Welcome to my series of posts of my tibial plateau fracture recovery blog. Get a peek inside my accident and recovery. What to expect and some essential items.
Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery Blog:
Looking at the above photo always makes me cringe when I think back to that fateful day…May 20th 2017…
Yes, folks, somehow I managed to acquire a tibial plateau fracture (TPF.) This particular fracture makes up only 1% of all fractures. Just let that sink in for a bit. ONE PERCENT of all fractures sustained WORLDWIDE!!!! Why can’t my chances of winning the lottery be this lucky? Hey, but I am now the proud owner of all that shiny hardware!
The tibia is the large shin bone in the leg. I broke the proximal end or the upper surface which is situated below the knee joint. It is a critical weight bearing bone, as it carries all of our upper body weight. Tibial plateau fractures usually result from axial loading in combination with varus/valgus stress forces. The lateral side of the knee joint is most commonly injured during road traffic accidents, which results in torn ligaments, sprains, and fractures of one or both condyles. Tibial plateau fractures are intra-articular fractures caused by high-velocity trauma. (Source)
I actually have what is described as a bicondylar break, meaning I broke off both sides of the tibial plateau. To date, I’m still not sure of how many pieces my bone shattered into. I once asked my surgeon at a post operative visit how many screws I had.
His response? “As many as it took to put it back together.” Alllrighty then. I never asked again, but I did count some 9 ish screws and 2 plates.
Not every break requires surgery and it really is the physician’s call once x-rays, MRI’s, and CT scans have been evaluated. Because the tibia is such a critical weight bearing bone, all TPF’s require a period of non weight bearing in order to heal. And by “period” I mean 2 to 3 months! (8-12 weeks!) On paper it sounds like no big deal right? Wrong. It literally felt as if time stood still.
If you somehow landed here and are reading this, it’s probably because you have or know someone who has this awful fracture and are looking for answers. I was once that person desperately seeking information and any glimmer of hope about my injury, surgery, and recovery. Most everything I read on my travels through the interwebs, aside from the medical sights detailing and describing the technicalities of the injury, was so dark and depressing.
After reading personal horror stories on forums, I literally had myself convinced I would not ever walk again. I’m here to tell you that it does get better, and you WILL walk again. However, before that happens you should know that recovery from this injury can take anywhere from 1-3 years.
I’m now 18 weeks post op and I’m walking without any assistive devices. Albeit slow and with a slight limp. In the grand scheme of things, you will get back to most, if not all of your daily activities.
Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery Blog Essential Items:
Read about what essential items and products that helped me during my recovery here.
In my internet travels, I’ve even seen people get back to their extreme sports such as triathlons, mountain climbing, skiing, and mountain biking. I was never an extreme athlete so I’m just happy to be back to walking for exercise and weight strengthening.
Although, I’m not doing anything too strenuous with weights right at the moment. I’m still trying to build my leg muscles back, and that doesn’t come as easy and as quickly because they atrophied. Ironically, I had just discovered my love for walking only a few months before my injury.
At this point you are probably wondering what sort of accident I sustained to be able to call myself one of the lucky 1%. I was thrown off a runaway horse. It was the most horrifying experience of my life to date.
My boyfriend, his brother and his girlfriend, their mother, and myself were all partaking in what was supposed to be a leisurely trail ride.
Instead, it turned into a nightmare. We were in a park which was part of our equestrian trail ride. It was a wide open pasture and there were several activities going on in the area that day. Our whole group of horses were spooked by something, and began with mine setting off a chain reaction by taking off like a bat out of hell, with the others following suit, unbeknownst to me.
My horse bucked a few times and I somehow managed to hang on before it bolted off. The horse was barreling towards a white fenced in area that appeared to be a place where equestrian events were held. All I could think was… this horse is going to jump that fence and I’m going to tumble forward hit my head and either be paralyzed or die.
I struggled to hold on to the reins as I desperately pulled back on them trying to stop the horse. I had no control of the situation. That horse did not give a care as to who or what was on it. It wanted me off and to be far away from whatever spooked it.
Literally at the last second, it averted the fence and went around the side to where there were bleachers situated. Right before we approached the bleachers, the horse had slowed down a little, just enough to buck me off. I somehow turned mid air as I was falling ending up facing the opposite direction I was going.
I landed straight on my back. My head hit the gravel and I remember seeing a flash of light. I opened my eyes and immediately drew in a breath of air and started taking a body inventory.
The first thing I acknowledged is that I was alive and I was able to sit up. I wasn’t paralyzed. I spit out the sand and grit in my mouth, also noting that I had landed in an ant pile. If they were biting me, I never felt it because I was focused on the excruciating pain in my left leg.
My knee was bent at a 45 degree angle and I couldn’t straighten it out. My left shoulder was also hurt. I knew immediately that both were broken.
By the time I had gotten my wits about me, I started to wonder where the rest of my group was. For a few seconds it seemed eerily quiet. People in the park were starting to make their way over to me to tend to my injuries.
At one point, two people approached on a horse to see what happened and I freaked out. I asked the lady standing next to me to ask them to leave because I feared the horses would trample me. They kindly obliged.
Just on the other side of the bleachers behind some trees I could hear my boyfriend’s brother yelling at someone to call for ambulances, that 3 more people were down. Oh my god, what happened to everyone?
I called out to my boyfriend’s brother, “Dave! I’m over here. What happened, where is Terry?” Dave came over to me and told me to stay put on the ground. “Where’s Terry?” I asked again.
He finally replied, “He got knocked out, but he’s awake now. My mom has a broken leg. Just stay here, everybody just stay where they are at!” he yelled. I could tell he meant business. I began to cry.
I wanted to get up to go check on my boyfriend, but I couldn’t move. I knew my leg was broke. The ambulances finally arrived and took 4 of us to the hospital.
Four out of the five people in our group were all thrown off the horses. Dave was able to stop his horse and dismount. His horse was a giant by the way, and he said it almost ran over his mother who was laying incapacitated on the ground.
At the emergency room, we were all x-rayed and tended to as a stat trauma. My boyfriend’s mother had suffered a broken femur. I suffered a left shoulder avulsion fracture which was treated with a sling, and diagnosed with a left tibial plateau fracture.
They told me I wouldn’t be walking for 3 months. My boyfriend suffered a slight concussion and was released within an hour after evaluation. Dave’s girlfriend was also released with a shoulder sprain as well as some other aches and pains.
My boyfriend’s mom and I were admitted to the hospital and both had surgery the next day. She had a rod placed down her right leg and I had an external fixator placed on my leg to stabilize the fracture so the swelling could go down before I had Open Reduction Internal Fixation surgery.
They told me it could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks in the external fixator.
I was so glad they wrapped my leg in a bandage. I couldn’t bear looking at those pins sticking out of my leg. And the pain. Oh the pain! I spent the next 4 days in the hospital under close watch and pain management.
I was given the option to have my second surgery to fix the fracture there, but I was also 3 hours from home. We were staying at my boyfriend’s brother’s house that weekend because their mother makes a visit from out of state every year for Mother’s Day. But her tripped got pushed back a week after Mother’s Day due to a work conflict with Terry’s brother.
I felt so bad for her. I was released after 4 days and was able to make the trip back home to have my surgery. She was in the hospital for close to 2 weeks working with physical therapy before she was discharged.
At least she was able to walk and begin rehabbing, I on the other hand, wasn’t so fortunate. Not that either of us were.
So there you have it. Part one of my tibial plateau fracture recovery. You can read all by blog posts here regarding my tibial plateau fracture surgery and recovery.
Oh how traumatic Sherri! I love that you wrote about this, I can’t wait for your second update.
Jessica, Anyone who has suffered this injury has had such a traumatic experience. I feel so awful for anyone who has had to go through this recovery.
On Dec 21 the ladder I was working off tipped over. I had a plank between two A- frame ladders. As I was falling appox 8+ feet my left leg slid along the plank into the rungs. As I hit the ground I felt immediate pain to my ankle and watched as my tibia displaced. I had no choice but to crawl 100′ to my back door. That wasn’t fun at all. EMS transported me with lots of pain meds. I was eventually sent to the trauma center. It ended up being a TPF with a displaced fracture of my left malleous (ankle). They reduced my leg in the ER. That hurt beyond believe. They had dimmed the lights, loaded me up on pain meds and went to reducing. The next morning I had an external fixator installed. Sent home three days later. Two weeks later I had 12 screws in my leg, 2 plates and a cadaver bone section inserted, oh and two screws in my ankle. Lots of dark hours turned into days. I was 6’2″ 245 lbs. Lost 25 pounds. Constant pain. No appetite. Narcotic induced constipation. And then 4 weeks post op I was hit with pneumonia. 5 days in the hospital. But I seemed to turn the corner. I am now 5 months post op. At 95% ROM. Driving. Walking with a cane. PT x 3 times a week. Every session is tough and painful, but productive. Sleeping is hard and I wake up stiff every morning. I was a firefighter for 28 years and never had a splinter. I retired and get a 1% injury. Oh well it could be, should have been worse. I know I get better everyday but still have a long way to go.
James, I’m so sorry for your injury. How traumatic that must have been. I also had a reduction of my fracture in the ER and it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt. I’m happy to hear that you’re progressing well. This injury definitely takes years to recover from. Very close to my 3 year accident/surgery date, and I’m very well. I always say I’ll never be what I was before the surgery, but I’ve come a long long way and still continue to see improvements. Like you, I always say it could have been worse. I count my blessings… be well and take care sir and thank you for your firefighter service!
Hi Sherri, I have been reading your post. They are encouraging to read on the progress you have made. On October 13, 2017 I was involved in an automobile accident ( not my fault ) . I
Had my left leg ( tib/ fib) broken and left ankle shattered and then the infamous tibial plateau fracture to my right leg. Complicated with compartment syndrome I too had and external fixator for several days to try reduce the swelling. I am now finished with the 3 month wait for nwb . I return to see my surgeon 1/26/18 and I pray he will allow some weight to be put on my legs . I have a walking boot for my left leg to protect my ankle. I was told I will be using this device for a long while. But I am left to wonder how he will incorporate walking for my injuries since it is both legs that were injured. But reading your post has given me a renewed sense of hope. Thank you.
Hi Julie. I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. How awful. I can’t imaging trying to heal from dual breaks in the lower extremities. You’ve really got your work cut out for you, but you can do it. It may take longer, but please don’t lose sight of your goal. You can do this. My best advice is when you are cleared for weight bearing that you find a pool to walk in if you’re able. It helped me so much from week 8 on to week 15 when I was released to FWB. Not sure if you can get out of your boot for some water therapy but I would ask your surgeon. Are you in any physical therapy at the moment? If not, you can always look on YouTube for some great PT videos for your specific injuries. Make sure you get your doctor’s ok as well. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Please let me know how you are doing from time to time.
Just searching for more info and this as I’m still in recovery. Just wanted to share my experience with a similar injury. Tibial plateau fracture. 2 plates, 14 screws. Fell off a ladder and my leg was locked out so I landed full force on a straightened leg. Also split the tibia lengthwise for a few inches.
it’s been a little over a year. 4 months after my first surgery, I still couldn’t bear weight without extreme pain, so I had a second surgery to remove bone shards and scar tissue. after the second surgery, my recovery was fast, and I quickly went to crutches, then a cane, then to walking.
It’s been a few weeks past 1 year and I generally walk fine. I call it my pimp walk! I’ve got a slight limp and I still have considerable pain and stiffness if I don’t move my knee for a while. I still wouldn’t dare running, a slight hop, or anything that puts more weight on my knee than walking. It gets better and easier every day though. My ROM is about 80% of what it was.
Hope your recovery does well.
Chad, wow, it sounds like you did a number on that leg. Happy to hear you recovered well after having the second surgery. I fear nothing is ever going to take away the stiffness and I’ll smell of Arnica and Biofreeze the rest of my days!
I suffered a right tibial plateau fracture on Jan 31, 2018. Surgery with plates and screws. It has definitely been an emotional roller coaster. I am still non weight bearing of course. I am very active normally and thus has brought me to a complete stop. I have had tears of pain and frustration along with worry about never walking again. Thanks for your post. It gives me encouragement.
Laurie, I’m so sorry for your injury. Things do and will get better. This is just a really long recovery, and some things will never go back to the same, but I count my blessings that I’ve come as far as I have. Just try to be patient and work hard at your physical therapy. Wish you all the best.
I have the same injury from June 2012, hardware removed April 2013 as I was reacting to it and having increased pain. What a severe life-changing injury! I worked hard to walk and not have a limp. My therapy goal was to walk the Mackinac Bridge (connects lower Michigan to the upper peninsula) on Labor Day 2013 and I did it!! Had ice packs on the whole 5 hour ride home. I’ve returned to normal life, thought only minor running can occur, like from a bee (as you note in your most recent post). I have a new job with much more walking from where I park to work and it’s really been giving me discomfort, 6 years post injury. So, I was doing a little research to figure out what to do and found this blog. I wish I would have blogged about my injury process. I didn’t realize its significance until I looked back on it. 1% of all breaks… I didn’t know that! Good luck in your recovery. Play the long game.
Hi. I’m 2 weeks after a ski injury. Tibial plateau fracture non-displaced. Interestingly ,except for when i tried ro stand, pain has not been an issue. No surgery. I’m in a brace with elastic sock to prevent blood clotting. Also anti-coaggulant injections. No weight bearing.
I have a doctor’s appt. In 1 1/2 weeks. I counted on 6 weeks before physio. Your blog is a but depressing time-wise.
I didn’t mention that i’m 78, in good shape, with some osteoporosis. I wonder if that will hinder the healing. Thoughts? Thx.
Sherri.
I live in Alberta, Canada. I had to stop my Harley quickly. I was on steel road plates, with no anti lock brakes. The 800+ lb Harley landed on my right, TIB, FIB and knee. I too, ended up with a tibia plateau fracture, minimum 7 broken pieces and crushed bone in the top knuckle of the plateau. The accident was 14 of August just past. I also have an external fixator and was told it will be minimum 4 months before I can weight bear. The opiods (IV) in hospital worked great. The 1 mg pills at home, not so much. Sleep is elusive. But with people like you who have no fear writing about their experiences on the web, give all of us the hope we need on those dark days.
I thank you for that.
And for all others that are suffering, the 1% injury, maybe we SHOULD have stopped and bought a lottery ticket.
My best to you all. It’s a slow and often frustrating process, but it will end.
I had a horse-related bicondular tibial plateau fracture on July 14. My horse has a neuro-muscular problem and she kicked me in the knee when her leg had a muscle spasm. Presently I am being non-surgically managed and has been non-weightbearing since my injury. I’m pretty much home bound and am going a little crazy! I’m hoping at my next doctor appointment I’ll be allowed to put me weight on my foot! Your story has scared but also inspired me! I want to be able to ride ASAP and get on with my life!
Linda, I wish you all the best. I believe you will ride again and you WILL get on with your life. It just takes time, but your will get there. Be well and blessed.
Thank you so much for posting this! It has been very hard finding other people who know what I have gone through this past year! I have suffered my own TPF in August 2017 and am still recovering. It has been such a hard road and I am so happy to hear from others who have been through it.
I had a similar injury in 2010, also from a riding accident. I was out riding alone, in a quasi-rural residential area where the horse lived when she began to act, snorting and rearing and backing up. Sort of how I’d expect a horse to act if there was a snake, but there was no snake. I don’t remember falling off, unlike the many times during my teen years when I came home and regaled my poor mother with play-by-play descriptions of how I went over the jump without the horse, or how many times it bucked before unseating me. I think I just fainted and slid off. Afterwards, apparently, the twit stepped on my left shin, leaving a very impressive hoofprint and spilling both the tibia and fibula lengthwise up into the plateau. When I regained consciousness a few seconds later, I could hear her hoofbeats fading off into the distance. Then I performed a self-inventory, and was surprised to note that no part of me that was touching the ground (including my head) felt painful or bruised, but the pain in my left leg – which was on top since I was sort of lying on my right side) was so deep that it had to be broken. And so I suffered my first broken bone at 55. I was put into a strap-on full leg splint for ten days to allow the swelling to subside prior to surgery, then had the surgery, in which a plate and four screws were inserted. The splint went back on afterwards. My doctor said no weight-bearing for 10 weeks, and I complied without cheating even once. Then I started PT. I was diligent in following the PT instructions to the letter. I was still in a wheelchair when I returned to work after 12 weeks, but eventually graduated to a walker, then a single crutch, and finally a cane. I kept up the PT until my insurance cut me off 18 months later. I, too, wanted to get back on a horse asap, but it was 11 months before I was able to mount up (using a very large mounting block like what would be found at a hippotherapy place). Initially, once I was on the horse, I found I was unable to adjust my position at all, at least not without a great deal of pain. I couldn’t turn my toe in to access the stirrup, and couldn’t bend over to use my hand to do it, either. And the torque from the stirrups on my western saddle was excruciating, so I had to get a pair of stirrup-turners. For the first year or so, my left leg was like wood – once in the saddle, I couldn’t move it, or kick or even press against the horse’s side. But as time went on, the leg started to work again, I ditched the stirrup-turners (they rubbed against my ankles) and eventually pulled out my English saddle. I found that I need to start out with a very long stirrup until my knee warms up a bit, then I can shorten my stirrups a notch or two, but they’re still pretty long. Posting was difficult and painful at first, but I figure it’s good exercise, so I try to spend a fair part of my rides trotting. Some days I can post a lot and have no pain, on other days (particularly humid ones) I have to alternate posting and sitting at the trot and change my stirrup length several times. I use Wintec webbers instead of standard stirrup leathers because the webbers make it a breeze to change the length, and my stirrups are hung with an offset eye that functions as a stirrup-turner. I went back to my surgeon about a year ago after an hour-long trail ride (in someone else’s western saddle) just killed my knee, and he was quite amazed at how well I was walking, since other than that one episode, I have no pain and no limp. He said that normally someone my age, that far out from that type of injury, would have significant arthritis and pain, and that some would still be using a cane. I just want to encourage everyone to follow instructions and keep up with the PT as long as you can – it’s worth it!
I have been heartened to read that I’m not the only one with this horrible tibia plateau injury. I fell off a kitchen stool while taking down curtains with full force on leg/knee. 10 days in those horrible rods/traction waiting for swelling to subside before an operation to put in metal plates and screws. Leg held rigid in a brace for 3 weeks then encouraged to try to bend knee (impossible). After 6 weeks in hospital came home and now at 13 weeks since 2nd op Im able to full weight bear although pretty painful and am rid of that awful brace. Unfortunately my knee bend is still only 70%. Have given up the wheelchair and mainly use crutches or sometimes the walker. Developed painful calluses on palms. I’m finding the swelling in my foot extremely painful too and I can’t get shoes on. Will this eventually subside? I find people don’t really understand why it is taking so long to recover – “it’s just a broken leg”…….if only.
Hi Sherrie!
It’s 3am and I just finished reading your entire blog on your TPF. I’ m the one who FB messaged you about my TPF last week. The day before my 56 birthday, a cab driver hit me while I was walking across the street. Now it’s time to relive the entire trauma and recovery in front of a mass of lawyers and insurance guys – 3 years later. “I” have to prove it was not my fault that the cab hit me! Like you, I just laid in the middle of the street in shock and disbelief that I was hit by a car and was anyone going to tend to me or was another car going to run me over and finish the job? I thought I was paralized or dying! I told my son in Heaven, I’d be with him soon. I couldn’t move my leg! I tnought I would never walk let alone run again. At 55 I could still run 20 miles a week. Then the ambulance picked me up and took me to a “Trauma Hospital” in the city! There was an armed guard next to my ER and a lockdown while I waited 8 hours to be admited to my own room with only a brace on my leg and a splint on my arm and pain pills. My x-rays showed I suffered a broken arm and a Tibia Plateau Fracture on my left leg. I am so glad my surgeon did both surgeries at he same time (12 hours under) because I didn’t want to go through that shit twice! I spent my 56th birthday on the operating table and 7 days in the hospital, 12 weeks in bed, 84 days in a wheelchair-then walker and cane. Couldn’t use cruches because I had a broken arm. Everything was humiliating, my boyfriend had to do everything for me including cleaning out my bedside toilet!
When My lawyer sent me your blog, I thought he was sending my photos to me. They are exactly the same. We have matching hardware and leg braces! I don’t want to make this a long post but thank you for writing such an amusing blog about your story and I hope you will be fully recovered soon.
Fractured my tibia plateau on 11/30/2003. 4 months in a wheelchair, three weeks after that on crutches, months and months of PT. Almost good as new. No arthritis like is very common for this injury. There is hope! Although, it is for sure that I will never win a hot leg contest.
I also have a tibial plateau fracture. It happened May 24, 2019, the Friday beginning Memorial Day weekend.
I was trimming shrubs in my back yard. Coming down the ladder, I missed a rung and landed straight legged on my left leg. I heard a crunch, immediately knew it was broken, and fell in a pile on several pieces of yard equipment.
I was able to call for my neighbor and he came immediately to help me.
I spent the entire holiday weekend in the hospital.
It turns out the fracture did not require surgery, which I hope is a good thing.
I live by myself, so the hospital kept me until I could manage (HA HA) on my own.
A friend of mine stayed with me for about 4 days after I got home. It was enough time for me to learn how to navigate my house in a wheelchair (lots of furniture was moved around).
My friend and neighbor next door built a wheelchair ramp for me out my back door.
I am still unable to get out of the house on my own. I am dependent upon friends to wheel me to their car for doctor appointments.
I am so very grateful to friends and neighbors who have helped me.
Friday, June 21, is my 4 week visit to my Ortho Surgeon.
I am hoping to be somewhat weight bearing after that.
I don’t do well with crutches or a walker because I don’t have lots of arm or upper body strength. Also, I jammed my thumb and have some arthritis in my hands. Not sure what he will suggest.
My home PT person said I am doing very well.
This is the first injury I have ever had where I am not walkable. It is a major eye opener and life changing event.
I appreciated reading this blog. It has given me some encouragement. Thank you.
11/6/19 washed out on my motor bike giving way on a one lane bridge and went over the hangers and into the guard rail of the bridge.
Spent 3 weeks in hospital waiting for the op 26/6/19 and turfed out 2 days after surgery, I said to the nurse i do not feel well could I stay one more night? Reply-darling we are not a motel!, I then left to return home to look after myself, my leg was 3 times normal size and bleeding lots, I stayed in bed for a week trying to get some better healing happening, my sister dropped in daily to bring a meal and change my urine bottles. Living upstairs I bought 2 wheelchairs, I leave the good one at the bottom and the crappy one upstairs and slide up and down on my behind, last week I got adventurous and foot hopped down for a change. However I was forced to return to work last week as my manager had holidays and in the shop it’s myself and him, with my belief that his happiness and family life is more important than what we do, so I refused his offer to cancel his plans and sucked it up. The first day was a real struggle, I felt I should have been energised after getting into bed the previous Friday and getting out Monday morning but after the toilet/shave/shower/dressings/clothes and socks and boots(footwear was a real challenge at first) then to the wheelchair and down the stairs I was really struggling for breath, I also broke 2 ribs and fractured 2 vertebrae in my neck, I sat in my wheelchair downstairs and it was wet from rain. I then told myself, not yet Ed, it’s too early to cry, but it felt very close. It was a 4 day week in Cairns with the show last Friday and by Thursday my wound had split open and was weeping from being in the sitting or standing position during the day, as soon as the shop was closed I went to bed until the morning to try to counter act the return to swelling and bleeding.
20/6/19 Saturday and the wound is hot and red but healing again. A short trip to the toilet results in it starting a small bled and I am fearful to leave my bed. I have another week of work before he returns but I will try to do less in the following week but I believe that rest and elevation is the only way.
I am afraid to compromise my future mobility and hope I’m just being paranoid because of new pains and the physical reshaping of the knee over the last week. I lost 75% use of my right upper arm playing football as a 23yo(nerve damage to neck) they offered surgery to remove muscle from leg and fuse shoulder giving some use, ironically I had more use than they were offering to give, my father-GP Dr said, whatever they offer what will they take away? Don’t mess with your mobility!, now 42yo and losing mobility in my right leg is like having a stroke down one side of your body, I am able to use my hand/fingers and swing my elbow, no biceps or triceps, time can not move quick enough as I am more interested in putting feelings of doubt out of my head than the actual recovery process, the suspense is killing me
Crutches freak me out, supporting myself with my bung arm? The first time I rode a push bike after my shoulder injury I went over the hangers trying to stand up and pedal faster, but I gave it a go last week and have attached a crutch holder to my wheelchair.
Isolated is my best way to describe my initial feelings with 3-4 months a jail term and almost 2 months down it’s not much better, I have just adapted to what it takes to get by but the effort to do the once small things can quickly overcome the need.
Hope I didn’t waffle on too much, I’m laying in bed with not much else to do. Interesting fact about the 1% stat, used to joke about being a 1%er after my ties and friends who are in biker gangs(now illegal in Queensland) more so because I’m a 99%er, but shit happens and I’m dealing with it the best I can.
So glad I found this information. I’m 10 months post op on a tibular plateau break. I fell off the back of a stationary pick up truck, landed on my right leg, smashed one side of the tibia into a million pieces and broke off a big chunk of the other side. Also cracked the fibula and dislocated my right shoulder. Had the plate/screws surgery and still have a limp as the bone graft did not heal exactly right and the leg is crooked slightly. Darn it. I got thrown off a horse a year before and had nothing happen. Then tying a kayak onto a pick up resulted in the cord breaking and falling off the back.
I also live in FL, in St. Augustine so we have a lot in common. Glad to know I am not alone in the continuing pain and recovery.
I needed this so much. On Dec 17, 2018 I was broadsided by a 110# golden retriever who was playing chase with my dog. I couldn’t even lift my head to look at it. It hurt so bad. Broken fib and tibial plateau fracture. 3 days went by trying to find a surgeon to fix it. A second ambulance ride about 2 1/2 hours away took me to an ortho trauma surgeon at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. Ambulance rides are bumpy. Still another day for surgery. I can’t count all the pins. I have a L bracket, rod and screws to hold the metal and rod. I am 9 months out and still use a cane a lot, swell when I have too much fun and it hurts in protest to the screws in my ankle holding the rod in place. I recently started going to a chiropractor because my back was hurting. Dr tells me 18mo plus for recovery. Your story is helping me. I am a cup half full kind of person. Sometimes the limitations of this ticks me off. I feel like I have a budget of steps I can handle and beyond that, I’m done. Thanks for sharing a real story. Laurie
Thank you for writing this blog. I’m 3 weeks from surgery and trying to figure out the next steps. Pain has been manageable but I want my independence back. I had a slip and fall only to find this was a rare injury and it has taken out football players , much less 50 year old women! Thank you.
Marci, so sorry for your injury. It will get much better over time. Most people generally do well with their recovery, it just takes a long time, so be prepared for a journey. Time seems to stand still for a bit during recovery, but once your moving around again a new normal begins and time moves forward again. I wish you a blessed recovery.
I so appreciate your blog. I am at 3 1/2 months recovery since my TPF. I too had the external device and then surgery 3 days later for the plates and screws. I am doing well, but still have pain. I am just going from a wheelchair and walker to a cane. The cane is exhausting for me! I am 67 but feel 87 now after this break! 😁. Oh, by the way, your story was the only one that I could find that mentioned ankle and foot pain and swelling. Thanks so much for that. I worried a long time that something was broken there too.
Hi, week 3 after tibia plateau surgery. I fell off 2 steps whilst pruning in the garden. Back slab cast for 5 days, then surgery, epidural ( as I also had phenmonia). Watched the xrays as they drilled nails into my bones and hammered in the plates. Full leg cast for 2 weeks, then staples out, now in leg brace ( with full extension) but no weight bearing. I am hopping on one leg with a zimmer frame, I find it exhausting, my whole body aches. Thanks to sherri’s blog, I find I am more hopeful that I will walk again. I will acknowledge that I have good and bad days, today I totally freaked out when I saw my husband up a ladder. I started shaking and crying, it felt like I was reliving my fall. It’s the first time I’ve cried since I had my accident, I felt traumatised.
On July 10, 2020 I was house sitting my neices house. We were sitting outside in her gazebo and it was getting dark outside. Well out of nowhere a shower moved in and we were getting wet. Everyone scrambled to go into the house and the gazebo sits off a 2ft. Retaining wall. I know that I needed to walk up the side of the gazebo so I could step out onto the grass. Well I didn’t go far enough and I stepped out into the air and landed hearing the knee break into pieces after my back hitting the cement wall where Fractured my ribs. I couldn’t move my knee was dangling and I couldn’t straighten my leg. The pain was excruciating and ambulance and the fire dept arrived and had difiiculty lifting me onto the stretcher. They tried to start IV and couldn’t because I was severely dehydrated. Now I am a RN who is 65yrs old. They wanted to send to another hospital because my fracture was so severe thank god
Oh my Deborah! I’m so sorry to hear of your accident, but glad you found this blog. Hopefully it brought you a bit of comfort. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Hang in there! It gets better with time.
Thanks for sharing. You guessed it. I discovered your blog after breaking my knee (TPF) last week. But I’m lucky…no surgery needed (so far). Still, I’m laid up and not able to walk. Just when I had started weight traing and cardio. It’s frustrating and I’m trying to adjust, though it’s not easy. As you well know. Best of luck to you.
I just finished reading your blog. It’s inspiring and offeres hope. Man, I’m a wimp.
Hi Tom. Sorry about your accident. You’re not a whimp! This is a really crappy and painful injury. I wish you all the best in your recovery.
Needed this blog 8 months ago, yet am glad to read your story. I am in month 8, and the past 2 weeks has been frustrating. Your story has given me hope, and reassurance that I am headed in the right direction. I hope to read more. K. Powell…date of fracture 5/12/2020.
Hi Kevin. Sorry to hear about your injury. Glad you found my story though. I wish you all the best!
I’m really grateful to find this blog. I’m 57 and relatively active, I fell while bike riding in November and fractured my right tibial plateau and upper right arm. The tibia was displaced so I had surgery to correct this and a plate with 8 screws to hold it together. The first time seeing the X-ray was quite sobering and I knew I was in for a long recovery. I have had broken bones before but this is different. It’s been about two weeks since I started weight bearing with crutches/walker and I am having swelling in the ankle and foot. I can only tolerate short trips, ie from room to room but it’s wonderful to be out of bed. The pain is managed ok with Aleve. Thank you for this forum, it helps to know that recovery is possible. Dealing with the frustration and anxiety of this type of injury has been a big challenge. The question I have is, for those who are active – will you continue to ski or cycle when you are recovered or is the risk of injury not worth it? I have been thinking about this since I got out of surgery. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery!
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I am 10 weeks post intra articular fracture and tibual plateaus two plateaus and two fractures, so 4 in the knee in total. I had just recovered and been walking for 4 weeks after a tib fib and ankle fracture in the same leg! I fell full speed off a step ladder fracturing my knee.
I have a rod and screws and two bolts in my lower leg and the rod caused the two fractures which caused the plateaus! I refused mire metal and open reduction and went home in a brace and non weight neared for 7 weeks, I was told I would end up with it amputated if I refused surgery. They harassed me for weeks every day and I refused. I went fir x eats week 7 and all fractures healed plateaus were less jagged! But my knee us still stuck in 30% bend from the brace. But it’s improved by maybe 1.5 inches straighter. I have to do physio 4 times a day and am scared I will never walk again. Everyone of my friends abandoned me, no one helped for longer than a couple of weeks. My bf left me and I had to rehome my cats. I have been driving my automatic since week 3.5 and have been put of brace since week 8.5 I wear a neoprene knee support when driving and am still on a rollator still trying to build front knee muscles and straighten enough to walk. I can 30% weight bear stood still.
It’s been the biggest mental battle of my life and I’m barely hanging on.
I am so happy I found your blog! I suffered a TPF on Oct. 16, 2020. I fell down the steps at our cabin. I had surgery on Oct 28. We had to travel back home before this could be done. I ended up with a plate & 6 screws, along with having arthroscopic surgery to smooth out my knee lining, which included placing donor bone chips. I am now 12 weeks post-op. In therapy 2x a week, walking with a walker. I have some swelling still, but it is getting better. I do have considerable weakness in my hip & ankle. So hopeful this will all pass eventually. The day before this happened I hiked 5 miles! Just wanted to let you know how hopeful this blog has made me. Right now I just feel like it’s never going to be the same again!
Penny, I’m so sorry for your injury, but glad you found my blog and experience to be somewhat helpful. I can’t promise that things will be the same again, but they get so so much better with time. Hang in there. This too shall pass! Wish you all the best in your recovery.
This is a helpful place to find out how people of coping with similar injuries. I had a ski accident Jan 2020 and had to have a tibial plateau operation on my left leg. I have 6 screws and a plate. I also fractured my left humerous proximal which healed with a sling. I am going back to the hospital next week with a view to asking them to remove the plate in my leg as its causing pain and swelling. I recovered really well and was walking unaided week 7. I have been doing 4k uphill walks to try and build my leg muscles as I feel they are very week, they do not feel good going up and down stairs. I was doing well but as soon as I try to up the training by doing a little jog on the flat my knee stiffens up I get swelling and my shin hurts. I then have to rest for nearly a week to get back to pain free. I do all the stretches but Im not going forward. Has anyone else had the plate removed?? would appreciate a little help. Have a good weekend. Px
Sherri,
Thank you for creating your blog. It’s very useful for (us) with TPF. I gave a question. I have plate and 5 screws and I’m 7 weeks post op. I have good range of motion (130 degree), I can spin on stationary bicycle without resistance and overall my recovery is going well. Except! I can’t sleep and waking up because pain in my calf. My feet have literary 2 different colors. (Regular one and quite red one)
The calf pain is constant and unless I take oxy I can’t sleep. Pain is 80% calf 20% knee.
Did you have similar pain/experience? If yes, and advice how to ease the pain? I tried ice, massage and nothing seems to help. Thank you in advance.
Hi Martin. I’m so sorry for your injury. Yes, I had that very same experience. It was very hard sleeping because you’re limited in your positions. Especially in the early stages of healing. You’re only 7 weeks in so the pain and sleep disturbance is very normal.
I have to say that my normal sleeping pattern didn’t return until about 16 weeks in, when I started bearing weight again. That’s also about the time that my pain started lessening.
The color difference in your leg is from lack of using it and walking (ie…regular circulation.) My color came back to my leg when I began using it again. As did my ankle swelling began to subside also. I can still tell just a slight difference in the color, but honestly, I don’t notice it at all and it doesn’t bother me or prevent from going about my normal day. I consider it a minor inconvenience of the injury.
This injury takes a very long time to heal. I know that’s probably not what you want to hear, but I was once were you are right now, and I promise, this too shall pass. Just keep doing what you’re doing, most importantly your physical therapy. The pain will eventually lessen. I’m just about 4 years out now and doing very well. I hope the same for you.
Hi Sherri,
I loved reading your journey! I am 10 weeks post surgery and still cannot stand on my leg 100%. Also, my range of motion in my knee is not coming back good… I am only at 70°.! Where were you with your range of motion 10 weeks post surgery and when were you able to put full weight on your injured leg? My ankle hurts so bad that I can’t put all my weight on my leg and I keep trying to do ankle exercises along with heel pulls and I bought a desk bike. I am feeling so discouraged and I want to know if I am behind or not I want to ask my physical therapist tomorrow if I can do water therapy as I think that may help any words of wisdom you can give me?
Hi Sue. So sorry to hear about your injury. Ankle pain is very normal. I had it as well. I’m almost 4 years out now so it’s a bit hard for me to recall exactly what my ROM was at that stage you’re in right now. I know at 8 weeks I was allowed to bear 50% weight but I know I still didn’t have full ROM. I maybe had around 75-80% of it back at that stage.
Try to remember that we all heal differently and at our own pace. I know it sounds strange and probably not very encouraging…depending how you look at it, but I’m still making gains in my recovery, even this far out.
Give it time and just keep up with your exercises like you are. You sound like you’re making great strides. Try not to be so hard on yourself. I know it’s hard not to. I did the same. I’m wishing you all the best in your recovery.
Thanks for reading and sharing your story as well.
I found your page this morning and it’s so helpful in my recovery. I have a bicondylar tibia plateau fracture left leg Schatzker V6 that I did on April 11, 2021. My orthopedic doctor did surgery on April 14 with 2 plates and a hell of a lot of screws. He did say it was one of the worst he’d done surgery on. Boy, did that make me feel good! I’m almost 64 years old and was getting ready to do some remodeling to my house, move washer and dryer upstairs and walk in shower for when I got old and hurt something. My doctor really liked that story. I fell through a temporary step my 10 year old grandson and I built dropping about 2 feet, all weight went to left leg. My recovery is going pretty good. I am still NWB until June 10. Physical therapy is challenging to get the leg to straighten out like it should. I can get around using my walker and wheelchair. My son and friends built a great ramp to get me in and out of my house. I too went through some very extreme mood swings, anger at myself, anxiety (worry if I’d walk again), depression, and crying (pity pot). I talked to a doctor about my feelings and he said it was normal reaction to what had happened to me. He gave it the name Adjustment Disorder. His prescription was to make sure I got out of the house more, talk to my great network of friends and call if I felt the need to see is physiologist. I feel so much better mentally after having talked to him. So if anyone is struggling out there seek help you are not alone! It’s difficult to go from being independent, to needing help with our everyday needs. After reading what others have said on your blog, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It’s going to be a long road but I will do it one step at a time…..
Shauna, I’m so sorry for your injury. I was just thinking this morning as I was blow drying my hair that my 4 year anniversary of the horse riding accident passed and I barely gave it a thought. When this happened it’s all I could think about or focus on. I really only think about it when my leg decides to be a bugger, but those days aren’t as often as they used to be. I just give myself some Aleve and self care and carry on with my day.
In a weird round about way, my recovery downtime gave me so much time to think which gave me the courage to later quit my job as a legal nurse consultant at a law firm and pursue my passion of pottery, and cooking.
Life is short and accidents happen all the time, we get to recover to “almost” as good as new, albeit it’s a long and drawn out recovery. But what a miracle right? You make some great points. I didn’t have a name for it at the time but Adjustment Disorder sounds about spot on! I wish you all all the best in your recovery and glad you found my blog helpful.
Week 5 post surgery just ended. I fell off a ladder (just off the second rung) but landed hard on the concrete garage floor. Two sprained wrists n elbows, TPF on left knee n broken nose. No way to provide any leverage to get into house to reach a phone But I scooted with my sprained right leg to get inside to phone for help. The phone was almost too high to reach n I tried several maneuvers to pull it off the counter. ER sent me home to find an orthopedic dr. N 4 days later had the surgery. Surprisingly I don’t have much post op pain but I am looking at a long hot summer ahead to be sitting next to my pool n not in it. I’m probably about half way through the most difficult period but am concerned just how long I’ll be laid up. I’m 72 n was in good shape before this n I pray I will come out without a limp or pain walking. Fingers crossed n prayers to everyone out there just like me.
Hi Sherri, just found your blog and found it incredibly moving and inspiring in equal measures. I fractured my tibia playing rounders with the kids from school (resulting in some funny looks until I explained I’m a teaching Assistant!). I fell hard on my knee and heard a sickening crunch but even then didn’t think I had broken anything so serious. I opted for spinal block surgery and enough sedative to knock out a bull and received several titanium screws for my pains. Post operative pain is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced having me beg for morphine like a junkie. Now I’m home and, as you say, finding it a challenge to adapt to my new normal. Finding your blog has given me hope that I will eventually be able to weight bear and return to some kind of pre-accident life. Doctors don’t tell you anything so it was incredibly comforting to read similar experiences and problems shared in such a down to earth and matter of fact way with a good dollop of humour. I’ve been wondering why my foot is bow pink and I’ve increased a shoe size! It’s my dark sense of humour that has got me through this life changing experience. First thing I said to the doctor was – well at least I got my rounder – I’m 56 and probably older than most of the kids grandmas ! Thank you again for your warts and all account of your long painful road to recovery and beacon of hope to all who have suffered similar injuries.
Julie from Lincoln, England
Hi Julie, I’m so sorry you had to join this club, but glad you found my diary of my journey. It is becoming a very distant memory for me being four years out. I’m doing really well and in fact when I was on a family vacation for our Independence holiday last week, my kids convinced me to go white water rafting with them at a water park. The only reason I agreed was because it was a man made water trek.
I was tossed around the boat and I remember slamming down hard on my injured leg. I somehow ended up landing sitting Indian style in the raft when we got knocked around another time. My leg gave me some grief but it held up fine. I wouldn’t have done that if I was a year or two into my recovery. Mostly because of fear of breaking it again.
So you see there is hope. Hang in there. You will get back to normal life again…it may be a somewhat new normal, but you’ll most likely be doing all the things you did pre injury. Maybe even rounder again!
Wishing you a blessed recovery.
I just stumbled onto your blog, and its a God send. Im in my 9 1/2 week recovering from PTL, compressed fracture, add in compartment Syndrome resulting from a high impact stress PTL. Im delighted that We have alot in common, first is, and i had no idea Im part of such an elite member of 1% club with a PTF(my brother nailed it when he said if i do something i do it right, all the way) , 2nd and a much deeper bond is Im a Nurse as well. Labor and Delivery 26 years. Interesting too is that A Legal Nurse Consultant had always been in back of my mind if I ever decided to leave my Mom and babies. Now Im afraid that decision is going to be made for me. But Im not giving up on returning to Good Samaritan in San Jose, Ca L&D, which is my job I truely love. And like your employer, mine has been amazing as well. And I grew up riding horses, love them and looking forward to riding again when this happen. My recovery has been a little different. I Saw my doctor yesterday, and Im 9 weeks recovering who released me to 50% weight bearing, and brace only when walking on crutches. Im horrified because like you, there is no booklet on when and what you should be doing at this stage. and i only begin PT past week and have only had 2 visits, first one my PT did her assessment and limited ROM, as I was in alot of pain, and iced my knee. 2nd PT visit, and this was last week, my 8 week, and i have been in a w/c this entire time, no one even mentioned using a walker much less crutches, we tried crutches. I had tried them myself at maybe my 4th week, to get into the bathroom, as its small, and i lost my balance, and to save myself from falling i instinctually put my foot down with all my weight and it felt exactly what your afraid of it would feel, i let out god awful scream, and was helped back in bed, and i couldnt even look at crutches again. So 2nd PT visit, having PTSD, i couldnt balance or use crutches at all, and we walked around table using walker and back to my w/c. That being my experience, im terrified of using them again. And now my doctor telling me yesterday, i may have to go back into surgery, under anesthesia so they can rip apart all the scar tissue because my leg is so stiff and limited ROM. Otherwise i may end up with a peg leg. My leg having no muscle whatsoever, and ugly already, overwhelmed with her telling me she wants to see me next week to decide whether im will have to have this one time operation/procedure they do, only once, to promote ROM, decrease stiffness, in hopes of me being able to walk again, My high impact injury resulted in my having compartment syndrome, 7 days in hospital, 2 surgeries to place drains, and that god awful external fixator, May 30, 2021, then June 28th, which was outpatient surgery by trama surgeon for ORIF, and internal plate, not on both sides as yours, and i feel for you, and am inspired at your recovery progress. And i feel i so far behind than you were with having a much more severe iniury than i had. So, I have a big week ahead of me, to ditch my w/c, also i have to conquer my fear of using crutches, and build up my muscles as i have lost so much in past 8 weeks, especially my left leg which has no visible muscles whatsoever, and dramatic increase in my ROM, so i dont have to go back under anesthesia, and per my doctor, i have to start my recovery all over again, as this procedure will cause swelling, and pain, and i will be unable to do anything first week, or 2, just like when they performed rhe ORIF. Also like you, I pray alot too, and will be praying that i dont have to have this procedure done, and of course crying episodes is another thing we have in common. Unlike you, i dont have a boyfriend, and regardless of how humiliating it is, my 22 year old son and his fiancee had just moved in 6months earlier, as my son came back home needing my help, little did we both imagine our roles completely reverses to my being his support, and him leaning and counting on me to becoming completely dependent on him and his fiancee becoming my caregivers. A boyfriend seeing, helping you go to the bathroom is embarrassing, and i think 10xs wose because we are nurses, but my son doimg that for me, i cant even describe how humiliating that was. But he acted like a any professional caregiver did, and he continues to be my hero. Thank God for small favors, that he also has a medical background as being a caregiver in an Alzheimers unit, so he wasnt completely shocked at what he had to do, and had some experience in caring for patients. Jake and Tabi are absoutely my saviours and Heros for what they have done for me these last 9 weeks. I dont know how they did it. But i sure am thankful they were here. I wouldnt be if they were not here.
Can any one tell me how you dealt with the pain. I am 11 months out and the shooting pain is unbearable. I have pain everyday nearly all day.
I suffered a tibia plateau fracture skiing on March 4, 2000. I had an external fixator until my surgery which installed 17 pins and 2 plates. I am contemplating having the hardware removed as I am still in a lot of pain. Due to covid restrictions my PT sessions were all conducted on zoom calls. I attribute that and the severity of my injury to my slow progress and pronounced limp.
Hi, I am 9 months out from my Tibia Plateau Injury. My main issue is that I cannot sit for any length of time with my injured leg at a 90 degree angle, because when I get up to walk, there are issues! Im missing traveling ( couldn’t go on a plane now) and just the ability to walk anywhere pain free. Did you experience this and what was helpful in working through this aspect of your healing?
Hi Jan, I’m so sorry for your injury. Yes I did experience most of what you are describing. Daily walks, bike exercise and time has helped so much. I had pain for a very long time but with time and exercise most of it has resolved and I have also had partial hardware removal. Also, lots of elevating, ice, and aleve.
I wish you all the best in your recovery, hang in there it get’s better.
Hi all
Thank you for this blog Sherri, it’s great to hear your journey and all about others too.
I am 63 years old and suffered a tibial plateau fracture 14 weeks ago. I was playing with my grandson and fell 3ft off an overturned tree.
I have a plate and pins and am managing fairly well but scared I’m going to have a pronounced limp and bowed leg (bowing inwards), making me look disabled. I was always quite happy at how fit and healthy I was and how I could run and play with my grandson and my fear is that I won’t be able to do that again.
I seem to have pain all over my body (probably tensing up too much).
I’m thinking about returning to the office next week to get some normality back.
We’re all in a club we don’t really want to be in aren’t we? Still, it could be worse.
Thanks again for all the stories and good luck to all.
I’m so sorry for your injury Anne. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Hang in there, it gets better and you’ll be back to playing with your grandson once again.
Hi Sherri, Thanks for your story. I had a TPF August 15, 2023. Something as simple as reaching for a towel-one leg in and one leg out of shower and then slip/“pop.” Couldn’t move Rt leg immediately without excruciating pain. Put ice on area immediately. Almost passed out from shock when I was first lifted to standing/sitting position on a stool. My swelling wasn’t too bad so I was admitted and surgery done the next day, plate and 6 screws and graft bone to fill in. Had 1st post surgical appt today and PT can now start. Ready to see improvement but I’ll remain NWB for 4 more weeks. Your story is helpful re: education and hopeful regarding recovery. Whatever it takes to stand on my own 2 feet ;). Thank you!