Orthopedics :: Broken Leg - Spiral Fracture To The Tibia
Jan 3, 2014
I broke my leg on the 21st September 2013, and it has now been broken for 15 weeks! I have a spiral fracture to the right tibia, and the doctors decided not to operate. I had a full leg cast for the first 8 weeks, and then went onto a half leg cast, fully weight baring! At first I could only put some of my weight through the bone, and would rely mostly on my crutches, but recently I have been able to hobble around with using no crutches at all - I only do this when i'm inside my house as I would still not rely on my bone fully to steady me. But in the last week or so, it has started to ache more, and it had completely stopped hurting before I am scared that I have put to much weight through it and damaged it again! The pain isn't that bad, it comes and goes and i only take paracetamol to make the ache go away, but it really is worrying me! I don't yet know when my cast is due off as apparently the doctors said my bone will take 4 to 4 and a half months to heal, but by my x rays he said it could be a little earlier! I am a 19 year old girl at university, doing a practical drama degree, so as you can imagine this has been a nightmare for me & I was so hoping I was nearing the end! It seems ever lasting! I'm just wondering if this pain that i'm experiencing now is normal, or if i have possibly done something to damage the break again! I am just panicking because i so want this to be over now i've come 15 weeks and i don't want to go back to square 1
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Last February 11, 2014, I fractured my leg (distal tibia and fibula). My doctor calls it Pilon Fracture. Spiral comminuted fracture of the distal tibia and fibula involving the articulations.
February 15, 2014, I went through MIPO (minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis). 4 weeks(March 11) after the operation, my doctor advised me to put some weight on it and so I did. 4 weeks(April 11) later, I had an xray and it appears like nothing's changed from my 1st x ray 4 weeks ago. I tried to put more weight on it but surprisingly, it doesn't hurt nor caused me any discomfort.
How long does a distal tibia and fibula fracture that went through MIPO heal? Exactly when would I walk again without my crutches?!
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On January 31, I fell on ice walking my dogs and fractured my surgical neck of my arm and have a very large spiral fracture down my humorous. Initially the pain was pretty bad, I struggled with sleeping, but after day seven it started feeling a little less painful. But then I met with orthopedic again and he put me in a plastic brace to help align the bone and now the pain is almost unbelievable. The only thing I am taking is Tylenol because any kind of opiate makes me very nauseous, and I have a history stomach ulcer so I cannot take Ibuprofen. This whole ordeal has been a huge struggle for me to go from a very active person to sitting in the recliner all day long. I am alone also most of the days because my husband has to go to work. It's been really hard for me not to become overwhelmingly depressed. I'm dealing with the guilt of not being able to go to work as I am a supervisor of a program. In addition I have four animals that are being neglected because I don't have the energy and stamina to do anything with them. Not being able to be self-sufficient is also extremely saddening to me. It is hard for me to see the future when when the orthopedic is saying it will be at least six weeks before I will start seeing some changes. I have tried to keep my mind occupied with things but all I want to do is get better. How has other folks dealt with the pain, the lack of independence and the feeling of being cooped up?
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Dec 2012 I broke my fibula in 1 place, my tibia in 2 and shattered my ankle.
I have had 2 surgeries and currently have one 10 inch plate, one 12 inch plate and 19 screws in my leg.
I realize I am only 9 months into recovery. My surgeon and pain management dr both have said the typical recovery is 18months to 2years or longer.
My question is this.. can the screws become infected or have issue at this point in recovery? While the majority of the pain is obviously deep bone pain, I have no feeling on half my leg and the other side the nerves go crazy and fire at random times.
However the last month I am feeling this weird pressure high up on the tibia plate where 4 screws are located. It is definitely warmer than the rest of the area and a small swollen area.
I still have major issues walking and stretching, but the last few weeks the largest area of discomfort (besides the ankle which is always there) is high up on the tibia where I mentioned.
I saw my surgeon two days ago and he said x rays did not show any issue with hardware and it is probably just my bone and muscle getting used to walking again.
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I have broken my tib and fib -(think it's called a bimalleolar fracture?) I did it on a pair of high heels at Xmas party, stupid or what? I climbed up one step and it was gone over, my future for next however many months mapped out for me I a nano second! I have the usual metal plate and screws like many of you folk in here. I had my cast off on Monday and went to a physio today who advised me to not use the airboot and "try " to use just the crutches in the house and airboot outside. I a m confused as the consultant at the hospital said keep boot on for two weeks then ditch it AND the crutches. I am really confused, I want to push myself but don't want to do any damage. I am so down, fed up and FRUSTRATED? I have been given exercises from the physio man which he said to do every couple of hours and push through the pain as he said it needs to get moving ASAP. My ankle is so swollen, STIFF and painful. I just don't know what advice is the best? I am 49 WAS fit doing spinning, gym, swimming and lots of classes.
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On April 30th of this year I broke my Fibula & Tibia in a work related accident. They had me in a External Fixture for four months which meant I had to hop around on one leg using a walker (My youngest likes to run around so I refrained from using crutches)
Now over time three of my toes (the middle ones) were starting to curl down, which I suspected was due to gravity just messing with me, but now I've been able to just have my foot on the ground for a while and to no success they remain curled.
Now when my foot is non weight bearing I can stretch my toes (By hand) just fine without it giving me too much trouble except for the fact it will slowly go back to position.
When the foot is planted on the ground the toes are way harder to straighten... Anyone have an idea what's going on.. The doc keeps telling me it will be fine and my therapist says it's something she's never seen before and can't really explain it.
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I had a horse fall and have managed to fracture my left tibia in a spiral complex formation.
They decided not to operate and I have now been in a cast for 7 weeks and have another 3 weeks until my next visit to the fracture clinic
Has anyone else been in a cast this long and non weight bearing? How long until I will be able to ride again once the cast has come off?
I am getting really bored at home now because my work won't let me return until I am walking and the doctor keeps signing me off!
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My sister had a broken tibia and needed surgery including pins, and added bone marrow. She says she is crying all the time. Can this type of surgery cause crying all the time?
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After surviving the longest MN winter ever, and being extra-careful out on the ice, I tripped on my stairs INSIDE last Thursday. My initial concern was my throbbing left shin, but the right foot ultimately won out, sending me to my GP on Friday morning. X-rays were performed and the fracture was discovered. I was placed into a moon boot, warned that surgery "might" be necessary due to the location of the fracture, and sent home sans crutches, knee walker, or anything else, to await my consult with the orthopod on Monday.
During the vast expanse of free time I had, I rediscovered this site and many others, and also emailed my cousin who is a physician, and managed to get myself totally confused as to the best course of action concerning the healing process.
Long story short, orthopod said fairly clean (though spiral) fracture, very minimal displacement, and recommended no surgery, NWB for two weeks, and a follow-up x-ray on the 17th to see if any bone 'tackiness' is evident (judging from what I have read, this seems highly unlikely).
My concern now is that practically ever since the fall, I have had little to no pain in my foot while bearing weight on the moon boot. My MD cousin said, as did some posters here, that weight bearing stimulates healing and bone growth. So... not to second-guess my ortho, but I am wondering whether I am doing myself and my foot a disservice by NOT putting weight on it. It seems to be getting stiffer and sorer (when I gingerly test my weight on it on occasion) ever since I have started using the crutches and the knee walker. Am I doing the right thing? Is the ortho being too cautious and conservative, or am I being too impatient and skeptical?
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last year on 30th November I had an accident and resulted my right leg both bones tibia and fibula are broken “ just above the 5 inches from the ankle”. I went to a hospital which is located to near my home and met doctor , after watching my x ray doctor said its a compound fracture nd asked me to have an road fitment surgery. As me and my family was not having any experience about any fracture so my parents decided to meet more doctors for consultation.
They forwarded my x ray to some more doctors and one of my relatives references 1 doctor replied in this case we don’t need to have an surgery. Me and my family was believing into that if Doctor is saying there is no need for surgery then why should go for surgery by our self.
We followed this doctor , and he treated my leg with the help of “C ARM Machine” technique and the given alignment treatment to my broken leg by pressing hard by his hands many time . he casted my leg fully with the plaster and asked me to meet after 2 months.
After 45 days of my accident i went to that hospital which is located to near my home for x ray , suddenly that doctor( who suggested me road surgery) came in front of me and i met him and shown my latest x ray. He replied i asked you to have an road fitment surgery ,now as per your x ray your bones alignment is done properly, may be your leg can fall on land wrongly and may be i cant walk in right shape like before and may be will give you pain for long time also. He asked me i still can go for surgery...he made me confused fully......i hate this
I was worried....after 2 months ..i met my doctor again and told him everything and said some other doctor is saying this....he have seen my latest x ray( 2 months xray) and replied everything is perfect , there is only little angle difference and that may not result you all these things ....its acceptable. He said that doctor is misguiding you and want to make money through surgery only. There is no need for surgery that's why i did this best treatment for u, even your bones alignment is almost about 85 % and it cant be more better than this through this manual process treatment.
I was panic thats why very next day i went back that hospital’s doctor and asked him to do road fitment surgery and shown my 2 months x ray , this time he taken his step back nd replied its 2 months passed already now don’t go for surgery it may not give that much of good results as my fibula bone is already healed. He said there are few chances only ...or may be everything will be alright also......he made me so confused....i hate this......
So i trusted again my old doctor nd decided to follow him nd next day went back to him...he cutted my old full leg plaster fully and casted new plaster till my knee only...he asked me to move my knee slowly slowly by using sitting on chair, he told me i will feel some pain because my knee is not in working mode for past 2 months...he asked me if i want to walk then i can use crutches by pushing my broken leg little up.
Now 15 more days has passed ...totally 10 weeks ..........i don’t know whats going ...i am trying to move my knee by some exercise nd it was paining in the starting .....but slowly slowly its moving better nd pains little when i start exercise for first 5 minutes only .
Still i am worried internally ....i want my leg as before ...don't want to walk in any wrong shape...i just recently got married nd having my full life ahead.....kindly tell me how much more time it will take to heal completely...and when i will be start walking normally....plz give your comments about alignments of my bones also...i m attaching my 2 month x ray pic in my profile , want to attach in the main body but not able find this option
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Ok so Iv damaged my leg somehow a few days ago whilst out drinking and at first I thought it was going to be fine, there was no bruise it just stung to touch as if I was being stabbed with a pin. I rested the next day as it bothered me to walk on it, I limp when walking, its the third day now and it still feels like im being stabbed with even the softest touch and still no bruise .....
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I was in an auto accident in March 2012. One of my many injuries was a crushed ankle and compound fracture of the tibia. I have a plate, several screws, and a rod or 'nail' in my right leg. On my last checkup I was told that the steel rod in my leg was broken. I am wondering if anyone has ever heard of this happening?
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I'm 33. Happened during wrestling. What kind of break is this? How long before I can start walking? How long before the screws / metal removed?
Aren't those screws sticking out the other side of the bone? Is that not a problem?
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My 50 husband broke the tibia in his right ankle over 10 weeks ago and wore the boot for 6 weeks. Now being almost 3 weeks since taking the boot off and he is in alot of pain and severe swelling. Why is his ankle still swollen and him continue to be in severe pain? Is there anything we can do to help him?
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I broke my fib and tib on January 22nd, nearly 23 weeks ago. The fracture was treated conservatively, in a long leg cast for 6 weeks. After 1 week, x rays showed angulation, and wedges were applied in the cast. This seemed to be successful, as there is no evidence of malunion. After 6 weeks, a sarmiento cast was applied and 50% weight bearing initiated. At 12 weeks, x rays showed healing was being slow and after a further 4 weeks in a second sarmiento cast, at 16 weeks, although there had been some growth, it was deemed necessary to have a further 4 weeks in a Miami cast. At 20 weeks, the registrar was of the opinion that healing was still no adequate, and a CT scan is being arranged. Options suggested if there is evidence of delayed healing, are: bone stimulator or bone graft.
There is no pain on standing although there are some occasional twinges over the fracture when walking. Weight bearing has now been increased on advice, to 70%. I always use a walker.
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I broke my tibia a week ago. I had a cast put on three days ago. I did not need surgery. I know that there is going to be swelling. I have been staying off of it and when I do get up I use crutches. Within five minutes of me being up my foot and toes swell very. bad and toes become cold and numb. Is this normal? My other concern is that my ankle actually feels better when it is slightly swollen. When should I worry about the swelling in my foot?
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On 4/5/16 I fell and had an x ray. It showed a lateral malleolus fracture of the right ankle. Last week, Dr was concerned with the amount of swelling, bruising and pain. Therefore he scheduled me for an MRI this past Saturday. Results came back today but I don't see the dr again till 5/23. Debating on if I should wait till then to see my ortho or if I should try to get in sooner with someone else.
Mri says
Again identified are changes of a lateral malleolus fracture as identified on x-ray. With surrounding large amounts of edema, they are no definite ligamentous injury to be confirmed. Abundant fluid noted within the sinus tarsus and probable deltoid ligaments.
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I have a spiral fracture of the Tibia. It has been fixed with a plate however the surgeon left a gap in the bones. (This gap was not present in the original x-ray prior to surgery). After 12 weeks there is no sign of the bone healing. I sort a 2nd opinion & was advised that the bone is unlikely to heal because of the gap & further surgery was recommended to join up the gap & possible a bone graft.
What is the conventional thinking on this? Should bones be fixed touching to heal?
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Why did my doctor not put a cast on my leg..he gave me a walker and a knee brace and told me not to put pressure on my right leg because the bone May split and then I would have to have surgery...seems like he would put a cast on my leg to make sure it doesn't move the bone.
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I broken my tibia in my ankle 5 days ago! It is a small clean break! It hardly hurt at all, didn't cry until they said it was broken! No exciting story i was running up the stairs and went over on my right ankle on the landing!
I hardly had any swelling as I put ice on it straight away and went to a+e straight away. They put me in a temp cast. I found this very uncomfortable and went straight back in the morning as they said the break was very small and in a 'good place'. They said I could have a air boot.
I am due to go to the fracture clinic in just under two weeks! To check the progress!
My biggest problem is that I am going away in just 3 weeks and really not wanting to wear the airboot whilst I'm away! Could anyone advise me if this would possible!
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I faced an accident one month ago and broken my tibia and fibula of right leg... i was operated with a rod surgery.. a rod and 3 nails were placed.. please tell how much time it will take to recover... and after how much time i should go for a xray...
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