Not a Skier, just Injured
I googled recovery of tibial plateau surgery and found this thread. My husband told me to look for something like this since I have been feeling depressed the last few days. My six week check up is on fri. I was not feeling like I am where I should be in my recovery, but after reading some posts I am feeling better. Seems like everyone has there own rate of recovery and different docs are doing different things. My story:
Thanksgiving 2011. My dog and another dog ran into my leg at the dog park.
Went to Er next day and was told I needed surgery. Thought they were trippin.
Following Monday got second opinion and was told again I needed surgery. Cried my eyes out. I am 38 with a full time job, a 6 yr old and a night class twice a week. Could not believe I would be off my feet for weeks to come.
Dec 6th had surgery. Dec 9th came home. Stopped taking the Percocet the next morning. Been doing Pt 3 times a week since Dec 14th. BEEN DOING Cpm since first night in the hosp. Been 50% weight bearing since 4 week follow up. Got to 85 for ROM. Cant seem to bend my knee as much as doc and therapist want me too. Frustrated. Now trying to walk without assistance. It is so scary and frustrating. I get sick of hearing that the fear is all in my head and that I can bear this weight. That is why I wanted to post. I needed to know I am not alone and not the only one going crazy!!
I don't know what to do......
Im not sure what to do, so I thought I'd come here. The only place that I can find anyone who can relate to what I'm going through.
Here's a tiny bit of background......I fell on 6/20 and ended up with a grade 6 TPF and spiral shaft fracture. I had surgery 3 days later and ended up with alot of bone graft, a 12 inch plate running the length of my tibia and 14 screws. I was NWB for 12 weeks and spent about two months transitioning from two crutches to one crutch to a cane and finally to nothing but a limp. I feel like I've had two big obstacles, besides the knee. Foot and ankle pain and getting to full extension. Which leads to to my problem....
The past week, my OS and my PT have told me that in all likelihood, I will not get any more extension. I'm stuck at about -5 degrees. I'm on week 6 of using a JAS splint, three times a day for 30-45 min each time. Before the splint I did nothing but lay prone on the bed with my leg extended over the edge so gravity could pull it straight. Now that I'm told it's probably permanent, I wonder why more wasn't done to fix it!! I talked to my PT today about it, and he thinks that the entire time prior to the brace, my knee was not ready for anything but the prone/bed stretch. It was too painful and too inflammed. He didn't want to passively push it straight because the femur would come into full contact with the damaged plateau. I don't know if he's right or not. When I ask if there's anything I should do in addition to the brace he says no.
Both the OS and PT agree that having a contracture of -5 (which I know isn't terrible, but it's enough to make an impact), will affect my ability to walk and stand comfortably and therefore, will limit my ability to return to my job!!! (I work 12-hour shifts on my feet for most of it).
Sooooo.......my fellow TPF'ers.......Do you have full extension? How did you get it? Did your PT "push" you into it? Do you think my PT didn't push me hard enough?
Thanks.....:)amy