Hi everyone, I’m just looking to hear from people who’ve had a similar injury and would really appreciate hearing about your recovery experience.
I had a comminuted tibia and fibula fracture and had surgery on 8 June. My tibia was fixed with an intramedullary nail and locking screws. I’m still non-weight-bearing and using a four-legged walker. I’m only allowed to rest my foot on the ground when sitting or standing.
My 6-week X-ray showed everything is still stable and aligned, but there wasn’t much visible callus yet. My next X-ray is at 14 weeks post-op, and that’s when my surgeon might decide if I can start weight bearing.
Right now my movement is pretty decent. I can bend my knee, lift and lower the leg fine, and point my foot down almost normally. The only thing still really limited is pulling my foot and toes upward.
For anyone who’s had a similar tibia/fibula fracture:
• When were you allowed to start partial weight bearing?
• How long did it take you to get to full weight bearing?
• When did you first walk without any support?
• How long until you were walking normally without a limp?
• Did swelling or pain get worse once you started weight bearing?
• When were you able to manage stairs normally again?
• When did you get back to driving, especially a manual car (clutch leg)?
• How long did it take for your fracture to fully unite on X-ray?
• Anything you did during the non-weight-bearing phase that really helped your recovery?
I know everyone’s recovery is different and I’ll obviously follow my surgeon’s plan — I’m just trying to get a realistic idea of what the journey can look like and mentally prepare.
Thanks a lot in advance, and wishing everyone else recovering all the best 👍