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Hello everyone, just wanted to see if anyone had any similar stories/recoveries or advice regarding metal implant removal.
Last Tuesday I had my dynamic Hip screw removed after sustaining a stress fracture in my neck of femur last year. The hardware has been a source of constant discomfort and any idea of running has been impossible therefor I’m hoping the removal will be able to give me the chance to run again!
The op was successful and I am now able to walk without crutches albeit slowly and with a bit of pain mainly from the incision.
I have no restrictions in terms of weight bearing but all the hospital physio suggested was to keep mobile, maintain a full range of movement and I can incorporate static cycling (that seems too much right now though due to the pain)
I have a follow up at 6 weeks and won’t even attempt to jog before that but all the surgeon told me to avoid was jumping off buildings! due to the fact that the holes in the bone make it all a bit weaker and more likely to fracture .
If anyone has had screws/plates removed and could give a rough timeline of pain, back to cycling/swimming etc and an eventual return to impact that would be fantastic!
Also any rehab exercises or gym stuff would be helpful too :-)
I crashed and fractured the femur neck in a bike crash. I got three pins removed 7-8 months later.
I was on the trainer two days later and riding outside 4-5 days later (don't tell my surgeon).
I started swimming after stitches were removed and the wound healed up. I can't remember how long time it took - probably a few weeks. I don't recall any issues with swimming other than the loss of technique for being out of the water for 3-5 weeks.
No running for 8 weeks. Started slow with walk/run. Unfortunately I never recovered fully and 2,5 years later I can still not run without some pain. I've more or less given up on running, but walking is painless so I do occasional hikes.
My FTP is back to my pre-crash FTP, but I still have the 10lbs I put on while being sidelined, so W/kg is worse :)
Last edited by:
jth: Aug 15, 20 4:28
Thank you for the reply! That was really helpful.
I can’t believe you got back on the trainer so quickly!!
I’m still whacked out walking down the road lol
Sorry to hear about the running..what kind of pain do you get? I’ve mainly suffered with groin and low back pain which I have been warned by my surgeon that the screw removal may not resolve..
I guess it’s just a nasty injury that will leave some pain. Do you have any physiotherapy or treatment? Did the surgeon suggest why you would still have pain?
Thanks again for the input
I had a tibia nail and fibula plate removed around Christmas in 2013. I was out and about a couple days later and on the trainer for easy spins a week after. The main problem was a mild infection in the distal nail screw hole that required antibiotics and irrigation for a couple weeks. Shouldn’t be a problem with a hip screw.
I did 6 weeks of pretty aggressive pt, highly recommend finding a good therapist. The good news is the following season I was in the best shape of my life.
The reason why I had the screws removed was they were coming out of the bone (or had not be inserted fully), so I could not sleep on the left side and certain movements were painful (e.g., getting in and out of the car). Interestingly my running was better before getting the screws removed, but on the positive side I can now sleep on my left side and rarely have any pain.
When I "run" (9-10 min/mile shuffle) today I have pain (ranging from slight discomfort to quite intense) in the hip and groin. My left leg is visibly smaller than my right (so some muscle atrophy) and I've lost some leg length (2cm or 3/4in). On the bike my L/R balance have shifted from 49/51 to 47-48/52-53, but my FTP is about the same.
Small correction: I went back and checked historical facts on Strava: I was on the trainer 5 days later (40min easy) + 40min hike, 1 hours easy the following day, 1 hour easy on day 8, and an 3 hours ride outside on day 10 (a nice and crispy day with -1C / 30F), intervals on day 12, group ride on day 13. I did a lot of 1 hour hikes when I was not biking.
In the pool 4,5 weeks after surgery.
No physio or treatment other than being recommended to do strength exercises (one legged squats, etc.).
I could not sleep on my side either. Transference of weight from one leg to the other also caused sharp jolts up my thigh and hip. That has actually disappeared so must have been the plate itself.
Any hip or groin pain cycling? I also get a lot of ‘compensation’ pain in the opposite hip which I’m hoping will resolve itself..
Do you remember taking much pain relief in the days post surgery?
Sounds like you made a really speedy recovery despite the running pain. Do you think anything could help that? Injections..more treatment etc?
I was in constant discomfort just walking with the metal work so fingers crossed that will ease off even if running is another story!
Before removal I had hip pain while cycling especially at high power or when I got tired on long rides. That’s now gone after screw removal. I had to lower my saddle as I lost 2cm leg length, but I already did that before screw removal.
The surgeon gave me morphine painkillers for the first few days but I have a very high pain tolerance so I just flushed them out in the toilet when I got home. But this is obviously very personal.
I did get a single injection a few months later for the running pain but it did not help.
I’d always have a dull ache in both hips when cycling. But I actually put my saddle up a bit to avoid a hunched position but perhaps I’ll try the opposite..
Sounds like you’re really hardcore!! :-P
Has anyone mentioned a hip replacement for the future?
Hmm, I lowered saddle as I lost leg length but I did not consult anyone about it. Maybe a good idea to get a bike fit with someone who’ll take your injury into account.
My right leg was 1cm shorter before my crash (fractured my right leg as a child). I now lost 2cm on the left leg, so I ended up lowering saddle about 1cm.
I talked to the surgeon about inserts in running shoes, but her opinion was it would be a waste of money when the leg length difference was so small (1cm).
Pain tolerance is personal :)
I don’t think a hip replacement will make you able to run. Personally I don’t think an operation is worth the risk unless absolutely necessary.
A few complicated femur neck fractures end with necrosis which leads to hip replacement , but luckily my fracture was simple and not displaced.
Great to hear your metal work has been removed! We have chatted open ST in the past as I have a DHS in situ as well but have elected not to have it out for the meantime (been about 5 years now)(I am also a specialist but not an orthopaedic surgeon).
Despite it being viewed as a relatively minor procedure, it is quite a decent op getting all that metalware out and getting everything to heal again. There will be a decent defect in your bone from where the dynamic screw was, so I would really advise to take it super easy for the first 6-12 weeks to allow all that marrow etc to restore itself back to some form of normality.
I don't have much in the way of advice for where you are at presently....just take it easy and don't expect too much too soon. With no racing on the horizon for most people it is an ideal time to rehab properly. Swimming is probably an ideal choice once your wound has healed.
Keep us updated with your progress if you can.
Hey good to hear from you again! I guess In theory I would have kept the metal in but it was a source of daily discomfort and pain so I decided to bite the bullet. I do feel like a ‘safety blanket’ has been taken away though and I want to make sure I’m extra strong and resilient to keep injury free in the future..
Thanks for the advice, I’m not going to rush things and you’re right- probably the best time to have the op done as I can recover at the right pace without any pressure of getting ready for a season/races etc!
Hope you’re well and managing to get some swim/bike/run in?
Training is going great guns here!! Can't complain too much. I don't notice my metalwork too much in summer, winter and cold/wet days seems to aggravate it. I know I will never quite get back to where I could have been but otherwise am setting PBs in swimming and riding so that is great. I would bite the bullet if I could justify it but for what I put up with and how long it has been just not really worth it yet.
Just remember to take things day by day, the days will turn into weeks and before you know it you will be back going great guns!
That’s great to hear! Hopefully some solid racing next year then..
Thanks for the support, maybe see you on a start line one day! :-P
Hello. How are you now since the removal of your screw? Thanks
Hello. How are you now since the removal? Thanks
How are you now since the removal of your screw? Thanks