What to generally expect during tibial plateau fracture postoperative recovery period. As someone who’s experienced a traumatic broken knee/leg I know what’s it’s like.
Read about how I acquired my tibial plateau fracture here
Read about my external fixator and surgery experience here
You don’t get sent home with a “How to Recover from Tibial Plateau Fracture Surgery” booklet post ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation.) At best, I received a half-assed physical therapy session on how to ambulate with a walker.
I also had a fractured shoulder, which no one seemed to care about other than giving me a flimsy sling and telling me to keep it as immobile as possible. The pain in my shoulder paled in comparison to my postoperative pain, so my left shoulder fracture definitely took a backseat to my knee for the time being.
I was discharged from the hospital post operatively on June 9, 2017 and given a prescription pain medication, walker, and told to follow up with my surgeon in 2 weeks. I was to be non weightbearing on my fractured leg for 12 weeks. My life as I once knew it was about to change in so many ways.
Both good and bad. Time literally seemed to stop dead in its tracks during this phase of my recovery. The nights were sleepless and each day felt like a year.
Luckily for me, I have a very understanding boss and company that I work for and they gave me all the time I needed to recover. At least I didn’t have that worry on my plate. It allowed me to fully focus on getting well and healing at my own pace.
What to Expect During Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery:
With a tibial plateau fracture, every task was such an adjustment and took so much of my energy. I was so fatigued from the trauma of the accident. And having undergone 2 major surgeries really took a toll on my body.
Let’s just say that anesthesia and pain meds really messed with my digestive system and backed things up for a bit. It was awful for about two weeks or so until the anesthesia worked itself out of my body and I pulled back on the pain meds.
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Tibial Plateau Fracture Postoperative Recovery:
Having so much time on my hands, I obsessed over my recovery and researched my fracture in depth. I also researched ways to heal my fracture naturally and nutritionally. I found a couple of blogs written by people who used Comfrey on family members to heal broken bones with some great results. According to them, at least. I didn’t have access to comfrey leaves, so I went with the Comfrey ointment instead. I also added Arnica and a shit ton of vitamins to my arsenal of treatments.
Besides the comfrey ointment pure synergy bone renewal, and arnica gel, another product I swore by was Dr. Christopher’s Complete Tissue and Bone caps. They smelled like a barn yard and I had to gag them down, but I did it hoping it was helping my fracture to knit and grow new bone. I’ll never really know if it made a difference. Even if it was a placebo effect, I’ll take that as a win because at my 8 week check up I was allowed to 50% weight bear. I’m getting a bit ahead of myself here though.
Thank goodness I lived with my boyfriend because he literally had to care for every aspect of my medical and personal needs in the early weeks of my recovery. He also had to handle all the household chores, shop, and prepare all our meals. His employer was great and allowed him to work from home in my early postoperative days. They told him to do whatever he needed. As I progressed and became a bit more independent he would come home on his lunch hour and tend to my needs. Our relationship was no longer girlfriend/boyfriend, it became patient/caregiver.
I don’t know how people who live alone recover from this horrible injury. He was so patient with me, and provided me encouragement in the really dark days. I can’t count the number of times he came home from work to one of my crying episodes. When you can’t walk and are watching people live life from the couch, it tends to depress you a little bit. Not knowing if you’re ever going to walk again, and according to all the websites I was visiting, my outcome for this injury looked pretty bleak.
He threatened several times to ban me from the internet. I remember he said to me, “Hon, you’re reading the worst possible outcomes of people who didn’t recover well for any number of reasons. Most people who recover well from your injury aren’t going to websites to leave a comment about how well they recovered. Why? Because they are back to living their lives again.”
When you have all day to lay around and brood, it’s easy to go to a dark place. I had to take a turn out of Negative Town, because nothing good ever happens there. Sure, I had my crying spells and bad days here and there, but I pulled myself up by the boot straps and focused on my physical therapy and recovery.
I’ll try to break it down by weeks as best as I can remember. I wish I had taken better notes or just jotted down in a journal or my cell phone notes when I reached a milestone.
Postoperative Week One:
The couch was my was my place of rest, bed, and healing center. No way was I able to get myself up the stairs and into a bed. I wasn’t really sleeping well because of the aches and pains and I didn’t want to keep my boyfriend awake. The only position I could sleep in was on my back at this point. I am so not a back sleeper. Plus, I had to sleep with the brace on my leg and it was so uncomfortable. I kept all my vitamins and meds close by on an ottoman chest in front of the couch. Everything I needed to survive the day was within arms reach.
I wasn’t allowed to shower yet because my leg was in a brace and wrapped in gauze and ace bandage. The most I could handle was getting up to my wheelchair and taking a basin bath in the living room. We had a half bath on our first floor but I just didn’t have the stamina yet to sit at the sink and bathe.
I remember when I was still in my external fixator I smelled so bad because they didn’t bath me correctly or wash my hair at the hospital in the 5 days I was there, that my daughter and boyfriend took me out on the patio and gave me a shower with the hose. I wrapped my leg in a garbage bag with duct tape to seal it so it wouldn’t get wet. I did that for a few weeks in between basin baths. Some days I just didn’t feel like bathing at all.
I had to learn how to get about the first floor and up to the bedside commode. It was just easier to use the bedside commode for the first couple of weeks until I got a little stronger and more proficient at ambulating with crutches. They initially gave me a walker, but it hurt my shoulder to use it and it made me feel like a 90 year old granny. I found crutches much easier to traverse about and they put less strain on my shoulder.
I was allowed to toe touch weight bear for balance, but was afraid I would accidentally put too much weight on the leg so I tucked it up under my hip and hobbled along on my crutches. It was exhausting just to go about 20 feet from the couch to the kitchen.
I couldn’t even carry a bottle of water or a cup of coffee because…crutches! I would either ask my boyfriend to make me a cup of coffee or get me a water. I tried not to drink too much caffeine during the healing process because I read caffeine hindered bone growth. I eventually just didn’t give a shit anymore and decided that one cup of coffee a day wouldn’t make or break my recovery.
Postoperative Week Two:
My first postoperative visit to my orthopedic surgeon was June 21st, 2017. He took x-rays to check HW (Hardware) placement and bone healing. The ace bandage was removed and I was allowed to shower at this point. They unlocked the brace to 90 degrees and I was allowed to start bending my leg and physical therapy was ordered 3x/week.
I hadn’t prepared myself for what my leg looked like. What happened to my beautiful leg? It was swollen and looked like Frankenleg. I had two huge long scars. One on the lateral side of my left leg and one behind my knee.
My skin was all wrinkly and peeling. Some of it was due to the glue they had used but the skin that peeled off the bottom of my foot for weeks after that was beyond disgusting. When you’re not bearing weight and it’s wrapped like a vienna sausage, you’re not really shedding skin cells. So there was a gross build up. My boyfriend was constantly vacuuming around the couch and inside my brace.
I was able to finally shower, but had to figure out a way to get upstairs. I refused to go up on crutches. I saw some tutorials on YouTube on how to ascend and descend stairs on them. F*ck if I was even attempting that and falling down the stairs and breaking something else! Or even worse…dying!
For the next 13 weeks I went up and down them on my behind. On a side note, it was a great core work out and helped to increased my stamina. When I would get to the top of the stairs, I would scoot myself in the bedroom to a chair and pull myself up to the chair. My boyfriend had an old pair of crutches out in the garage so I left my crutches downstairs and used his old set upstairs.
I would wait until my boyfriend came home from work to shower. I was too afraid to go up the stairs by myself and I needed him to help me balance to sit down on the shower chair and my leg wouldn’t bend enough for me to get it in the tub so he had to guide it for me. That first hot shower felt absolutely divine. I didn’t want to get out.
He also had to help me dress after I showered. I couldn’t lean over to put my underwear on. Wearing dresses or night gowns was just easier at this stage too.
Everything I did took double the amount of time because It was so exhausting. Hobbling around on crutches isn’t the quickest of ways to get around either.
At this point, I transitioned my bedside commode to the half bathroom on the first floor. It came with a second bucket with a hole in the bottom that sat right over the toilet. I was able to use the restroom in private now, without my boyfriend having to empty my urine and number two’s! He got smart though and would line the bucket with a small trash bag to catch everything during those early days. I actually only pooped in the bedside commode once and tied that bag up on my own. You haven’t lived until you pooped on a bedside commode in your living room watching Alaska The Last Frontier.
Weeks Three through Seven:
I pulled back on the pain medication and only took it if necessary. Mostly, if I wanted to get a decent night’s sleep so I would take one at bedtime. I was never really sleeping through the night, but it at least allowed me to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I felt like the pain pills were depressing me also.
I started physical therapy which I hated going to. It was a necessary evil though. Luckily for me after the first few weeks of going 2 to 3x/week, my physical therapist thought I was doing so well on my own that he could see me just once a week. I made sure to always work on my isometric exercises at home.
My son and his girlfriend came to visit from Ohio for the 4th of July week. Not that I could go anywhere or do anything, but it was nice to have them here. I did manage to get dressed and out to dinner with them one night. My first mistake was that I just wasn’t ready for an outing like that yet. My second was, that I went on my crutches instead of taking my wheelchair. It would have been so much more comfortable.
The hostess sat us at a booth in the bar area and after 20 minutes of my leg being bent at 90 degrees and hanging down, I just couldn’t bare it anymore. I couldn’t even enjoy my dinner. I had to apologize and excuse myself at that point and go home. Thankfully they understood.
I began going up and down the stairs alone now, showering and dressing independently now. I still wasn’t sleeping in a bed and residency on the couch remained. Muscle atrophy at this point was evident even with maintaining my isometric exercises.
By week 5 I was doing much better and my boyfriend would take me out on short shopping excursions in the wheelchair to Target or Walmart. Sometimes, he would push me to the corner CVS so I could get some fresh air. At this point, I was able to get myself out on the patio to sit during the day to get some vitamin D.
Be week 7 I was pretty proficient at getting around on crutches and found ways to get food and drink from the kitchen to the couch. I bought a lunch cooler and would make my breakfast and lunches in plastic containers and put my coffee in a thermos and carried the cooler by the strap while crutching. Or sometimes if I just wanted a drink I would throw it from the fridge to the couch. You learn to adapt that’s for sure. This injury has opened up my eyes to the physically challenged and disabled.
Around this time I was going stir crazy and thought that maybe working from home would get my mind off of this injury and maybe help speed up time. At my next doctor’s appointment I asked for a “work at home release.”
Weeks 8 through 15.
I saw my surgeon again on August 1st, 2017 for my 8 week check up. My x-rays looked great. He said I could ditch the brace and 50% weightbear. He ordered another 6 weeks of physical therapy. He gave me the work release to work full time from home.
I went back to work full time from the couch. I’m a legal nurse consultant and do 98% of my job on a computer so I was able to prop my feet up and earn income again. It also helped to pass the time a little quicker. It was a bit hard to focus, but I had to keep things as normal as possible.
Now that I could weight bear I bought myself a stationary exercise pedaler to strengthen my leg muscles.
I also started going to our pool for some pool therapy. It felt wonderful and really helped me to build some muscle back early on.
By week 9 I was really missing the beach. We pretty missed out on the whole summer and I was feeling much better and getting around better now that I could could put about half my weight through my leg. That meant I could crutch with two feet on the ground. Just not put full weight through my injured leg.
That also meant I could be more stable on the sand, but we couldn’t risk me falling, so my boyfriend jerry-rigged some drain screen on the bottom of his old crutch tips so the sand would filter out and I didn’t sink. But you can purchase sand pads for you’re crutches if you’re a little ingenuity challenged.
It totally worked. And I was able to make it to the beach. It was so therapeutic and made me feel somewhat normal again. I was so happy that day! The beach is my happy place!
I still wore my brace out in public places for protection, in case someone bumped into me or I fell. I had some close calls on my crutches but usually could recover at the last second. We all have that one bad fall or time we accidentally put full weight on our injured legs while on crutches.
By week 10 we were able to take an overnight trip to Orlando to meet up with some friends. We stayed in a Disney resort for a night and met up with my boyfriend’s hockey friend and his family for a birthday dinner. We didn’t go to any of the theme parks. No way I could handle that even in a wheel chair. It was still nice to get away though. It finally felt like some normalcy was finally returning to my life. Don’t get me wrong, it was still very difficult to get around and I was fed up with being on crutches.
It was around this time that I also started sleeping in the spare bedroom upstairs. I wasn’t ready to go back to my bed because I didn’t want to disturb my boyfriend. I was still waking up several times during the night to reposition myself. But at least now I was able to sleep on my side and stomach.
September rolled around and along with that came Hurricane Irma. Just what I needed. I’m so grateful I was more mobile at this point. My boyfriend battened down the hatches on the house and we headed for Tampa because Irma was supposed to make landfall in Miami.
We spent the night at this brother’s house in Tampa and by the next morning, Irma had shifted more west and heading straight up the west coast now. So we packed up the car… again… and came back home to the east coast to ride it out. Irma arrived on September 10th, 2017. Luckily, she didn’t wreak much havoc other than numerous downed trees where we were. We never lost power although it would go out for a few moments occasionally, but always came back on. I’m so thankful we didn’t have to deal with not having electricity on top of everything else.
During the hurricane I transitioned back to our bed. No way was I sleeping in the spare bedroom by myself with 100 mile an hour winds whipping around trees outside like toothpicks. I remember the day after Irma, I was feeling well enough to do some light housework around the house and wash the bed linens. It felt so great to contribute again. I felt so proud of myself.
September 19th finally rolled around. I went for my 3rd postoperative visit and my surgeon said my x-rays looked great and that I could fully weight bear. He said to “lose the crutches.” He ordered one final round of physical therapy and by this time, I was ready to go back to the office 2 days/week and work the other 3 days at home. I definitely celebrated my freedom that night with a couple of cocktails!
I had been on crutches for a grand total of 15 weeks of my life. That’s an eternity when you’re not able to walk. I started back to work on September 26th and maybe used my cane at work for a couple of days. My leg was strong enough now and I was able to walk unassisted. At the time, I was so upset when my doctor left me at 50% weight bearing for 7 weeks, but the reality is, it allowed me to build my muscle, strength, and stamina so that when I was allowed to fully weight bear, the transition was fairly easy.
I never thought I would get to this point, but I did it! Hot damn I made it!!!! Stay tuned for my next update.
Hi Sherri,
I just wanted to tell you that your blog posts about your TPF just made me cry. This is such a frustrating injury and I just wanted to thank you for posting about it. I needed to read this today and congrats on being able to walk! I am 4 weeks post op and my TPF isn’t nearly as bad as yours but still challenges me everyday. Thank you for writing about your experience. I have my 6 week check up in two weeks and I am hoping I can start putting some weight on my right leg. Heal fast!
Hi Erica, I’m so sorry that you have you’re part of the TPF club. I can think of worse things that could have happened to me, and I definitely am grateful for how far I’ve come, but this type of bone break is catastrophic and life changing. I’m doing my best everyday to heal and continue daily living. I’m sure pooped at the end of the day, but grateful I’m walking again.
I wish you all the best.
The sand thingies on the bottom of your crutches are genius! How wonderful it must feel to get out and about again. I’m bummed I live in Idaho where I’ve got to deal with snow and nice while relearning how to walk. It really limits my ability to get out and get some air. Especially with the fear of slipping. Ugh.
Jessica, I totally get that fear of slipping and falling. My boyfriend and I went tree shopping last week and trees were spilling out into the walkway and twine was littered about the ground. I spent more time looking down at my feet and the ground than I did looking to find our tree. If it’s not snow or ice, trust me it would be something else. That said, yes, I’m so grateful to be out and about again. You will get there too. This injury has a way of robbing us of time, family and friends, but there are many blessings that come with this injury as well. I’m praying for your full recovery and Happy Holidays!
I smile when I read your article because I can relate to everything you said .but I found out in the worst of time I had time to reflect over a lot of things in my life and that we appreciate things more when their taken away and I realized that a lot of people will never get to recover and have a normal life back . So I learned not to complain and think of others who will face challenges all their life , so were still blessed and hopefully you to will come away with a better look on life . but get well soon and live life to the fullest with a better understanding that we don’t have to wait for the raining days to come to complain. While we can still dance in the rain and find joy in the moment . God bless
Thank you Daniel. I count my blessings everyday. I won’t act like I don’t complain from time to time, because I do, but I also know I’m very blessed to come as far as I have in my recovery. Some of that is probably due to the skill of my surgeon and from my hard PT work and will to recover. I take nothing for granted. Happy healing sir.
Bonjour Sherri! On March 28/18 it will be my 3 month post op with my ortho. I broke my wrist (right distal fracture) as well as the plateau fracture. It has been the most challenging ordeal, not only for me, but my husband and children too. Ski accident out west, I had external fixation done there and flew back to Quebec, not first class, and was operated on here in Quebec City. Long story short, We were able to modify the bath room, and had a great walker pimped for my wrist, and an AWSOME husband.
I was surpised you where on crutches so soon, I am still with the walker, I am also in a winter climate soo. Anyways I hope to get the OK on weight bearing, I seem to be managing my own shit. Pt, and internet is great. Right now I am working on stretching the hamstrings and rehabilitating my foot on how to walk,
I am rambling, nice to be able to rant. Take care.
Hi Sherri, I’ve come out of post op day 3 today and reading this has helped brightened my day, lucky I’m younger so my recovery is 8 weeks but I’m just curious as to how you positioned your leg while sleeping because even though it’s been three days, it feels like I haven’t slept in a lifetime. I can’t wait to use all your tips, you’ve given me hope!
Caitlin, Hi. So sorry for your injury. I tried to sleep with my leg elevated on pillows. It was just an uncomfortable time in general for sleeping. Most times, I could only sleep on my back and I’m so not a back sleeper. As I got further along and was able to take my brace off I started positioning myself on my side with a pillow between my legs.
If I’m honest, my regular sleep cycle didn’t return until I was up and walking again. Hang in there, it seems like forever right now, but you will get through this. Wish you all the best in your recovery.
Thanks so much for posting your story. I am on day 3 after my TPF. Fortunately, mine is only a level one Schakter and I found out yesterday that I don’t need surgery–so I already feel ahead of the game compared to some stories out there. But yeah, no one really tells you how to work out a shower, do they? So thanks for sharing.
You’re most welcome. I’m so sorry for your injury and wish you a blessed recovery. Even though you didn’t need surgery that doesn’t make your injury any less catastrophic. So take your recovery and physical therapy seriously, which I’m sure you are.
Hey Sherri!!! I had a TPF ORIF. July will be 2 full years since the accident/surgery. I am starting to have some weird issue. And I think it might be hardware related. I have 2 plates and 9 screws. Did you have your hardware removed?
Hi Joe. At present, I’m almost 10 months post op. I still have my hardware in and I see my surgeon in a few weeks. I’m hoping he says we can take the hardware out. It’s really bothering me and I feel like my leg would function more like my previous leg did. It’s the weirdest sensation to have metal in your knee/leg and it doesn’t belong in me in my opinion. It’s served it’s purpose to heal my broken knee, but now it needs to get gone.
Sherri
When did you start feeling relief with walking without pain? I was out of work for 6 months. Started putting full weight as tolerated after three months. I”m at month 7 and still experiencing great pain when I walk since returning to work two weeks ago. PT and Dr. say I need to continue strengthening my muscles. I still have my plate and screws in as well. Thanks!
Hello Sherri,
Thank you so much for writing your blog, because today is 19 days from my tibial plateau fracture surgery and 26 days from when I injured it skiing. It was the last day for me for skiing for the season, the last run. I had so much fun skiing this past year that I decidd to try a pair of skis that had better edge on ice because we have a lot of ice on our slopes of the local ski resort, and I planned to do even more skiing next year. I tried a pair 2 different days on different snow conditions and loved them and bought them but the ones I bought were 12 cm shorter than the demos. Being shorter they had a smaller turning radius and I was having trouble with them that last ski day, March 21. But I decided to take one more run down to get more of an idea how they would be on an ungroomed trail. Big mistake. One ski was on ice and the other on slush and the ski on ice made a quick turn causing my leg to twist and me to fall. I got up, knew the outside of my knee was injured, but I could ski down to the lift and take it up to the top of the hill and ski down another hill to get to where my car was parked. When I got to the bottom I ordered lunch and a bag of ice at the ski resort lounge, and then walked down a flight of stairs with my ski gear and drove an hour back home. Before I got home I stopped at the ski shop and walked in carrying the skis and askd if I could have the next size longer. No problem he said. That night the pain got worse and next morning I called to get an appointment with a PA. Got in right away that morning, and by then I realized I probably had a tibial plateau fracture, which Xrays and Cat scan later confirmed.
To make this short, had surgery the next week. When the surgeon put a clamp to bring the bones together my comminuted fracture comminuted even more. More like shattered. I knew I had osetopenia but the bine density scan last fall recommended I continue what I was doing with exercise and supplements and have repeat scan in two years.
Now I go from angry that the osteopenia was taken so lightly by my PCP and by me and that I caused this stupid accident although I am guessing I was an accident waiting to happen, and if it did not take place as it did it would have happened while I was trail jogging, skiing, or climbing up boat ladder with 60 pounds of gear.
Anyway I am deeply depressed today. My son was supposed to fly out to my place today and in two days we were to fly together to Cozumel to dive.
So as tears come down from my face I want to thank you so much for your post. I hope I can eventually get out of my melancholy and offer my story to help others. Especially to,help women be more aware of osteopenia. Espececially older women skiers like me (to be 70 June 21).
Carol
Carol, I’m so sorry to hear about your injury. This injury seems to stalk active people like us. And yes, don’t blame yourself for the accident because of the osteopenia. None of us had a crystal ball to forsee our injuries. I’m sorry about your trip to Cozumel too. I’m sure you’re heart broken, but you’re going to heal. Yes, it takes time, but you’re going to get there and to Cozumel someday for that dive as well. I wish you a blessed recovery.
Hi
It was great and ad to read this. Don’t feel quite so alone knowing other people have been through this too. Ive just got home from hospital and am at the can’t move from the coach phase, as many meds as possible and feeling very sorry for myself! I can’t seem to find a comfortable spot anywhere. If the meds control my knee pain my hip starts aching with just constantly being in the same position. Any advice?
Hi Jane. I’m so sorry for your injury. You’re in a very hard stage right now, with just being fresh off surgery. My advice is to use your pain meds now because they are needed, but slowly start to taper them when you can. They are for sure going to constipate you and for me, they made me very depressed. Once I was off of them around the 3rd or 4th week post op I felt so much better. I would only take one occasionally either to help me sleep or when I started weight bearing and exercising the leg and had pain.
My hips and back hurt from laying on the couch too. I don’t know if you’re able but did your surgeon clear you for some isometric exercises on your legs? If so, you can find some great nonweight bearing exercises on google and YouTube. Being nonweight bearing affects our bodies. Muscles atrophy from the chest down. You will eventually find a comfortable position. Try putting some pillow under your low back to tilt you off the hip a bit. If you have some hand weights I’d also do some exercises for your arms and chest. Trust me it will help with stamina because fatigue is going to set in.
I still get fatigued when I go out for walks. It’s so weird how this injury affects us for so long. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Stay strong and positive as much as you can because this injury definitely will depress you. So try to stay busy with recreational activities like reading or taking up a new hobby.
Thank you for sharing your story. I am currently 5 1/2 weeks post of ORIF Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fracture and I can relate to everything you said. This is a very traumatic experience from the injury forward. I am non weight bearing being told it’ll be 12 weeks non weight. Im hoping that changes at post op check ups. However, using a walker, crutches, and wheelchair is not fun and makes me feel like a 90 year old woman, however, there is no choice. I am still feeling quite a bit of pain and still very dependent on my boyfriend. I am an extremely independent woman so this has put me in very depressed moods and hating on everyone who is free to move about. I know this is temporary but it doesn’t change the fact that I am house bound and in pain while everyone I know is out n about having a great time. Its great to hear about the exhaustion and stamina issues as I have been dealing with this extremely bad and come to find out at 5 weeks post op I am extremely anemic as my blood levels haven’t recovered from the 2 surgeries, which is adding to the already difficult recovery. I am hoping the exhaustion and breathlessness gets better quickly. Today at 5 1/2 weeks I attempted to clean the kitchen with my walker in tow. I was able to load the sink full of dishes into the dishwasher. That was as far as i could get. Nothing else as i was completely exhausted and out of breath and had to go back and sit. It is so frustrating but again, tryin to stay positive for the future and that this is temporary. I have went on about 3 car rides in 7 weeks and I am committed dead when we get back home. From a car ride! Shows how much work it is pn our bodies to do anything in life.
Again, thank you for sharing. It was much needed to hear from others in this situation.
Therya, I’m so sorry for your injury. I promise it does get much better with time. Hang in there.
I wish you all the best.
Hi Sherri,
Thank you for posting so much information about your fracture; I can so relate to your experience. I am 5 weeks post opp from having two plates and a bunch of screws put in, with incisions down both sides of my knee. The first week home was soooo miserable & painful. Using the bathroom right beside the bed really was a necessity for awhile. I thought I might pass out trying to make it to the bathroom a couple of times. I stayed home from work two weeks, and have been working part days in a wheelchair since. I get around at home with a walker. Staples came out in 2.5 weeks and I could start getting it wet in the shower. A couple of days ago was my second post opp visit and the dr completely opened up my brace for movement after being completely straight since surgery. Dr wants to save my PT until we start the weight bearing, unless I don’t make progress with bending knee on my own. Not sure how much progress I’m supposed to make. We had three trips planned for this spring/summer/fall that had to be cancelled. I am so mad at myself for not being more careful and am trying not to be depressed. Like Carol, I too suffer from osteopenia and was kinda slack about taking vitamin D & calcium. That coupled with being almost 59 years old will make this a longer process I’m sure.
Hi Frances. I’m so sorry for your injury, but welcome to the TPF camper’s club! Hopefully you find the humor in that. I think depression comes with the TPF for the ride along. Because we’re not miserable enough right? My depression and tears faded the further along I got in recovery. I hope the same for you. Remember, it’s ok to have a few ugly cries, but don’t stay in Negative town. Nothing good ever happens there. It’s all part of the recovery process and you’ll come out a stronger person. I know I did.
I’m sorry that you had to cancel your vacations. But just think how grateful you will feel when you’re finally able to take those vacations. I know it seems like such a long road, but you will get there. We all will. I would recommend looking up some isometric exercises for your leg/foot even though your surgeon doesn’t want you in PT yet. Trust me, it will benefit you in the long run. There are plenty of PT videos on YouTube specifically for TPF rehab. I wish you all the best in your continued recovery.
Thank you for your blog on TPF. I am shocked at what little info there is out there. I really wanted to hear someone’s personal journey so as to get an idea of what to “somewhat” expect. I am 8 days out from my injury, 3 days post surgery and UGH! Today, I tried to get up on crutches for the first time since surgery. I was not at all prepared for what a struggle this was. My bad leg aches and is complete dead weight and my “good” leg was practically useless from I assume lack of mobility and pain meds. I had a small meltdown to my angel husband and resolved myself back to my recliner. Baby steps to a long road ahead, I guess! I can’t believe you had a shoulder injury as well! I’m encouraged by your progress and example of hard work. I am just grateful for how blessed I am and that there other people who are truly suffering in much bigger ways. So one day at a time…I’m sure I’ll refer back to your blog as the next couple of months unfold. Thank you, again!
Patti, I’m truly sorry for your injury. It takes a long time to get your stamina back. It’s only within the last few months that I have felt like my stamina has returned to almost pre injury. You will get there as well. You’re in the worst part of recovery right now because it seems like your world has come to a complete stop. Hangs in there and focus on your recovery. I wish you all the best!
Hi Sherri and everyone else that belongs to this crappy club! I am 8 weeks post-op and am so glad to read the experiences of others! Glad to know I am not alone in my experiences, both physical and mental. I would love to chat with everyone frequently; is there a way to do this without cluttering up your awesome blog? Thank you for everyone’s comments!!
Jean, feel free to leave a comment whenever you want. I love reading them! Nice to see you joined the group. Wish you all the best
Thanks for sharing, I can so relate! I am going for my 6 week check up and praying that I can start therapy. They have not let me begin yet. Trying to get people to understand how hard it is to do stairs without bending your knee or putting weight on it is very frustrating. I am hoping that I will still have a job after this. They do no allow us to work from home. How are you doing now? Back to normal?
Hi Sherri – I’m so glad I found your blog and the TPF club; although cannot say I’m glad to be a member. I am 9 weeks post-op and have been released to WB 50%. I think I’ve already overdid it by too much weigh bearing the past week. I’m trying not to panic that I’ve damaged the progress I’ve made so far. I went on a 1/2 mile walk with my walker and it felt so good, but I’m sacred now. My journey thus far mirrors yours but I live alone so I’ve had to relocate to my dad’s house and back at home my mom is staying with me. But how long can this go on that someone is with me 24/7. I appreciate your advice and taking to heart staying out of Negative Town. The mental and physical darkness can surely engulf even the most optimistic person. I am 50 years old and had a ladder accident. I had just decided to sell my house and move so I was doing some interior painting. So now I won’t be moving anytime soon. I find it’s very hard to talk to overly optimistic people, so reading that my feelings are normal has been a relief that I’m really not overreacting or being a drama queen. Best of everything to everyone in the TPF club!
Hi Renee, I’m so sorry for your injury. Hang it there. It gets better as the weeks move on and you’ll be back to functionally independently, I promise you. You’re on your way. Trust me, I overdid it as well when I went to 50% weight bearing. It’s because we’re so excited to finally have both feet on the ground again. So it’s natural to want to get back to normalcy, but it does take time, as far as building up stamina, and muscles strengthening and stretching through PT exercises. Just keep chugging along and you’re going to get there inch by inch. You’re going to come out the other side and look back and say “wow I made it through.”
This injury is not for the lazy or faint of heart. You have to be dedicated to your recovery. It takes work and time. Most importantly a positive attitude. I had my bad days, but I wallowed in my self pity then picked myself back up and continued on. It’s ok to cry every now and then. This injury is frustrating and robs us of our independence for months.
Wish you all the best in your recovery.
Hi Sherri
I wanted to ask you how fast did you get back to a somewhat normal life after you had the hardware removed fro your leg? I am starting day 3 post hardware removal and leg feels good. Did you go right back to work or did you wait a week or so? Surgeon told me as tolerated. Just wondering
I Laurie, I did a few blog posts about my hardware removal. You can find those on my home page. I thankfully have a desk job so I had my surgery on a Thursday and took Friday off for a long weekend to recover. I was back at work on Monday and then the swelling set in because my leg was down to the floor all day, so I worked from home the next day while I elevated it.
I’d say about a month after my surgery I was feeling so much better. The HWR surgery was no where near as painful or bad as the recovery for my first 2 surgeries. I was so thankful for that. I’m almost 12 weeks HWR and feeling and doing so much better, I still have my issues, but I always say, I don’t think my leg will ever be the same as it was pre break but I’m walking and living a normal life for now. Not sure what the future holds for my leg, as far as arthritis, total knee replacement, etc. I’ll worry about crossing that bridge when and if I get to it.
I wish you all the best in your recovery. Don’t rush it and let your body be your guide.
I am so glad I found this blog. I got my TPF on September 2. So I am just coming up on 3 weeks. I decided not to have the surgery and try to let it heal on it’s own. So this is all new to me. I cry a lot! The doctor told me 3 months non weight bearing. I am just having such a hard time with it. That’s why reading your blog gives me hope. I went and had more X-rays last week and my knee hurt and my leg felt like jello. I just cried thinking I will never walk again. Thank you for the hope. I am praying that I will heal faster and be able to weight bear sooner. Not being able to get around and get to the things I need to get done is so hard. I have my own business and it is just me who knows how to run it. It is challenging. My husband has tried to move most of my office upstairs. But trying to find a way to work at the computer that is comfortable for my leg is challenging. All I can think of is 9 weeks to go with no weight on my leg. Getting in and out of the house is so hard that I really don’t go anywhere I unless o have to. Again, I just wanted to say thanks for your blog. You really went through a lot and are now walking! Thank you for the encouragement!
Sherri,
I am a very active 58 year-old, Ride horses, do spin class, ride bicycles, travel, have four grandsons, to say the least very active. On July 7th, it was a beautiful summer day so my husband and I decided to go on the greenline to ride our bicycles instead of going to our usual spin class at the gym. I fell off of my bike and immediately knew that I had done something terrible to my left leg. We thought that we could get our daughter to come and help us to the emergency room but soon realized that we needed to call for an ambulance. X-rays discovered a tibia plateau fracture, the local trauma hospital was on diversion, so I had a surgery to put an external fixator on my leg and they kept me in the hospital for five nights to help me deal with pain and swelling. Went home to continue to try and get the swelling down. Saw the surgeon at the trauma hospital on July 18 and he agreed to do the surgery on July 20th. Lots of metal plates, screws and cadaver bone used for the repair. On August 1 I had the stitches removed from the two incisions along each side of my knee. The surgeon asked me if I had been resting my knee on a pillow and I said yes. He said that I shouldn’t have been doing that and I told him that no one had told me not to. He was very concerned that my knee wasn’t going flat. PT began in mid August and it has been very difficult. The surgeon ask the PT to order a leg extender brace and a flexion brace for me to use at home. This Friday will be twelve weeks since my surgery and I still am not weight bearing, have swelling in my knee, and my foot swells terribly every day. I have tried to sleep in my bed but can’t get a good nights rest so I end up going back to the zero gravity chair where I can get my foot above my heart. I will see the surgeon on October 24th and I’m hopeful that I will have made more progress with PT and braces, that my knee will have flattened to where it should be, I will become weight bearing and will NOT have to have manipulation or another surgery. Praying that I will have a full recovery.
Hi – thanks SO MUCH for your blog on TPF! I am three weeks post op and with the anesthesia out of my system the reality is setting in. Sharing your experience has been a huge help!
Hi Shelli,
You are so far ahead of me.
I’m the one who lives single. Widow and my kids live in different states.
9 days in the hospital, then 3 weeks in Patient rehab. My son came to help when I went home x 8 days, then a friend came x 2weeks. I’m visiting a friend x 3 weeks. I next go home. Appt w/my surgeon.. 10 days after I get home. I’m hoping for WB orders.
I know I cant just throw away crutches and walk.. so I’m going to take yr suggestion.. pool walking. Do some weight training.. and PT @ x week.
Lots ahead.. I’m going to retire..no way I can do 12-16 hour shifts.
Thanks for the look ahead.
Grateful for yr blog.
Janei
I am now in my 9th week schutsker VI Tibia plateau fracture surgery. I am still zero weight bearing and using a wheelchair. Now for the confession, since my brace came off 24/7 at 8 weeks, my first action was to kick in the foot rest of my reclining chair. I am 58 divorced and doing this totally on my own. My 2 sons emigrated years ago and my daughter and her partner live 1000km away from me. I had just moved out of our family home into this smaller but tatally large enough simplex. I have started gradually applying light weight to the injured leg. I have to do certain things that life throws at you and I have to do them then and there, in person. So yip I am putting a bit of weight on the foot. I am doing all my home physio program I received from my 10day stay at an orthopedic rehab. I can not wait till I can drive again even though my car has a gear stick and is not automatic. Best wishes to everyone recoving from this life changing and challenging trauma.
Hi shelli.
Stumbled across your blog in one of my many extensive searches for answers on tpf recovery since my surgery (2 weeks ago today) and found it really informative.
I know very little of the severity of my injury and really wasn’t told much other that I’d crushed the surface of the tibia by about 2cm (whatever that means) but that the surgery had gone well. I was also told I’d be non weight bearing for 8-10 weeks.
I was injured in a footbal match or soccer game for you americans. Spent 2 weeks in hospital awaiting surgery and got out the next day. (I wasn’t spending another night in that hospital)
I’ve no idea of how many screws or plates I currently have in my knee, and have even less idea of how long I’m going to be unable to work, as I work a very physically demanding job in manufactoring. To make matters worse my partner and I had been accepted for a mortgage 3 days prior to my incident. The house is a newbuild and the projected date for completion is 8 weeks from now. So basically my aim is to be back to work by then, although having read everyone else’s stories I don’t see how that is going to go. I could maybe get on the forklift until im fit again but even then, is that too much? The unknown is what is getting me down not the injury. I mean, will we have to carry on renting, will our dream house be taken away from us. I don’t know.
Currently I’m able to get about the house on the crutches and I’m not taking any pain relief. So I think I’m doing well for it being so soon after my surgery. Bathroom routine has gone back to normal finally. Thank god!
I suppose i just needed an outlet as I try to be positive constantly for my fiance and our 3 year old daughter. My partners grand father passed away while i was in the hospital so she really hasn’t had a great run recently.
Your story sort of gave me a timescale and I don’t think my tpf is as bad as yours so it has filled me with a little hope. Thank you and take care!
I crushed my tibial plateau and ended up with a plate and 10 screws. I am 3 months post surgery and I am a floor nurse. I did the butt scouch on my stairs too for 2 months and threw my drinks to the couch as well while on crutches. Loved your blog!! Helped a lot! But how long till I can go back to work. At work I walk 4 to 5 miles in a 12 hour shift. No one seems to be able to tell me. I’m walking a mile without my cane, but when done I’m on the couch with knee elevated and ice applied. No one seems to be able to tell me how much longer….
Hello, it has been one month since my TPF, surgery was 3 weeks ago. We have little idea of the upcoming schedule aside from seeing the surgeon in one week. However, the medical care has been good. I think the biggest strain is knowing my husband is doing absolutely everything now. I wish I was adding more value to the household. I am aware I must make the best of the situation and watch for the good things that are happening that would not have. Your blog was the only one I’ve found that describes the process from the patients every day experience. Thanks for keeping it light cause sometimes the future scares me.
Hi Carrie. So sorry for your injury. It’s easy to let guilt creep in during recovery when we’re unable to pull our weight with work, household chores and a relationship. This is merely a blip of time and will pass, as do all troubles. It’s a long recovery process, but I’m back to all my normal activities and you will get back to yours as well. I can’t guarantee that you’ll be back at 100% because my leg will quite frankly never be the same as before the accident, but it’s functional and gets me where I need to be. I wish the same for you and hope you have a blessed recovery. Hang in there, it really does get better and go easy on yourself. This too shall pass.
Hi Sherri and other commentators on the page. I, like Carol, took one last ski run and hit an icy spot and fell. However, my new set of skis and bindings remained attached when they should have come off. We found out later that the din setting on my new bindings was set for a person 6 inches taller and 100lbs heavier. :/ The pain in my knee was unlike anything I had ever experienced a kind of internal churning feeling. I side-slid down the remainder of the ski run and really should have taken the ski patrol sled, but I thought “I will be ok.” Stupid move on my part and stupid move that we did not double check the binding setting. So, I have been beating myself up… I’m ok now and taking one minute at a time. I just recently lost 11 lbs and resumed running in September. I was so happy that I was finally making some progress! I hate I will lose my endurance and fitness level, but the ER Dr. said my fitness probably helped reduce the severity of the injury.
Well, I have a TPF on my right leg and am in an immobilizer for 10 more days until I see the surgeon. I’m praying I won’t need surgery. Life on crutches and a walker has been challenging for the last few days. I get tired of the usual senior moments when I forget something I went into a room for and have to hop back to get “it.” It is exhausting!! Thankfully I have a single level home and an awesome husband who has been waiting on me hand and foot. I’m trying to modify ways to carry things. Drinks are the most fun. I think I was almost dehydrated the 2 days ago. As a side note, my cat is totally perplexed with this whole situation and watches me in amazement.
Anyway, I was searching for a blog about TPFs and Comfrey cream when I found your site, Sherri. I started applying Arnica gel the evening of the accident and Comfrey the day after the accident. I am trying to determine whether I should discontinue the Comfrey or use it until I see the surgeon.
I appreciate everyone’s contributions. Have a great day!
You might want to wait until you see your surgeon. Comfrey supposedly knits bone together. I can’t say if it works or not but to be safe I’d wait to see if you need surgery first. I wish you all the best in your healing and recovery process.
Hi..am glad i came to this blog(if ok to call it) i was involved in an accident(hit a patch of black ice)& car ended up in trees so i came out with a broken tibia/fibia but they said it was a clean break(whatever that meant…it still did hurt alot) so am 8 weeks post surgery and just got cleared for 50% weight bearing…i worked 2 full time jobs and enrolled for class…just wondering if and when i get cleared for return to work will i be able to work both right off the bat or would it be smart to work one and see how my leg responds to have been off the ground(non weight bearing)? I really enjoyed reading your blog and the progress you have made and are still making…i have a rod right thru my knee all the way to above my ankle and sometimes feel the HW in my leg and the freaking screws are really annoying….
And to all who are going thru what we are going thru?wish you health and recovery and yes i count my blessing because in my case and where the car and the head on inpact with a couple trees? This is would have been a different story…but am here so that is better than the alternative…
Thank you all
James, I’m so sorry for your injury and fractures/surgery. I wish you all the best in your recovery. If you are on Facebook, check out the support group called Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery. It’s a closed group and a great resource. Always someone available to answer a question or lend support or an encouraging word or suggestion. Best of luck to you.
Hi. Today is 2/19/2020 and my fall was on 12/4/2019. This was my third fracture in less than 4 months. I’m 59, and up till now, never broke anything.
Had the 2 surgeries in December and went to 12 days of rehab. I was in good health and the rehab people were very uplifting. Unfortunately, that was before my Hell on a daily basis started.
I was supposed to stay with my bff until I could do steps again. I was living with 4 dogs, 1 bratty 19 year old college student, my friends sister, and skeps on a recliner for 2 weeks.
The second week, I fell in the bathroom near the toilet. Luckily, I didn’t hurt myself. I was treated like I was something that should just disappear. The friend I had heard the cruel remarks, but she jabbed at me too. I was told I was a liability to be around and I needed to go somewhere else.
Contacted a member of my church and he hooked me up with a social worker. Thankfully, she took charge and got me home safely. I needed help for sure.
Now I’m starting to walk on the walker. It sucks and pain shoots all through the back and front of my leg. I’m broke—and was self employed. Now I want and need to find something at home I can work on. Any ideas? I’ve done administrative work and IT both 20 yrs each. I’m computer savvy but get so dang lost on those job boards.
Thanks to anyone that can get me headed in some direction. I’ve made new friends from church. Never want to see that “friend” again.
I’m 3 weeks post surgery. Ironically I’m in the same timeline as this blog – which I find very helpful – it also gives me hope. At this point every thing is hard, I’m on the couch all day every day and I just cry. I’m not prepared to put in the work.
Pam, things will get better I promise. It seems so hard right now. Everything is hard at the moment. Keep taking the pain meds and eat right to give your body the best chance. Stay strong, you will recover from this
Hi I’m so happy to read about others experiences. I’m week 10 of a level 6 fracture. It’s good to read the same recovery stories as me. My break was in the middle of the uk covid19 outbreak so hospital was a very strange place!
Not sure about USA but there is very little support and info out there about what to expect along the way. Sherri I loved your comments about keeping clean and the ingenious ways you find to do things. My favourite one was putting things in my hood while on crutches when you’ve already filled the rest of your pockets 🤣
Thank you for this 😍
Claire, you are most welcome, and I’m so sorry for your injury and wish you all the best in your recovery. I’m 3 years out and doing really well. This injury just takes a very long time to recovery from. Granted, we will never be as pain free or as agile & mobile as we were pre injury but things will get better and we learn and live a new normal…which isn’t so bad considering what we’ve been through. P.S. I can’t imagine recovering from this injury during this Pandemic! Gah!
I am 3 weeks 1 day from my TPF, I slipped off a kids balace beam if 12 inches on to concrete while walking my dog. As others have said, this blog is the best thing I have read daily over 3 weeks. I have 2 plates, 12 screws and pins. I am 54 and normally really fit!
I am not sure if it is just me but the pain is beyond anything I can comprehend, I felt suicidal due to pain and the loss of my future passion of running (ultra distance runner in extreame conditions). I am on 6 weeks non weight bearing, which for me is bed rest as crutches are too painful and I feel unstable (having fallen twice already). I am on Oxycodone 10mmls every 6 hours with a max of 4 times a day. I have tried to reduce but the throbbing and pain has me crying and in despair.
How did you all manage and come off the pain meds?
Sally, wishing you all the best. Hang in there it gets better. If you are or were feeling suicidal I encourage you to seek help. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional if you haven’t already. This injury can cause severe depression and isolation related to our long immobility period.
Sending you prayers and healing thoughts.
Thank you so much for your post! I have been home just over a week since my hospital stay. I had a fractured tibial plateau with 7mm displacement and bussa and meniscus rupture.
All I did was simply trip slightly with one foot and caught myself with the opposite leg. Bam! All that damage.
I spent a week in hospital. Oxycodone didn’t agree with me, I felt so week. I was so unsteady.
Still I went home to my unit where I live alone. I have cried so many times! Just the shear sleep deprivation mixed with the pain. I doubt anyone who hasn’t had this Injury would understand. The first night home I cried so hard. I was so thirsty and I just wanted to make a drink but I couldnt. I was sent home with next to no pain relief. Luckily the doctor at the after hours clinic was so helpful and gave me the opioids I’d best tollerated.
I’m so glad I read this post. Helps me see I am doing better than I thought. I can get around with my crutches just long enough to make something to eat. I have to eat at the kitchen bench because I can’t carry anything. And if I realize I have forgotten something once I’ve sat down, it’s not uncommon for me to burst into tears.
My two week checkup is in 3 days. My dressing got wet in the shower a few days ago so I had to change it. I felt sick looking at how my leg looked.
I am still so anxious about when I can weight bare. I have at least 7 weeks to go. As a result of my Injury there is some nerve impairment so I may not even be able to get my foot flat on the ground. To help with my foot drop, I have to wear a resting AFO boot in addition to the brace.
Life is so different.
I am meant to be starting a new job. I should be in holiday now. I can’t do anything I normally do.
Hi Ashlee, I’m so sorry for your injury. Hang in there, it’s going to get better. Being immobile with a traumatic injury like this is something very few people can relate to…until it happens to them.
I still wake up and when I get out of bed and take those first steps try to be cognizant and say a prayer of gratitude and remind myself through out the day to not take my body or its movements for granted.
I wish you all the best in your recovery and hope everything works out for you.
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.
Juanita, thank you for sharing your story. Yes, so many similarities! Sending healing thoughts and well wishes your way. Hang in there, it gets better.
Hi ladies. Thanks greatly for your earlier reply Sherri 🙂 🙌 I am now 4.5 weeks post my ORIF. I can’t believe how much I cried the first 3 weeks home, but I feel myself again. I am so glad that the medical team were harsh on me and that I was never given a wheelchair. I can see a complete loss of my muscle in my left leg but a great gain in my upper body strength and right leg muscle, since being home alone with crutches. I have a 90% improvement in my foot drop which is fantastic and I am reaching all my physio milestones.. except 1! My physio had anticipated that by 4 weeks I should be able to gain a 90 degree bend in my leg. I can get to 65 degrees, 70 if I really push it maybe. I feel like he might be disappointment when I return at 6 weeks and still can’t do this. When I get to 65 degrees I meet great resistance, like my bones meet up. How was your journey with bending your knee? And any advise?? 🙏❤️
Like you, I was frustrated with the bending of my knee. At 4 years now, I can’t exactly remember how long it took me to get to all my goals, but I’ll tell you it probably wasn’t the goal my PT set. And I am almost sure I didn’t have 90 degrees at 4 weeks post op!
I loved my Ortho Surgeon, he was great and never put any pressure or time limits that I reach a certain extension or flexion by a certain period of time. I know our physio’s/PT’s have our best interest at heart, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t reach a certain goal by a certain date. It is different for everyone in my opinion.
I do remember reaching a certain point and being stuck with bending. My PT would have me lay on a PT bench, and at home I would lay on the floor, and I would put my injured leg on the wall and let gravity do it’s thing by doing slides down the wall with my foot as far as I could push it. I did that a lot and it seemed to improve my flexion.
By the time I was released from PT I had most all of my flexion and extension back. Still over time, even after being released, I walked a lot and continued my exercises and gained more flexion and extension. It took me a couple of years to be able to touch my heel to my butt again, but you know what, it hurts my thigh when I do because I have to stretch & coax it to make it touch.
So my advice to you is just to keep doing your exercises diligently and over time you should regain most if not all of your flexion and extension back. You’re still very early into your recovery but you sound like your are doing great to me. I’m glad your foot drop is better.
Wishing you all the best in your recovery Ashlee.
Thank you so much!! This is so encouraging!! It’s hard not to think that what if it never bends anymore. But I feel so much happy to roll with whatever pace my leg takes. I will def try the wall version of the leg flexion exercise. Sounds way better. Weirdly I have near full extension which the physio thought would be harder to achieve.
Super weird to be already starting knee troubles at 26 years, after never having a niggle.
Hello Sherri,
I feel great I found this blog.my husband had medial tibial plateau fracture. Surgery done yesterday. He is in so much pain and trauma. I don’t know if he can again walk.
He is just 36. I have 2 years old kid. And we are new in USA.What do you think how much it would take for him to atleast walk by him own.
Thanks,
Parna
Hi Parna. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s unfortunate accident. I know it feels and seems like he won’t walk again, but unless something goes majorly wrong your husband will most likely heal and walk again. I felt like I wouldn’t walk again either.
He may not be walking for several weeks or even months but he will walk again. It is a very difficult transition during this recovery time. Not only for him, but for you as well. Most of the responsibilities of taking care of the home and your child are going to be on your shoulders. I felt so awful for my partner that he had to take care of me, work full time, and do all the responsibilities of house hold chores and cooking.
It may feel even harder with being in a new country. Welcome, by the way! Try to take it day by day. Be there for each other and try to take time away for yourself if you can. It’s important that you both work as a team and be understanding and know this is a long journey, but one that you can come out stronger as a team and individuals on the other side.
You’re both going to have good days and bad days. It’s all part of the recovery journey but you’ll get there one day at a time.
Wish you and your husband a blessed recovery.
Hi Sherri, I was happy to stumble upon your blog. I am 2 weeks post surgery. I have a plate ,6 screws and bone graft. It was comforting to read about your progress and to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I too was very active and I can relate to everything you went through up until now. As you said, it is very difficult to watch life from the couch and to rely on other people for help. I’ve been using a walker but will get crutches tomorrow. It is amazing what I’ve managed to do on one leg! All of those one legged squats have come in handy. Lastly, sleeping is so difficult I almost dread going to bed. I am trying to not take the pain pills. Again, thank you so much for sharing your experience. I was going to join a recovery group but I’m afraid it will be gloom and doom. Glad you’re doing well! xoxo
Hi Lisa. Sorry you had to join this club, but glad your found my blog and found a bit of comfort in it. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there, it does and will get better.
I wish you all the best in your recovery.
oh yeah! im in the club! broken tibia tif on dec 20, surgery dec 28… just reading through your blog, and was wondering what isometric exercised you did, i was just told to bend my knee to get range of motion back? tyia for your answer
Hi Sherly. So sorry for your injury. It’s been so long now I can’t recall the exact exercises but if you read my series of blog posts under Tibial Plateau Fracture I’m sure I wrote about my exercises I did in a couple of my posts. I wish you all the best in your recovery.
Hi Sherri, thank you so much for this blog. I am 55, had my accident 78 days ago. I was in the trauma unit for a month waiting for them to complete my 3 surgeries and remove the xfix. Doctor wanted me to have 90degree flex by last week. I was nowhere near that, so he put me to sleep and did a manipulation. He got 90 when he broke the scar tissue, but I still can’t get past 75 on my own. I am very concerned about what the quality of my life is going to be like. I just can’t get out of my own head, I actually think I’m suffering from some ptsd issues related to the accident as well. So many gray areas when it comes to rehab, stretching, weight bearing I have no idea how hard to push myself verses rest, ice and elevation. My husband gets frustrated when I have my pitty parties for myself but this was just so life altering. I was always such an active person and I just have no idea what quality of life will be like from here on out. thank you again, seeing that you did so well with it is truly inspiring.
Hi Dawn. Sorry your injury and the late response. I’ve been busy with life and a new pottery website but thought I’d better come give this blog some attention.
I hope I can reassure you in saying that it most definitely gets better with time. Pity parties are normal but they will come few and far between as you move along in your recovery.
Wish you all the best.
Hi Sherri and Fellow Travelers,
I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experience with TPF~ ORIF here! I’m a 56 year old guy who suffered a TBF-Fibula Fracture Mid-October 2021 thanks to a careless misstep while working around the house. That this occurred during a major COVID pandemic surge made a very unpleasant experience truly awful! Between waiting for the ambulance, waiting in the seriously understaffed and overwhelmed ER and the horrendous pain, it was about as bad an experience as one might imagine.
Like most here, while researching my injury I came across Sherri’s blog and thought : Why isn’t this information easier to find? I had ORIF on 10/8/21, discharged home w/ PT on 10/11/21 with followup w/ Ortho Surgeon in 2 weeks.
I was NWB for 12 weeks. Due to the Omicron COVID surge during and after my surgery, followup appointments with home and outpatient PT, as well as other clinicians were challenging to schedule. The pain post – op was poorly managed by my surgeons staff ( I know, opioid crisis ) which predictably resulted in delayed physical therapy, and therefore recovery. In retrospect, I would have had a “ Come To Jesus” moment w/ my surgeon about pain med parameters prior to discharge, but it was what it was.
Everything Sherri describes here, from the pain, PTSD, fear, depression, incredible frustration, anger, pity, etc. is spot on! Yes – there were more than a few nights in tears. I was given a walker at discharge, but frequently used a wheelchair to get around my house as it was easier the first few weeks when trying to cook, do laundry, etc. Once I got cleared for weight bearing on 12/23/21, I retired my wheelchair and used my walker/ crutches ( maybe 1 week ) and currently, just a cane.
I’ll mention two things that other readers might find valuable as well. First, physical therapy ( and I mean professional, not simply exercise ) isn’t important, it’s critical! Sure, exercise is too, but these professionals offered me so much more. They taught me easier, safer and less painful ways to do many things. They helped me deal with my fears, some rational, some, not so much. Thanks to my insurance, I have 30 PT visits per year, and my PT suggested 30 weeks once a week, vs 15 weeks twice a week. Her thinking, which I wholly agree with, is she is most valuable as a guide helping me through multiple phases of a very long recovery, rather than as a place to get a 60 minute workout twice a week. She has thus far been absolutely correct. Underestimate the value of PT at your own peril.
Secondly, it’s probably not possible to fully explain to anyone who has not experienced this type of traumatic injury just how frustrating and lengthy a process recovery will be. I did ( and continue to ) beat myself up for not doing “ better, faster”. Pain, frustration, fear and uncertainty are a toxic mix! Apologize to your spouse/ SO/ roomie/ co-workers and family members every day, because you’ll need them desperately! I am someone who never raises their voice, never argues loudly, unkindly or meanly with others and normally have a very cheery disposition, yet I still cringe at some of things I did and said to those closest to me!
It does get better though! I’m still going to outpatient PT weekly. I walk, very slowly at the moment, with just a cane. Pain is annoying, but manageable with OTC Voltaren gel and Aleve as needed. Running, jumping, kneeling…not yet. I’ll update here again in the future and hope everyone stays well.
Hello Art. Sorry you had to join the club. Great advice that you added. I wish you all the best in your continued recovery.
Hi. I am 2 weeks post surgery. 3 weeks post being hit by a car riding my bicycle. I know this will be a very long healing journey. Right now I don’t know how I’m gonna make it. I also wasn’t given any details about my surgery or how long recovery is or anything. Most of what I know if from the internet. Thanks for your blog. I had no idea that it’s a possibility that I could never walk again. That is terrifying. I definitely go through bouts I’d pity party. I also live alone on the 2nd floor and have no elevator. But I do have amazing friends and family and even neighbours I never met in my building helping. I really just want a wheelchair so I can at least have friends take me outside so I don’t have be 100% stuck in my apartment. I work from home at an office job but can’t get comfortable at my desk for longer than 30 seconds so that’s frustrating. Any way. I appreciate your blog. Thanks!
Marija, so sorry for your injury. I wish you all the best in your recovery.
Thank You… I have the same injury middle of july 2022, fell off my bike. Only takes a second and life changes, plans change. Crying is normal hey, been a month now, I still occasionally do that. Thank You, I found you on Google… Bless
Edward, I wish you all the best in your recovery.
I found an abundance of realistic inspiration and hope here. Thank you and bless you for sharing your insights and experiences.
Retired nurse, 75, missed a high step in the dark and joined The Club 3 .5 weeks ago. Blessed with a loving husband / chef / pet wrangler etc but while sidelined have lots of time to worry about osteopenia affecting healing, ultimate ROM, & whether I’ll ever walk confidently or freely again. This blog and the comments are INVALUABLE in helping me find hope and perspective. Kudos to Sherri and all the courageous commenters who have shared their exeriences. I feel like I’m not alone in this.
I’m 58 year old woman and fractured my tibia plateau on the night of January 31. Not only did I fracture it, my knee joint slammed together. So along way few fractured my bone also shattered. Shards needed to be removed and then bone needed to be reconstructed and plate put in. I had absolutely no weight bearing for 12 weeks. I’m at week 16 and use a walker at home and a wheelchair when out. I’m currently working on walking and moving up to a cane.