Has anyone broke their tib and fib?

slowmart

I'm waiting to see a consultant on Tuesday and I was hoping someone could share their experience returning to cycling?

I was told no weight bearing by the nurses putting the back cast on my leg and I'm already bored shitless after one day. :shock:

Oh and I refused morphine which was probably a mistake and had gas and air instead. Again since I'll probably be heading for the same outcome on Tuesday or the near future of another cast has anyone an informed opinion as to what's best?

I don't usually do pain relief as I see pain as the body telling you to stop. Questionable I know and it doesn't really apply here but as my leg was being put in a back cast I did wonder about the intelligence or lack of in making that particular decision. Which was a fleeting thought as pain wracked my body as I sucked on gas and air.

turnerjohn

man that sucks ! speedy recovery I hope.
Not broken themm myself (thankfully going by your experience) but the key is to "listen to your physio" once your out of that cast

sassse

Hi

Recovery will depend on how badly you have brokenyou leg, whether you need surgery or if they keep you in a cast, etc. The minimum you should expect is 12-16 weeks for the bones to unite. Best thing you can do is talk to the OS when you go on tuesday and get an outline on timings and follow their advice.

I broke my tib/fib 2 years ago... it was an open fracture, so I was 2 operations and 6 days in hospital. I was on the turbo within 3 months, but for me it was 9 months before I had a union in the tib, so was not on the bike outside before then... and at that point cold only use flat pedals. It was a year before I was back to full activity. But that is my experience I know some people who have been quicker and even some who have taken longer to recover.

Good luck and hope you recover quickly.

me-109

Broke mine five years ago skateboarding. Spiral fracture of the tub above the ankle and clean break of the fin below the knee. My tin was pinned, the fib is left to sort itself out. That meant that it was weight bearing very soon, but the soft tissue damage, from the break and the operation, took ages to heal. Initially I didn't have the strength to lift my butt off the motorbike saddle to go over speed bumps. For cycling, it helps recovery but getting out of the saddle took a while before I had the strength. After that, there were a couple of winters of very sore legs around the break site and in the knee. Being able to tell the weather before you get out of bed is no myth! Oh, if they do pin it, expect to lose feeling to the outside of the knee. They have to cut through the nerves when they open the knee.

davidof

Me-109 wrote:

Spiral fracture of the tub above the ankle and clean break of the fin below the knee. My tin was pinned

You are either Billy the Fish or the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz?

me-109

davidof wrote:

Me-109 wrote:

Spiral fracture of the tub above the ankle and clean break of the fin below the knee. My tin was pinned

You are either Billy the Fish or the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz?

I feel like the tin man!

Bl00dy iPhone auto-'correcting' typing to what it thinks you mean.

daffyavfc

hey Slowmart

I fractured my tibia and fibula two weeks ago and had surgery on the 18th of this month. Fractured both ankles/malleolus and then the posterior tibia too, show off. I have a plate and screws on the fibula and a screw through the tib and fib keeping it stable.

what did you have done as I'm keen to see what others have had done and how they are coping. I see my Surgeon Thursday so will have a better idea of what I'm doing. Bloody crutches, not fallen onto bad foot yet but only a matter of time. Looking for an exercise bike as don't like the thought of a TT at the moment- stability-wise.

Did you have any pins, plates, screws etc...

regards

Ian

animal72

Sorry for the late reply, only just seen this.

Broke my Tib and Fib 3 years ago in a motocross accident. Plate and lots of screws.

First 6 weeks was in plaster so no exercise whatsoever.
Next 6 weeks was in a soft cast and non-weight-bearing. NHS offered no physio until the end of this period, however I used my bupa to get physio straight away. For the first 2 weeks I was just using a rubber band stretcher but then I was allowed to start (gentle) cycling on a turbo and rowing.
By the end of the 12 weeks I was cycling 30-40 miles a day (still on turbo).

When the NHS eventually gave me permission to walk, my recovery was seriously quick... Back to playing county level squash, my main sport, within 3 months.

Good luck with the recovery, and if you need more details of my physio plan, give me a shout.

daffyavfc

Hi

Nice to read a positive story though there seem to be very few. Of course aiming for full recovery is key, sooner rather than later being an additional bonus. When you say Animal72 that you used a band was that for the first 2 weeks post op? If so that's promising as I've been told to get a band and pull my toes up to keep Achilles active. Other exercise was to lock knee to achieve muscle contraction then raising leg above horizontal for 10 second reps.

I'd be extremely keen and grateful for any tips or programs that you used to aid my recovery.

Regards
Ian