broken hip recovery advice needed...............
Comments
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Hi
A friend broke his hip about three years ago and had a DHS. He hasn't had his hardware removed as it hasn't been causing him any trouble. The surgeon said that it wasn't worth removing.
I broke mine 16 months ago and had 3 cannulated screws inserted. My break was across the ball so not suitable for a DHS. My screws caused me lots of bother so I had them removed three months ago and it has improved things dramatically.
You may get a 7 inch scar if you have yours removed - I had a 1 inch scar for the insertion but I have a 3 inch one for the removal!
Good luck and get well soon.
John0 -
What is a DHS? Is that the one where there's a plate screwed to the femur? I have the 3 cannulated screws -- no plate. I found out at my 2-week checkup that I had a complete subcapital neck fracture, meaning the femoral neck fractured all the way through, just below the ball of the hip. The ball of the hip is slightly displaced, which seems to mean that the ball of the hip doesn't quite sit on the femoral head on one side (it slips down over it a bit).
I'm hoping the screws won't be a problem, as I dread having more surgery to remove them, but the doctor said there's a fairly good likelihood they'll cause pain at some point, especially since I'm on the thin side, but that the recovery after taking them out is not as bad as the first time.
sph1971sph: It does seem like a 7" scar would be on the long side, but who knows? There may be a wide range of what's "normal", depending on what angle the screws have to go in at? Mine is about 2", but the nurses said it was much smaller than most they'd seen.
I am now 4 weeks out from the initial break & surgery, but still have another 2-1/2 weeks to go before I see the doctor again and he decides if I can start putting weight on it. Right now I'm still supposed to not put any weight on the left leg, and only do the simple PT (physical therapy) exercises for knee range-of-motion and keeping the muscles in shape -- not anything that would put any strain or pressure on the hip. It is somewhat frustrating to not be able to move forward yet, but also reassuring to know that the doctor is being cautious in the beginning to hopefully achieve a better result long-term. He said the most immediate long-term risk is avascular necrosis (AVN), which has been discussed in this thread. He said they will monitor that with x-ray over the next several months, and hopefully it won't become a problem at all.
It is pretty tiring to hobble around on a walker, with only putting weight on one leg. I still can't walk as far as I'd like, and it doesn't seem to get much easier; I seem to have hit a plateau in how far I can go. I wonder if walking will be easier when I'm allowed to put some weight on the left leg, or if it will be harder and more tiring?
When I asked about when I could ride my bike again, the doctor said I would be doing stationary cycling as part of my PT (as soon as I'm allowed to put weight on the left leg), and I could probably be on my bike outside by this fall. Even though I want to bike again, it scares me to do it so soon. Maybe I will just be extra cautious and bike indoors on a trainer through the fall and winter, and then try outdoor biking next spring. Falling again is what scares me -- I don't think I'd have broken my hip if my foot hadn't gotten stuck in the toe clip -- and the whole reason I got pedals with toe clips was because I was scared of falling over with "clipless" pedals. Any suggestions on pedals, or on how to not be scared of getting back on a bike?
Thanks, all.
-Helen0 -
Hi Helen
I broke my hip 16 months ago. this february I had my screws out. Like you I had 3 compression screws in. They were causing me quite a lot of bother, particularly going upstiars, which really hurt despite doing physio to try and get over this.
THe recovery from having the screws out is much better than from the broken hip. I was on crutches for only 1 week then fairly quickly got back to walking 2 or 3 miles. I got back on the bike after about 4 weeks, and now I am doing up to 40 miles, though at the mo I am having a bit of trouble with the muscle so I am backing off a bit. The surgeon told me it would take 6 to 9 months for my muscles to get back to normal, but after only a week the pain going upstairs had more or less gone, and now it is fine.
So I wouldnt worry about it if you do have to have them removed - it is so much better than having them put in, even though you end up with a larger sscar - mine is 10cm long, whereas the scar from putting them in was only about 4cm.
IAs to gettingback on your bike, you just have to go for it when you feel able. I bought some hip protectors to give me a bit more confidence.
Good luck and hope you aren't non weight bearing for too long.
Best wishes
John0 -
Oh yes, forgot to mention a DHS is as you said the one where a plate is screwed to the femur. THe advantage of this is that you can be weight bearing more or less straight away.0
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Thanks, John, for your good advice. It's reassuring to hear from people who are ahead of me in the healing process.0
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Well...since the femur break, DHS, in March 08, things were going ok til Sept 08. Now...having had some run-ins with chasing dogs, there's been a few setbacks.
Mainly groin adductor strains, psoas tendinitis, now another groin strain thingy.
Off sick, back on the Tramadol, Diclofenac and Omeprazole etc.
I was even jogging on the beach up til a week ago, then, another dog run-in!
So...it's 2 steps forward, 1 back! Not too happy, as is my employer.
Able to do light weights, under STRICT control, and stretching plus very light turbo rides.
Gotta keep POSITIVE METAL ATTITUDE and believe it WILL get back to somewhere near normal. Or as good as I can get it...0 -
New member as of 7 days ago. Went down at a lttle over 35mph beginning a descent , cracked helmet,bruised ribs,fx clavicle and 2 pins in the hip bside the expected road rash
Right now ribs are the most pain. The surgery wasn't near as bad as my ACL surgery pain wise. I have my first follow up in the morining with the doc. The bone wasn't displaced so I guess that is good. I am 49 got into cycling after retiring from Rugby at 40.
The incision is only about 1.5 inches long so tissue damage seems very minimal. I knowAVN is the risk but I am feeling like I might be able to get get back on the bike as soon as the bone strenghtens . Too optimistic?.
Also what is the soonest anyone was able to drive?0 -
Greetings fellow and former couch potatoes.
My hip was abolished (neck of femur) on the first of May 2010. I will eventually create a blog like BarryGee's. My apologies to him for not yet finishing his...
Thank you biggsy for sharing your experience of treatment from the other side of the pond.
Stats:
30 yo male, 176.5cm, slim-normal.
knocked off too tall hybrid bike in hit and run.
3 cannulated screws fitted in neck of femur at 9 or 10 pm that evening.
Non weight bearing for 8 weeks. Flat bound with walking frame.
I liked riding, but mainly as a means to an ends and not an end in itself. I wasn't planning to end my cycling- balance starts its natural decline from 35 years old. I don't expect to 'brave' commuter traffic ever again.
Having read this thread I am lead to believe the surgical incision causes muscle 'problems' and presume the physio's stretches must be to stop the scarred muscle from contracting and losing range of motion.
I have always thought muscle was rather more elastic than bone and would gladly get 100% (or close) strength back in my bone by means of adequate rest than rush it in the interest of gaining (elegant) normal gait. Getting lamed is a remarkable cure for pride and road rage the ultimate surgery to remove the perceived high horse of bicycles. I still harbour expectations to walk on my own natural legs without a limp again. If I know what is causing the pain I will be better able to ignore it.0 -
sweet!!ColinJ wrote:natureboy wrote:Hebden bridge? You lucky bugger!
Why
?
I used to come over here a lot when I was a student in Manchester. Having seen what Yorkshire looked like, I didn't want to move back to the midlands after graduating 8) !Coveryourcar.co.uk RT Tester
north west of england.0 -
After first Doc visit after surgery after 6/19
Ok'd to light toe touch on ground. Ok to drive and will be back to work w/i 3 weeks of injury.
Doc says that if all goes well. In four weeks from yesterday he will figure a weight amount to start adding when I am on crutches. Also he will allow me to get on the trainer to start some spinning. That will be a good day.
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Rugby11, if you google bone healing or hip fracture you will see that it can take up to two months for the cartiligous callus to form completely. That would seem a good time to start eating more of the bone on your drumsticks as it is all hard calcium deposited from then on.
I am at this two month stage. I have a three inch scar and can feel the hardened muscle in the wound site. This needs stretching.
AVN is a risk for us young'uns who can't live on a prosthesis. You will find we are treated to quick surgery precisely for the purpose of minimising the risk of AVN. Just keep the bone together is all I want for myself. I need quite a lot of strength as just the week before I was run down I was wheeling my eight foot tallboy around and would like to barrow tons of cement when I come to build my house some day.
Dunno how physio mitigates the AVN risk, but as the rest of my leg was looking red and bloated I am doing mine with a new zeal. Don't think a prosthetic foot would really do now!
I keep my foot up most of the time. When I am weight bearing I will be suprised and worried if the circulation doesn't improve.
Having a sedentary job, I know a bit about leg vasculature and the need to exercise it to return the de-oxygenated blood and fluid delivered by my arteries.
I think it was conceptsails who wrote that he had a scan and found a blocked artery but the blood had found a way around it. He has some one else's insurance looking after him. We appreciate his expert advice.0 -
Hey rugby11, no reference to legs 11 I hope? Damn I miss my pins.
Nice to hear about your alternative health system over there in US. 2 pins? We seem to have either 3 cannulated screws or a DHS for neck of femur and intertrochanteric breaks respectively. Which camp are you in?
Sorry for the late reply- I had a stale bookmark and rather thought mine and the next comment got purged.
I had thought my break was painless and not a break. Then I got sat up fast and felt the two parts rub. Arggghh! That must be like the displacement.
Before that pain I would have hapily 'slept' it off for a coupla months instead of getting surgery. But grateful for my op. Even more so after reading here about screw removal. Two screws, please tell me more.
There goes the ol' memory, gonna recharge now.0 -
Rugby11, what side did you break?
Surprised you are touch weight bearing and can drive, unless maybe its not your brake stomping foot.0 -
Legon, thanks for the advce and info,
Was you fracture displaced? My understanding that due to the blood vessels that the risk of AVN is much greater so the healing process is longer .My surgeon said often they may make a decision in surgery to insert the articial hip at that point.
I was about 4500 elevation so they called the helicopter to get me in and I was fortunate enough that the only Trauma center of the 4 of 5 Hospitals is a research/teaching hospital which part of the University of California, Also the Doc on call is one of the senior instructors and well respected within the local MD community. I was being cut on within a few hours of the injury. The only hold up was I had a energy bar and drink about 1.5 hours prior of the accident.
the guy is good. I talked to a kid that said he saved his foot after a Moto Cross mishap where he over shot his landing, basically rerouting vessels and returning blood supply to bone . The small town hospital was ready to amputate before the decision to transfer . That kid is way lucky.
I did say pins but they are the screws. My understanding for the use of 2 was that since the bone was aligned perfectly they wanted to get a fixation with as little of disruption as possible. Hopefully further reducing the risk of AVN.
The toe touch is really only allowed at rest and not while moving. So really no weight on the Right Leg. for 4 weeks. I have a Ford Sport Trac which is a smaller SUV/truck so the angle is more like sitting in a chair. With the power brakes it doesn't take much to lock up. the brakes if needed, I have not been in the truck yet but will make the transition by early next week.
I am doing the exercises on my own with includes leg lifts,knee raises,ect. The swelling only lasted about a week and is all but gone. I do have some joint pain but the incision doesn't really hurt at all.
I am not a big guy. even during my Rugby prime only 6 foot and 176 lbs. Since i started cycling I lost some of the upper body mass and now I am 163.
I think the surgical options aren't much different here or the UK it's just a matter of which doctor you get in an emergency situation. If you already had a orthopod that might make a difference as there a a few in town that a head and shoulders above the others.0 -
Rugby11, when I had an x-ray in A&E I was told it was a hairline fracture. After feeling the two parts slide it was probably displaced although it may have sprung back into line- I felt two distinct movements, both excruciating.
In A&E a Dr had explained the need for the operation and the details- the blood supply to the femoral head was along the outside of the bone.
Great idea to only use two screws- but a larger incision could afford accurate avoidance of blood vessels when locating the pilot holes. I'm glad someone else has heard that there was a chance that the ball of the hip might get replaced during the operation. I think that mainly applies to older folk but it would seem even they are only given new hips as a last resort.
It depends on what the x-rays show in theatre. On wikipedia, or other pages, for hip fracture there appear to be four categories of femoral neck fracture rated on the garden scale from 1-4. The first two are usually targetted by internal fixation and the latter two by less conservative means because of more significant displacement which I suppose would indicate disruption of blood supply.
Plymouth has an excellent hospital but according to zoopla a disproportionate number of elderly. Which is great for practicing orthopaedic surgeons. I think there were people in their 50's on my ward but the youngest person in my bay, who I could speak to, was 72.
Just got my usual helping of new (2nd hand) car. In my stubborness I rejected all the mod cons and stuck to traditional values like age and mileage. It's like some kind of arrested development, rides bikes, meets with violence, drives jalopies. At least it's European so should have a measure of head room.0 -
Rugby11, when I had an x-ray in A&E I was told it was a hairline fracture. After feeling the two parts slide it was probably displaced although it may have sprung back into line- I felt two distinct movements, both excruciating.
In A&E a Dr had explained the need for the operation and the details- the blood supply to the femoral head was along the outside of the bone.
Great idea to only use two screws- but a larger incision could afford accurate avoidance of blood vessels when locating the pilot holes. I'm glad someone else has heard that there was a chance that the ball of the hip might get replaced during the operation. I think that mainly applies to older folk but it would seem even they are only given new hips as a last resort.
It depends on what the x-rays show in theatre. On wikipedia, or other pages, for hip fracture there appear to be four categories of femoral neck fracture rated on the garden scale from 1-4. The first two are usually targetted by internal fixation and the latter two by less conservative means because of more significant displacement which I suppose would indicate disruption of blood supply.
Plymouth has an excellent hospital but according to zoopla a disproportionate number of elderly. Which is great for practicing orthopaedic surgeons. I think there were people in their 50's on my ward but the youngest person in my bay, who I could speak to, was 72.
Just got my usual helping of new (2nd hand) car. In my stubborness I rejected all the mod cons and stuck to traditional values like age and mileage. It's like some kind of arrested development, rides bikes, meets with violence, drives jalopies. At least it's European so should have a measure of head room.0 -
Rugby11, when I had an x-ray in A&E I was told it was a hairline fracture. After feeling the two parts slide it was probably displaced although it may have sprung back into line- I felt two distinct movements, both excruciating.
In A&E a Dr had explained the need for the operation and the details- the blood supply to the femoral head was along the outside of the bone.
Great idea to only use two screws- but a larger incision could afford accurate avoidance of blood vessels when locating the pilot holes. I'm glad someone else has heard that there was a chance that the ball of the hip might get replaced during the operation. I think that mainly applies to older folk but it would seem even they are only given new hips as a last resort.
It depends on what the x-rays show in theatre. On wikipedia, or other pages, for hip fracture there appear to be four categories of femoral neck fracture rated on the garden scale from 1-4. The first two are usually targetted by internal fixation and the latter two by less conservative means because of more significant displacement which I suppose would indicate disruption of blood supply.
Plymouth has an excellent hospital but according to zoopla a disproportionate number of elderly. Which is great for practicing orthopaedic surgeons. I think there were people in their 50's on my ward but the youngest person in my bay, who I could speak to, was 72.
Just got my usual helping of new (2nd hand) car. In my stubborness I rejected all the mod cons and stuck to traditional values like age and mileage. It's like some kind of arrested development, rides bikes, meets with violence, drives jalopies. At least it's European so should have a measure of head room.0 -
Just saw Doc. Back to work monday, light duties for a while.
Not sure what's causing groin problems, as a few "experts" have said, NOT related to DHS.
Have asked to be referred back to Orthopaedic dept of hospital.
Really, I need a Cat Scan/MRI scan thingy. X Rays not good/defined enough.
Not normal to me, to have so many groin problems.
Thing is, I was jogging - ok, a bit lop-sided, but jogging - on a beach/dunes just afew days before groin went for 3rd time. No pian jogging, no pain cycling, no pain doing very intense gym session, inc squat jumps, burpees, bosu steps with wts.
Bought a neoprene Rugby thigh/groin support. Hope it helps to get back into full action.0 -
Finding this forum has been the best thing to give me sanity and peace of mind over the past 7 weeks.
I, like so many on here fractured/partially displaced my femoral head on May 13th at the ripe old age of 33. Out for a lunch time ride during which I clipped a co-worker's wheel causing me to go down - -all on my left hip. No major cuts/scrapes but a painful left hip. I returned to work (desk job) hopping on one foot trying to not let it be broken. After work I went home and noticed that my left foot was pointed further back than normal and my left leg seemed shorter than my right leg - off to the ER.
I was admitted at midnight Thursday night, surgery Friday evening, released Saturday at noon and back at work Monday morning on crutches.
Week 1 - -Norco pain pills twice a day-sleeping propped up on my back-touchpoint with left leg.
Week 2 - -No more pills, still sleeping propped up and touch point. Staples removed, crutches, driving to work on my own.
Week 3 - -Finally able to lift left leg off ground while seated - -some pain- can sleep on right side.
Week4-6 - Crutches, touchpoint weight.
Week 6 Checkup - 75% healed, no news on AVN-still too early to tell, released to start walking w/out crutches, can sleep on left side.
Week 7-Learning to walk. It's been nice to be off crutches although I now walk with more of a dip to the left than a true limp. I've been spending 30 min walking in our pool and doing leg raises etc to help strengthen my left leg.
My next check up is August 5th or week 12.
I honestly just want to say thanks to everyone who has posted about their experience. It was comforting to see other active cyclists go through the same thing. I had looked everywhere and all I could find were statistics on the +80 crowd hip breaks, mortality rates and more depressing facts. Thanks again and I will update the progress at week 12.0 -
I find a Bosu helpful.
Just standing at first, two legs, then one leg, then stepping on/off slowly.
Built up to fast step on/off.
Then lateral step on/off with light weights, then heavier etc.
Built it up over many weeks/months.
Also, resistance bands good plus...
Stretching in a very hot bath, 3 - 5 reps, x 20 - 45 secs each stretch.
Tramadol great for forgetting EVERYTHING! Bit strong if your not used to them.
I take 2 to help me sleep, but...Give me VERY Psychodelic dreams. Well spooky.
Bought a neoprene thigh/groin support this week due to 3 groin problems.
But groin probs apparently NOT related to DHS fiited. Go figure!0 -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684703/
this is a 2007 study and shows some of the the thoughts and reasoning for using 2 screws which includes a possible faster healing time.
I wasn't saying one was better or more desired , just that it is the draw of the M.D on call that day. I easily could have endedp with 3.
The reason that possible hip repplacement was discussed is two fold here in the states. Litigation ( especially in California) Possible outcomes have to be discussed at the signing of the release for surgery also they were worried about the amount of potential damage they would find due to me being over 35 mph ( last I looked at the speedometer , I think I was getting closer to 40 mph but I can't confirm) Then the impact and tumble for 30 feet plus.
Legon I'm very happy that your surgery went well and things are progressing.
this injury sucks, I went to the Rubber Souls bike to get a box to send my frame to Dean bikes in Colorado for repair. Very hard being around all the bikes and bike talk knowing I am going to out for a while.0 -
I've not quite broken my hip but I do have a triple pelvic fracture (effectively hip area ), caused by cycling sideways into a car at the beginning of April this year - minimally dsplaced superior & inferir pubic ramii & non-displaced sacral - all right side.
I was in hospital for 9 days (stable fractures - no op need) & off work for another 6 weeks, almost completely unable to sit down.
CT scan if anyone's interested (I have no idea what the brown stains are - rust perhaps? ):
I'm now back at work (slightly shortened hours to avoid rush-hour London Tubes as I'm still on a crutch) & very slowly getting back into the gym to try & strengthen my hip & leg & to try & lose the 10kg I've put on since April - doing loads of cycling (& the eating required) & then suddenly being unable to move worth the mention for months on end does wonders for the physique!
My only real current issue (which has been going on ever since the accident) is I keep getting badly swollen ankles - I've been told that because of the movement issues I mentioned above, the fluid from the hematoma caused by the accident (& the very slight ankle sprain I picked up as the only other injury in the accident) is collecting in my ankles because the pumping action of my calves when walking hasn't been in operation. Makes sense but it's not at all pleasant - I have to wear trainers & ankle socks in the office or I end up hardly able to walk & I can't even see my ankle bones.
Oh, well - s/b all healed up by October, according to the Specialist. Who needs summer?
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Hi guys - an update two and a half years on (see earlier posts in this thread as to what happened originally). I'm able to cycle long distances regularly. Don't climb quite as well as I used to but this may be something to do with ageing/growing width of my belly rather than my injury. The leg is fine and I haven't had the screws/metalwork removed (well there is a lot of it). No AVN issues. Don't race anymore but If anything the accident has given me a more balanced perspective on my riding and life in general. It's more about health and being out there in the great outdoors than doing a time up some dual carriage way, or outsprinting someone in a race. When you can't do something you love doing, you really appreciate being able to do it again later on. If you are sat there reading this after an accident, you WILL get better. It just takes time, and you will need to work really really hard on those physio exercises. I was no weight bearing for six weeks and it took ages to get the leg strength back but I was very disciplined (so much so that the physio asked if I was in the military!!) and today I have two legs of equal length and no gait analysis issues. Keep at it and you'll get there.
I think the hardest thing at the time was the suddeness of the change from complete activity to complete inactivity. It's very tough mentally. I cried at the 'unfairness' of it at the time ( hey when was life fair anyway?) and it was very frustrating. So if you are dealing with this situation - chin up and share it - you are not alone. I think having gone through this I'm a stronger person and you will be too.0 -
753forme wrote:Hi guys - an update two and a half years on (see earlier posts in this thread as to what happened originally). I'm able to cycle long distances regularly. Don't climb quite as well as I used to but this may be something to do with ageing/growing width of my belly rather than my injury. The leg is fine and I haven't had the screws/metalwork removed (well there is a lot of it). No AVN issues. Don't race anymore but If anything the accident has given me a more balanced perspective on my riding and life in general. It's more about health and being out there in the great outdoors than doing a time up some dual carriage way, or outsprinting someone in a race. When you can't do something you love doing, you really appreciate being able to do it again later on. If you are sat there reading this after an accident, you WILL get better. It just takes time, and you will need to work really really hard on those physio exercises. I was no weight bearing for six weeks and it took ages to get the leg strength back but I was very disciplined (so much so that the physio asked if I was in the military!!) and today I have two legs of equal length and no gait analysis issues. Keep at it and you'll get there.
I think the hardest thing at the time was the suddeness of the change from complete activity to complete inactivity. It's very tough mentally. I cried at the 'unfairness' of it at the time ( hey when was life fair anyway?) and it was very frustrating. So if you are dealing with this situation - chin up and share it - you are not alone. I think having gone through this I'm a stronger person and you will be too.
Similar to my story, never raced though and was more into running when I shattered my hip in a motorcycle accident in 2006. Have seen parts of UK I never would have seen if I'd never got well into cyclling, Feel I'm only now getting back to having similar "muscle" power I had before the accident. The only way is up!0 -
Just an update - it's 13 months since I injured myself. Roller-blading at the age of 62...ok.
Still progressing, still aware of the injury, though it's not 'painful'.
But I did a 12 mile country walk a couple of weeks back, and cycled round Rutland Water - about 16 miles, some off-road with no problem. Still got pins and Intramedullary 'nail' in, and am seriously thinking of finding padded cycling shorts - michelin woman, here I come.
Main advice keep as active as you can, and do the boring physio exercises.0 -
I had a displaced hip fracture in mid-April 2010. Hospitalized for 3 weeks during which I only learned to walk with crutches at the end of this 3-week period, with a rigid knee which could only bend 70-80 degree initially - what a nightmare !
I started to cycle for 45 minutes a day on a station bike 5 or 6 weeks after the injury. Then I added daily swimming a few weeks later. Little by little, I could see my muscle returning. Swimming was particularly good, as it was then the only way I could move around more normally, after being indoor bound and mostly un'movable' for so long. More importantly, swimming helped strength muscle all over. One caution though, one needs to be very careful about slippery floor. These exercises were good loosening up my rigid knee, which now bends 135 degree if not more - I haven't measured it for a long time as I don't think I need to. Only problem is I can't cross my leg over my knee to put on a sock myself. Anyone has a similar experience?
In my 15th week I can walk w/o a hiking pole which I let go a week or two ago. I still have a limping gait - the therapist said my muscle on the exterior side of the injured leg is not strong enough to support a normal gait. For now, I continue my daily swimming and cycling and do 30 minutes of walking a day to keep going. Patience & perseverance help !0 -
Hello,
I found this discussion through Google, and am pleased to be able to read the variety of experiences. As previous contributors have said, there is very little literature that describes the recovery of the under 70's with high expectations of their recovery!
I am a medical specialist (oh, the irony), age 49, and hit the deck hard in the penultimate straight of a local crit - broke my own rule by competing in a crit ("old guys don't bounce"), but it was part of a 4 race series and I wanted an overall result.
I got a result ok!
- intertrochanteric fracture of R neck of femur (greater and lesser trochanter fractured off, as well as transverse fracture across the neck).
- fixed the next day with a Dynamic Hip Screw (aka compression screw) and plate (with 4 fixation screws for the plate).
- lost about 5 units of blood around the fracture site into the thigh: haemoglobin fell but just short of requiring transfusion.
- 10 days in hospital.
Started physio & mobilisation 2 days post-op:
- non-weight bearing (actually light touch) for 2 months,
- partial (~ 50% of usual) for 1 month,
- allowed full weight bearing after this (ie at 3 months),
- but still need 1x crutch currently, being 5 months after the accident.
Rehab efforts thus far:
- weekly physio since hospital discharge for 3 months
- then switched to attending group physio supervised pilates class each week
- hydrotherapy at 1 month, swimming (ie big pool, no floaties!) at 2 months
- wind-trainer (aka turbo) at 2 months,
- road bike (very slow and very careful) at 3 months
So currently, at 5 months out:
- swimming (~1.5 km) once a week
- pilates class once a week
- home pilates/stretching ~45 mins daily
- road bike 5x/wk: now up to 300 km, ~ 2,000m climbing each week.
But..
- still on one crutch for walking
- moderate mid-thigh discomfort by the end of the day & sometimes at night
- hip-pelvis stabilisers still weak
- power in R leg is way down, and training times//pace are about 1/3rd longer than pre-crash
- best advice so far is that full rehab will take 6-12 months (initially told 3-6)
What have I learnt?
- it hurts!
- the bone healing is the easy part
- rehab is the hard part
- outcome and rehab requirements probably depend more on the soft tissue injury
- the muscle, tendon, fascial injury can be be severe but no one sees it (including not on xray)
- listen to your body & ease up if the pain is getting worse
- muscles need stress and rest to grow
- recovery will be at least twice as long as you are first told, and three times longer than you want!
- every person, injury & recovery is different
All the best to us all
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Hi guys
A few weeks ago I fractured my neck of femur on my left side after somebody cut me up after a MTB ride, plus I didn't go to the hospital for 6 days after the crash thinking it was just soft tissue damage. So I did a bit of searching to find there was a thread on here!
I've read most of the stories and all seem to be reassuring. But I was just wondering can you guys still ride just as strong as you did before the crash? or do you struggle now?
They also said I would probably need a full hip replacement when I'm about 60 which I'm not to worried about. But the Docs did say it could be earlier, depending on the healing process etc. However, I also found out that Floyd Landis had the exact same injury, but developed Avascular Necrosis. So he had a Birmingham Hip Replacement (metal-on-metal) which seems like a better option for athletes and younger people.
It's just I'm 18 years old, and the thought of living with this for the rest of my life is pretty daunting to say the least. So I hope you guys can give some tips on how you recovered and if you got back to your pre-injury strength and fitness.
Thanks 0 -
StealTheR: You are young and most people told me recovery should be speedier at your age than older guys like me (46 !). I just saw my doctor and basically he was telling me I don't need to see him any more, 17 weeks after a displaced hip fracture! What a good news, but as far as I am concerned, my cycling strength is at best only 2/3 of what I used to be and I still can't run yet. I know my physical strength is coming back but I have no idea whether my full strength will be back at the end of the day.
I do a lot of exercises, cycling, swimming early on and recovery seems to be reasonably fast. But you know what, on the first day I threw away my hiking pole, I found that I couldn't go up one single step up the staircase ! So my advice is, go push your muscles (but also listen to your body). Physiotherapy is important too.
Recovery will be longer than you were told, and you need to be prepared for the worst.0 -
Yeah, thanks for the reply bookwormhk its good to see you had a positive outcome, and thanks for sharing your story aswell.
I am fairly confident and don't have many worries tbh. My only concern is the chance of AVN developing, which I would be gutted about. However, I have'nt had any serious pain, except for the odd ache here in there, so I am thinking positive.
My physiotherapist also said that I shouldnt overdo the exercises and walking, he said keep it down to about once or twice a day.
I also heard that comfrey oil is a good natural treatment to use on the affected area which I have also been doing.0
