Posts
67
Joined
2/27/2011
Location
Boca Raton, FL, USA
Edited Date/Time
12/15/2017 7:50am
I broke my tibia and fibula pretty badly.I had to have internal fixation and a external fixator as well.There is a plate with 8 screws holding my tibia together.Now the area where the break is doesn't hurt at all but the top of my foot is numb by my toes and when I touch that area it feels like its on fire.It will feel like its on fire even when I don't touch the the top of my foot.My foot also feels like it cramps up and it has muscle spasms.The doctor said I have nerve damage and gave my lyrica to treat the nerve pain.It has been six weeks since I first broke my leg.
So my question is has anybody else gone through this and what have your recovery times been?
So my question is has anybody else gone through this and what have your recovery times been?
I hate to tell you but it took years to go away. Nerves heal very very slowly.
Usually had numbness lack of feeling or "Severe-feeling like it's asleep"...if that makes sense.
Do your homework, ask questions...really ask the Re-Hab folks...they'll, usually, know the most about this stuff.
Most importantly: Take it easy, do it right, LOTS of REST and good nutrition.
Good luck...from a guy that's still at-least 4 months "out" from gettin' to ride (But, Today is my 1st day of rehab!)
Signed,
Old Dude, 48 and still doin' it!
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I remember OX tellin' me he'd lost feeling in a knee, that was simply from a fall, and he rememebered it being numb for the longest time...then...one day..."Hey!...when did I get that feeling back?"
You jus' gotta roll with it and heal.
I also hit some dude head on last year and sustained some nerve damage and ultimately tissue decay near my elbow. I've got most of the feeling back now, but it was so numb for 7-8 months that I couldn't feel a needle going through the skin.
Even my worst injuries have healed 100% or very close to it. The body is a crazy thing!
So I guess to answer your question....Recovery time (depending on how bad your break was) is a life long deal. I'm sitting here 12 years later still having issues.
Riding again although old and slow and banged up. It took along time for the nerves to connect after my surgeries especially with the ankle that was a compound fracture. External Fixators came out after 6months but have the screws still in the ankles To this day, if I don't watch it I fall down because I don't have the stability or sensation to "feel" with my feet where I'm going. But again, life throws ya a curveball, knock the shit out of it and live life.
Stay positive and listen to the docs and eventually things will come around. Ankles are tough extremities to heal so you gotta have patience.
The best news is, my doctor thinks I'm crazy for riding again, but he said that as messed up as my ankles are I can't really hurt them any worse than they already are and that the riding is actually good for them to stretch and keep them active.
Good luck!
I fell...really hard-n-bad on June 3rd out-side of Ensenada. I was Grateful jus' to get up. My rt shoulder was stinging and it was prickly from some-kinda "impact"...? On the scene I had someone hold my arm and I "put it back"...more than a few of you know this move.
PAB and his radio skills were all over it with the SCORE folks. The F&L Crew threw me in their Class 1 and we were off to the Hospital: X-Rays looked OK; but, something wasn't right...btw, INSTANT service...NO WAITING...SCORE rules!
Fast Forward: MRI = Surgery on August 1st.
Re-attach Bi-Cep.
Re-attach Supra-Spinadus.
Manipulation of the Labrum/clean-up Lab.
Repair the "Sack" around all of it.
I had no idea how serious some of it was until Post-Op # 2 a coupl'a weeks later when we reviewed all the "images" and damage and planned the re-hab. I was still positive; but, very fuckin' nervous...well..actually...I was scared.
It seems that the Supra can be a lil' tricky in it's re-attach phase...as in "If" it does...hell...so can the Bi-Cep...based on the combo of damage I did.
Today: My 1st Re-Hab appt. All's well and I'm "ahead" of schedule. Once, again, my Doc reminded me, "Don't screw up my work!"
The Re-Hab dude is a big J-Mac fan; so, I'm gonna get him something w/ an autograph on it and keep him from kickin' my ass too hard! (Actually, Re-Hab is bitchin' and the masseuse is a hottie!)
So, I went out and tore up a shoulder...pretty fuckin' bad.
But, it can go well. Even after all that post-surgical pain...4 weeks and 4 days out and I get to re-hab it 3 days a week and I might...jus' "might" get to ride the '12 Rip to the Tip...it's all ahead of Schedule and goin' well.
Again..."Grateful".
That's almost 10 months total off the bike: Again, ever since I got up...I've been Grateful.
I could have died...and I know it. There was a HUGE Rock with my name on it and I'd jus' lost a friend down there.
Btw, thanks to PAB (Cameron Steele...the Camera Whore) for taking such good care of us when we're in "The Baja"...
I had nerve damage from tib/fib fracture (on the fib side) 25 years ago, some numbness on top of the foot (which eventually went away) and I lost command of the muscle that lifts the big toe up (that never really came back).
EVERYTHING felt better when the hardware (screws thru the ankle holding rod in the tibia) was taken away.
Before that, buckling my MX boots around the ankle area was sending like micro electrical shocks that were very uncomfortable.
You will get through it man, just stay strong!!!
It took me 123 days to walk (I broke the right tibia, fibula and talus and the left calcaneous and tibia) and 6 months to ride again. I will have a slight to moderate limp forever too.
But = It doesn't hurt too much anymore. I'm stiff and sore in the mornings and after exercise... I broke the joint surface and have very little cartilage in my right ankle joint.
I don't mean to freak you out... I can do whatever I want basically except run (which I never did like) or play sports that require quick direction changes on your feet (i.e. soccer)...
But = You'll be able to ride (the docs will say no of course) and we'll be here to sympathize with you. Good luck with your recovery!
It does seem to cause some tiredness or fatigue, but so does no sleep if the pain is too bad.
Pit Row
Now, over two years later I still take Neurontin 600mg three times a day (but no more oxy's). I always have pain constantly but it's livable. I also have foot drop that requires me to wear a brace all the time.
I saw what he went through and it was a long slow recovery. From my outside perspective I think the best thing he did was force himself to do as much PT as he could stand and got his full range of motion back as soon as possible.
It also seemed like the doctors loved to prescribe pain killers but didn't want to offer any support on how to ween yourself off of them. My advice is don't get hooked and just take the minimum amount possible.
He still has nerve and joint pain, but once he went against doctors orders (pretty much don't do any physical activity) and started using his leg he improved a lot. He now runs, lifts weights, and is back riding moto.
Hang in there, man.
The nerve damage was the worst part of the whole ordeal. Non stop foot on fire and tingling! I couldn't sleep for almost 2 months. I begged the Dr for something and I don't like narcotics. He prescribed Nuerotin at first. It made me extremely depressed so bad in fact that I would stand in the hallway and cry for 10 minutes sometimes. It can have gnarly side effects. Then they switched me to Lyrica. It was a life saver. I could finally sleep, actually the best sleep I have ever had. It also increased my appetite.
I hope you make it through it will get better.
After the first surgery for the Fibia on the 18th.
Second surgery for the Fibia July 13th.
Just bodyweight on it, after October 10, full weight after December 28. Top of the foot still swells up due to nerve damage and cannot lift the big toe.
Feel real lucky that I got that Mitch Peyton of body fabrication surgeon
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