Erica's tib fib fracture recovery

by Erica
(Midland, Texas)

Nov. 22, 2009 I fell and broke tib and fib and dislocated ankle joint. Surgery next day & now have metal plate and 7 screws in the tib. Wore boot-cast for 6 weeks (non weight-bearing.) X-ray showed bones healed, so began weight bearing and physical therapy. Went to PT 3 days a week for about 6 weeks. Doctor says it will take time to get back to normal. Now it's been 14 weeks since the break. I am back to work at a desk job and do my regular daily activities, and I have pain/discomfort and swelling in the left lower leg/ankle area every day. I have heard this can go on for 12-18 months - the pain and swelling and stiffness. I am assuming that I am on a normal road to recovery. Please let me know if I am "on schedule" for a normal recovery from this type of fracture/surgery and what I should be doing to enhance my recovery progress. Any suggestions, information, or advice is most welcomed. Thanks, Erica (female, age 61)

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Erica's tib fib fracture recovery

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Mar 29, 2011
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help
by: Anonymous

I had a Tib/Fib fracture,I have a rod going to my knee all the way down to my ankle area,! screw is holding this rod in place.
Anyway,it has been 7 weeks,I still need crutches to hold my weight,how long will it take before I can walk without crutches.
I have a walking boot,but I have to have support to walk,because it is so painful.
please help.what should I do.

Sep 01, 2011
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Life After My Surgery
by: Anonymous

In 2005, I broke my tib, fib and dislocated by left ankle in a MVA. It was an open compound fracture and I spent over 30 days in the hospital dealing with infection and rehab. I healed well but had continuous pain. My surgeon recommended that I have the plates and screws removed in April 2010. Since that surgery I have increased range of motion and pain is much improved. I am 56 years old and my injury was really bad, but having the hardware removed has improved my quality of life. I still wear sneakers but only have pain if I spend extended periods standing or walking. Hope this helps.

Nov 21, 2011
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MIRACLE...PATIENCE..... ORIF TIBIA/ANKLE RECOVERY
by: macey

I was surprise on sept. 9 ,2011 I broke my tibia by only walking in the sand. I was wearing an inch shoes when accidentally it stuck in the sand in between a 2 fly woods. I was out balanced and fell down, after few seconds my muscle become swollen without realizing it broke my tibia when i tried to move i heard the sound of my bones squeezing.i have several fracture small damage in fibia,in my tibia a big cut near the knee, big x in the middle and another cut above the ankle .. i had diagnosis of distal tibia and trimeochular ankle fracture. on the next day i undergo orif distal tibia they put about 10-12 inches titanium plate and 15 screws including a big screw inserted in the fibia.
i had spinal anesthia and awake, partly i saw my operation in the mirror . i dont know why they give me only antibiotic during the operation after it was only ibufropen and panadol and iv medicine for controlling my vomiting and for blod clot.on my first 2 days i can't eat i only vomit and have terrible pain though it was only 2nd day they teach me to do basic rom exercises. on my third day they ask me to stand up and learn to walk in a walker.it was not easy on my 4th day they teach me to use the crutches but NWB on my 5th day they want me to go home i refused due to nobody will help me at home and i had fever.On my 7th day i was release in the hospital and this is the start of my journey.
*It was not easy only 2 days i drink ibufropen or 2 panadol i tried to avoid the medicine and tolerate the pain instead i took supplements and vitamis bio elixir and splina liquid chlorophyll from edmark, vitamin c, seacod omega3, anlene milk and everyday oranges, apple, banana and more veggies .
*mobility is very difficult we are sleeping on the matress without a bed i need to crawl or kneel enable for me to stand.
*since our house is a studio only i dont use cruthes at home I hop most of the time.
* i was stuck at home for almost a month i dont know how to walk upstairs without a guardian i was afraid.
*on my 5th week i went for xray it was disappointing to know my bones have no development despite am taking all helathy supplements and did lots of rom execises.
*on my 6th week i start and practice to walk in the sun every morning and my neighbor allows me to borrow her scalar pendant, gave me a megaton multivitamin and she told me drink everyday a fermented lemon by making a lemon juice including the skin and seeds and add a teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt.
*on my 8th week i start to drive in our garage only and i can step my foot longer than before.
*on my 9th week i started to practice walking wt 1 crutch now am in 10th week i can walk with 1 crutch if far and without crutches at home...
prayer is the most important, patience and discipline... i walk but still limp its ok....

Jan 12, 2012
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Fractured fibula and talus shift NEW
by: JJ

Hi everyone, i have already wrote on here but cant find my last comment.
In November 2010 i was pushed over by a colleague and i fell and fractured my fibula and the talus had shifted also. I was in agony.
I had to have surgery and got a metal plate and screws put in there for support.
Yesterday I had the cast removed and my leg felt so weird. Its been 6 weeks and learning to walk again is so hard.
When i read these forums i see people who have played football and fell or slipped on ice and fell or fell down stairs. I need some tips for my state of mind as somebody actually did this to me.
I know it was an accident but i cant get over it and its doing my head in.
I keep thinking it should of been her not me. How do i get rid of this feeling of hate towards her?
I have started to try to walk today but its so hard, i think its more pschological than anything as it has healed but i just cannot walk on it, putting weight on it terrifys me and my hip is in agony cause im used to putting all my weight on it from the crutches so now i have a deformed right side where i just cant walk straight or normal. I hope this goes.
This is so hard and im sick of people saying its only a broken bone it will heal, they havent a clue!

Jan 13, 2012
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JJ...it is what it is NEW
by: Pam

You broke your leg, sincerely, welcome to our exclusive club and I say that fondly. My accident happen 16 months ago and I still walk with a cane. My foot was ripped off and reattached successfully. I had pretty bad dreams about it for awhile, my Dr gave be some medication for a short time and that helped, I got through it. The first time a heard a helicopter fly over the house I had a meltdown. :) We all go to a place within ourselves to get through this and the "normal" people who have not experienced a catastrophic injury to a limb will never understand what it is like, that is why we are such a special club! I am sure that your co-worker feels bad about what happened and no doubt wishes that they could take that split second back... but it is what it is and it can not be changed so you must move on and work on your recovery.

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