Bone breaks around the knee :

Encouragement for the newly injured - - Posted by JRR (JRR), 28 November 2004

I'm 43, and I fractured my right patella into two pieces mountain biking on August 22, 2004.  It was surgically repaired with suture (versus wire and screws).  I also ripped my medial and lateral collateral ligaments, and they were also surgically re-attached.  I was on crutches and in an immobilizer for 7 weeks.

As of today, I am 14 weeks post-injury.  I have full range of motion, no limp, and I am hiking, swimming and cycling (no running yet).  I lost two inches off my quad, and 1 inch off my calf.  My calf is back, and my quad is coming along slowly but surely.  

This bulletin board was a great source of information during the early stages of my recovery, and I really liked hearing the success stories.  I thought I'd share mine hoping that it will encourage someone else to hang in there.  It's a rough injury/recovery, and I am thankful for a great orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist.  

It also helped when I finally met someone in person who had broken their patella.  As you know, the standard response when someone hears what you did is, "I never heard of anyone breaking their kneecap."  That's all you need to hear to really feel alone!

If you're newly injured, hang in there.  It does get better!

Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 29 November 2004

Thanks for the update, JRR. It is always good to hear from folks who are doing well and are making progress, because it gives all of us so much hope that we will improve. I pray you continue to recover, and again thanks for the report. Be sure to keep us posted!
Posted by lizl (lizl), 10 December 2004

OPHMYGOSH, JRR! You are an inspiration, indeed!

Welcome to kneegeeks, but I'm betting we won't be hearing from you for very long!  

LizL
Posted by Misty_R (Misty_R), 11 January 2005

Congratulations JRR on your rapid recovery.

Thankfully, I too have a success story .... I had a nasty tibial plateau fracture April 2004 when I fell from my horse. Fixed with wire/plate/screws etc.

I was lucky enough to have an excellent surgeon and very good physiotherapy treatment.

I was back on a horse in October 2004 and now am almost completely back to normal. The only problem I have is that my knee is a little stiff if I remain sitting for long periods of time. Other than that ... no ongoing disability whatsoever. If I had known then what I know now, I would not have been so worried/depressed and anxious during the early stages of recovery.

So stay hopeful and positive!

Misty X




Posted by Chappy (Chappy), 11 January 2005

Hi All,

This is a great site that I have been visiting since my TP fracture along with a lateral tib fracture followed by compartment syndrone on 10-31-04.  
I am now allowed to bear some weight, and have 100 percent of the motion back in my leg.  I even hope to be back to work by mid Feb if all goes well!

Just don't give up!    
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 11 January 2005

Thanks for the updates, everyone - I love hearing good news about people's progress. Way to go!!  
Posted by JRR (JRR), 12 January 2005

Misty_R

Great to hear about your recovery.  I started running in the past week, so I am really starting to feel "normal."

There seems to be a lot of equstrian injuries posted here!  I'm in Denver and we've got the National Western Stock Show going on - pretty amazing event!

Take care!

JRR
Posted by Victoria_L (Victoria_L), 12 January 2005

I'll add my story for the encouragement of newcomers.  Today is the one year anniversary of my tibial plateau fracture.  Like Misty and several others on this board, the injury was horse related (as I explain it to people: "the horse stopped with a jerk and the jerk fell off!").  I had surgery, with a plate and five screws and a bone graft.   Fourteen weeks NWB, but now I have almost full use of my leg (squatting is still impossible and kneeling done with care), but most of the time I can almost forget which leg was injured.

While I would never wish this on anyone I must say that I have gained a lot in this year: I had been totally caught up in my job and this enforced rest  gave me the opportunity to see that I was really just spinning my wheels.  I have changed careers and, though I'm not making much money yet, I am much happier.  And the PT, which I did religiously, has expanded into an exercise program and I am now in better shape than I've been in my life -- well, anyway better than I've been since my early 20s!

I will NEVER take walking for granted again, but please know that it does get better.  This site has been a god-send to me, and I thank you all for your help and encouragement when I really needed it.

Victoria
Posted by leachy (leachy), 13 January 2005

Hi jrr good to hear of your recovery! i am 16 and 10 weeks post op after fracturing my knee cap playing rugby. Ive got a knee brace and am still recovering physically from this.

I only wish i could have such a quick recovery  as you
GOOD LUCK for the rest of your recovery!
Posted by JRR (JRR), 13 January 2005

Leachy,

Hang in there!

The first thing the ER doc said to me is, "It'd be better if you were 20 years younger!"  You're 27 years younger than me, so I am sure you'll have a great recovery.  Just be disciplined with the exercises the PT provides!  

Take care - and keep us posted!

JRR
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 13 January 2005

Hi, Victoria - I'm glad to hear your update. It seems like a lifetime ago this happened, doesn't it?? Continued best wishes to you on your recovery!!  

PS to everyone: It DOES get better - you just have to work at it!  
Posted by Victoria_L (Victoria_L), 13 January 2005

Hi, Kathy!

Yes, in some ways the fracture and surgery seems like a lifetime ago, but at othertimes it seems as if I put my crutches down yesterday.  One nice thing is I no longer have the morning television schedule memorized!

Best wishes,
Victoria
Posted by leachy (leachy), 14 January 2005

Thanks JRR for the encouragement i'll keep you posted

Leachy
Posted by kgrosskurth (Kathy G), 16 January 2005

on 01/13/05 at 14:14:00, Victoria_L wrote:

Yes, I know what you mean, Victoria - I got in the habit of watching the CBS Soaps again after 5 years without watching them (and now I'm hooked on Y&R again!!   )

Best Wishes,

KayGee (Kathy from GA)

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