I’m recovering from a number of fractures & breaks that I got on a mtb accident back in July and my neurosurgeon said PT will be necessary, but he doesn’t want to talk about that “stage” until we get there. Well, I’d at least like to have some idea of how long that might take before I can get back out on the road and bike and run.
If I have any luck, I’ll only be rockin’ the collar look for another 4 weeks, so I’m 2/3rds thru).
I’ve heard 5 weeks from a guy I know, but wanted to get a 2nd opinion if possible. Also, any ideas on how much longer it might take before I could jog? He’s got me walking long distances now - I regularly do 10-15 miles a day in multiple walks, but nothing is even remotely close to even a jog.
Wouldn’t the guy who put you back together be the one to ask? He probably trained between 12 and 16 years and has another decade of experience post doctoral study to answer your questions. Why ask some dipstick on the internet what to do? Hang in there.
no a pt but i did sleep in a holiday inn last night…
I was hit and run over by a truck in February while running, I had a nasty open fracture and both leg bones broken in multiple places. Ended up with 2 plates and about 12 screws in my left leg and a memorable and ugly bunch of scars. In hospital 4 days and then home 2 weeks on some significant pain med. I think I started PT weeks after that - so about a month before I had my first eval at Endurance Rehab.
Was non weight bearing for 16 weeks - 100% on crutches, getting incisions and abrasions to heal - and then down to one crutch in late May and finally full wt bearing around end of June. Started some light cycling and swimming in late July, still not running or even walking very well today.
At first the PT was just mobility in my ankle and knee- moving a few degrees, flexing ankle to pump fluid around and getting some electro stim tharapy to reduce the swelling. I gradually added more but was really only after I was fully weight bearing that I could really work at it - glute mede, sidelying clams, leg presses, hamstring, step up and down, full stretches and etc.
I just had a follow up surgery to take one plate out, will be 2 weeks break then back to PT- I hope to be running in another month or so, but really don’t know. Hope to go back on the bike in a few weeks. My Doc said to figure a full year before I to feel well recovered.
Mine was pretty bad, could have lost the leg, if you are walking well yours may not be as bad.
i’ll be the dipstick on the internet. the neurosurgeon will decide everything (he did put u together, any other specialties assisting?) typically bones take 6 weeks to heal (all types special situations - we’ll give you best case since ur in shape???) ligamentous damage takes much longer since relatively poor blood supply… in short, MD will let u know when to progress, but sounds like ur doing great with that much mobility already. please do listen to ur medical team, discuss ur goals; ultimately they will get you back faster than going alone. hint: give the tissues time to heal, allow for the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons to prepare for the loads u will put them thru ie recovery days, phases. use the pool to ur advantage for all disciplines. get full movement, speed up the movements, make 'em stronger, and then perform! best of luck, u will be fine.
Interesting that it takes only 6 weeks. He’s quoted 12 weeks pretty much from the get-go, but that may not be just to heal the bones but something else too? He said it was what he typically uses for my type of injury. In about 4 months, it’ll be 12 weeks so I’m getting curious about what’s to follow the neck brace.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll definitely listen to the doc. He just doesn’t like getting ahead of the situation and I just wanted to get a guesstimate of how much longer it might be - best / avg case. I know I can’t do anything to speed things up - I can only slow things down and it’s been long enough.
I don’t know if I’d say mine was good / bad / worse than others. 5 c-spine broken / fractured (c2, c4, c5, c6, c7) and L1. Based on the last x-ray series, only c6 & c7 were the only ones that he seemed slighly concerned about.
ur welcome. pretty extensive injuries. c6,7 vertebrae may not be healing the way he wants, etc, no way of knowing without being in the appt with you! (c6,7 are responsible for bi-, triceps, wrist & finger mov’ts) the 6 wk timeframe is a typical fx and is healing properly with “union.” yours (without knowing any details of ur injuries!) sounds like you tore yourself up, could have been all types of fx with the vertebrae and that changes healing time significantly! again be patient, but in control of your healthcare…