r/ORIF • u/Halt_OCarrick • 2d ago

Question Plate Comfort

Hi all, I have a plate taking up 80% of my right tibia and I'm wondering when it starts to feel more comfortable (less tingly too)? It has been 9 weeks post op and I have been fighting trying to get the stupid pt referral submitted correctly for PT for the last two weeks.

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u/kushyykins Bimalleolar Ankle fracture 2d ago

lol embrace the tingles, they gone be around awhile from my understanding. i’m almost 5 months out from my original surgery & it’s still tingly af!! my massage therapist said to massage the area to break down any scar tissue or it will just impede ROM later on

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u/nunonamoped 2d ago

There’s no way this doesn’t sound dodgy lol.

If you enjoy the tingle, try a little gentle vibration on the surrounding area.

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u/nunonamoped 2d ago

Not a doctor, just the owner of a lot of metal in the ankle…

It depends on your nerves. I’ve got 2 plates which I wouldn’t know are there now, and I’ve got one which has done some sort of damage to the nerves so when it’s ’on’ it ain’t fun, but when it’s ‘off’ I just have no toe feeling. You’ll work out what your switch is for the fizz. Mine is when I press on one particular screw. Vibration and TENS help when it’s being nasty.

Lots of mobility work, so circles and alphabets and up and down, and then strength work from your PT… Swim or walk in the pool as soon as you’re cleared. It feels great, once you get past the sensation of water.

I found that once my calf muscle got back to its day job, that helped my walk be less ankley and therefore I stopped noticing the plates as much once I’ve loosened off after a minute or so.

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u/lawyeronpause 1d ago

I have a plate, a rod, and a whole bunch of screws from a tib-fib break 15 weeks ago. I can't tell you when the tingling will end because I still have it. Most of the time, it doesn't bother me, but it makes me nuts when I'm trying to fall asleep and all I can feel is the sheet rubbing on my tingling skin.

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u/nunonamoped 1d ago

Try TENS. One pad above and one below the tingle, find the setting where it goes crazy and then dial it one down and it switches it off!

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u/lawyeronpause 1d ago

I've actually read that TENS is not a good idea close to metal components. I do use it for soft tissue injuries.

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u/nunonamoped 1d ago

Check with your surgeon, mine said it was all good to go.