TIb/Fib advice

here is the x-ray (had to edit the post to crop out some personal info in the og picture):

have a glass of milk. you'll be fine.

I had an almost identical break when I was 16, but on my right leg. Definitely a good idea to avoid reliance on opiates. Be diligent with your PT, but don't overdo it; listen to the professionals.

The best thing I can say is don't be stupid like me and waste your down time. You're gonna be sitting down a lot more than usual, so use that time to teach yourself some useful skills - learn how to tie a bunch of knots, read, study a new language, etc...

Video games are a waste of time regardless of whether or not you can walk.

TheMoostafianI had an almost identical break when I was 16, but on my right leg. Definitely a good idea to avoid reliance on opiates. Be diligent with your PT, but don't overdo it; listen to the professionals.

The best thing I can say is don't be stupid like me and waste your down time. You're gonna be sitting down a lot more than usual, so use that time to teach yourself some useful skills - learn how to tie a bunch of knots, read, study a new language, etc...

Video games are a waste of time regardless of whether or not you can walk.

All good advice, do you still have the rod in place? I was told they basically never remove them but read on various forums that people get them taken out somewhat regularly it seems... My concern is breaking my leg in the same spot and then bending the rod or something

LazylightningAll good advice, do you still have the rod in place? I was told they basically never remove them but read on various forums that people get them taken out somewhat regularly it seems... My concern is breaking my leg in the same spot and then bending the rod or something

I had all my hardware removed a little less than a year after the break

Been there before, sorry this happened. You can recover quickly and fully but you must...

-Do EVERYTHING your doctors says.
-Do not put weight on your broken leg.
-Use long pillows to elevate your leg and keep it there all day.
-Get a case manager through your insurance, they will handle and organize your bills.
-Only do PT when you are cleared to do PT.
-If you are in a cast and feel blood running down your leg, go get that checked out (it's not typical drainage like they say).
-Keep the area clean or you could end up with a terrible bone infection.
-100% get a health care urinal, nothing worse than having to get up at 2:00am and having to pee with intense pain and blooding spilling everywhere.
-Eat healthy, rest often, drink lots of water avoid any accidents.

Shit yours looks gnarly. It must be different because my fracture was closed but they told me I can be weight-bearing immediately and encouraged me to get up and move around as much as I can. They said the rod that's in my tibia will support everything so it doesn't matter that the bone won't heat for another 4-6 weeks. Urinal advice is definitely key, I've been using one for a bit because that 1am bathroom run after the painkillers is impossible

STEEZUS_CHRI5TBeen there before, sorry this happened. You can recover quickly and fully but you must...

-Do EVERYTHING your doctors says.
-Do not put weight on your broken leg.
-Use long pillows to elevate your leg and keep it there all day.
-Get a case manager through your insurance, they will handle and organize your bills.
-Only do PT when you are cleared to do PT.
-If you are in a cast and feel blood running down your leg, go get that checked out (it's not typical drainage like they say).
-Keep the area clean or you could end up with a terrible bone infection.
-100% get a health care urinal, nothing worse than having to get up at 2:00am and having to pee with intense pain and blooding spilling everywhere.
-Eat healthy, rest often, drink lots of water avoid any accidents.

TheMoostafianLazylightningAll good advice, do you still have the rod in place? I was told they basically never remove them but read on various forums that people get them taken out somewhat regularly it seems... My concern is breaking my leg in the same spot and then bending the rod or something

I had all my hardware removed a little less than a year after the break

Did they recommend removing the rod? I have a follow-up with my surgeon in a bit but they told me in the vast majority of cases the hardware is permanent

LazylightningShit yours looks gnarly. It must be different because my fracture was closed but they told me I can be weight-bearing immediately and encouraged me to get up and move around as much as I can. They said the rod that's in my tibia will support everything so it doesn't matter that the bone won't heat for another 4-6 weeks. Urinal advice is definitely key, I've been using one for a bit because that 1am bathroom run after the painkillers is impossible

Hmm yea I guess mine is a little bit different. My ski boot did a 180 but my knee was strong enough to stay facing forward so my shin and ankle exploded from torsion. It was almost 6 months before I could bear weight so I'm glad to hear you are cleared on that.

That guy above is right about mastering something in your freetime, I wouldn't waste too much time gaming. Try to accomplish things otherwise sitting around will get you down. Reading books was my go to along with playing cards.

Other tips:
-Baths are much easier than showers
-Remove labels on pill bottles when you throw them away
-Flush unused pills when your done
-Put padding on your walker, my handles were rock hard and it bruised my hands after awhile
-Also add the granny tennis balls to your walker. It's embarrassing but it makes sliding around a lot easier

**This post was edited on Nov 17th 2022 at 5:14:58pm

STEEZUS_CHRI5TBeen there before, sorry this happened. You can recover quickly and fully but you must...

-Do EVERYTHING your doctors says.
-Do not put weight on your broken leg.
-Use long pillows to elevate your leg and keep it there all day.
-Get a case manager through your insurance, they will handle and organize your bills.
-Only do PT when you are cleared to do PT.
-If you are in a cast and feel blood running down your leg, go get that checked out (it's not typical drainage like they say).
-Keep the area clean or you could end up with a terrible bone infection.
-100% get a health care urinal, nothing worse than having to get up at 2:00am and having to pee with intense pain and blooding spilling everywhere.
-Eat healthy, rest often, drink lots of water avoid any accidents.

This is some top-tier trauma content from the ER. Holy fuck.

Rest up brother.
You’ll be missed on the slopes this year

DeebieSkeebiesThis is some top-tier trauma content from the ER. Holy fuck.

Thanks to Keystone jump line 2020/2021

I straightlined into a tree and did a compound tib/fib in 2010 then had the rod removed within a year or two. Definitely would recommend getting the hardware out if you want to keep sending. Other than that, I fully agree with what others said. Heal up soon homie!

STEEZUS_CHRI5TThanks to Keystone jump line 2020/2021

I joke but you'll be alright dude as long as you listen to your care providers. I had a rod put into my foot and it sucks, so just take it easy.

**This post was edited on Nov 21st 2022 at 6:40:11pm

DeebieSkeebiesI joke but you'll be alright dude as long as you listen to your care providers. I had a rod put into my foot and it sucks, so just take it easy.

**This post was edited on Nov 21st 2022 at 6:40:11pm

Yea I took 21/22 season off, I've been fully recovered for a little over a year now. So excited for this season

I appreciate all the advice from everyone, it's been helpful and a few
things I was able to catch preemptively. Based off what ya'll said above
(and a few tgr threads I found), I think I'm really gonna advocate for
getting this rod taken out when everything is healed up. I have no
intentions of slowing down my skiing in the future and my break happened
during what I'd consider to be a freak accident (I got off balance
while turning and then someone hit me from behind and shoved my body
forward while their body-weight held my left ski back, which is the only
way my 150 pound frame could snap those two bones). Hopefully I'll be
able to get a few days in the spring, or maybe some tours in the early
summer...either way I'm still praying for snow

Posting this as an update for the next nser who inevitably has a similar injury:

My surgeon recommended calcium/vitamin d supplementation so I've been doing that. I felt good enough that I was able to stop taking the painkillers/muscle-relaxers they gave me starting a week post op, just brought everything to a pharmacy and they took it. I did have to take blood thinners for two weeks after I was discharged, which really sucked because it was not a pill, had to inject it into my stomach twice a day but ymmv. For the medication I'd definitely recommend making some kind of chart to log when you are taking things, I kept forgetting and the chart saved me there lol. I started PT a little over 2 weeks post op, you could maybe start earlier if you felt good but I wouldn't push it that early. After I started PT I began using one crutch to get around. I'm just shy of one month post op as I'm typing this, I can somewhat comfortably stand with my feet equally weighted and I can walk maybe 10 feet without my crutches (I say walk but it's more of an awkward shuffle). My ankle and calf are very tight so my range of motion is pretty bad, but it's improving.

As far as the pain after surgery, the painkillers muted out a lot...but I was not comfortable. They basically made it so that pain was discomfort. From about day 7-14 every time I stood up or put my leg down after elevating it, the blood rushing back made it throb for a minute or two..for me that went away around the 2 week mark.

If your dr says you are "weight bearing as tolerated" I'd recommend moving around as much as you can (while elevating your leg anytime you aren't moving), it hurts like hell but it's good and will help you keep some amount of mobility

This was my x-ray at my 2 week checkup, nice big hunk of titanium (about 1cm wide and 37.5cm long)