Broken tibia and fibula

Hi. I am so sorry to hear about your accident. Comparing to your injuries, mine may seem like nothing. I broke my fibula and dislocated the whole ankle structure on 27th March and had surgery on 31st March. Plate and 6 screws. It was a major surgery. I was 6 weeks in a cast no weight bearing, followed by another 6 weeks in a boot with partial weight bearing. I am 14 weeks post surgery and walk unaided in my shoes. I almost got my whole life back. Before the injury,I worked for 34 years with people with injuries like yours and mine so this time I was my own client. I heard during the years about people who had no healing and had to have extra bone graft surgeries, so I tried to avoid problems like this. I had every day Calcium, vit D and K to help the healing plus vitamin C 3 times a day. Also tried to keep active even in the wheelchair. Change your diet. Add milk, dairy, lots of citrus. Also protein. I am a vegetarian so I had every day mushrooms, beans and eggs. Also drimk loads of water. Take those vitamins I mentioned. It would make such an improvement. Good luck with the recovery. I trully believe that you will heal well.

Brigitte

Was this was a very serious injury, I am so sorry for you and the loss of your friend. I know another surgery is always last resort so I hope it does heal before then. Maybe a second opinion from another surgeon because I know not being able to walk without pain is not what you want. I think when the body has a lot of injuries to heal it may require more time. Im just getting out of my walking boot after 7 months tomorrow. I had two surgeries and still havepain in my ankle when I do the excercises. I heard a year for full healing.

I wish you all the best with your recovery!

Margie

Hi Nicke,

My sympathies go out to you on your accident and injuries. I'm so glad you dialed into this forum because there are many of us here with hard-won advice that might help you.

Brigitte's advice on diet and nutrition is spot on. Unfortunately, the average physician is little help on dietary advice, especially for fracture and trauma patients (they say that medical doctors receive about an hour of instruction on nutrition during their entire medical training). If your doctors are mainstream like mine was they will never mention the need for a specially tailored recovery diet so you are on your own. Thankfully, there is a ton of good dietary information in books and online.

It is disturbing that after 5 months your fractured left leg hasn't mended. You mentioned using a 'bone stimulator', but you did not elaborate. PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) devices have been used for decades to heal bone breaks that refuse to heal by themselves (even some atrocious long-time non-unions respond to this therapy). So one wonders if the device you are using is ineffective, or if you are not using a high-enough field power level or you are treating with it for insufficent time.

You're only 42 with a child that depends on you, and from the tone of your post you sound like a fighter-- a patient that will not roll over passively.

Go for a complete recovery and don't settle for less than that!

 

Hope you are doing better. I originally had a dislocated Tallus and Bimalleolar Ankle fracture of the fibula and Tibia

Today marks my 2 week post op and wondering where everyone is at in their recovery stage. I am supposed to go get my permanent cast on Jul 21. I have had my temp cast with the post op split on for 3 weeks.

Yes getting bored and trying to stay busy.

Bobbie

Nick

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know this is very traumatic for you and also for your friends family.

I hope and pray that you will soon have relief from the pain.

Bobbie

Nicke,

Since you don't mention the name of your 'bone stimulator' I can only guess at what you are actually using.

When I was recovering from my bimalleolar fracture I used an ICES brand PEMF device up to 3 hours a day. In hindsight, I would have benefited from even more hours/day. The developer/manufacturer actually recommends using it continuously for serious orthopedic or nerve injuries (please bear in mind that for legal liability reasons the maker does not make health claims for human use of his device).

Stay the course, do your best, and I'm sure you will prevail.

My advice to you, and all the other foot/ankle patients facing trying times, is this: you are a lot stronger than you believe you are in a crisis.

The new book by author JJ Virgin called 'Miracle Mindset' can be an inspiration to anyone going through a life-altering challenge.

Hi Nicke,

Thanks for the info. I had not heard of Exogen.

It appears it is a LIPUS (Low Intensity Pulsed UltraSound) device.

The literature is inconsistent on the effectiveness of Exogen. The manufacturer's website cites that clinical studies shows it helps accelerate bone fracture healing time and healing non-unions. Other studies have failed to show LIPUS treatment  effectiveness conclusively. So I guess more study is needed.

I noticed one Exogen selling on Ebay for $90. However, the seller noted that there were no treatments left- so I guess 'treatments' are an add-on cost.

Good luck with your treatments.