Titanium Rod Removal

[circusmijit13]

I'm 20, and broke my tibia/fibula in 2006 when I was 17 and had a titanium rod and 2 screws inserted. I had issues with my big toe bending down when I lifted my foot and caused me great pain, so I had a surgery a year later to lengthen that tendon and release my toe. At that time, they also took out the lower screw.

I now have pain about 1/3 of the way up my lower leg where the original break was, and also very painful tendinitis in my knee. I have seen my surgeon, and he has suggested removing the top screw to maybe ease the tendinitis, and possibly removing the rod for the leg pain.

When he suggests these things, he seems very unsure whether they are going to actually help.
I was just wondering whether to remove the rod and screw, or just the screw, and what the chances are of the surgery actually helping the pain.
My surgeon suggested that the recovery time for the rod removal was similar to that of the original break, so I was leaning away from the rod removal...

Any help would be great!
Thanks!

[MTLGal]

I had the rod and the last 2 screws removed last week. my recovery has been nothing like the initial one. Meaning I am already walking without crutches. I do have a sligth pain in the knee are but it's part of the heeling process.
A healthy diet and physio/ exercising pending your capabilities is essential to the heeling process. You are still young and should be able to bounce back. I had my tibial rod for 13 months prior to it's removal last week.

[travisj89]

Im 19 years old, broke my tibia and fibia when i was 15 racing motocross, i was put in a cast, but i had broken my tibia again inside the cast as it was trying to heal, so my doctor suggested putting it back in the cast or trying a intramedullary rod surgery for guranteed results. So we had the surgery, now a couple years down the road im very much regreting the surgery, i have pain from time to time in my leg and where the screw is at. Also only one screw was placed in at the top, should there of been another screw put in? Ive been having some anxiety about it lately and considering having it removed?? Also ive never heard of a 15 year old having this kind of surgery for a broken bone, was this an uneccessary surgery?

[auhaz]

I broke my tibia and fiblua when i was 16. I had the rod put in in january then it was removed that same december. My recovery time was really fast. I  had the surgury on teh 22nd and was walking without crutches by christmas. The pain wasn't nearly as bad as the original break. However, now that I had it removed my leg hurts whenever I play soccer, when before, when i had the rod, it didn't. I'm not sure what the problem is.. or if it has anything to do with the removal, but there you go. hope it helped.

[cyborgleg]

Im 27 and I had the tibia rod in for 15 months with the 4 screws etc after a bad motorbike crash.  I had all the gear removed 3 weeks ago and up until then, I couldnt run/jump and the leg would get sore through the pins if I stood for too long.  The original break took about 6 months to get over and the screws supporting the rod were sore the entire time.

After getting it all taken out, I was on crutches for 2 days, and 2 weeks later I was running on a treadmill.  My leg feels totally normal after getting it removed and I reccommend you to do the same.  The recovery time was nothing like the original break at all.  Nobody likes the idea of operations but I cant believe the difference it has made!!!  DO IT!

[JC277]

HI all, i am a 28 yr old male and have just had a tibia nail and 4 screws removed after 11 months of having it originally inserted.  First signs are that it went well, i have experienced alot of bleeding as the doctor said the empty canal is the "blood bank" of the body and is common.  On a pain scale the the knee is the only pain i am getting and is similar to when the nail was inserted, however i can walk alot easier on crutches and it is only 24 hours post op.  Good luck to everyone