Broken Femur-Learning to walk

I had a severe motorcycle accident back in June. It shattered my left femur, and my knee. The bone hasn't fully grown back yet and the bone tore through some of my muscle in my leg leaving a "dent" in the muscle. My leg has a permanent metal rod screwed into my femur down to my knee, and my knee has about 8 screws in it. I'm trying to learn how to walk again and I have put my leg on a scale and can put 110 of my 150lbs on my bad leg standing still. so when I try to walk with a cane I freak out and just "hop" while leaning on the cane. I don't have phys. therapy, and I haven't been able to do follow up appointments because my ortho-clinic shut down due to IKE. What can I do to improve my walking with a cane?

P.S. I have a wedding in 3 weeks.... i wanna be able to semi-walk with a cane

[amandaalarcon]

Hi!
Age is an important factor here, because it gives you a general idea of how long recovery will take. I do not know how old you are, but you should have been receiving PT from the day you went home from the hospital.  I broke my femur Aug 1 when I was 18 and was in a wedding On Oct. 10.  Two days before the wedding, my dr gave me permission to put weight on it and to try to learn to walk again.  Two days later, i was in high heels walking down the aisle (no cane).  It took me two days BUT I was only 18 years old. It would take me MUCH longer now, as I am 29.  Plus, I was doing therapy to re-strengthen the muscle, and you are not, which is why your leg gives out from under you when you go to walk--it's weak.

You MUST see AN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON NOW to make sure your bone is healing/healed correctly. Do NOT just start walking on it, because you can hurt yourself and create more issues! This is important. Look up the best hospital in the area, contact the orthopaedic center and make an urgent appointment (explain your ortho-clinic closed and you are in urgent need of care.) If you cannot afford to see a dr, get "rated" at the hospital nearest your home; you may qualify for reduced cost health care.
If you have gone to your dr., and he says its ok to walk again, as mine did (he just said "try walking", he never gave me any method or instructions) you will need to cast aside the cane and have a strong friend "spot" you.  It takes practice, but it is what I did.  Please do not attempt this unless your dr. says ok.

I am NOT a PT or MD BUT...I broke my R femur, so my PT had me lay in bed on my left side, keep my leg straight and do leg lifts.  Also, she had me lay on my back and lift my straightened R leg slowly and lower it very slowly.  Also, I had to slowly bend the knee and do bending/straightening exercises.

Please see an Orthopaedic doctor immediately and get your script for PT.  If you do, you will most likely be fine by the wedding.  The PT will get you mobile much faster and SAFER than yourself.  Wrong form during PT can injure you.

Good Luck!