Posts
6
Joined
2/5/2022
Location
Dayton, OH
US
Edited Date/Time
2/23/2022 8:32pm
I’ll start by saying I hope this is the right place to post this topic but I was wondering what you guys have gone through with recovery on a tib fib break. I was in a motorcycle accident (not at fault) and my both my bones and already existing plate were blown through the front of my leg. Had to have an artery and flap taken from my left arm to cover up and provide blood flow to my leg so hopefully no extra arm pump when I get back riding. Anyways lots of other broken body parts also but my leg seems to give me the most issues. I’m 7 months post accident and am planning on getting back to moto this summer if my body allows me to. My leg still swells any time I’m upright but my main issue is my shin hurts when my muscles are flexing as I’m trying to walk since I have a plate there. I was curious if any of you guys have had issues with recovery with any similar injuries I would love to hear any stories or any advice since paying doctors at this point doesn’t really get me anywhere.
I broke it previously also, and it was a breeze recovery. The second time I described above was nasty and the reason I still have issues. They plated it, I still have to be careful of pressure points on the plate with certain types of boots and activities.
In hindsight, I think I did it wrong: I waited for it to much less painful to bear weight before I started doing much. I see where guys are bearing weight on repaired limbs very very quickly, and I suspect that speeds the healing process. At the time, my thought process was that the pain simply indicated that it was not ready. Probably would have been a quicker process if I pushed it
My takeaways:
• Physical Therapy is an absolute must. Don't go to whomever your insurance suggests, seek out a PT who works specifically with athletes and understands your goals and ambitions.
• Take care of yourself, holistically. Diet and exercise are paramount. Cut all processed foods from your diet and EAT CLEAN; crap food creates a tremendous amount of edema and inflammation in your body. Your leg is already at a disadvantage with circulation—don't make it unnecessarily harder. This also goes for alcohol / smoking. Cut that shit out. What's more important, riding moto well or tossing back a beer?
• Lose weight. Not sure what your current BMI is, but the lighter you are, the easier it'll be. That doesn't mean you can't be strong, but aiming for goals like a body fat percentage in the single-digits really helped take the load off, literally. I would strongly recommend getting a Dexa-scan to give you a baseline and help set goals.
• SET GOALS. Milestones, whatever. More mobility, more strength, more cardio, whatever. Set them, and vehemently adhere to achieving them.
• Ride a bicycle. A lot. There are so many benefits from riding that it'd be hard to list them all, but being a low-impact, high cardio sport will have tremendous value.
• Explore the removal of hardware. Most surgeons will advise against it simply based on the propensity to infection or surgical issues, plus most 'normal' (read: sedentary) individuals probably won't notice it throughout their lives. But, as an athlete, there could be benefits to this.
• Don't give up. Sounds cheesy, but even now, years on, I still can't ride very well for very long with how much damage was done to my ankle. I've found plenty of solitude in cycling, but my goal is to get back on the moto, eventually.
Good luck dude. DM if you have any specific questions.
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And I’m in the beginning stages of getting back to my old self now. Aside from that I have to ask, did you have any hardware removed? I would entertain that idea if I’m still dealing with related issues maybe next winter. I mean what’s getting cut open again after all? My leg isn’t going to get any prettier lol
I was just over 8 months to 100%. Plated with 7 Screws. The injury area will occasionally get sore during a day of riding, but not to the point it is intolerable. I am essentially 100%.
Robbi
Fmx is my full time job so i did everything i could to get healed asap.
Low level laser therapy, pulse magnetic field therapy and oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber. I was back riding in 3 months.
Doctors were shocked at my healing and said i was originally looking at minimum 6 months before i could ride again.
My ankles still far from working normal and i still get swelling everyday and some pain if im on my feet all day but it is still improving everyday.
Get your self a wobble board and make sure your doing ankle exercises everyday and you will see a big improvements
1- Go see a physiotherapist focused on sports. You're not the normal person spending is weekend in front of the TV or on the side of the pool.
2- Healthy food
3- Follow what the physioterapist say and do your exercises
4- Get in active mode (cycling, short walk, rowing).
5- Follow what the physioterapist say and do your exercises
6- Ice/warm therapy really help on recovery (ice reduce pain and swelling while hot help the repair process).
7- Follow what the physioterapist say and do your exercises
8- Get the hardware removed if you can
9- Follow what the physioterapist say and do your exercises
10- Enjoy life
External Fixator for 4 weeks, 2nd surgery 11/11....non weight bearing until almost 3 weeks ago when I got a walking boot. Hobbling around since then (first few days with a cane), but getting better (big gains) every single day. Foot is still swollen a bit, but I now can get around house without walking boot. While I have sensation everywhere, some parts of the area feel kinda "asleep." The most recent picture (3rd one?) is almost exactly 4 months from the date of me eating shit.
..
Might as well post these pictures. This is within a span of 3 months
Pit Row
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