June 20th, I sat in my orthopedic surgeon’s office waiting to see him thinking his office decor could use a serious update. While I waited, I studied on my cell phone the latest x-rays they had just taken of my knee. The tech always lets me snap a photo of the screen when we’re done. I was finally able to get a total count of the all the screws. One plate and 7 screws were removed from my lateral left leg on May 24, 2018. As I sat there on the exam table, I counted six more still in there. Thirteen altogether! Yowza, I thought I had 9ish all this time!
I had x-rays taken in 2 views. AP (anterior posterior/straight on) and lateral (from the side.) Both were taken during nonweight bearing. From the lateral view you can see the holes in my bone. Look ma, swiss cheese!
From the lateral view, you can also see a bit clearer, now that the left side of my hardware was gone, just how deep it was buried and positioned behind my knee. I’m severely lacking in my spatial ability skills. No matter how many times I studied my images, I just couldn’t understand this until the other side of my hardware had been removed.
You can also see in the comparison below from the AP view, how the hardware was placed on the poseteromedial side, you can see the screw holes in the plate on the inner side of my left knee, but can’t see the screw holes on the lateral (outside) side of my knee. Ok, enough radiographic lessons for today.
My surgeon finally walks in the room and extends his hand out for a handshake. “Hello, nice to see you. How are we doing today?” I hold out my hand and reciprocate.
“I’m doing so much better. Having that hardware out has made all the difference. I have less pain when I walk or when standing for long periods of time. I think you did such a great job that now I’m feeling the other side of the hardware and I don’t like that feeling.”
He chuckles and matter of factly says to me, “Well, you’re just going to have to learn to live with it. I’m not removing that hardware. It stays. It’s just too risky to remove it.”
Okie dokie. Got it. It’s NEVER coming out. Fuck! Which isn’t really a big deal. As I sit here now writing this and more time has passed, turns out it wasn’t the hardware I was feeling. I was only 4 weeks post HWR and I was still healing.
My surgeon proceeds to look at my incision. This time, my incision healed a little slower and looked angrier than the first time around. “Hmm, I’m worried about two areas on your incision.” He pulls out his script pad. “I’m going to prescribe you a short course of antibiotics. It doesn’t seem like much to worry about now, but we don’t want this getting any worse. Make sure you take the full course.”
Hah, little did he know…because I’m such a freakazoid and obsess over my healing and worry about getting a flesh eating staph infection on the daily, I had already had a full course of Amoxicillin that my dentist had prescribed me before some dental work. They somehow ordered it for me twice. So as soon as I saw how angry and irritated my incision looked I ran to the bottle. Of antibiotics.
Of course, I didn’t disclose that to my surgeon. I was afraid he would yell at me for self diagnosing and treating. Plus, what he gave me was much stronger. And damn if I wasn’t going to take it until it was gone! I mean who cares that 2 courses of back to back of antibiotics was surely going to give me the shits and a probable yeast infection. Still beats a flesh eating staph infection any day in my book.
The above photo was taken before I had even seen my OS. My incision and leg was so itchy this time around. I don’t know if I had a reaction to the glue this time or what. In addition to taking the antibiotic I had at home, I also put some Manuka honey on my incision for a few days. Manuka honey has been clinically shown to have antibiotic and antimicrobial properties and is used in combination with antibiotics in hospitals to help heal infected wounds. The photo taken below was after one day of application.
My surgeon handed me my walking papers along with my prescription. “Well, we won’t need to see you anymore. You’re all fixed up. Come back only if there is a problem.” What a bitter sweet moment that was. My surgeon was such an integral part of my healing over the past year. I didn’t make a move without his input. Okay okay, except for the times I self diagnosed and treated an awful ugly full body rash last fall, and my recent suspected incisional infection. Oh, and those times I would sneak in a few steps here and there while I was only 50% weight bearing. Other than that, I didn’t make a move without his say so.
Now, I was set free like a bird to fly about where ever I wanted. No restrictions. Easier said than done right? I still can’t run. It’s both a mental and physical thing I think. I’m still working on it. Going up and down the stairs is getting better but still not fluid. Things still creak and crack from my lower back all the way down to my ankles when I ascend and descend stairs.
My quad muscle is still smaller on my left side than my right. I’ve finally picked up a 10 lb kettle bell again and did a work out. First one in over 14 months. Felt so good and awful at the same time. I paid for that little 10 minute session for well over a week.
My incision is looking much better these days. Even after the last course of antibiotics, it still took another month or so for my incision to get to this point. The photo below if fairly recent. I feel comfortable enough to go in the ocean now and don’t worry about staph infections… nearly as much.
I take my walks as much as I can in between our bipolar rainy/hurricane seasonal weather here in south Florida. I have an elliptical in my bedroom that I rarely ever use. I just find it boring staring at the wall and exercising. I can’t even watch tv without getting a crick in my neck because of the way my elliptical has to be situated in order to fit in our bedroom. Anyway, I’d rather be out and about walking. Maybe I’ll get back on it this winter and teach myself how to run again.
My son and his girlfriend came for a weeks visit on August 1st. Last Saturday we took a trip down to Tavernier Key and kayaked on the Atlantic side. My son visited last year for the 4th of July week and I was only 4 weeks postop ORIF. Man, what a difference a year makes. I was able and so grateful to participate in all the activities this year such as going to the beach and out to dinner.
We kayaked out to a little island and tied up our kayaks to a tree and took a photo op on the swing. What a beautiful and fun day that was.
So you can see I’m doing much better these days. It’s been about 13 weeks since my partial hardware removal and although things aren’t perfect with the knee, they are so much better. For the most part, I still suffer from daily stiffness and use Arnica gel like it’s going off the market. I stock pile it like a squirrel stock piles nuts.
Walking is becoming more and more like second nature, and I don’t have to think about every step. However, my leg still doesn’t feel like it did pre TPF, and I don’t know that it ever will. All and all, I’m doing really well considering the shitty hand I was dealt. I came out the other side a stronger person and have a greater appreciation for the simpler things in life.
Like getting to spend time with my son and his girlfriend. I’m hoping to plan a family vacation with my son and daughter and their partners in the near future. We are long overdue for a family get together where we are all together at the same time.
This was their last day here right before they had to leave to catch their flight back home to Ohio. I met them for dinner on the beach after work. No matter how old your children get you always hate to see them go. It was the sweetest thing, one night while we were all out to dinner during their visit, my son thanked my boyfriend for taking such good care of me during my recovery. <sniff sniff.>
Happy healing TPF friends!
Broke my tibia plateau April 22 2018 riding BMX with my teenage son. I’m 45, I’ve broken my ribs, broke my hands broke my nose, this is by far the worst injury I’ve had so far. I’ve got an 8” titanium plate with 9 screws installed right now. The part of my tibia where my ACL attaches broke off and I tore my MCL when my leg went sideways when I landed so I did some tissue damage as well. After 7 weeks of hell not being able to WB my surgeon gave me clearance to lose my brace and put weight on my leg. That lasted one day and when I went out for my first trip I ended up twisting my knee and hitting the dirt. I was getting ready to get on my ATV and was putting on bug spray when I noticed a huge mean looking beetle on my leg…… I’m a man but screamed like a girl and went to swat the bug, totally forgot about my leg for a split second but that was enough to drop me. That probably set me back about 2 weeks or so but I’m back mobile again without crutches. I’m 16 weeks post op and have about 95 degree ROM so far and still have a real issue with swelling. I can only handle about 1/2hr of walking before the swelling gets too bad. I can walk up stairs half normal but I still can’t walk down without two stepping each step. I’m glad to run across you blog, it’s a nasty injury and comforting to hear from others who’ve had the pleasure. I can’t wait to have my hardware removed and really hope to get back to normal ASAP. I know that’s a pretty optimistic outlook considering I’m at 4 months now and can’t even walk more than a half mile or down a flight of stairs without two stepping. Your blog has been inspirational, thank you and please keep us updated, it helps me with having a realistic outlook for my goals.
Thank you
Just read your post and I myself when through the same break but I had three plates installed with I am not sure how many screws 4 yrs ago. Ended up getting two plates removed a yr and half later due to the same problem – my surgeon would not take out the third also. Now I am having a lot of knee pain due to arthritis. Will possible need replacement but they have to take the last plate out before that. At the time of the break I was 56.
Donna, I truly wish you all the best. Hang in there, it’s going to get better.
I feel your pain! I had 2 TP fractures ( only one significant) and 5 fractures in my foot and ankle from a dog hit at the dog park. I ended up with a 4” plate and 5 screws. Everything was on the same leg so that helped haha. I was non weight bearing for the first 8 weeks then progressed to full weight bearing at 12 weeks wearing a boot as little as possible using a wheelchair, walker, crutches, single crutch and Cain for 2 weeks. As you said this was pure hell! Finally after pushing through the pain walking, biking, swimming and 4 months PT, I can walk pretty normally ( now 5 months post surgery and accident) and do everything I did before only a bit slower and not in perfect form. The biking, walking and water running were very helpful. My P T was murder on my foot, which has been a bigger problem than my leg( sometimes). Overall I am happy with my progress and continue to work on recovery every day now incorporating barre and yoga Pilates fusion. Thanks for telling your story because it motivated me to bike and get into the water. Those are good moves for TP injury and help with foot ankle problems too. Best of luck to you and all the readers who have and are suffering with these injuries ????
Nadine, yes, the foot! Ugh. I don’t think our orthopedic surgeons comprehend the overall damage to the whole leg. It’s all relative right!? 2 TPF’s? I don’t care what you say, both are significant, maybe one worse than the other. I couldn’t even imagine that. Just awful!
I avoid dog parks like the plague! Happy healing. 🙂
Your blog inspired me a lot as I am also a suffered of TPF
Thank you Chowdary. Be well and blessed and happy healing.
This blog was really helpful in that it made me realize how “NOT CRAZY” I am. Following a TP fx, emergency surgery, ORIF and compartment syndrome, reopening it twice (feeling like a fileted fish). MD’s arguing over whether a culture was wrong found at a ER or not, finally after opening an area up 7 times, a wound vac and then packing the hole myself until healing I am at 1 year out. Found out after having to change MD’s to a Ortho Trauma Surgeon (because of a insurance switch) I find out I have Osteomyelitis. The hardware that looks eerily like Sherry’s was all removed because of a hole that staph has eroded into the bone. I am 3 weeks out of taking the hardware out, but continue to have such terrible knee and basically whole leg pain. Now I get to see Infectious Disease, starting 1 of 2 antibiotics that could cure this infection. Seems like constant bad news, bone biopsy’s after I finish first Abx, bone grafts, replacement of (cement like substance being put into the bone with Abx) replacement of that WHEN it “crumbles”. A knee replacement somewhere down the line. Really poor pain control. Feeling all the above stuff mentally Sherry explains and sadly I have always been a positive person but now feeling pretty negative. All the immobility, unsure future – it looks like it will be a longer haul then I ever imagined. I guess I will keep trying after reading above.
I just finished reading through all of your TPF posts! I am 29 y.o. and I had the same injury almost exactly a year behind you. May 17, 2018 is my injury date.. Had an external fixator on my leg for 2 weeks before they put a plate and 7 screws in. Then later in my recovery came down with pneumonia, because why not kick me while I’m down?! I wish I had found your blog while I was recovering, it would have brought me so much comfort to find someone that can relate! Crazy how many similarities there are. I’m now back to the internet doing research on hardware removal surgeries because mine is giving me trouble. I am terrified to have yet another surgery on my leg, PTSD for sure! But now I’m realizing I will be in much better shape when it’s all said and done. I have an appointment with a new ortho surgeon next week (I moved out of state since), so wish me luck. Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi Emily, I’m so sorry you had to join this club, but glad you found my experience helpful. Good luck with checking into hardware removal. Surgery and recovery of any kind is different for everyone, but the removal surgery was so much easier than recovering from this awful injury. Most people are able to bear weight right after surgery and the pain level for me was not even a comparison to the original injury and recovery period. It really did make a difference for me. Wish you all the best in your continued healing.
Sherry !Thank you so much for your blog! I got hit by a car last year while walking my dog in our neighborhood, similar injury as yours ,plus ankle fracture. 4 months crutches, pt, ect Just when I started to feel that I am recovering after long 11 months, suddenly sharp pain inside my knee began. First it happens when I tried to get out from the car, and it got worse day after day, I can’t walk for more that few minutes without pain. My doctor is saying that the hardware is causing irritation and we need to remove it . I am
Panicking, another surgery , recovery , pain, uncomfortably for family ect ..
Your blog is comforting me and give me so much hope. I have an appointment on Monday, looks like will have to make an appointment for HWR.
Hi Larisa. I’m so sorry for your injury. I can’t imagine the trauma of being hit by a car. In my experience my hardware removal was so much easier and less painful than my initial two surgeries on my knee, and I was walking right after surgery. No nonweightbearing period for most who have the hardware removed. I had anxiety about the surgery obviously because of the emotional and physical trauma associated with my prior surgeries, but it all turned out to be for nothing. I wish you all the best in your continued recovery. Be well & blessed. Thanks for reading my story. Even if I can bring comfort or put even one person’s mind at ease about this injury, through my own experience, I’m humbled and grateful I have a way to do it.
Thank you so much I have had tib fib plateau fracture 3 plates 12 screws 9/2018 yesterday scheduled for 6/16 for hardware removal. I have been in extreme pain and now an infection occurred so all hardware has to come out. I am very scared and in a panic. Reading this entire blog has helped calm me down. I can identify with all of your experiences. I am a patient advocate in a level one trauma medical center so I see the worst that can happen and that is running through my mind. All this happened because of lack of hand railing and fall of one step! All take care and be careful!
Thanks for sharing your recovery from TPF hardware removal. I just got the call from my surgeon giving me a date to have mine out. Some 13 months from when having the fracture. I understand your journey and its was great to read of what lies ahead. I too am so so looking forward to getting the hardware removed. It was a blessing to have to heal from the fracture, but the continue pain and lack of movement etc, I will be glad to see in the past. Thanks again, great read. Soul Blessings
I wish you all the best!
Sherri,
Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I had two surgeries for a TBP in August 2019 and am now sporting hardware (albeit less than yours). I still have daily pain and tenderness in spots (I imagine a screw poking into my soft tissue). 😱 I primarily have pain after a period of inactivity (i.e. sleeping) and the knee becomes very stiff and wake-me-up OUCH to bend/straighten.
Anyhow, I’ve been researching hardware removal and found your experience helpful. Now to just find a surgeon I feel good about (I loved my original surgeon but have since moved out of state).
Keep on chuggin!
Oops – I forgot to ask. Did you achieve a full ROM post hardware removal? At 18 months post surgery and extensive PT, I still don’t have full ROM (on bend or straighten). I have speculated that the hardware is prohibiting that full ROM and am hoping hardware removal fixes that.
Thank you for your time.
Hi Carrie. Yes I have almost full ROM back in my knee. I still lack just inches when it comes to touching my bum with my heel, but I can stretch it to touch but it’s very uncomfortable. Not very often that I do that though. I have full extension as well. It definitely takes time to get ROM and extension back, so don’t be so hard on yourself. This injury is a bugger and has a very long recovery and healing time. I wish you all the best.
Hey Sherri, greetings from Asia.
Just had a fracture in fibula, super downer…had 1 plate + 6 screws.
Nowhere as bad as yours and Im really amazed by your positivity. Its hard for bystanders to understand the torment.
Just wanted to know if you did any follow up on further HWR, and if its totally gone?
Not sure if the screw holes would heal up properly/fully (i.e. no more holes) or HWR would make the bones weaker?
Hi MT. Sorry for your injury. I only had partial hardware removal one year after my initial surgery. My surgeon felt it was best to leave the hardware in on my medial side behind my knee. I don’t feel that at all and I’m 2 days shy of my 4 year accident anniversary. I’m doing really well and basically back to normal everyday life.
The holes where the screws were in your bones will heal and calcify over. I didn’t have any weight bearing restrictions after my partial hardware removal and the recovery time was much easier and quicker than the initial surgery.
Do I still suffer from stiffness, occasional soreness, and a bit of lacking muscle in my injured knee/leg? Sure, but given where I was at 4 years ago, I’m doing great! This injury takes years for a decent recovery. I feel like I’m finally at that point.
I wish you all the best in your recovery.
What arnica cream/oil brand do you use ?
Hi Maria. The brand I use is called Arnicare.
Hello
Did you knee ever locked when walking or did you ever feel your knee make popping noises ?
Hi Maria. I can’t really say my knee ever locks, but it sure does make weird creaking noises as I got to pivot or if I’m bending my knee while laying down. Doesn’t bother me at all, just sounds gross.
Hello
I was wondering how long you went to Physio for and how many times per week?
How long did you work on your gait/ walking form before feeling that you walked normal again?
Have you run since and when did you start an attempt to run after surgery ?
Sorry for all these questions but it seems that you are kind enough to answer them for me.
Thank you
Hi Ryan. Sorry for your accident (I’m assuming.)
I went to physical therapy from…I think it was late June or early July 2017 (it’s all in my Tibial Plateau blog series on the blog) and went once a week and was released in September 2017. But I did my PT exercises daily at home. My PT would just instruct me and work the knots out of my calf and then I would do those exercises at home a few times a day.
I hated PT. GAH, but so necessary.
It took me several months before I was walking normal again. I still limp on occasion if I tweak my knee or it feels stiff or tired. It usually resolves with rest.
I can run if I need to but it starts out gimpy and just feels awkward. I still haven’t done a proper feet to the concrete hard run. Just no need for it. My knee doesn’t like it. And my brain still messes with me a bit. Mostly fear of tripping or falling.
I’m confident I could run from danger if adrenaline kicked in and I needed to… I think LOL
I wish you all the best.
Thank you so much for your post as I felt that I was alone in the TPF corner. I am a 58 year old female and on Sept 4th 2020 I suffered lateral TPF from my friends huge dog that hit me . In November I wasn’t able to lift my leg off stool in Dr office without pain and weakness and that is when my orthopedic surgeon decided to order MRI . Results showed non healing Lat TPF despite non weight bearing for 12 weeks, I was scheduled for ORIF December 11th but the entire time I had been complaining of my foot was cold from mid calf down to tips of my toes and turned purple in color, no one was able to palpate pedal pulse, I experienced major amounts of swelling in my foot that at times I thought my foot was going to split open despite RICE method and anything else I could think of to relieve the swelling. My surgeon kept reassuring me that the edema and tingling shock feeling was normal after TPF , I have 8 in plate with 6 screws then after surgery I started physical therapy and I was just sooooo excited to start the road to ditching the walker , tossing that crutch and cane and I love shoes and I couldn’t wait to wear a pair rather than just one damn shoe and covering my injured foot with old lady looking TED hose , once I was allowed 50% weight bearing post op that’s when shit went downhill I began experiencing pain in my foot, swelling and felt as if my ankle was going to give out. After trip to my surgeon he ordered MRI of my foot and ankle and lo behold I had stress fracture with complete torn ligaments in my ankle, I had bostrom Gould surgery June 11th and guess who is Non weight bearing AGAIN grrrrr this time around seems even worse, I have cried , prayed and even considered just daily drinking (joking) for the next 6 weeks, I am unable to utilize the knee scooter because of TPF surgical site and walker is out of question so I am stuck with crutches and it’s pure hell . I can’t wait for the day I can WALK AGAIN and walk again without a limp without a crutch or a cane. I long for the day I can jump in shower and not have to worry I will fall or when I am able to go for 10 minute errand that doesn’t take 30 minutes preparation or planning. Thank you for the inspiration and it’s good to know that I’m not alone in TPF world there are better days ahead.
Terri, I’m so very sorry to hear about your accident and related injuries. I hope you’re now on you way to healing. Hang in there. While it is a long recovery process, you will most likely get to where you want to be. The mind is stronger than the body. If you’re on Facebook, check out the group Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery. Great group. I’m still a member but rarely post anymore. I guess that is a good thing, since I took up permanent residence there in my early days of recovery through the first couple of years.
I wish you all the best in your recovery journey.
Hello,
I’m 25 from the UK and I am 6 weeks after my TBF and have struggled quite badly. However, the swelling has all but gone and I am gradually building my leg back up and trying to weight bear every now and then.
With an accident like this, I think that unless you have experienced it, or know someone who has, it’s impossible to understand how frankly horrendous that it is. I have a new-found appreciation for the simple things in life, like being able to go to the toilet without someone to help me, or being able to shower without my family having to see me in that position (so embarassing!).
It’s also given me a new-found love for my mum, dad, and brother (not that I didn’t love them already!). I feel so guilty that they have had to take so much time out of their own lives to look after me and do everything for me. I hope that they know that I would do the same for them in a heartbeat.
I have an appointment with my surgeon on the 7th and then my first physio appointment on the 8th. I can’t wait to get started, I am desperate to start walking again.
Thank you so much for doing these posts, it is extremely comforting to know that I am not alone in this and others have experienced it and gotten better (sometimes, it can feel like you’re the only one in the world to suffer this, right?).
Posts like this allow me to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if there is still a long way to go, so thank you so much.
I hope that you are doing well, and your recovery is complete. I also hope that your family are well, they seem cool 🙂
Thank you so much!!
Hi Connor. I’m so sorry for your injury but hang in there as best you can. It does and will get better. Thank you for reading and sharing your story.
Fell and ended up with right TPF on 2/22/22. Had ORIF on 3/9 with plate and screws (picture of X-ray and scar looks like yours). At end of March planning to have hardware removed – feels like a lump on lateral side of my knee and sore at times down front of my leg. Was active, working 74 yo when I fell. Surgeon recommends removing hardware and appointment for end of March. Had so many questions/fears. Thank you so much for sharing as I’m also a worrier about anesthesia and infection. Still have some swelling from first surgery and parathesias so hoping no more nerve damage issues. You have given me a much calmer feeling. Thank you!
Hi Kathy. I wish you all the best with your removal surgery and continued recovery.
Hi there. I am 6 weeks post op after being in a motorcycle accident and suffering both a compressed TPF and a lower fibla fracture on my left leg. Although my wounds have healed beautifully as I went for 20 sessions hyperbaric oxygen treatment. I am suffering from horrendous nerve pain in my foot with a burning sensation in my big toe and the one next to it as well as the tightening of the tendons over my ankle. Did you experience the same?
Hi Rassie. I’m so sorry for your accident and injury. I don’t recall having nerve pain in my foot. I did have a lot of foot pain when I returned to walking because I hadn’t used the muscles or tendons in that foot for several months, but the pain resolved over time and with with physical therapy and literally walking it out. I wish you all the best. Every injury and recovery is unique. I wish you all the best in your recovery.
Thanks so much for your blog…I wish I had recorded what was going on for me over the last 16 weeks! I also had a bicondylar comminuted TP fracture with fibular head along for funsies, external fixation and later surgery with two plates (a HUGE one laterally) and 21 screws. I cannot even imagine the horrors of going home in the back of a car like you did with an ex fix…I was thankful to be in hospital with a ketamine drip and a PCA for the pain! You are truly amazing. I must say I resonated with all you went through…and am choosing to be positive and grateful, and kick butt at my physio. I am determined to win back all that has been lost. Thanks for sharing your story.
Hi Kristi, I’m so sorry for your injury. I wish you all the best in your recovery. I’m 57 and 7 years out from my injury and I’m doing really well. I hope the same for you.
Hi Sherri, I have been reading up on your blogs for the last few months. I did actually post a message to you a while ago but dont remember where. I’m not very computer literate. I have a TPF caused by a fall off a ladder and have 2 plates and 14 screws and an incision thats still a problem nearly 10 months on. I am 72 and spent 4 weeks in hospital and another three and a half months bedridden. So I was non weight bearing nearly 18 weeks. The accident was early January 2024. I have heen backwards and forwards to hospital with wound problems and they want to remove main plate and 10 screws due to leg swelling and possibly inhibited blood flow. also its preventing the wound from healing properly. The problem is I have also developed a dermatitist type rash and flaring up around the healing area. They need to get the plate out but they cant while the wound is acting up but its the plate causing it. I am so over it and Im bloody scared. I am back seeing surgeon again next week but cant see any light at the end of the tunnel. I am petrified of the surgery to, if and when it may happen. I can walk and do most things albeit slow and always thinking where I am walking as a cant risk another fall. I am so glad to have your blogs to read. You have been an inspiration to me. I live in Australia.