Why are you getting a tibial nail? A tibial fracture? I would assume it’s today in that case.

Hi there -- I'm about four months out now, was hit by a car going 61mph in a parking lot (SLOW DOWN!) and shattered my fib/tib requiring a tibial nail and plate on the inside of my shin. My experience is probably a bit different as much of the muscle in my calf died and had to be reconstructed as well. Surgeon said that it takes a year to 18 months before everything is fully mended. Right now I can walk, albeit can feel the screws keeping everything in place which means pain and stiffness, particularly in the morning or on cold days. I was weight bearing as tolerated ~two weeks after surgery, but couldn't really bear 100% of my weight until 8 weeks out and even then, it's only now getting to the point where I can comfortably walk for 30 minutes depending on the day. I was back on the bike within a month or so of surgery, the wattage is now 50-60% of what it was and I get odd back pain after 25-30 minutes, but I am told that it will hopefully come back. It's really easy to lose the mind/muscle connection and since the nail gets inserted through your knee, you kind of lose the quad flexing ability / your leg muscles activating in unison from the trauma (for me at least). My surgeon said I should be cleared to start light jogging at the 6 month mark or so at least from the bone healing perspective, which I am looking forward to. Make sure to take PT seriously, elevate the leg after surgery and ice frequently. I am on prescription strength aleve for stiffness which also seems to help and is not addictive vs. opiods which you want to take as sparingly as possible. Take it one day at a time and 'embrace the suck' -- keeping a positive attitude is half the battle.