How Long to Heal a Broken Leg (Me not Horse!)

ElvisandTilly

ElvisandTilly

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Fell off jumping nearly 2 weeks ago. 9 days in hospital and an operation done Tuesday just gone to plate my tibia. I have a closed, distal, displaced fracture of the tibia (pilon fracture) where a bone slither has punched upwards and it needed hammering back down then plating. I will be having stitches out in 2 weeks then another pot on and a boot to wear that enables me to start weight bearing on the leg.

Has anyone had something similar and how long did each stage take to progress ........and the most important question....... how long before you were back in the saddle!!???

My friend has ridden my horse down to see me today as I haven't seen him since the fall. It was my own silly fault for falling off as he jumped perfectly!! :o He hasn't seen me since we left the club field to go to hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. Was lovely to see him and I so want to be riding again soon so thought I'd ask for HHO experiences of broken bits and healing times!!:)

Thankies and donuts for all those that get this far!! :D
 
Thanks Jenhunt! My lovely friend is also looking after him for me daily too so a very very kind friend!

Thank you. I hope the healing vibes work quickly!
 
Last edited:
CarmaandFlin said:
Fell off jumping nearly 2 weeks ago. 9 days in hospital and an operation done Tuesday just gone to plate my tibia. I have a closed, distal, displaced fracture of the tibia (pilon fracture) where a bone slither has punched upwards and it needed hammering back down then plating. I will be having stitches out in 2 weeks then another pot on and a boot to wear that enables me to start weight bearing on the leg.

Has anyone had something similar and how long did each stage take to progress ........and the most important question....... how long before you were back in the saddle!!???

My friend has ridden my horse down to see me today as I haven't seen him since the fall. It was my own silly fault for falling off as he jumped perfectly!! :o He hasn't seen me since we left the club field to go to hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. Was lovely to see him and I so want to be riding again soon so thought I'd ask for HHO experiences of broken bits and healing times!!:)

Thankies and donuts for all those that get this far!! :D
Click to expand...


If your young and fit and it all goes as planned, it should be back to 'normal' after (don't shoot me) 3 months... that's how long weight baring bones take to heal. But note that if you have close fitting boots you may have to buy new as you may not be able to get them on for a VERY long time.

Dr. Blitz
 
I broke my tibial plateau a few years ago, complicated break involving the knee joint, plated and pinned. 12 wks non weight/partial weight bearing in a full leg brace. Tried to ride as soon as i could get on but it was too painful so I left it a year and did lots of swimming and cycling in the meantime. Don't want to be negative and my injury was different from yours but don't rush and follow the doctors' orders. Sounds like you have good friends, you will need them!
If you need any advice etc.. PM me! All the best
 
What did your surgeon say,if you have to had metal inserted that can take time time. Don't rush things as later on you could suffer, for giving an little extra time to heal. but going by what I've done over the years 3-4 months mabye a little longer, but there again I was very stupid in my youth and am paying for it in my old age:(:(:(:(
 
My friend has ridden my horse down to see me today as I haven't seen him since the fall. It was my own silly fault for falling off as he jumped perfectly!! :o He hasn't seen me since we left the club field to go to hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. Was lovely to see him and I so want to be riding again soon so thought I'd ask for HHO experiences of broken bits and healing times!!:)

Hi, no idea on the leg front but hope you are feeling better soon and back riding.

It did make me laugh when i read this, i had an injury a couple of years ago and the ward i was in out of 5 people 3 were horse related injuries (2 broken backs, fortunately mine was only an elbow!) All of us said though "Oh it wasnt the horses fault" my non horsey brother and uncle thought we were all bonkers, "of course it was the horses fault, she was kicked (pointing at me) her horse went up and over (pointing at the 2nd girl) and her horse bucked her off (pointing at the 3rd lady), yes we all replied, but if we hadnt done this or that...............:D
 
Hi I broke my leg a couple of years ago and it took 6 months to get back in the saddle. I have a couple of plates in my lower leg, broke my tibia plateau. Could probably have got back on slightly earlier but it would have been mid-January, not the best time of year for nice, relaxed riding! My leg was too weak before then and physio told me it would risk too much damage if I'd fallen on it before it was properly healed.

Good luck with yours and all the best for a speedy recovery :)
 
Oh MrsM! Hope your going to be ok. You must be in so much pain. :( Get well vibes to you and a very gentle hug. Oh and some hot chocolate. You'll be like me wanting to ride again as soon as possibly can! Have they said how long to heal for you?

Thank you all for your healing times and advice. :D I will do as the doctors say and some of your operations certainly sound more complicated than mine. :eek: It looks like at the very least 3 months before I can do anything on my own.

The weight bearing stage is it painful? I will have to have as much milk and clacium as possible. Anything I can take to help with the repair?
 
Lots of calcium and protein definitely a good idea - I know someone, very poor diet, broke her leg and it took nine months to get her back in the saddle and even now can only ride a couple of times a week as it is so painful. She is 16!!
 
Not the same as yours; - I broke my ankle last year, even though it was a straightforward break the bone took six weeks to heal - but the ligaments and muscles took an awful lot longer to be back to enough strength to ride (and to drive a car - the acid test is an emergency stop, they are unlikely to sign you off to drive until you can do so without any hesitation) - a further 6 weeks of physio - so in total 12 weeks off the horse - and it took a further couple of months of lots and lots of exercising to get up to riding fitness.

The doctors and physios will give you advice on how to get back into shape. I'll admit I was itching to get back on but found it difficult - I was sooo disappointed. I also found I needed new riding boots to support the ankle and flexi-stirrups.

My instructor and I also had to work out a training programme so that my physical weaknesses did not affect my young horse too much - if you have/can borrow a schoolmaster that's great - it's just getting the hours in the saddle back up so that the muscles regain their strength and suppleness and that's easier if you are concentrating on you rather than trying to school a baby too!!!!
 
Hi Shaz, hope your feeling a bit brighter. Know its different but my shoulder blade took 6 weeks to heal when I broke it. Wonder if magnetic boots of some sort would help with the healing? Increased blood flow may make a difference. Maybe theres a Nurse/Doctor on here who might know the answer to that one xx
 
Thanks for all the advise. I think I'm better preparing for a long time off rather than expecting to be back in saddle in a few weeks and being disappointed. So getting my head round the the fact it is going to be months rather than weeks.

I had a long time off with Flin having arthroscopes on stifles and having to rehab him so we built up together then so we can do it slowly again. I will do whatever the physio want me to do to get strong again. Will be over the winter months so we can just take it steady rather than all the summer evening of riding.

Thanks Sue I'm much brighter and the pain isn't as bad as it was. I hope I heal quickly but I think the hardest bit is the getting it to move again and getting the strength back into my ankle. Will be a while before I can come and see you, Izzy and Smiley again :( Hope your all keeping well.

I was given an equissage massager by a lovely kind HHO member and I was wondering if the handheld massager would help with speeding up repair and strengthening. So if anyone knows if this will help or not then please let me know. I will ask the consultant on 2 September what I can do to help.
 
Hi, if you're worried about any of the movements or exercises you are given by the physio, I found the best thing was to practice them in the swimming pool first. The water supports your leg and takes some of the weight and I found it really helped rebuild my muscles.
My OH came with me the first few times as the most difficult thing is actually getting into the water.

It was also the best thing when I started weight bearing again, I practised walking in the water first (holding onto the sides until I regained my balance). I found I could walk again in the pool a good couple of weeks before my leg was strong enough to walk on dry land. I went to the pool pretty much every day from when I started weight bearing until I could walk again. The cool water helps keep the swelling down and reduces the pain.

Hope this helps x
 
Be better for you now your out of Hospital. Can agree with Wandamare as when I broke my shoulder blade we were on holiday 2 weeks later. The Hospital told me to go in the baby pool and do swimming motions with my arms but not actually swim. Did me the world of good and I do think it sped up the recovery. Ask Doctor next time you see them, may be the baby pool for you my girl.! What a bum deal eh, chin up though and if you need any help with Flin let me know. Sending you virtual flowers and a card. xx
 
I won't be able to go swimming until pot is off. The doc said stitches out on 2 Sept and a full pot with boot to start weight bearing. Not sure how long this takes to move on to next stage. I have just ordered online, glucosamine, condroitine, MSM, calcium and vit D for me instead of what I'm usually buying for my horse.Lol!! Anything that can help me heal faster so will be doing the swimming when pots are off!!

Thanks Sue for offer of help, your flowers and card. :) Much appreciated. I'm glad its not the middle of winter! :eek:
 
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