Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone?
Quote | Reply
Broke my left femur by hitting a tree snowboarding 3 weeks ago (broke my right when I was 4). Had the surgery in insert the rod in the bone. Have been doing some PT exercises at home just to try to improve the range of motion slowly and start supervised PT this week. Just wanted to see if there were those in this community that have been unfortunate to have to go through this injury or PTs and/or Dr.'s that might be willing to share some tips/time lines to recover?

Thanks in advance for all your help. Cheers.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Martsuzaka wrote:
Broke my left femur by hitting a tree snowboarding 3 weeks ago (broke my right when I was 4). Had the surgery in insert the rod in the bone. Have been doing some PT exercises at home just to try to improve the range of motion slowly and start supervised PT this week. Just wanted to see if there were those in this community that have been unfortunate to have to go through this injury or PTs and/or Dr.'s that might be willing to share some tips/time lines to recover?

Thanks in advance for all your help. Cheers.

How bad was the break? Open or closed?

_________________________
I got nothing.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [NickG] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Closed. Clean break no shatter pieces but the bone was completely severed - looked like and slightly slanted number 11 about a third down my leg from the hip. Surgeon says it lined up perfectly horizontally, vertically and rotationally. Follow up surgeon indicated that the other surgeon did a great job.
Last edited by: Martsuzaka: Mar 10, 12 15:10
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Tough to tell, sounds like you lucked out with a clean break that articulates well. Obviously it will depend on the individual as for healing time but you are probably looking at 6mo as a general timeline. (4-8mo on ave). What you will face more than anything will be getting the leg back up to strength. Stick with the PT/OT and don't rush it.

_________________________
I got nothing.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Broke my left femur at the femoral head/hip in Feb 2002. Timeline was:

1) 2-3 days in the hospital getting rods and pins installed
2) 7 days in a rehab facility. By the end of my stay I was able to BARELY lift my knee up while sitting in a chair
3) after another 1-2 weeks I asked the doc if I could use a stationary recumbent bike on low resistance to get my range of motion back and reduce stiffness. Did that for a few weeks until
4) I was totally bored with the stationary bike so I purchased a Computrainer. Hurt like heck getting on and off, but I could pedal all day on the thing, even at high resistance. It actually opened my eyes to training with power, and I was doing rides of 220-240 W for over an hour without yet being able to walk without crutches/cane
5) Made my first trip to Japan while still using a cane. Hurt like heck navigating the train stations and such.
6) By the end of May I was able to ride outdoors
7) was given the go-ahead to run at the 6 month mark. I was having a lot of pain and low muscle strength moving my leg laterally (think laying on the floor on your side and lifting the leg off the floor). Once I started running, my pain when away in 1-2 weeks. Those lateral muscles just weren't getting worked with walking, and it took getting my body stable while running to bring those in shape.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Broke mine in late January 2006, surgery that day, crutches for six weeks, cane for six weeks. Walked until August first and then started running. You will do fine, just takes time. Good luck.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [NickG] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
NickG (and well everyone for that fact), 6 months (avg) is back to running or full training or full health? Seems back to swimming will be really soon and possibly bike after 5-6weeks possibly.

Anything in particular that worked for anyone i.e. accupuncture, ART, etc?
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Martsuzaka wrote:
NickG (and well everyone for that fact), 6 months (avg) is back to running or full training or full health? Seems back to swimming will be really soon and possibly bike after 5-6weeks possibly.

Anything in particular that worked for anyone i.e. accupuncture, ART, etc?

Oh, the swimming and biking will come sooner, in fact as long as the bone appears to have a fusion than you should be ok to do pretty much anything. The 6mo was a loose estimate on full recovery, again this depends on many factors to include how quickly you heal and how well your body reacts to the different recovery techniquies. You can try to accupunture or manipulation but they won't do much for quickening the healing process of making you come back any faster. I would only suggest those interventions if you are experiencing chronic pain that is not subsiding or not easily controlled through medication. The last thing you can expect to get back to 100% on is the running for obvious reseasons. I know a few people with femur fx that have found great results with an elliptical or arc trainer type of machine. They will allow you to maintain good muscle function without the added impact of running. Also, look into water running as a means of keeping your muscles from atrophy. They will no doubt be weaker but you can do things to minimize how far gone they get. If you stay on top of what you can, you should be able to hit the ground running once you are cleared for full weight bearing without much of a loss in performance. Best of luck to you.

_________________________
I got nothing.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
So sorry.

You need 3 x 500 mg of calcium a day - no more than 500 mg at a time - food better than supplements. Avoid Ca and Fe together (they bind). Vitamin C, however, will increase Ca absorption.

vit d + k also important

(((((((hugs)))))))

maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [tigerchik] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Thanks everyone for you're responses.

Tigerchik,

Thank you so much for the nutrition point of view. I have to admit that i really don't know that much about the nutrition side of things and it is what ultimately brought me down in my first 140.6 attempt.

I understand the calcium part but i tend to be anemic and often have to take Iron supplements. Can you maybe explain further about the "binding"? Is there a way to get around this?
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
broke my femur neck on may, had surgery and a screw and plate inserted. started swimming as soon as stitches where removed, biking after about 4 weeks, running after 6, firt tri at 8 weeks, Ironman in September.

my case is a bit extreme, listen to your body
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
Tigerchik,

Thank you so much for the nutrition point of view. I have to admit that i really don't know that much about the nutrition side of things and it is what ultimately brought me down in my first 140.6 attempt.

I understand the calcium part but i tend to be anemic and often have to take Iron supplements. Can you maybe explain further about the "binding"? Is there a way to get around this?





I can't explain but will email a friend who is an RD and see if I can get an answer for you.

maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
http://web.mit.edu/...ine/wcrminerals.html

This explains it and will give you more useful info.

maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I'm not sure if my story adds much but you're welcome to it. During a car accident in early January '81, the lower half of my left femur was broken in several places and the upper half was left protruding out the side of my thigh. They tucked the upper femur under the skin and sewed it up for two weeks to let numerous other surface injuries close before operating on the bone. The ortho doc put a pin down from the hip. He said it was like building a shishkabob; line up a piece of bone, tap the pin through, line up another piece, etc. I was on my back with my leg in a cradle for another 6 weeks before I could get out of bed. During that time a PT suggested I practice using my quad muscles to make the kneecap jump. Once I was up I pushed my recovery, just a bit but constantly. I started back to work at a heavy industrial labor position 5 months to the day after the accident. That was in my early twenties and I'm sure being younger helped my recovery.
Quote Reply
Post deleted by Cervfreak [ In reply to ]
Post deleted by Cervfreak [ In reply to ]
Post deleted by Cervfreak [ In reply to ]
Post deleted by Cervfreak [ In reply to ]
Post deleted by Cervfreak [ In reply to ]
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Micawber] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Bad luck. I fx my right femur (subtrochanteric) 11 months ago. Femoral nail (reconstruction type) inserted 1 day after break. Out of hospital on crutches day 6. Also started mobilizing leg in bed. Started PT 14 days after (any sooner would be a waste of time as I could barely move my leg or flex quads). Lots of leg lift exercises with therabands (stretchy rubber). Partial weight bearing on crutches at about 4 weeks. On trainer with low resistance for 1 hr a day at 6 weeks. Started low freq ultrasound at 6 weeks too. Started riding on road super carefully at 8 weeks. Remained on crutches (progressively weight bearing more) until week 12. Increased training on bike to 10hrs a week by 15 weeks. Back racing at 22 weeks. Short break at ~30 weeks to remove distal screws (5 days off bike). Expect some weakness in leg and bone to persist for at least 9 months after fx. At 11 months now, I can barely tell the difference. Lots of hard work though, and the first few weeks were really, really tough (I could barely swing my leg out of bed). No need to remove IM nail unless it is giving you issues (might do if you run, as it flexes differently to bone). The real limiter is the time it takes for the fx to calcify so you can weight bear (IM nails are not designed to be weight bearing - they are only deigned to hold the fx in place and take partial loads. Don't rush it you will get there, a lot of it has to do with time. Eat right (protein to help the glutes and ITB which would have been sliced to put the nail in and take calcium supp 600mg with Vit D to increase absorption). You might want to consider some low frequency ultrasound at the fx site to get the break to calcify quicker. Good luck - I feel for you...
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [Martsuzaka] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Richie Cunningham had a half helpful, half entertaining blog on how he recovered from breaking his hip - http://www.richiecunningham.net/...-but-not-out_12.html. He got back into racing quicker than most people I've seen, so it might be worth reading.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [alvaro] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Hey. Sounds like you had a remarkable recovery. Im about 3 weeks after surgey and I think im ready to swim despite doctors orders to do nothing but sit on the couch. I also broke my femur just below the neck. Did your dr mention anything to you about possibly developing avascular necrosis? Mine is scaring me a bit with it. I'm trying to be as proactive about it in preventative measures so im wondering if staying active at this point in recovery would be a pro/con???? Obviously not overdooing it and listening to what my body says.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Quote Reply
Re: Broken Femur Rehab Tips/Timeline anyone? [allornothing] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
allornothing wrote:
Hey. Sounds like you had a remarkable recovery. Im about 3 weeks after surgey and I think im ready to swim despite doctors orders to do nothing but sit on the couch. I also broke my femur just below the neck. Did your dr mention anything to you about possibly developing avascular necrosis? Mine is scaring me a bit with it. I'm trying to be as proactive about it in preventative measures so im wondering if staying active at this point in recovery would be a pro/con???? Obviously not overdooing it and listening to what my body says.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

my doctor recomended walking with a croutch from the day y left the hospital. I certainly pushed far beyond his recomendations, I had a newborn a week after surgery and was forced to leave the croutch as I needed both hands, two weeks after I was riding the trainer, and I hit the pool the day the stitches where removed.

necrosis is a posibility but I think enhancing blod flow is a pro in this case. just take it easy and progresive, your body will tell you if you over do it, you just have to be smart enough to listen and react
Quote Reply