broken hip recovery advice needed...............
Comments
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Greetings fellow lame and formerly lame bikers. I am 44 and laid my bike down on the the street six weeks ago tomorrow and broke my femur neck in half. Unfortunately, it was an operator error as I took a turn too fast and hit a puddle of water. Also, unfortunately that I had just completed the famous Hotter 'n Hell 100 century ride in August with a personal best time.
I had the surgery with a plate and three screws in my femur and two pins into my femur neck. My doctor is very conservative and has not allowed me to put any weight on my hip yet. My six week doctor visit is tomorrow so I hope to get on with my rehabilitation.
I would like to know what kind of swimming and stationary biking everyone would recommend prior to getting back on a real bike. Also, I'm thinking about taking up mountain biking (without the big mountains as I am in Texas). Would this be more or less dangerous to my broken hip?
UPDATE: I had a very sucessful visit with my doctor yesterday. The femur neck is healing faster than expected. I am now allowed to put 25 kgs. on my leg for the first week and then an additional 25 kgs. each week thereafter. I also have permission to get on the stationary bike and begin physical therapy. I have an appointment with the swimming coach of the local university to design a swim program. My next big challenge is that I now have to convince my wife to allow me to get on a REAL bike.
CK0 -
Hi G161125
First off sorry to hear of your predicament. I didn't have the same break as you (mine was an intertrochanteric one) and I didn't have the same surgery (I had IM nails) but I can offer my advice anyway. I wasn't allowed to cycle outside until 4.5 months had passed and before that only six weeks of indoor cycling. Like you my doctor didn't allow any weight for a long time, I was weightless on that leg for three months, before increasing the pressure!
When I came to getting back on a real bike I hadn't done anything specific as such, just the exercises the physio had given me to do, basically just straightening, bending and lifting the leg.
The best thing I can say to you is that you probably wont loose as much fitness as you think. Considering I did basically nothing for 4.5 months I came back and am extremely surprised with how much fitness I still have. On Saturday I did a hilly 60 miles in under 3.5 hours and I felt fine. This is just four weeks of being back outside and I think I could have done this earlier if I wanted.
Try to keep your spirits up, eat well and don't rush things and you should be fine. Good luckMañana0 -
I'm sorry to hear of the extensive metalwork you'll be lugging around for a while, G161125 but - as you can see - there are quite a few of us who have been in the same or similar position. I can only echo pb21 and say take it easy and don't rush.
Although we were all desparate to get back on the bike it may not be the best way to recover full (ordinary life) fitness. I put the idea of cycling about half way down my priority list as I knew that it would come in the fulness of time. I just did the exercises, took plenty of calcium and rested; a small improvement each day was what I was going for and at all costs I wanted to avoid any regression.
As I came off the crutches so I climbed aboard the Turbo and gradually got back into it from there - v low resistance. Getting a good workmanlike mend was what was important for me. Last thing I wanted to do was to slow overall progress down by stressing an unfit muscle and bone system.
The pins are now out and I climbed Cols of Tourmalet and Aspin this summer
:oops:
mox senex dormit0 -
I started riding the mountainbike on the road after about 10 weeks as i find it a more comfortable riding position than the road bike and because its a lot slower, it built my confidence back up. Once i was confident in traffic again i got back on the road bike. You should get an MTB for this anyway, the fatter tyre may help bring back confidence on and off the road and its easier to ride slowly. I agree with the others, low gears and build up slowly i even took the computer off to stop myself pushing it. My pins are coming out on a month and i have been told to get as fit as possible before the op to aid a speedy recovery - anyone else been told this? early dark nights in the uk now though mean the turbo trainer anyway! bugger.0
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my pins came out last week they wouldent let me keep them to hang my bent frame on the wall. boo. how is everyone doing?0
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Doing okay. I now commute to work regularly and the leg has got a lot stronger in the last six months since I posted on it earlier in this thread. I don't expect to have all the screws etc taken out as my consultant said there were so many in that they would just leave it. Probably be buggered later on in life but can't do much about that. Interesting what people say about AVN. I haven't had any issues with that yet. I even managed some proper running for 100 yards without pain etc, but with the metalwork I've got in I figure that it's not worth try to get back to running for fitness. A friend of mine who had a similar op has just had a pin taken out as the head of it started coming out. I don't want all the metalwork moving. One thing my consultant said was that I could fall on the hip again and it would never break. I haven't fallen off again since the accident and I'm a lot more tentative cornering and on descents. The days of kamikaze descending are long gone for me. Just pleased I can still ride the bike - looking to do the odd time trial this summer if I can get out often enough. One thing I do find is that the leg aches a bit when its really cold - something to do with the metalwaork apparently though I'm not sure if they were just baffling me with B/st. If so, it worked!!0
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i heard that the ache when its cold is to do with the metal as well and I had the screws out 3 weeks ago now and it has snowed ever since. whilst there is pain due to them working in there, its not the same dull ache as the cold caused and the weather has no apparent effect on when the pain comes and goes. I am beleving then that there maybee some truth to this. Glad to hear you are back on the bike and I am sure your confidence will return with the miles.
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Just found this thread... I didn't realise this particular cycling accident was so common!
I did mine in May 2007, aged 36, commuting to work (I had got to work and slipped on the drive on a sharp bend in slightly wet conditions). I was given a Dynamic Hip Screw, plus an additional screw to stop the fracture from rotating.
I was astounded by the immediate loss of all leg muscle tone: I went into surgery with two reasonable "cyclist's legs", and came out with one decent leg and one stick! I was partial weight bearing for six weeks, and managed to get some physiotherapy and
hydrotherapy during this time. I was allowed to cycle again by the end of August, which I did very gingerly at first on a MTB. I got back on my road bike again in the November.
I'd say that muscle tone came back gradually - not as quickly as I would have liked, particularly the glute. At first it was noticeable that the good leg was working harder than the bad, but that feeling has now gone. In fact, I have now got to the point where I am not aware of the bad leg feeling any different from the good. In fact, if the muscle does start to feel sore, I find that going for a ride sorts it out again (sitting in an office chair for long periods seems to aggravate it the most).
I was finally discharged by my consultant this January, with him calling it "good as new". There was no sign of Necrosis, and I'd also had a bone scan which confirmed that everything was as it should be. So that was a total of 20 months from fracture to discharge.
I managed my first ever sportive in July 2008 - 14 months after the fracture. So I would definitely say it is possible to come back completely from an injury of this sort. The only left-over now is that I'm noticeably nervous at taking sharp left-handers - a mental block where my brain is not happy to let my body crank into the corner. Hopefully this will improve with time and experiences of successful cornering!
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Hi Everyone,
Now at day 8 after breaking my neck of femur and really appreciating the thoughts and comments everyone has written in this forum. Any words of wisdom to a new comer that is in a slight state of shock with what has happend?
At 39 yrs of age, front wheel of bike slipped on a tram line. Went down fast and hard. Gone from running 80-100K per week and riding 200K+ per week to nothing overnight. Any advice or words of wisdom that might help me stop feeling sorry for myself and move forward with this more positively
ScottRegards
Scott0 -
Scott, to you at the moment its all bad but you will get through it. Fact is all the general comments and research yo do about these breaks dont really reflect our situations as the majority of people who break hips are oldies who fall over. This is why this thread is so good. I found that the more time i had on my hands the more i would google it and the more worried i would get. You are still young by comparison, very fit and i presume non smoker so chances are you will recover well.
Whilst it is without doubt a rubbish situation think about getting a shiny new turbo trainer (i bought a shiny new bike as well) to rehabilitate your leg and mind. Most important is try not to get grumpy with other people as this helps no one. And dont do too much daytime telly - its really depressing.
Finally, follow the doctors orders completely with no exceptions. No doubt its a long road to recovery but with those miles sounds like you are quite good at long roads 0 -
Sorry to hear that there is a new member of this very 'hip' club... (worked better in rehearsal) and you have my sympathies. I'll start by saying it may be more difficult for you to adjust than for someone like me. The k's you do a week are seriously impressive and you wouldn't do them unless you were committed. The reduction to 0 ks per week will be a door-slam.
This is going to sound like old-man-speak but I believe that what got me through a similar situation was switching from being a fitness obsessive to being a thoughtful supporter of my body as it fights its way back to health. As I've said before cycling didn't even feature in the top 5 of my priorities. I just concentrated on getting the best food for recovery (plenty calcium), the best rest and the right level of relevant exercise. My aim was never to regress. Just by taking small 'steps' I managed to always make progress and not go backwards as a result of over doing it.
I found that as my body recovered (with no emphasis on cycling) so I got more confidence and eventually tested out new found strength on the turbo etc.
Bit long winded but you're prolly wise enough to sort the wheat from the chaff... Best wishes for a safe recovery (this may not be the fastest route to being back on the bike but it may be the best in the long term) and keep posting your progress here...
mox senex dormit0 -
Hi all, another new member here! I'm really happy to have found this thread, lots of useful stories.
Four weeks I ago I slipped on ice while riding home from work, on skinny tires, and fairly new to being clipped in. When I tried to get up I realised I couldn't put weight on my left leg, so I called my GF and got a ride to ER. They were as surprised as me when the xray showed a broken neck of the femur. The day after they put in three screws, the day after surgery I started moving around on crutches, and they let me go home the day after that.
I'm still on crutches, but allowed minimal weight on the bad leg, it's enough to get around. Last week I went on a long-planned beach holiday, walking with crutches on sand was tiring but possible, swimming felt good but I avoided any strong leg kicks, getting in and out of the water through waves was tricky until I figured out how to crab my way on two arms and one leg
It sounds like everyone's story is different with recovery taking anywhere from a few months up to a year, hopefully they will give me some good news when I see the doctor again in two weeks.
Edit: I'm 38 and quite active (40km round trip commute)0 -
allensco wrote:Any advice or words of wisdom that might help me stop feeling sorry for myself and move forward with this more positively
Scott
As much as I hate being on crutches, in some ways it's just a new challenge to see what I can do on them. Moving anything from A to B sure takes some thought and planning. I've had to accept giving up the rest of the ski season (it was crap anyway) and cycling and many other things for the next little while, but just maintaining a normal life going to work, getting around, feeding myself and keeping a healthy diet, etc. now takes up the whole day and leaves little time to do or even think about sports & activities.
Being fit and healthy also makes these things much easier, and should speed up recovery a great deal.0 -
I broke my hip 5 weeks ago. I ran into the wheel of the guy in front of me, crossing a road junction. I was checking it was clear for the guys behind me and the guy in front of me slowed to almost a stop, trying to get his foot into the cleat.
I have 3 screws in my hip and I am on touch weight bearing for another week, after which I really hope that I will be allowed partial weight bearing as it is a real pain ( as of course you all know only too well) to be only on touch weight. Any body know how long I am likely to be before I can get to full weight bearing?
Also the consultant told me that if yoo havent got AVN after 2 years, then you can be pretty sure that you wont get it.0 -
Sorry you're joining this burgeoning group, johndf. Hope the recovery goes along as you want it to. I think the question of shifting from touch-bearing to partial weight bearing depends upon the individual consultant. Mine let me go to partial weight bearing fairly quickly having reminded me that the pins are there to line up the faces of bone so they heal securely rather than bear my weight..! So I went a bit carefully for a while... not wanting to upset the healing process.
I would imagine, if you look after it, they'll give you the OK for p-w bearing when you go back.
(Good luck with the stairs - they're a real b****** to start with....)
mox senex dormit0 -
.max wrote:Hi all, another new member here! I'm really happy to have found this thread, lots of useful stories.
Four weeks I ago I slipped on ice while riding home from work, on skinny tires, and fairly new to being clipped in. When I tried to get up I realised I couldn't put weight on my left leg, so I called my GF and got a ride to ER. They were as surprised as me when the xray showed a broken neck of the femur. The day after they put in three screws, the day after surgery I started moving around on crutches, and they let me go home the day after that.
I'm still on crutches, but allowed minimal weight on the bad leg, it's enough to get around. Last week I went on a long-planned beach holiday, walking with crutches on sand was tiring but possible, swimming felt good but I avoided any strong leg kicks, getting in and out of the water through waves was tricky until I figured out how to crab my way on two arms and one leg
It sounds like everyone's story is different with recovery taking anywhere from a few months up to a year, hopefully they will give me some good news when I see the doctor again in two weeks.
Edit: I'm 38 and quite active (40km round trip commute)0 -
Hi Max . Did a very similar job on my leg as you. Slipped on ice while out with a group on 14th December. Fracture neck of femur and had a dynamic hip screw put in. Was partial weight bearing the next day on crutches. I do alot of triathlons and am not very good at sitting around(who is?) but my physio had me back in the pool after 3 weeks and also back on the exercise bike the following week. I was on one crutch after about 2 weeks and decided to throw away the other one after about 7 to 8 weeks. I am bike cycling on the road (with loads of hip padding) for about 4 weeks but the walking is still very slow and I cant get rid of the limp. I got lots of excercises from my physio and I spend about an hour each day in the gym and have no problem or painwith the leg until I try to walk. Its like my muscles have forgotten what to do. Im 51 but in reasonable nick and very active, but I need to get back running any help anyone. I can run in the pool (Shallow end lately) for 40 minutes no problem but without the support of the water no good. I was also amazed how many cyclist break their femur.0
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Another broken hip here, a compound intertrochanteric fracture.
Mine happened cycling in Whitehall. A ped walked out in front of me I slammed on the brakes and over the top i went. Not that i remember any of it. I can't even remember leaving work 45 mins earlier.
That was Feb the 16th. I'm none weight bearing for another 2 weeks then it's back to Tommies to see the surgeon.
really good to be able to read this thread, to know what's coming up. My mother in law is a GP which sort of helps, so I'm not short for getting advice.
To add insult to injury my new Condor road bike is now ready for me to pick up. Perhaps I'll bring it home and just stare at it!. I've also ordered a Tacx I-magic to help with the recovery
Will post progress here0 -
Welcome to the club - what a shame that any of us are in it! How are you getting on with the non weight bearing? It really is a pain isn't it.
Hope you have good news from the surgeon in a couple of weeks. My check up is this friday. I am touch weight bearing at the moment, and hopefully I will be on partial weight bearing after friday. The recovery process takes quite a while, doesnt it. Maybe a minimum of three months before getting back onto the bike.
Good luck.
John0 -
I guess actually I'm touch bearing too, as I'm allowed to sit with my leg resting on the floor.
At least once a day I accidentally put some weight on the leg. initially it hurt like hell, but not so much any more.
Rather disappointed to read that the road to recovery is longer than I thought. I was hoping to throw the sticks away in a couple of weeks. I've got really good mobility in the leg so I'm hoping for the best.
more importantly the Tacx has arrived so I want to get that into use soon!
good luck for the visit to the doc0 -
Ah, should have found this thread earlier! My cast is coming off my lower leg tomorrow morning, after 6 weeks of no weight bearing. Can't wait!
(What I did: tore ligaments up the shin, causing them to become separated and hence fractured bone in the ankle joint, also cleanly broke the tibia a few inches below the knee. Needed an operation to get the bones tied together, which is permanent. Silver lining is no tendon damage in the knee or ankle.)
Edit - I should note that I'm not a real member of this club - not a hip injury and I did it playing rugby, but a break is a break and it's stopped my cycling!0 -
update:
At 5 weeks the doctor allowed me to start putting more weight on the leg and progress to walking, but to take it easy for the first month. I started physio, and going to a pool frequently (wet floors are scary on crutches). The physio suggested I keep walking with two crutches until I could walk pretty normally, to avoid developing a lop-sided stride, and it took about 3 weeks to get to that point (slight limp still). The physio also told me this type of injury happens to a few cyclists (including one of his buddies). I see the doctor again in a few days for a 10-week checkup.
No cycling yet (although I have been looking at new bikes!). I started using a stationary bike after six weeks, first with no resistancy just spinning, and now with a moderate load (around 100W?). I'm not in a hurry, so I'll probably stick to the gym for another few weeks before getting on a real bike. Slow progress, but getting there! Some good motivation in this thread to keep going to the gym & pool.0 -
Keep it up .max. Treat yourself with the new bike. You KNOW you're worth it...!
I can only endorse the 'slow progress' approach. I am back to a completely normal gait and riding as well as I ever have - I have some muscle wastage in my left thigh and I imagine I will never replace that but as long as the PBs keep coming in (on my training loop) then that's kewl for me!
Keep it steady - and never regress...!
mox senex dormit0 -
I had my 6 weeks checkup a couple of weeks ago. The doc said that it is healing well but I am still on only 25% weightbearing to reduce the risk of AVN. So I am still on crutches for at least the next four weeks, and probably longer according to the posts in this thread. It seems like for ever at the mo, though I guess that it isn't that long really.
Hoping that everyone on this thread gets better very soon - good cycling and no more injuries.0 -
i had my six week check with the Surgeon on Monday.
I'm allowed to start weight bearing now with am aim to be fully weight bearing in another 5 weeks. Still not getting any official physio I'm supposed to continue the excercises I've been doing for the last 6 weeks.
Will this ever end? I think I go see my GP. Would like to try some swimming.0 -
Got some good news today... One year to the day and I got X rays to see how the removed screw holes are filling in and whilst you can still see the holes the consultant said I can ride, mountain bike, windsurf and surf again! Top news for me as i was expecting another 6 months before this. Still not discharged yet.. looking out for AVN for another 12 months but he said the bone should be around 80 - 85% as strong as the other one now so its good for all but the most impact sports.
Hang in there Fellas I hope more than anything that you all get simular news soon.
Now... what toys shall I buy first!0 -
conceptsails or anyone else who has had screws removed - why did the doctors decide to do this? How long did they let the bone heal before removing the screws, and how long were you on crutches afterward?
I must confess that I'd prefer to have them out, one of the screw heads isn't flush with the bone which must have some effect on the muscles. When I walk up stairs I can feel something catch a bit, it could just be "rusty" muscles so I will have to see if that improves with time, no pain but I can see it become a problem once I get back into action with long days of cycling/hiking/backcountry skiing/etc.0 -
conceptsails wrote:Got some good news today... One year to the day and I got X rays to see how the removed screw holes are filling in and whilst you can still see the holes the consultant said I can ride, mountain bike, windsurf and surf again! Top news for me as i was expecting another 6 months before this. Still not discharged yet.. looking out for AVN for another 12 months but he said the bone should be around 80 - 85% as strong as the other one now so its good for all but the most impact sports.
Hang in there Fellas I hope more than anything that you all get simular news soon.
Now... what toys shall I buy first!
Great news mate! Now make the most of your new found freedom 0 -
.max wrote:conceptsails or anyone else who has had screws removed - why did the doctors decide to do this? How long did they let the bone heal before removing the screws, and how long were you on crutches afterward?
I must confess that I'd prefer to have them out, one of the screw heads isn't flush with the bone which must have some effect on the muscles. When I walk up stairs I can feel something catch a bit, it could just be "rusty" muscles so I will have to see if that improves with time, no pain but I can see it become a problem once I get back into action with long days of cycling/hiking/backcountry skiing/etc.
They said all along they were going to take them out.. didnt really give me a reason why. I waited 9 months to get them out and since then damp and cold weather is no longer a problem. I too could feel the screw heads, got pushed against a wall once and they dug in and hurt like hell so if they let you I would very much recomend pushing to get them out. I was out of hospital the same day and off crutches in 10 days or so.. a much easier process than before! Only let down is that they wouldnt let me keep the screws to hang my twisted scott frame to the wall with. spoil sports.0 -
They let me keep mine after taking them out of my femur. The bone was beginning to shrink away from them a bit and as the femur had pretty much healed, they decided to have them out. Just thinking of a what use I can put them to now. I wonder if the missus will let me hang my 2-piece tri-cross comp on the wall with them.
Talking about toys to buy afterwards. Got my compensation through a few months back and have just spent some of it on an IndyFab Ti Crown Jewel. I'd better get in shape before it arrives though. 0
