Broken femur recovery time

My first one had me in a wheel chair for 4 months. 2 days after the pins were taken out, it broke again. Second time they plated it and did a bone graph, I believe I was walking within 3 months. These days recovery is a bit shorter. Btw, an external fixator is extremely uncomfortable and painful and I’d recommend any other option

I was back to work in roughly 8 weeks. Mine was broken in two places, so they put a rod in it. The doctor told me I’d always feel the injury, and I do. Most days, no big deal, some days like with this weather front coming through, it’s excruciating. But, as fast as it starts hurting like hell, it will equally quit hurting to that extreme.

I had a rod inserted in mine and was hiking within 4 months and riding within 6 months. They had me up walking the day after surgery and I devoted a lot of time to rehab.

10 years later I broke my hip at the top of the rod, in which they removed the rod and put 4 screws in the femoral head. That was about the same process and recovery and I was out skiing within 7 months.

Bottom line, embrace the pain and fight through it. Neither of the injuries bother me now and the femoral rod/pins didn't cause any pain or discomfort for me.

i had a rod inserted labor day weekend. i was walking uncomfortably by thanksgiving and doing hip tosses in judo class (gingerly i might add) it didnt like running for at least a year but i also wasnt pushing to get back in shape either

i had it removed 4 years after and felt better without the rod. in fact i walked out of the docs office the day it was removed. i just didnt do anything impactful for a few weeks so it could fill in


so 3-6 mos you should be walking and you should be doing physical therapy within a few weeks (movements no weight)

but i would also plan to get the rod out asap if you can swing it

Depends on what your idea of recovery is. I would say 6 months off the bike.

It also depends on if they go through your hip or knee. They went through my knee and it was about 4 months before I could walk on it and 6 months before I was able to go back to work. A buddy had a compound break and they went through his hip and he was walking on it after 2-3 weeks and back to work after 6 I think. All of my recovery wasn’t from my femur, but from my knee with then putting the rod in that direction.

Double compound fracture of left femur. Rod inserted with plates and screws to hold the 3 pieces together.

Unaided walking in 3 weeks. Was slalom water skiing in 4 months. Riding MX in 6.

Like said above, try and get the hardware out as soon as your Doc says you can. I waited 4 years and it was a bitch getting it out.

If you want to see some horror, search user: sumdood. That guys journey was hell.

Broke mine in 2 places in 2006. They put a rod and 2 screws in. Broke it mid October and was riding the day after Christmas

Mine wouldn't be comparing apples to apples. Yours sounds way worse than mine and you were water skiing in 4 months. That's fantastic. You know that saying "What do you call a doctor who graduated last in his class" ?
"A doctor" That's the guy I got. Luckily the guy who fixed his fuck up was great.

Good luck endurox, hope you're back at it soon

I broke mine in ‘99 & had a femural pin inserted.
Broke it Sunday afternoon and was on my feet Tuesday and home Wednesday.

I forget how long it took to get back to any form of comfort or fitness though.
I did ride with the pin in but had it removed around two years after the break.

That was 23 years ago now and it’s beginning to show signs. I had an x-ray in recent years and discovered that my hip is “very arthritic, you’re going to have trouble with that later” said the Doc. At the minute, it’s ok, but I get the odd twinge here and there.

Broke mine at the age of 35, Feb 2000 mid shaft and neck. Two surgery's and 8 weeks on a walker/crutches. Used a cane for about 2 weeks after because of muscle deterioration/weakness. It was six months before I felt comfortable getting back on the bike. Been riding ever since.

I think there may be a little arthritis in the hip, but it does not bother me very often. Hardware is still attached except for the screw down by my knee. The screw had backed out and was rubbing on a tendon, so I had it removed in 2015.

My recovery would have been a lot faster had there not been the fracture in the femur neck.

Depends on how and where it broke. Mine was broken at the knee vertically, 3 screws to fix it. The main thing, rehab... Rehab the heck out of it or you are going to make recovery a lot worse than it needs to be (which drags recovery out further). You will feel a lot better, faster.

Sidenote, doctors said the screws would never need to come out, they were wrong. The screw heads began rubbing in the joint after XX amount of years, a whole new pain, another surgery for hardware removal (which the surgeon stripped the head of one screw, had to literally use an EZ Out).

Broke mine 2001 and it had to be the most painful thing I've ever gone through.

I would take a shot at childbirth before I'd want to go through that again.

Yes.. long recovery and you will forever be a weathervane

done
This is how it was done In 1974 six weeks in traction then a body cast for 12 more weeks Five months before I could walk again oh and I was only 13 years old when it started

Can you imagine someone who isn’t into dirt bikes stumbling across this thread ? They’d think we’re all out of our fucking minds

Crash217. How much is "A little bit shorter" ? I'm just starting to try and get used to the 1" difference in mine. It's.... different for sure. I start PT with a therapist next Tuesday who's supposed to help me learn to get around without gimping too bad, I can already tell lower back pain is going to be an issue

I'm getting used to these thongs, at first the right one felt too high @ 3/4", but as I get more mobile I might go to the full 1". I'm still experimenting and learning. Did you do anything to compensate for the length difference ?

If you are young and have had broken bones heal without any complications it could be a month or two but depends on the severity of the break. Bones knit in about 2 weeks and continue to strengthen. Everyone heals differently. It would be better in the long run to follow your doctors advice. He should advise you based on xray changes.
Keep in mind that most medical professional have a knee jerk "NO" reaction to getting back on a bike.

I broke mine at 16 in a street bike accident in 84. Traction 5 weeks instead of rod. 7 weeks crutches. Riding soon after cast was off. Young people heal fast. 1.5” short on one side and even more bow legged than god already made me.
Overweight and 35 years later knee problems were inoperable without a correction of the original break. So a surgical rebreak and rod inserted. Gained 1.5” back and leg straight, no knee problems. Probably a good 9 months before I felt I could ride mx again. Was on a road bicycle at 3 months for PT.