EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
Oh I Cee. Maybe different socks? Longer "soccer socks?"
Grasping at straws here....:laughing
Broken Tib/fib journal
- Thread starter Honey Badger
- Start date
Grasping at straws here....:laughing
anytwowilldo
Well-known member
I'm bummed to hear about the little setback but glad you are continuing to heal well and get back out on the track. Have fun and get this behind you!
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
Welp, made it out to the races this past weekend, I'll post up race reports and such later on, but leg was definitely causing some issues - mostly with downshifting (lots of issues) and then just fatigue in general (not a surprise). But have a few weeks until the next round, so hopefully I can recoup a little of what I've lost over the winter.
In general though, thus far things seem to be healing up, but time will tell. I'm not holding my breath anymore, and just taking the punches as they come. If things work out, AWESOME, and if they don't, well, deal with it as I need to.
My doc seems a lot more concerned about my well-being, apparently when things like this pop up, and you're back in surgeries after you think things are going well, it can really take a toll on people. I wanted to tell him that I was doing okay - mostly because I can still ride, I'm getting out on track on that phenomenal new bike, and that's all the therapy I really need to stay sane! Taking that away from me for an extended period is when I start to struggle more.
In general though, thus far things seem to be healing up, but time will tell. I'm not holding my breath anymore, and just taking the punches as they come. If things work out, AWESOME, and if they don't, well, deal with it as I need to.
My doc seems a lot more concerned about my well-being, apparently when things like this pop up, and you're back in surgeries after you think things are going well, it can really take a toll on people. I wanted to tell him that I was doing okay - mostly because I can still ride, I'm getting out on track on that phenomenal new bike, and that's all the therapy I really need to stay sane! Taking that away from me for an extended period is when I start to struggle more.
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
After a few weeks of various doctor appointments and follow-ups, I'm now sitting here at home with a PICC line installed and facing down 6 weeks of IV antibiotics, 3X/day, every single day. 126X I get to do this. Well, 125 now.
Mostly, the ortho is just trying to buy some additional time for bone healing, since the chance of re-fracture at this point would be too high if we removed hardware now. There's a really good chance we will be removing the hardware later this summer (assuming the antibiotics only suppress the infection and don't actually kill it completely off, which is highly unlikely that they will do that with the hardware in there). I'm hoping we could maybe work the timing out so that we pull it right after AFM Round 4, which leaves 6 weeks until round 5 - not sure if that's enough time for things to be trustworthy or not, but that's the longest break I'll have after this. Not even sure we will be able to put it off that long, but I'm hoping.
So, basically, things are still a fucking disaster. Hoping the antibiotics at least keep the infection from getting worse or getting into the bone, but either way this isn't a particularly good place to be.
Besides the fact that for the next 6 weeks I won't get a full night's sleep....I don't deal well with a lack of sleep. I'm already a little beyond cranky, constantly being tired is not going to help my mood. At all.
But, being the stubborn little thing I am, as long as this hardware is still in there, then I'm going to keep on riding. Talking to friends who've had a picc, that shouldn't be that big of a deal, and from other people it pretty much seems to boil down to what you are okay with and comfortable with. No restrictions from the doctor or the picc installers. The nurse at the unfusion place had a whole list of "suggested things to avoid" but most (otherwise healthy) people don't seem to have issues doing things similar to what I plan on doing. So, screw that, my life isn't going on any more hold than it has to. As it is things will be on hold once we have to pull the hardware...
Mostly, the ortho is just trying to buy some additional time for bone healing, since the chance of re-fracture at this point would be too high if we removed hardware now. There's a really good chance we will be removing the hardware later this summer (assuming the antibiotics only suppress the infection and don't actually kill it completely off, which is highly unlikely that they will do that with the hardware in there). I'm hoping we could maybe work the timing out so that we pull it right after AFM Round 4, which leaves 6 weeks until round 5 - not sure if that's enough time for things to be trustworthy or not, but that's the longest break I'll have after this. Not even sure we will be able to put it off that long, but I'm hoping.
So, basically, things are still a fucking disaster. Hoping the antibiotics at least keep the infection from getting worse or getting into the bone, but either way this isn't a particularly good place to be.
Besides the fact that for the next 6 weeks I won't get a full night's sleep....I don't deal well with a lack of sleep. I'm already a little beyond cranky, constantly being tired is not going to help my mood. At all.
But, being the stubborn little thing I am, as long as this hardware is still in there, then I'm going to keep on riding. Talking to friends who've had a picc, that shouldn't be that big of a deal, and from other people it pretty much seems to boil down to what you are okay with and comfortable with. No restrictions from the doctor or the picc installers. The nurse at the unfusion place had a whole list of "suggested things to avoid" but most (otherwise healthy) people don't seem to have issues doing things similar to what I plan on doing. So, screw that, my life isn't going on any more hold than it has to. As it is things will be on hold once we have to pull the hardware...
anytwowilldo
Well-known member
AJ,
I sense your frustration. It comes through LOUD AND CLEAR in your writing. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this set back! While dealing with an infection is a PITA, not dealing with it correctly can have serious ramifications. Ramifications that could make this exercise look like child's play.
I don't know your med. schedule, but if you need treatment 3x per day, can you infuse your last dose right before bed, leaving you the better part of 8 hours sleep?
I wish I had the words to allow you see the bright side of this or at least put a smile on your face. "Hey, your back on your bike, racing, everything is going to be ok!" "Hey, You've got a great new racebike, and you love it!" "Hey, think of all the cool stories you can tell around the old folks home, when your 90, about the scar on your leg!" " I broke it riding a dirt bike and it fucked up my AFM race schedule, WTF!" That will give you some real street cred!:teeth "Hey, in three years this will be a distant memory, and your leg will be fine!"
We are thinking good thoughts for you! Keep us updated. You are going to be OK!
I sense your frustration. It comes through LOUD AND CLEAR in your writing. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this set back! While dealing with an infection is a PITA, not dealing with it correctly can have serious ramifications. Ramifications that could make this exercise look like child's play.
I don't know your med. schedule, but if you need treatment 3x per day, can you infuse your last dose right before bed, leaving you the better part of 8 hours sleep?
I wish I had the words to allow you see the bright side of this or at least put a smile on your face. "Hey, your back on your bike, racing, everything is going to be ok!" "Hey, You've got a great new racebike, and you love it!" "Hey, think of all the cool stories you can tell around the old folks home, when your 90, about the scar on your leg!" " I broke it riding a dirt bike and it fucked up my AFM race schedule, WTF!" That will give you some real street cred!:teeth "Hey, in three years this will be a distant memory, and your leg will be fine!"
We are thinking good thoughts for you! Keep us updated. You are going to be OK!
anytwowilldo
Well-known member
Hello AJ,
It has been a couple of weeks since your last post. How are you doing? I hope the antibiotics are working you and are able to get some sleep!
It has been a couple of weeks since your last post. How are you doing? I hope the antibiotics are working you and are able to get some sleep!
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
Thanks for the check in :thumbup
I'm hanging in there. With the okay of the infusion nurse, I've adjusted the schedule a bit to accommodate getting a bit more sleep - that was causing me some major issues, but seems to be improving now.
Nearly half way done with the IV stuff - so far, so good, thus far no complications. Honestly my biggest fear is one of my cats trying to chew on the line when I'm infusing! Because of that I'm pretty cautious and keep everything covered, but that's my biggest fear at this point - they both seem to think that all "strings" are worth chewing on!
Leg is feeling pretty good, but with these kinds of infections it's hard to say what long term outlooks are until much further down the road, long after hardware has been removed.
So, for now, just getting through the routine. I also will be moving next week (significantly closer to work), so added that fun into the mix - hiring movers for the big move, but have until I leave for Italy for the little stuff/cleaning - but trying to be as prepared as possible for next week to help reduce the number of back and forth trips I need to make.
Race weekend wasn't too bad other than mental and physical exhaustion hitting hard and fast - but it was my first time riding the bike where my leg wasn't a major complication and I could actually focus on how to ride the bike. Should be in a similar position for the July round since my next appointment with the ortho isn't until after that round. Just need to work on my fitness now - that has slid completely out of the picture, and I'm paying for it trying to ride at any kind of pace.
I'm hanging in there. With the okay of the infusion nurse, I've adjusted the schedule a bit to accommodate getting a bit more sleep - that was causing me some major issues, but seems to be improving now.
Nearly half way done with the IV stuff - so far, so good, thus far no complications. Honestly my biggest fear is one of my cats trying to chew on the line when I'm infusing! Because of that I'm pretty cautious and keep everything covered, but that's my biggest fear at this point - they both seem to think that all "strings" are worth chewing on!
Leg is feeling pretty good, but with these kinds of infections it's hard to say what long term outlooks are until much further down the road, long after hardware has been removed.
So, for now, just getting through the routine. I also will be moving next week (significantly closer to work), so added that fun into the mix - hiring movers for the big move, but have until I leave for Italy for the little stuff/cleaning - but trying to be as prepared as possible for next week to help reduce the number of back and forth trips I need to make.
Race weekend wasn't too bad other than mental and physical exhaustion hitting hard and fast - but it was my first time riding the bike where my leg wasn't a major complication and I could actually focus on how to ride the bike. Should be in a similar position for the July round since my next appointment with the ortho isn't until after that round. Just need to work on my fitness now - that has slid completely out of the picture, and I'm paying for it trying to ride at any kind of pace.
anytwowilldo
Well-known member
Glad to hear you are sleeping more. So many things look brighter when we are rested!
Moving, bum leg, racing, European vacation, working -glad to see you are taking it easy:rofl
Moving, bum leg, racing, European vacation, working -glad to see you are taking it easy:rofl
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
LOL, keeps me from having time to feel too sorry for myself :x
Man my story is identical to what happened to you minus the infection. I kinda wish I removed my hardware, but that's just more recovery time I didn't want 4 years ago. When you're fully healed I suggest looking into custom orthotics, helped me quite a bit. Good luck with the infection
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
Thanks. I seem to be getting pretty decent ROM back, it's slow going, but I'll admit I'm not as religious about doing my PT as I was - still do it every day, but not as intensely. I think my insurance going "it's close enough" despite my doctor and PT not agreeing with that assessment put me into "meh" mode.
The infection is no fun, and potentially no joke. Things could go one of two ways, and it's a complete toss up which way that'll be. Best case scenario is we remove the hardware, infection goes away, and never returns. Other way things can go is it becomes a chronic bone infection that may pop up again years down the road and could likely lead to eventual amputation. No, it won't get to that point in the next year or so, but it's not as unlikely of a possibility as people like to believe, either. Right now it's anybody's guess, just not enough cases with my particulars to even give a ballpark idea on where it would go. So, essentially, 50/50 shot.
Few things in my favor (age, health, fitness, type of bacteria since there are SOME drugs effective against it; aggressiveness of treatment once known), few things not in my favor (delay on manifestation; type of bacteria - being a gram negative rod they mutate quickly and are prolific; location being on the lower leg=less blood flow in general), so it's basically wait n see once hardware is out.
In the meantime leg has been feeling pretty damn good, so enjoying that while I can :laughing
Rumbo Sur
learning everyday
Wow, what an ordeal! Try to stay strong with the PT. It really helped me. Work hard to break down scar tissue.
I went through 5 surgeries after a Tib/Fib compound ages ago. Went through 2 failed surgeries. They put a rod in when it should have never been done. (mis read X ray)
My ER Surgeon showed up DRUNK (I shit you not). he put a rod sized for a 12 year old boy in.(this in Redding, CA, near where I crashed on hi way 36)
Other surgeons gasped when they saw it. I knew he was drunk, but with a compound, 4 broken ribs, a concussion and broken ankle on other side, I could not defend myself. Figure I was lucky to survive.
2nd guy ALSO read the Xray wrong. Put another rod in. FAIL. Bone would not heal, big gap. I walked on it (sort of) for 9 months, then he gave up and sent me to his mentor down in SoCal. Thank God for that.
Over my two years of various operations (5 in all) I did PT between Ops the whole time. HARD. My PT outfit worked me hard and my ROM turned out amazing considering how many re-do's they had to do getting the broken leg fixed.
After the first two incompetent Docs I did research. Talked to Kevin Louie and Arthur Ting (Mick Doohan's Doc). They recommended their teacher, a prof at USC med school ... Dr. Donald Wiss. He wrote "the book" on complicated Tibia breaks. A genius. Probably retired by now.
With my case, alignment was the hard part. After all the screw ups and all the trauma done pounding in rods then jerking them back out (they use a Slide Hammer for this) Dr. Wiss had to get the alignment right. He did. If not done right, you will have pain your entire life. I have NO PAIN, never have had it.
I can walk all day pain free. Have about 80% strength due to big CHUNK of muscle missing from where Bone came through, and 90% ROM.
Wiss put a Ti plate in, about 10 screws. This all in 1998. He said external fixators (Illizorof ?) were a nightmare and cause a lot of infections and are a LAST DITCH tool before amputation.
But this was ages ago so I'm sure they know more now. But I'm surprised they had trouble with your break. It looked straight forward, but I'm no
Doc, but like you, got a good education during my 2.5 year ordeal.
The other thing I liked about Dr. Wiss ... he got motorcycles. He was Swiss and former Ski Racer. he loved speed 100%. This after dozens of med staff saying " ... so, you would never ride a motorcycle again, right?" WRONG! First thing Dr. Wiss says on our first meeting after looking at history and X-rays "...So, how soon you wanna be back on the bike?" Best Doc ever! :thumb up
Good luck with your healing. They left all my hardware IN. Still there since 1998. Wiss said might not be worth the infection risk and if I did not feel it with Moto boots on ... then no problem. So far, so good, 19 years later. I do sometimes feel the plate with some Moto boots.
All the best!
I went through 5 surgeries after a Tib/Fib compound ages ago. Went through 2 failed surgeries. They put a rod in when it should have never been done. (mis read X ray)
My ER Surgeon showed up DRUNK (I shit you not). he put a rod sized for a 12 year old boy in.(this in Redding, CA, near where I crashed on hi way 36)
Other surgeons gasped when they saw it. I knew he was drunk, but with a compound, 4 broken ribs, a concussion and broken ankle on other side, I could not defend myself. Figure I was lucky to survive.
2nd guy ALSO read the Xray wrong. Put another rod in. FAIL. Bone would not heal, big gap. I walked on it (sort of) for 9 months, then he gave up and sent me to his mentor down in SoCal. Thank God for that.
Over my two years of various operations (5 in all) I did PT between Ops the whole time. HARD. My PT outfit worked me hard and my ROM turned out amazing considering how many re-do's they had to do getting the broken leg fixed.
After the first two incompetent Docs I did research. Talked to Kevin Louie and Arthur Ting (Mick Doohan's Doc). They recommended their teacher, a prof at USC med school ... Dr. Donald Wiss. He wrote "the book" on complicated Tibia breaks. A genius. Probably retired by now.
With my case, alignment was the hard part. After all the screw ups and all the trauma done pounding in rods then jerking them back out (they use a Slide Hammer for this) Dr. Wiss had to get the alignment right. He did. If not done right, you will have pain your entire life. I have NO PAIN, never have had it.
I can walk all day pain free. Have about 80% strength due to big CHUNK of muscle missing from where Bone came through, and 90% ROM.
Wiss put a Ti plate in, about 10 screws. This all in 1998. He said external fixators (Illizorof ?) were a nightmare and cause a lot of infections and are a LAST DITCH tool before amputation.
But this was ages ago so I'm sure they know more now. But I'm surprised they had trouble with your break. It looked straight forward, but I'm no
Doc, but like you, got a good education during my 2.5 year ordeal.
The other thing I liked about Dr. Wiss ... he got motorcycles. He was Swiss and former Ski Racer. he loved speed 100%. This after dozens of med staff saying " ... so, you would never ride a motorcycle again, right?" WRONG! First thing Dr. Wiss says on our first meeting after looking at history and X-rays "...So, how soon you wanna be back on the bike?" Best Doc ever! :thumb up
Good luck with your healing. They left all my hardware IN. Still there since 1998. Wiss said might not be worth the infection risk and if I did not feel it with Moto boots on ... then no problem. So far, so good, 19 years later. I do sometimes feel the plate with some Moto boots.
All the best!
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yea when i put both feet pointing upward, you can tell one is a little crooked pointed a little left, so my ROM is short by like half an inch when going up and down. I think thats why i was told to get orthotics. But its never affected me doing any activity. Hell i think its helped me in some situations where i would have got injured but its so damn strong with the plate and screws it held together lol.
thedub
Octane Socks
Whoa, how much was your settlement?
Honey Badger
...iz a girl
Sounds like yours was pretty much a disaster of incompetence - wow. :wow
Glad you finally came through it mostly okay, but damn, that had to be a long couple years.
My break was pretty much a classic pilon fracture, but the weight bearing end surface of the tibia had two complete fractures through it (so 3 pieces) and several hairline fractures. The fibula was just the hunk that broke off, but there were a couple splinters still touching, so those were enough for that bone to work on closing the gap at least by my last x-rays.
Main issue with the tibia was just that it was through the end surface, and multiple breaks. My ortho did a good job putting it together, but the fracture blister essentially turned it into a compound fracture and now we're dealing with the hardware infection. They treated that aggressively, so *hopefully* I can kick it once the hardware is removed, but there's no guarantee about it.
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
so sorry to hear ur still having trouble AJ. U one brave cookie tho, I tell ya da truth! Racing on that thing, don't think me gots da cajones. I'd wait until fully healed meself. Happy to hear your up & around, & even racing. That infection is just a short setback, so no worries sweetie.
Kinda like me spending 6 months getting over the multi-heart attacks & triple-bypass. Then knocked flat by pneumonia & COPD. I now got to do the whole 6 months recovery all over again. Had to stop walking & chain meself to the 0xy machine...sux. :thumbdown Least I'm doing the dumbells in bed! :teeth
Finally was able to convince the docs to subscribe antibiotics again (last few days), & finally taking them again, & immediately noticed improvement. I tell ya, hammer these docs till they black & blue or they won' t help. Hang in there kiddo...u got the right stuff!
All the best,
-d
Kinda like me spending 6 months getting over the multi-heart attacks & triple-bypass. Then knocked flat by pneumonia & COPD. I now got to do the whole 6 months recovery all over again. Had to stop walking & chain meself to the 0xy machine...sux. :thumbdown Least I'm doing the dumbells in bed! :teeth
Finally was able to convince the docs to subscribe antibiotics again (last few days), & finally taking them again, & immediately noticed improvement. I tell ya, hammer these docs till they black & blue or they won' t help. Hang in there kiddo...u got the right stuff!
All the best,
-d
Ditto.
Really hope that infection gets its its ass kicked.
Your heart with this should be good for a win in the end. Hang in there.
Rumbo Sur
learning everyday
Sounds complex ... and somewhat incomprehensible to non medical types.
I do remember my Doc saying "... fibula? Oh, you don't really need it ... we often use them for parts!" I thought that was a classic to hear from a Doc!
I had no infections in or around by Ti plate. A bone graft really helped fill the gap. But did have two operations to do a skin graft over the big hole in my leg.
BOTH failed ... why? Infected! we gave up so looks like a Shark took a bike out of my leg! :laughing But NO PAIN ... that's the key.
All the best with removing the hardware and hoping Cipro ... or something better ... can beat down that infection. :thumbup
EastBayDave
- Kawasaki Fanatic -
"oh, hello there. Mrs. House I presume?" :laughing