Leg swelling after leg bone splint surgery

[grunta]

I smashed my leg, running at speed slipping and landing onto of it, tibeia and fibiea having many fractures and breaks, real ugly.
i had splints installed to both bones mid leg to the ankle, it is now the 6 month period, i am off crutches however after an hour of being on the leg it is a swollen mess.
After sleeping it is almost back to normal, I also get it massaged and that gets it down
The doctors, have had 2 opinions, both said it is going to take a long time to heal, the swelling is an issue though, I can feel both the plates and some of the screws when it has really swollen up.
And it is driving me nuts

How soon would you consider taking the plates out, I am 43.
Sitting with the leg elevated is not an option I just can not sit still for an hour let alone days.

[tomness1993]

i had an operation like this on my arm about ten years ago and i still have pain in my arm when throwing a ball for example is this normal? i never had the plates removed and i can fell a lump on my arm and was wondering if it could be the plates or would they be deep under the bone after ten years?

thanks

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The swelling is due to collection of fluid when you are standing. This is a common feature. There is a change in the vascular architecture in the leg, which is responsible for this problem. You can use tight bandage while you are walking.

The whole process of recovery can take place over a period of six weeks to almost a year. But most of the recovery occurs in the first six weeks. By now, the bones must have recovered completely.

Regards