Tibial plateau fracture?

[Someone]

I had a wipeout. I have a "tibial plateau fracture", already went through surgery 2.5 weeks ago. Have a plate and some screws. No weightbearing for 90 days(or unless xrays show quicker healing), many months to recover, etc, etc, etc!!!

There has to be people here with success stories of this injury. I've started therapy already, and do exercises and stretching for range of movement.

I was in serious pain for the first two weeks. Now it's not so bad, except I am still on crutches. I hate crutches. I work in my basement and sleep/eat upstairs. So it's a pain going up and down sliding on my ass.

Anyway, please shed me some good news that I may ride again this year...

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Make sure you don't put any weight on it until you are told to. Any movement can result in non-unions of some of the pieces. I don't think that is why mine didn't heal, but I did have to go back a year later and have them do bone grafts to get the pieces that didn't calcify to heal properly. Almost 2 years, now, and in the mornings I don't limp much.

 

[Someone]

Thanks for your feedback. I am doing everything possible not to put any weight on it. I am doing therapy 1-2 times a week and gaining as much strength through excersize and flexing. This will be two years in a row I haven't gotten to ride much at all. I can ride my quad, but it's just not the same. I even cut my grass on my quad pulling a 60" Swisher. It took 4 hours to cut my 5 acres.

Blah, I just can't believe I am going to be "down" for another 60 days at least.

 

[IndyMX]

Been there done that...

My injury was over 2 years ago, still don't have full range of motion and still have quite a bit of stiffness in my knee.

I still have a bit of a limp, some days it's better than others..

The inside part of my lower leg is still numb.

 

[VintageDirt]

I did one of those in 1986, got the bone graft. Never did get right and now it's really bad.

 

[Someone]

Damn, I wanted some good news. This knee has always been bad for me anyway, and now this. Looks like I may be a sitter when coming to riding again.

 

[IndyMX]

I'm riding.. Plus I started racing flat track last year. That's not been a problem at all, just walking.

 

[Someone]

I don't care about walking as much as riding, as long as I can get around without much pain. Sick of people telling me to sell my YZ and I am too old for this stuff, etc..

My right leg has always helped my left leg when riding, so it's used to picking up the slack. My last PT I got on an eliptical bike and it felt great, made me feel like my leg was working again. I was also put on a machine that bends and straightens your leg, then it tells you a % of how much you actually helped.

I live alone and work from home, but have a flight of stairs to get to my work computer in the basment every day, so I am getting good at finding ways of doing things being crippled.

 

[IndyMX]

I "lived" upstairs during my convalescence... Spiral stairs at that.. I gained an incredible amount of upper body strength during that time.. Hauling my fat ass up those stairs with just my arms was a hell of a workout.

 

[BSWIFT]

If you would like some good news,.....
A friend of mine, 85 year old, broke his femur and it went thru the skin! Tough old man was joked with the nurses. Asked them if they were putting Viagra in his IV. Do the therapy and progress as you can, not as you want.

 

[Someone]

One of the xrays from this week. Doc said I can weightbear as tolerated. So the bone is pretty much healed after 5 weeks after surgery. My quad is crazy weak, so I am working on that plus extention. Anyway:
Http://www.foolshosting.com/xray.jpg

 

[Someone]

Delete me, repost.

 

[VintageDirt]

Looks very familiar... http://www.wesbaca.com/images/KneeXray.jpg

 

[Someone]

Yup, looks just like mine. Also looks like the screws to all the way through the bone and stick out. Just like mine. I can't feel them tho when I rub my leg.

The entire area that the plate is under my skin is completely numb. I have no feeling at all where the plate is, and more.

After testing putting weight on it since Monday, I can feel every day I am getting closer and closer to at least limping without crutches.

 

[Someone]

I was able to limp without crutches with a little liquid courage. I am already buying new parts for my YZ 250. Want to be riding in the next month!

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Looks very familiar... http://www.wesbaca.com/images/KneeXray.jpg

Yep...

 

[Someone]

Nice. It's been two months since I did my damage, and I am still on crutches 90% of the time. I can put all my weight on my leg, but not when it's even slightly bent. My entension was already screwed before this happened, now it's worse. They say my quad is extremely weak still, and I have popping when exercising it, which they say is probably normal or OK.

I see my orthopedist again in two weeks. Hopefully by then I will be walking, yah right. This SUCKS.

I have nightmares about riding and putting my bad leg out on a corner! CRACKLE, POP, SNAP! hehe.

 

[IndyMX]

2 years out and my quad is still only 60%.. And talk about pop and crack!! WOW...

 

[Someone]

That's not very encouraging.

My knee was (*^&* before this happened, after miniscus(sp) cleanup surgery, and many crashes in the woods. I couldn't extend it fully before I this latest ordreal happened. My PT's are telling me to stretch it to get full extension, they just won't believe that it just aint gunna happen unless they slice my hamstrings.

I have PT tomorrow again, gunna get yelled at for not doing my execises, etc. Maybe if they were hot and close to my age (they're older)...

 

[High Lord Gomer]

That's not a bad thing thing, if mine were older than me they would be retired or dead.

 

[Someone]

My first ride on the trails was yesterday, 10-8-11 since I snapped my leg. I had all new gear (bought just prior to breaking my leg back in June). PERFECT weather in SE Ohio. Trails were way too groomed(Dorr Run in Wayne National Forest if anyone is familiar), but I was in no condition to be riding in extreme conditions anyway.

My left leg is weak as all hell. The only way I could get off the seat was to bounce up on a jump/woop. Then I could ride standing up for about 30 seconds before losing strength and had to sit back down. I rode a grand total of about 12 miles. I recorded the slow-mo action on my contour-HD. It's not worth the download.

Anyway, I have mixed feelings about getting back on the bike. It felt GREAT to be on two wheels again, but VERY frustrating to be so limited. I've had MANY other health issues that hinder anything I do, even though I am 44yrs old, I have been through more *hit than most people in their 60's. I haven't ridden in the woods since Fall of 2009 thanks to God's gifts. I know it's not fun to read, but venting makes me feel a bit better when I can type it out.

Anyway, I haven't given up just yet. I am going to exercise the crap out of my bad leg over the winter and make it my personal goal to get back up to at least 80% of my former abilities.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

I know exactly how you're feeling. I'm hoping that after they take the metal out of my leg (day after tomorrow), it will feel better and I will be able to start exercising again.

 

[Someone]

How'd everything go? I think your procedure was today. I don't know if I would benefit from having my stuff taken out or not. I guess mine will take more time before I know.

Anyway, I really hope things turn out ok and for the better.

 

[IndyMX]

I'm afraid that if I have the metal removed it'll be another 6 months of healing time.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

My metal plate was external with screws going through it and into the bone. I expect very little recovery time from this one. Now, if it was a rod inside the bone, I could see that taking much longer.