my leg is getting much stronger despite the pain and I find that I can take a couple steps without even using my cane around the house. Guess with this long healing process you just gotta look for some “light at the end of the tunnel”. It’s really hard though and I fight with depression every day. Hope you all are doing better, take care and God Bless.
Hi Diane,
I am very sorry that the cream hasn’t helped you. The Diclofenac pills helped me tremendously and didn’t seem to affect or delay my growth and/or recovery. I am almost at the 18 month mark for my first surgery and 10 month mark for hardware removal surgery and my leg/knee is doing very well. I am sorry that your doctor won’t prescribe the pills but I guess he has a good reason not to. I would get a second opinion like you said.
Good luck and please stay in touch!
Hi Barb – it’s not that my doctor won’t prescribe the pills I just haven’t asked yet because he’s not aware of how the cream didn’t help. also, so far I have not had any luck with anti-inflammatory pills that I’ve tried. I did schedule an appt. this Friday with another doctor that I know is a knee specialist and I will see what he has to say about everything so far. I was really surprised to get in with him in less than 2 months or more so we’ll see and I’ll keep you updated. Thanks for your input and kind words. take care
Hi Diane! I am so glad that you were able to get an appointment so quickly!! Please keep us all posted on what this doctor says.
I had my surgery In December 2016 I also had my knee regraphed. I am back at work etc …but my the area cracks and pops a lot during the day and also it is very tender in the area , hurts a lot when someone touches it etc …I take Aleve but it didn’t help I tired Ibuprofen also and it doesn’t help …what should I do ?
Also I don’t know what level it is …I know I have a plate and 8 screws
Hi Angeleah!
I would speak with your surgeon about everything that you are feeling. This may be normal for what you have gone through. I didn’t have my knee regraphed so it’s difficult for me to say what’s normal for this type of issue. I had a TPF in December of 2015 along with torn meniscus and torn ACL. My knee would make cracking noises after I stood up from a sitting position but that has since gone away. Please talk to your doctor and let us all know what he says. Good luck!!
Hello Barbara…my name is Tina. I had my accident on the 13th of March like you. What a coincident. My tibia plateau shattered and I was operated on the 24th of April. My surgeon did allow any weight on my fractured leg until 9 weeks after the surgery. at this time i am allowed 25%. I started my physiotherapy 10 days ago and after 5 sessions my knee bends only 50%. The physiotherapist said that it is stuck and doesn’t progress. I experience a tremendous pain while exercising. My PT sent me back to the surgeon to check if everything is healing properly. My knee I am told, should be bending at 90% at this point. I am waiting for my appointment impatiently. I am sooo distressed and getting depressed. I hear from people who went through recovery like us but it just a lot of time and tedious work. All the best.
looking for info from those out there who had their hardware removed after TPF surgery. I am almost 4 months post surgery for TPF and have a plate and about 6 screws. My bone is healing great and ROM is also very good. My issue is that I am in constant pain every day and its mostly centered around the area where the top of the plate is right under my knee cap. I see my doctor next week but I’m curious to know how long after your surgery and what type of hardware you had was it able to be safely removed? Thanks for your input, take care and God Bless.
Hi Diane,
First, let me say how sorry I am that you had an injury. I was 59 years old at the time and not an athlete. I was hit by a car, walking to the subway, on December 4, 2015, had a TPF, torn meniscus, torn ACL and torn MCL. I had surgery to repair the TPF 5 days later. One plate and 7 screws. Was in the hospital for 3 days, released, and then was home, except to go out 3 days per week, to outside p/t. Had exercises to do at home 3x a day. Also went home with a CPM machine, which I used 2-3x per day, for one month. My ROM was excellent right from the start. In fact, I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital until my ROM was 90 degrees. I was allowed to put partial weight on my injured leg at approximately 7 weeks, with the use of a walker, and full weight at 12 weeks. I always felt the plate, exactly where you describe. I couldn’t kneel on that knee at all at the 6 month mark without having significant pain. My doctor removes the hardware from approximately 98-99% of his patients, for the same reason. At 6 months, my doctor and I discussed having my hardware removed and at 8 months, I had the surgery. It’s same-day surgery. I had a regional block with sedation, felt nothing, and walked out of the hospital without a cane or walker, once I was ready to leave. I had some pain the next day but Acetaminophen and ice took care of that. Went back to work 4 weeks later. (I was out of work for 9 months because my commute would have been difficult using a walker or crutches and I just wasn’t ready to go back, mentally or physically. My husband is retired so that was great because he was able to help me with everything.) I continued with outside p/t until November and was then released.
Hardware removal was the best decision I have ever made. No regrets at all!!!! It has been 9 months since the removal and my leg feels great.
Please keep everyone posted as to your decision and how you are doing. Good luck!!
Hi Barbara,
I am sorry also to hear about your injury and am very glad to hear that you have recovered nicely. Thank you so much for the info regarding the hardware removal and your time frames and what you were able to accomplish both before and after that. I will be seeing my doctor next week for my monthly follow up appt. and will definitely discuss removal with him. I’ll only be at 4 months post surgery on June 6 so I’m assuming he will say it’s too soon at this point but doesn’t hurt to find out right? I will keep posting as I go along so others can hopefully benefit from any experiences that I have and thanks again for your input! God Bless
Hi Diane, m 3 mo after TPF surgery and reaching 95 flexion ROM . Can you share which is your ROM now at4 Mo ? Did you have any difficulty reaching it?
Thanks,
ED
Hi Ed. I believe I’m at about 112 flexion ROM now. I know that I am close to what my other uninjured leg is. I really never had a problem with ROM. My in-home therapist started me at bending exercises about 2 weeks post surgery and it went well since then. I believe I saw the biggest improvement with ROM during the 3rd month so hopefully you will to. I do have some hamstring pain in the back of my knee and my IT band on the sides but I ice and massage when that happens and it’s getting less frequent. The pain from the hardware and having to switch from Hydrocodone to OTC acetaminophen starting today is probably my biggest “enemy” right now so I’ll have to deal with that and see how it goes. How are you doing at 3 months and do you have any hardware pain? Take care and Good Luck
Thank you Diane for your reply. It encourages me to continue working hard on my PT, I hope I can continue to improve my ROM in the following months. I still have pain i my leg but its not constant, sometimes while im sleeping and of course in PT and during the day on and off. I don’t know if it has to do w all the hardware inside my leg, I hope not because they will not be removed. Also cutting on Oxicodone gradually. Hope you continue to get better. This is about persistence, patience and optimism.Take care
update – went to see my Dr. a week early today because of the pain around the area of the plate. He said because of the extent of my TPF he would not consider removal of the hardware before 1 year post surgery. He may do a cortisone shot in another month but is waiting on that too because the bone needs to heal more first. Acetaminophen is not helping me at all and only upsets my stomach but that seems to be my only choice for now. Anyone else have any suggestions to help with the pain? Therapy is going good though, am pushing through it past the pain so that I don’t fall behind. Take care and God Bless
Hi Diane,
Icing the area helped me tremendously. Have you tried that? I only took Acetaminophen, along with enteric coated aspirin, 325 mg. for the first month or two (to prevent blood clots), so that combination helped with my pain but I iced my knee a lot when I was at the point you are at and even for many months after. It’s important for the bone to heal well; that is why most doctors don’t recommend taking anti-inflammatory meds. Those can inhibit bone growth. I still had a lot of swelling at the 4 month mark and my doctor did prescribe Diclofenac to help with that, which is an anti-inflammatory medicine, but he felt that I was fine to take it at that point.
I am surprised that Acetaminophen upsets your stomach as that is usually the pain reliever that doesn’t upset stomachs. Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medicines can upset one’s stomach. I have a very sensitive stomach myself and have to take acid-reducing medicine daily so maybe that helped me to tolerate the medicines that I took.
Try icing the area often. I hope that helps!!
Let us know how you are doing.
thank you Barbara for your feedback. I elevate and ice at least 3 times per day since I am still off work. It helps temporarily. I also keep it wrapped with an ace bandage any time I am up and moving around to help contain the swelling. Thanks again and take care
You are very welcome. Maybe ask your doctor about taking Diclofenac. It really helped me.
Hi Barbara
My doctor gave me the Diclofenac cream which I am starting to use today for swelling/pain etc. How long did you find it took before you noticed some results? The brochure says could be two weeks? Also, it says not to put heat on or wrap the area but is it ok to ice it after applying the cream? Any other tips you have on it would be appreciated. Thanks again for your input
Hi Diane! I had Diclofenac pills; not cream. 75 mg. twice a day. I never used a cream.
I am happy that your doctor gave you the cream, at least, and I am hoping that it works quickly for you. Please keep me posted!
Hi Diane, I am about the same time frame and looking for the same answer! I have 2 plates and 15 screws and I am also in pain everyday! I am hoping the removal of some of it will help in my mobility. Please let me know if you find anything out. Take care and god bless.
Hi. My husband had/has a tibial plateau fracture. I’m not 100% certain but I think it’s a level 2. He had surgery one week ago today, but the injury was two weeks before that so were three weeks post injury and one week post surgery. He’s been reclining most of the time and he gets lightheaded, sometimes, when he stands up. He passed out in the shower last night (sitting) which was horrible for me. I think he’s dehydrated but I’m not sure. Has anyone else experienced that? I’m also injured but had to postpone my surgery because of his so it’s hard for me to feel like I’m doing a good job taking care of him. However, he says I’m doing too much. Anyway, I don’t want to ouch him too he’s but the physical therapist wants him to stretch his calf and clench his quad, which he has a hard time doing (in three weeks, the quad atrophied a lot. Are there any other caregivers here? How are you coping? Also, it’s been helpful to read about others with his injury because it gives me an idea of what is “normal”.
sorry to hear about his/your injury. It’s hard being a caregiver. When I was first able to take a shower (at 10 weeks post surgery for TPF and at TWB) I was light-headed and unstable too. I found that the warm water on my leg made the swelling/tightness intensify so I have now started putting a shower chair behind me just in case I need it. Try that at least for security purposes for now to avoid any further damage. And drink lots and lots of water!!! Good Luck
Thank you. We have a shower chair because of my injury and he was actually sitting (thank goodness) when he fainted. I’ve had him drinking much more water today and I think that’s helped a lot! Thank you so much for your response. I’ve sent this page to him to look at and learn that he’s not alone and much of what he’s feeling is “normal”.
I fell 2/21/17 and was diagnosed with a TPF and was treated by wearing a brace with hinges and using crutches. It was very painful and uncomfortable in the beginning, has gotten much better but is still not healed totally. I can put more weight on it now but I am discouraged that it seems to take so long. Ortho Dr thinks it will not get strong enough for me to put all my weight on until I have knee replacement surgery (which I was told I needed before I fell). My family thinks I need another opinion.
I had a ski accident in CO. on Feb 12 . Had tibia plateu fracture and fibula fracture. Diagnosis is schatsker type 6… Im 59 y/o in very good physical shape, Gym 6x week before accident.
20 year ago had a car accident and fracture the same tibia …
I had surgery the same day of accident, they put external fixators. Two weeks later at home in Fla. I had my final surgery, the removed the EF plus all the old hardware I had from previous accident.
My bones are healing well, yesterday my Doctor said I could start putting full weight gradually.
I started PT at home 1 week after surgery and 2 weeks after I started going to a PT center. My concern is that at 11 weeks today i have achieved 90-95 ROM flexion and Im afraid Im behind average and not going to improve much more. don’t know how long does it really take to reach a normal or acceptable ROM. Is it too late at 11-12 week to improve. I don’t mind the time it takes if its 6 mo or 1 year , just want to b able to go back to my previous activities.
I forgot to comment that i used the CPM machine for 4 weeks and now I have the Dynasplint brace that I have been using for 10 days, so far I have seen some improvement in my flexion.
ut still around 100. I would like to hear from anyone who has or is going through similar experience. Can I still reach a better ROM after 3 mo?
THKS
Ed,
I stayed at 45 degrees for nearly two months, then stayed at 90 degrees for another couple of months. I felt grossly behind everyone else on the site in terms of rom progress. I was threatened with manipulation under anesthesia several times and my first PT quit working with me, assuming I’d not gain rom without the manipulation. Long story short, it improved with time and diligence. I’m SO, SO very glad I didn’t have MUA. I honestly don’t know if this is what held my progress back but upon closer scrutiny of my X-ray, a screw was coming through the bone and hanging out a little in my leg. That in and of itself, could have kept me from achieving rom quicker. Might want to take a close look at yours. My tpf was Jan, 2016 and I had all hardware removed Jan of this year. Rom will absolutely improve with time and hard work. I too, am an athlete and work out 7 days a week so I was a little surprised to be so far behind every one else in terms of progress. Youll get there!
Hang in there and do not be discouraged. Today I am 20 weeks post op and had the best follow-up so far in my recovery. I have continually lagged behind in flexion, started to lose my extension (which is more critical then flexion, btw), and my muscles were shot after 4 months NWB. I was threatened with MUA by my surgeon, but with lots of work I reached 110 2 weeks ago, which took that off the table. Today I was at 118 on my own, and 0 extension (while my uninjured leg is 135 and -5), and I am doing 37 lb leg presses with my bad leg in just 4 weeks of weight bearing. My PT doctor said it is possible for the numbers to keep improving as long as I keep working hard. For the first time I feel like the numbers don’t define me and there is light at the end of the stlll-long tunnel. Keep the faith and keep up the hard work!
that is good news Starr! keep up the good work and good luck!
Thanks, Diane! All the best to you!
Hi Ed…Your condition is great. I hear it takes even up to 2 years to full recovery. I shattered my tibia plateau while skiing on March 13. My surgeon told me not to move my leg at all. 3 months recovery. After 6 weeks he advised to put 25% of weight and start physiotherapy. My physiotherapist is concerned because I got stuck on 55 ROM and it doesn’t go further. He wants to exclude a possibility of any problem with healing bones. My surgeon said 4 weeks ago that everything was healing great. Why I got stuck? is it possible that my scars are so strong or I have to go through some road block?
I was hit by a truck March 3rd. My injuries were 70 stitches in my head, 2 breaks in my right clavicle and a tpf in my right leg. I had surgery March 16, 3 plates and several screws. I spent 7 days in the hospital and 4 weeks in a rehab center, came home April 7th and am working hard at home on rehabbing. I get around with a wheelchair and walker, mostly at home, I do not get out much. I have very good rom, 90+, and hope to become weight bearing on June 6th. I am a 59 year old school teacher and basketball coach. It does not look like I will get back to school this year and next year I plan on just teaching. My school has been so so about my injury, the Junior High, where I teach is very understanding. The High School, where I coached, not good to say the least. Administration there has contacted me 1 time since the injury, to tell me I would not coach next year. Overall I have come a long way, I can now use my right arm fairly well and look forward to June 6th and putting weight on my leg. I do wonder how it will feel after 3 months of nwb. I am having almost daily headaches from the head injury, I hope they go away soon. My knee and foot swell as the day goes along and I have nerve damage in the foot, but I do feel like it is progressing. My family has been fantastic in helping, my wife has been great, as has my sister, who has cancer. I like this site so I realize that others are going through this same life changing experience.
On March 4, 2017 I suffered a left leg tibia plateau fracture level 4 and a fracture of my right wrist. Both required surgery. Unfortunately I am right handed, which added a twist to recovery and eliminated using crutches from the start. The wrist is still in a brace and I am at 50% weight bearing while standing, using a walker with arm rest attachment.
Has anyone out there had similar breaks? I am 10 weeks post break/surgery as of today. What were your first steps without using any assistance of any kind like? When did you take them? Did your surgeon have you take them in their office or at a PT session? Where you “afraid” of twisting the knee/leg and re-breaking anything? I have an appointment on May 19th with my surgeon and I am very curious as to any next “steps” I will go through as I recover. My wrist is still immobilized with a brace and no PT has been approved yet.
I do not have any pain “inside” my leg where they inserted the L shaped metal bracket and screws, but have significant stiffness and pain in my knee where they inserted the human cadaver tissue or whatever they used. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the knee back to 100% besides the regular PT suggestions? I do the heat/ice and exercises daily along with regular PT. I even use a backless stool with wheels to scoot around the house and keep my knees and legs moving vs. using the walker, which can cause elbow/shoulder and back pain after a while.
Hi I also fractured in pieces my Tib/Fib on March 13th 2017 was in hospital and rehab – two operations and in hospital one week and 28 days in rehab. I now am thankfully home – no pain in my leg just swelling when i get up. I now have light weight bearing from my dr. and I am walking quite a bit and doing exercises from my in home PT. Today I am starting out PT. The very first day I was so scared as I thought my knee was going to snap apart and I walk very strange. But low and behold two days later the fear left and know I am walking quite well. If i stand for too long I swell and I then go and elevate with ice for half an hr. I also bought a recumbent bike which I am using as that is non weight bearing. I got rid of my wheel chair having it for a month. Now I use my walker which I like but I have to wear a leg brace for another 6 weeks. I am looking forward to be able to swim and do more walking but it is a very tedious time and has taught me a lot about patience. My husband was an excellent 24/7 nurse but now I am doing a lot myself. Read many books, TV shows which I never and playing cards with my husband – also lost a lot of weight. I am still on pain meds when I need them. Hope this helps someone
Hi Beth
so sorry to hear about your injuries. I am at 14 weeks post surgery for left leg TPF. I was PWB starting at about 8 weeks and FWB as tolerated at 10 weeks. I am still using a walker most of the time for stability but I do use a cane around the house and for short distances. I am able to walk a couple steps unassisted in the house but I have found that my leg is still not strong enough to do it properly and like you I sure don’t want to make it worse. So, be careful how much you try too soon. I know it is extremely hard to be patient as I also have experienced! I overdid the cane walking a couple times in the past week and suffered terribly the next day. I am going to Therapy twice a week and doing exercises and icing 3 times a day. Sounds like you already have some ingenious ideas to keep moving so keep up the good work. All I can suggest to you otherwise from my own experience is to be patient and don’t push it too hard. Take care and God Bless and Good Luck
It’s been 13 weeks since my (second) surgery. I had to have the first surgery the day after my accident. The doctor installed an X-Fixator which I had to wear for 6 days. Then on Feb. 5th, I had my second surgery to repair the bone in the meniscus that my Tibia “rammed” into. So, they packed in some bone from a cadaver and put in a couple of plates and 15 screws. All total, I was in the hospital for 10 days. My injury maxed out on the chart. They range this injury from 1-6 and mine was a 6 PLUS! This has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me. And I am in great shape for a 50 year old. But my spirits have been sinking into deep ,muddy waters lately. The first 9 weeks of N.W.B were bareable, I think because I could see an end in site. I was able to give up the walker and use crutches at that point. I think I only used them for 2 weeks at most when the doctor told me I did’nt need them anymore. But now I limp and find it hard to keep my leg and knee completely straight. And I tire easily after only a couple hours of walking on it. I begin to limp. I was only given 12 P.T sessions from medicaid, so now I am on my own. I have the discipline to do them on my own, but I am not seeing fast enough results and it is depressing me like I have never been depressed before! I feel like I will never be the same again. I am going back to work on Tuesday. My credit cards are maxed out. And now the doctor told me I will need to have some of the “hardwear” removed by the 6th or 7th month. O.M.Gosh! Has anyone out there with a similar experience as mine gone through that yet? And how long till you recoup from that!?
I am going through similar – you are further advanced. I am very aware walking and not dragging my injured leg working on my “Gait” as they say that and staightening you leg is the most important. I am just starting PT not in my home but I did buy a recumbent bike – not very expensive and thats helping me with my stiffness and soreness around my knee. Dr. says for me 6 months I will see a great improvement and hopefully one year to be better. Good luck with your injury
Thanx 4 the response. This is a very helpful site. I bought a bike and have decided to ride to the bus stop after work. 3 months of no work. I am going crazy and feeling like I will never walk right again. But you are right about the “gait” thing and keeping your leg as straight as possible. For me , that has been the hardest so far. And now, I have the fear of….what happens after I get some of the hardware removed? Will I be better off? How long till I can work AGAIN!? O.M.Gosh.
Accident happened 02/23/2017 and I had surgery on 03/01/2017 for a FTP and Fractured Ankle.. it was the worst pain ive ever felt. I am now 11 weeks post op. Pain level is very minimum to none. I don’t take pain killers. April 18, 2017 I was told I can WBAT and I was prescribed a CAMBOOT Walker. I had already been going to therapy and did gain strength on my foot and ankle. It has helped a ton with being able to walk and be independent. I started driving after I was told and felt comfortable weight bearing. I’m very happy with my results thus far. I can’t wait to get back to excercising my full body again.
Today 05/12/17 I’m experiencing a lot of discomfort and some pain on my tibia. I’m not sure why…it hurts to bend my knee or to walk. I’ll keep you guys updated.