tib/fib fracture w/IM rod

(and I double-posted in my own thread.  Strong work, Max!)

Can't help ya on the advice--I am a femur kid (although I have 7 inches of plate, but no rod...that sounds so dirty :p). But I can wish you well in your continued recovery!

(And I can totally emphasize with the hardware annoyance. I REALLY dislike my plate and screws. I mean, I like them for fixing the leg...YAY! hardware...but I DISLIKE the pain and irritation. BOO! annoyance from metal :p)

I'm one of them rodded femur guys lol

Almost 6 months before I was walking without a cane and allowed to ease into work again now.

I hear you about those screws.  I have 2 screws just above my knee that are bugging the heck outta me!  They can't come out til MINIMUM a solid 2 years has passed. 

I can't run until 2 years has passed.  Break was in a bad spot so Avascular Necorsis ( bone death ) is quite a possibility, and if it starts to die and I"m running on it, bad news :p

Big chunk of the break on mine was taking it's sweet time healing too.  Doctor finally allowed be to full weight bear on the leg.  Took 3 weeks to finally ditch the cane, but it sure helped stimulate the bone growth, now there is a nice thick chunk of bone growth visible on the x-ray

You've had longer since your accident, but mine doesn't feel bruised, though sometimes sharp pain twisting etc.  The tightness o nthe side of the leg is probably the worst part of it all here.

Sounds like you're healing up well.  Good luck and keep us updated on your progress

The irritation COULD get better in time--my ortho has been pretty adamant about giving mine the full time for that reason. And, truth be told, between say about 10 months and now, I HAVE had significant improvement in pain levels. The first few months when I started being active again, it was VERY painful.

I am at 15 months now, give or take, and while i still have pain and irritation, it's less than it was back in October or so. Enough that I am willing to wait until 24 months before deciding--whereas last fall/winter, I was SO not wanting to wait.

I don't know about yours, but for mine, a removal of all my hardware would be a lengthy recovery process another open surgery, weeks NWB/on crutches, and require cutting my IT band AGAIN, etc etc etc.  Six months or so ago, I would have said okay, but I'm starting to rethink it. :-)

So...just in CASE he says no, I'm just letting you know that it could very well get better in time. Really, seriously. Hang in there, either way!

The two evil screws are out!

Now, we wait.

Yay!

Bringing back an old thread... 

I had a tib-fib fracture from a rock climbing accident in early 2010, tried running the year after and could never do more than a mile or two and could never do two days in a row because of the pain in my shin every time my foot struck the ground. I gave up on running and picked up swimming until I moved to an apartment that had a tiny pool that I couldn't do laps in... Now I'm trying to run again 3.5 years later and the pain is still there. I've been running through this pain that feels like an ice pick through my shin with every step and have been doing about 2-3 miles/day a few times a week. All four of my screws have been removed but I kept the IM rod since that would have been a bigger surgery. I did a few months of physical therapy during the year after my injury and it may have helped a little with me being more aware of my running form and with my proprioception, but the pain won't go away. 

Does this ever get better?? Has anyone had their IM rod removed and can share the results? 

Thanks