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Author Topic: Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery  (Read 758 times)

Offline JustcallmeK

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Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery
« on: January 30, 2012, 03:19:21 AM »
Hi everyone,
I'm brand new here and don't know all the ins and outs of posting so if I make any mistakes please be gentle with me.

I was in an auto accident a month ago today, December 28, 2011. The air bags went off but I watched as my right knee smashed into the dashboard. The pain was like nothing I have ever known before and I had four children without any pain medication. On December 30, I had surgery to remove the smashed bottom 1/3 of my patella and to have the tendons reattached. While home recuperating I fell, felt a tremendous pop and horrible pain, and then it was all over and felt fine again. When I went to have my staples removed and x-rays taken it was discovered that I had popped three tendons off again. Last Friday, 1/20/12 I had surgery again. This time the doctor fastened my tendons to my remaining patella with three anchors, wired the anchors in place and drilled a hole through my tibia and "tied off" a tendon. I'm not using more specific medical terms because I have not been given more specific medical terms. I am trying very hard to be a good patient this time.

Now for my question, can anyone tell me what kind of recuperation time I am looking at? My doctor has been very vague about it and I am getting frustrated. After seeing him in his office before my first surgery I haven't seen him yet. My husband has seen the doctor after both my surgeries but I have only seen his physicians assistants. I have no idea how long a recuperation I should expect. When I can expect to start PT. When I can start weight bearing. What my future holds for me. This is very frustrating.

Any advice or reassurance or just information would be greatly appreciated.
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Offline MSD

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Re: Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2012, 09:27:54 AM »
The knee is a very complicated joint and handles very large forces - just walking down stairs puts a maximum load on the knee of about three times your body weight. After a serious injury it's very difficult to make predictions, either about recovery time or how complete an eventual recovery is going to be. If you read some of the stories on this section of the site you will realise that an "average" recovery time for a serious bone break at the knee is probably somewhere between 1 and 2 years, but it can take even longer. You have to set yourself for a long, gradual return to fitness. A lot will depend on your own attitude and how hard you are prepared to work, but at the same time you have to be careful not to overdo things, especially at the start. Especially since you have already had an unlucky fall and aggravated your original injury I imagine your surgeon (OS) and physiotherapist  will be very cautious about starting PT.

We have all been at that point where we were lying in bed wondering when/if we would be able to have an active life again. Happily most people DO recover pretty well, medical skill and technology can work wonders and further down the line there are other "worst case" options such as total knee replacement. But that normally isn't considered until other options have been exhausted.

Welcome to the club! It's not a club anybody would choose to join, but at the same time a lot of people have very positive experiences to share. Although I still walk with a slight limp and can't race on skis anymore, I think I'm a nicer person after my accident. I appreciate a lot of things that I was taking for granted a bit too much.

Mark
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15/03/2011 TPF type 2 skiing accident
17/03/2011 operation, plate and 7 screws
31/03/2011 stitches out, ROM 10/45
28/04/2011 ROM 0/140, PWB allowed
20/05/2011 full ROM
25/05/2011 FWB

Offline Babsy_Boop

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Re: Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2012, 06:58:42 PM »
I am currently four months out and am working steadily on building back flexion - up to 117 degrees.  Concerned about deep bone pain that seems to happen each afternoon - have either of you had that?  Docs have not been very helpful and I can't seem to pin anyone down to what is normal and abnormal.  Good luck to both of you, by the way.
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11/23/11 - Comminuted fx of R patella,
12/2/11 - ORIF, cast for 6 wks
1/16/12 - Cast removed and splint applied, PT begun
1/30/12 - Aggressive ROM, flexion only to about 40 degrees
3/5/12 - ROM to about 70 degrees, MUA on 3/8, daily PT for 2 wks
4/4/12 - ROM 120, still painful after use

Offline floridanightingale

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Re: Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2012, 01:36:32 AM »
Hi Babsy.  It sounds to me like your deep pain may be from the hardware.  That is what mine was from.  As soon as I had it removed (7 months post ORIF), it was gone.  A lot of threads on here talk about the deep pain associated with H/W. Have you discussed with your doc?

JustcallmeK, how are you doing?  Any progress in the last two months?
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4/10 -- comminuted patellar fracture, same day ORIF surgery
4/13 -- released from the hospital in a brace, on crutches
4/22 -- brace removed; 5/20 -- down to one crutch
5/26 -- begin PT, ROM 94
6/3 --  ditch crutch, hello cane!!
7/9 -- full ROM, walking unassisted
11/16 -- hardware removed

Offline Babsy_Boop

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Re: Questions - don't know what to expect with recovery
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2012, 03:21:39 AM »
Thanks so much for your reply!  I did talk to the doc this past week and he believes that the pain is from the hardware - he feels that the wires over and around my patella are causing bursitis.  My mobility is getting increasingly better - up to almost 130 degrees right now, so he is very happy with that, as am I.  He is not willing to remove it yet (it's been about 5 months), so in the interim wants me to see the pain doc.  I was glad to hear that your pain went away when the hardware was removed.   It sounds as if you are doing well.  Thanks again for the note - it helps to know what's going on!
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11/23/11 - Comminuted fx of R patella,
12/2/11 - ORIF, cast for 6 wks
1/16/12 - Cast removed and splint applied, PT begun
1/30/12 - Aggressive ROM, flexion only to about 40 degrees
3/5/12 - ROM to about 70 degrees, MUA on 3/8, daily PT for 2 wks
4/4/12 - ROM 120, still painful after use
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