Six months on from compound femoral shaft fracture and IM nail..

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Waffles

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All is going well, and apparently I'm doing really well for this type of injury. Had a lot of muscle damage from the break and also the operation. Have been mucking out all winter - it's getting easier (our yard is on a very steep hill, so that's been an added difficulty). Am hoping to at least get back on and have a little walk about on my horse before too long. Would love to hear other people's experiences of recovery from the same injury.
 
Sorry no advice but well done your recovery sounds like it is going well from a horrible sounding injury! Bet you can't wait to get back in the saddle:)
 
thanks - it's a bit daunting really. It happened on a quiet hack - just out of the blue and I was really unlucky to have hit a small rock (I think that's what happened) rolling at high speed. Was lucky to have no other injuries apart from scratched forearms from rolling through the undergrowth, and a slightly bruised elbow. Doing stacks of exercises with sports ball, sponge ball, resistance bands etc. still limping a bit and it's very uncomfortable to take all my weight for long on the injured leg. Will get there though!!
 
Again not experienced this but sounds like it was very nasty. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. It's sounds like it's going the right way.
 
I fractured my femur 11 years ago and have an IM nail. Mine was a clean break on a gate when the horse I was on bolted. I had crutches for about 3 months and then walked with a stick for another couple of months after that. I went back to work as a retail manager after 10 weeks while I was still on my crutches. I regret that now as I think I pushed myself too hard and didn't do enough physio. I was back on my own horse about 5-6 weeks post op because I felt I needed to do it for my confidence, I literally got on was led half a dozen steps and then got back off.
 
lauracwd2 said:
I fractured my femur 11 years ago and have an IM nail. Mine was a clean break on a gate when the horse I was on bolted. I had crutches for about 3 months and then walked with a stick for another couple of months after that. I went back to work as a retail manager after 10 weeks while I was still on my crutches. I regret that now as I think I pushed myself too hard and didn't do enough physio. I was back on my own horse about 5-6 weeks post op because I felt I needed to do it for my confidence, I literally got on was led half a dozen steps and then got back off.
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Blimey - 5-6 weeks post op! I wasn't allowed to weight bear for 7 weeks! I did manage to get up the farm to see my horse then but there's no way I could have ridden then - I couldn't have got on him as I didn't have enough strength etc. I think I will do the few steps thing at first though :)
 
I was 20 when I had my accident so I was classed as 'young and healthy' which seemed to mean the physios were extra torturous! and it was a very clean break straight across the bone so I was weight bearing from the day after my op. Started off with only to put 30% weight on the leg while on crutches but they wanted some to stimulate the healing. I was bored very quickly though and was soon hobbling round the house without my crutches and just using furniture to lean on, made it easier to get things from the kitchen that way!

Getting on the horse was interesting, luckily she was very patient. It involved my mum, dad and aunt to assist with pony holding and manhandling me on from a bench. Getting off was worse as I couldn't swing my leg over so had to go over the neck on the wrong side. I'm sure you'll find it easier than that!
 
my mum did a tibial plateau fracture back in sept - was non weight baring for 12 weeks, is pinned and plated and just this week starting to fully take her weight on a v wobbly atrophied leg!

Her horse tripped in walk, and mum having crap balance slid off the side and managed to bang down on one leg on rock hard ground :( so unlucky.
 
lauracwd2 said:
I Getting off was worse as I couldn't swing my leg over so had to go over the neck on the wrong side. I'm sure you'll find it easier than that!
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I'm in my late forties but in medical terms, they told me, that is still "young and healthy"! It's my left leg that got injured so getting off will be easier than getting on. I think I could actually get on now without difficulty from the mounting block, but am going to wait till my next lot of xrays and talk to docs. I lost some bone in the break too - it was kind of a straight across yet zig zag break.
 
TigerTail said:
my mum did a tibial plateau fracture back in sept - was non weight baring for 12 weeks, is pinned and plated and just this week starting to fully take her weight on a v wobbly atrophied leg!

Her horse tripped in walk, and mum having crap balance slid off the side and managed to bang down on one leg on rock hard ground :( so unlucky.
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how horrid - I want to make sure I am fully healed before I ride - I don't want to undo all the stuff I have done :)
 
The consultant made a very negative face when riding was raised at the last appt :( Hoping she can as the horse was her retirement pressie and she'd always dreamed of having one.
 
My consultant wasn't very supportive of the riding so I just didn't ask. All the doctors seemed horrified that I would even want to ride again. Just be sensible in what you do and you'll be fine.
 
lauracwd2 said:
My consultant wasn't very supportive of the riding so I just didn't ask. All the doctors seemed horrified that I would even want to ride again. Just be sensible in what you do and you'll be fine.
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One of the surgeons came to see me the day after the op. He said his wife and daughter both ride, so I said (and at that point I couldn't ever imagine riding again) he said "This needn't be the end of riding - I know it's a cliche, but you could get run over by a bus" - I thought that was great. On the saturday, when I was discharged (I begged them to let me go home) the young doctor said his family breed welsh cobs in north wales - guess what sort of horse I have? :) Both those things really spurred me on. Hopefully I will get to see one of those surgeons at my next clinic appointment :)
 
plus, my physiotherapist (who happens to be extremely allergic to horses) said "It's your call really - your leg can't go anywhere with that nail down the middle!". However, I want to see on the x ray that the hole/gap has closed properly. I think I will *know* when I am ready physically to ride.
 
ouch Waffles that does sound nasty. But I did laugh at your post about the surgeon saying you could get run over by a bus - very reassuring!

Good luck with the last bit of rehab and if you decide to ride again. You sound a LOT braver than I would be - good for you! :)
 
tobiano said:
ouch Waffles that does sound nasty. But I did laugh at your post about the surgeon saying you could get run over by a bus - very reassuring!

Good luck with the last bit of rehab and if you decide to ride again. You sound a LOT braver than I would be - good for you! :)
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Thanks - I will definitely ride again. It's a bit of a scary prospect but I will feel better when I have done it once I think. xx
 
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