broken tibia and fibia and now freaking out---any good stories???

[Krischaser]

Hi I fell down stairs and broke my leg (tibia and fibula) and keep reading these stories on long recovery time and lots of pain afterwards for years. It is really freaking me out. Anyone have any good experiences or knows someone who has? Thanks

 

[nexttrip4us]

I'm so sorry to hear that...hugs!

Almost 3 years ago, broke my fibula and tore the deltoid ligament in my right foot...had surgery, plates, pins...

That said, 4 months after I did it, I took a 12+ hour road trip with my family to South Dakota and 6 months after I did it, I was back in Disney and did just fine. All this, while being a mom to 4, working at my job, doing work around my house... Yes crutches and casts stinks but you will do what you have to do.

Was there pain? Yes. Swelling? Yes. Did I get through it and ultimately do just fine? YES!

Hang in there! I know this completely stinks, but you will get through it!

 

[figment52]

Hi I fell down stairs and broke my leg (tibia and fibula) and keep reading these stories on long recovery time and lots of pain afterwards for years. It is really freaking me out. Anyone have any good experiences or knows someone who has? Thanks

So sorry to hear about your accident. BTDT. Contact your local weather stations - you will be able to predict changes in the weather MUCH BETTER than any of their weather people - at least for the next year or so. I wasn't as good after the first year, but that first year I was so much more accurate than the professionals.

On a more constructive note, when it comes time for your physical theraphy ask your doctor if you are can do aquatheraphy. You will be amazed at how much it speeds up your recovery.

 

[AUPr8Hd]

Hi I fell down stairs and broke my leg (tibia and fibula) and keep reading these stories on long recovery time and lots of pain afterwards for years. It is really freaking me out. Anyone have any good experiences or knows someone who has? Thanks

There will be good days and bad days. My wife broke her femur last June. We went to WDW in late September/early October for Food & Wine. We had to go at a different pace. But, we did everything we wanted. There was some swelling some days. She has days every now and then where the leg throbs. But, she can do whatever she feels like now.

 

[heartsy77]

I broke my fib/tib July 4 2008. It was a long process with lots surgery and PT but I was able to go to WDW in DEC and only had rent a scooter for 1 day! Of course I was on pain meds and fluid pills for swelling. Aug 09 I had my plate screws removed, as they were bothering me.

I can say the best thing to come out of fib/tib was that I learned how valuable my family is. My kids 15, 12, 9 took care of me while DH was at work. They also helped me keep my job ( self employed daycare provider) they made lunches for the kids, changed diapers and everything. My mom took me to all my dr appts, and husband watched the kids while I was gone. I would have never made it through it without them!! I didn't have to close, even for 1 day, even when I was in the hospital, because everyone pitched in . My DH even worked OT the day I came home!

I also went camping in a wheel chair 2 weeks post op!

As far as pain goes it mostly weather related and not that bad.

Best advice I can give you try to do what you can live your life!

 

[Stacerita]

My DD broke both of those bones in three places a few Octobers ago walking the dog. Is was a freak accident. She was able to play softball (competitively) that January. She has not had any complaints of soreness or anything like that since she healed. Because of the placement of the three breaks, she was in a full leg cast up to her hip for a month, then a regular leg cast for a few more weeks till she got a "walking" cast. But she has not had any problems since. She plays flag football, soccer, softball and runs cross country.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Start taking vitamin C. It has a lot of healing properties. I would take 1500 a day.

 

[meriface11]

i broke my tibia when i was 9. was in a cast up to my thigh for for 2-3 months and then they replaced it with one up to my knee for another month or so, but no surgery. if i remember correctly, i got a walking boot with the up to the knee cast. i was in a lot of pain for about 2 weeks after the break, but they had to reset it after a couple of days (i broke it skiing and i banged it out of place when i was traveling back to my home). once they put the up to the knee cast on, i had trouble bending my knee because it had been straight for so long. I probably could have used PT, but that wasn't really a standard practice back in the early 80s. That all being said, aside from the pain from the initial break, there wasn't much pain, and after a few months, i went back to walking normally, playing sports, etc. just fine.

 

[mousefan1972]

Hi I fell down stairs and broke my leg (tibia and fibula) and keep reading these stories on long recovery time and lots of pain afterwards for years. It is really freaking me out. Anyone have any good experiences or knows someone who has? Thanks

Honestly? It depends. I am a physical therapist with about 14 years of experience in orthopedics and have seen many tib/fib fractures. Many patients do very well but some have lingering issues. Some of the things that would affect your recovery are: Were the fractures open or closed? Did you need surgery to stabilize either fracture? Are you able to weight bear on your leg at all? How old are you? Etc...

The biggest thing I can recommend to you in order to heal fully is to listen and adhere to your doctor and physical therapist's advice. Good luck with your recovery!

 

[Krischaser]

HI my breaks were closed. They were clean and snapped in half. I am having surgery tomorrow to keep them in position. I can not bear weight on them. What do you think. I am doing crutches now.

 

[disneymarie]

I am sorry about your break, I hope that you have as great a recovery as I hear some of the Olympians have had. Their stories were amazing. To go through breaks and be in pt and then training, wow.

Good luck to you, I know it must be painful and limiting your mobility.
di

 

[Krischaser]

oh and the worst part is that I have a six month old

 

[ldo]

I had a skiing accident and had a BAD spiral break (boken in 1/2 and shattered up and down) on my tibia and fibula also broken. I did not have surgery (but should have). I was in a series of casts for 7 months (longer than normal). My 1st cast was up to my hip--i had that for 6 weeks--BUT, I was back to work in a week, riding the bus and subway. At 4 months, I was in a walking cast (boot). At each cast change, I had them push my foot on a stool and hold it for 10 minutes before recasting to stretch my achilles (it was casted pointed down b/c that was the position of the foot when they took my ski boot off). They thought I was sort of strange asking this, but they did it--and it worked fo rme--my flexibility of the broken leg's ankle was not quite as good as the other, but it was good enough. When I got out of my cast, 7 months later, I required no PT and was walking fine. My running gait was off for about a year, but otherwise, I was fine and 18 years later am still fine, no pain, and yes, I have been back up the slopes! The 1st week is the worst pain, then it's Ok.
You will have to get help for the baby for a while--after that, you can probably manage if you ahve to. Put baby and you on the main floor during the day, even if you ahve to buy a cheap crib and put it in the living room for naps. You can frontpack the baby to get him/her around the house on crutches after you get used to them and your leg gets to feeling better. I think a baby is better than a 1 yr old b/c he/she is not mobile yet. it sounds like you knee is Ok---be glad, bones heal, knees can be messed up for good. hang in there. Elaine

 

[0hLovely]

I broke my Tib/Fib almost 6 years ago! Had a compound fracture and had to have surgery to add plates and about 9 screws. I was outta commission for awhile. I don't remember exact length, i was thinking 4-5 months with a mixture of full leg cast, half cast, walking brace and such.

I don't really have any pain anymore, i have a rather long scar down my leg and in a few spots I can feel where the plate is, they said I could have that taken out not, but haven't had the time to bother with it. Sometimes if my DD jumps on it while its resting on a coffee table or something similar, It kinda has some pain to it, but as far as WDW goes, no problems. my dd was young when I did it as well, luckily my family was able to help out ALOT!

Good Luck!

 

[honeydiane1953]

Hi I fell down stairs and broke my leg (tibia and fibula) and keep reading these stories on long recovery time and lots of pain afterwards for years. It is really freaking me out. Anyone have any good experiences or knows someone who has? Thanks

Bad breaks. Are you planning a WDW trip. An EVC is a must. I rent them the whole week I am down there due to back surgery. I look in the YELLOW PAGES once I get down there and keep them the WHOLE time I am there. They even deliver them to my room!!

 

[mousefan1972]

HI my breaks were closed. They were clean and snapped in half. I am having surgery tomorrow to keep them in position. I can not bear weight on them. What do you think. I am doing crutches now.

I think it will be a tough recovery, but you should be ok in the end. After the bones are stabilized w/ surgery, you should be able to gradually increase your weight bearing. Be sure to ask your doctor about PT, and when he thinks you'll be able to start. I have patient right now who broke her tibia skiing and is non-weight bearing, but I'm helping her with her range of motion and quad strength. Good luck!! I hope you have help with your baby.

 

[Swimalie]

I had my tibia broken on purpose. I had my knee realigned in Aug 1999. In order for the doctor to do this, he had to break my tibia, move it and secure it with 2 screws. I spent about 4 weeks on crutches. I started physical therapy 2 days after surgery and had a CPM (constant passive motion) machine at home where I did 6 hours a day in that machine to get my leg to learn to bend again. By November I was back dancing ballet and by Dec I was back on pointe. Back then I was not swimming and now I'm swimming with no knee problems. I'm sure you will do great. Listen to your doctor and physical therapist, even when you want to give up. Good luck!

 

[SeansMom]

Control the things you can and let go of the rest. Eat well ( ya know, fruits, vegies, lots of water) take a good vitamin supplement plus D and Calcium (bones=calcium, but need the D and magnesium to help) and pay attention to the good advice here for PT, like water therapy. Lots of people heal well from injuries. Best of luck

 

[tink2dw]

Start taking Glucosamine Chondroitin NOW!! It comes in pills called Osteo Bi-flex, there is a red drink with Glucosamine Chondroitin, and the newest form is packets for water bottles!!

Read about it here
http://www.drugstore.com/products/p...m=elations_healthier_joint&CAWELAID=443600224

After 2 years of suffering from a knee injury, 6 months of Osteo Bi-flex pills and I could walk comfortably again!!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I broke my ankle in 2 places 18 months ago. I had a 1 year old at the time. I've got plates and screws. It's a hard recovery, but you'll get through. I am constantly noticing that I can do things now, I couldn't a few months ago. I'm doing Disney in 3 weeks. We know we will have to go at a different pace than I would have, but in a way it is a blessing. I was forced to slow down and smell the flowers.
My biggest advice is to listen to your body. Sometimes you need to push it to make it better, especially durign physical therapy...but don't push it too far or you will land yourself in a worse position. For me recovery was like 2 steps forward, one step back. And make sure you stretch that achilles at every casting!! That has been the biggest thing that has slowed down my recovery.