I had a rod and screws put in the top and bottom after a nasty break to my tib and fib. I discovered the screws in my Ankle were coming loose so had them removed as I couldn't walk. they offered to take the rod swell but I didn't feel strong enough at the time. however, 6 months after what was a simple surgery, my ankle is still painful, I am sometimes needing crutches and I am having steroid injections, very worried for when these have to stop as they dont seem to have any other solutions. I am now getting knee pain which I didn't before, however, does anyone know if this is worth it? will the pain remain like it has in my ankle and what is the recovery.
I fractured my tibia and fibula in December and it felt like I would never get better even after they put a rod, plate and screws in there.
I had the screws that held the rod in place taken out because I had some pain walking and that really helped. The incision above my knee to put the rod in the tibia bothered me for a long time and the knee hurt all the time which I didn't expect. I do think it has gotten better and it has been 9 months since surgery. I will always feel pains in my ankle and area of the tibia where the fracture was I guess especially when it's raining or cold out. My other knee has been bothering me a lot lately now also and I wonder if it's because I put more weight on that leg when I was limping. I can't run yet without some pain and I wonder if it's the rod. Will this always feel this way? I exercise and do everything I should be doing to get better. I wish I felt back to normal. Is this it? Could be worse I guess. :)
I have pain at the site of the top screws by the knee. Did removal of the screws help your symptoms at all? I am an athlete and I am having pain from the site of the proximal (top) screws up into the back if my knee/ hamstring tendon (inside part behind knee). Wondering if the screw removal helped you? I'm 5 months post op. my bone is healed I am squatting heavy again, jumping (not very good tho) Thank you
I had this surgery in 2010 and it ruined my life.
Constant pain in my knee and ankle.
Orthopedists need to WAKE UP and TELL their patients about the REAL RISKS of these procedures:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18758282
I had a IM rod and 4 screws inserted after a motor vehicle accident in 2005 (i was 17) to help a compound fracture of my left tibia (fibula was fractured but didn't need assistance) and I have had knee and ankle pain since, in my X-rays it looks as though they have allowed for extra growth because of my age at the time of the operation. I had the screws removed after a year of an intense pinching pain at the site of their install. Unfortunately it looks as though I don't have the option of removal. I would have opted for it as well. I would rather have a few extra months recovery than this constant discomfort or pain when exercising. ( so intense I cannot run/ jog or jump)
Hi,
I am a 58 year old woman who suffered a compound fracture of the tibia in my right leg in 2008 as the result of a motor vehicle accident. I had the titanium rod and plate removed from my leg and ankle after several months and made a full recovery. My ankle was also freed up during the removal operation and my mobility increased as I had a pinched nerve in my leg from the rod so it was quite a relief. I then responded much more positively to physio and exercise. I still have some nerve sensitivity in my ankle and down my leg but it is not intolerable.
Unfortunately in May 2010 I slipped and fell near my swimming pool and sustained tibial plateau fracture of my left leg. 7 months on after having 7 weeks in a wheel chair with non-weight bearing, several months on crutches, I am now dependent on a walking stick but moving much better. I am having weekly physio sessions and have returned to my personal trainer for strength training. However, to this day I am still suffering from severe pain in my knee and down my leg where the rod is and wonder if I should have it removed earlier than the 2 years predicted by my surgeon. I also suffer from low back pain, hamstring and and tightness in the gluteus maximus. I have adhered to all the stretching exercises prescribed and try to walk as much as possible as sitting is not good for tight glutes/ham strings. I also work out in my heated pool and go to the beach so I can relax in the salt water. I regularly take glucosamine tabs, magnesium for cramps and have regular epsom salts baths. At the moment I am very disillusioned about my recovery but am not one to give up.
I am considering approaching my surgeon to remove the rod and plate, however, prior to my car accident and fall, I underwent chemo and radiotherapy for breast cancer so have low bone density and am concerned that removal of the rod will put me at risk for further fractures!
Any comments or advice from your personal experiences would be gratefully appreciate.
Kaye