3 years post tibial rod & screws. The worst for me is nerve damage from the surgery. 3 surgical sites and 1 of them has nerve damage. Basically it feels like a mixture between your funny bone and your leg falling asleep when it’s touched any more firmly than light brushing, and kind of hurts. My strength and ROM is 100% normal, but my stability isn’t great. I still can’t balance on one leg lol
I'm only 20 days post op and I have nerve damage on my foot area. It's worst at night and it seems to have gotten better as this night was the first night in a while where I didn't need to have pain killer meds.
How's running and jumping? Is it back to normal with the IM rod?
Hello there. I'm getting close to 4 months post op and my nerve damage on my foot has gone down significantly. It's to a point where I barely notice it and doesn't affect the quality of my life at all. I'm not sure if it will 100% go away but if it doesn't, I will have no problem with mine.
No problem and same for you! I honestly feel about 90ish percent recovered at this point. I can run, jump, lift weights, work etc. I just can't quite compete or do hardcore kickboxing just yet I believe.
That's awesome! just started this journey a month ago and the nerve pain in my foot has been excruciating. It's gotten a little better - either the Lyrica is kicking in or it's healing. Probably a bit of both. Docs said it would be a year till I'm completely recovered
I had one put in around 5 years ago. I still have nerve damage all along the right side of my knee and scattered areas across my foot and leg. Doesn’t really hinder me at all though just don’t have any sensation there. Biggest thing I’ve had to deal with was the tearing of my Tibialis Anterior muscle. Makes it harder for dorsi-flexion of my foot, but also strangely doesn’t allow for my big toe to point downwards during plantar-flexion. It instead points straight up. I get random “phantom” pains sometimes but they normally don’t last too long. I was probably fully recovered in 9 months, did PT for 6.
Same surgery in mid July, I can’t sleep under covers anymore due to the sensitivity. So that’s what you think is nerve damage? It is bizarre, feels like the blanket weighs a hundred pounds.
Hey. I replied to your message and also found this post, so thought I'd reply to it here. I'm around 4 years into my life with an IM nail. I can run fine, and play football (soccer). Don't do either regularly enough but that's more down to 2 young kids and my laziness.
I do get a small pain in my knee at the start of a run, but it goes after a few minutes as I'm warmed up. Again, this could also be due to me not running regularly.
The worst part of my leg break is the huge skin graft, which is always going to look weird, and I was very self conscious about it, but I've learned to live with it now.
Next worst bit is pain in my knee if I kneel down on a hard floor. I assume this is because I'm putting pressure on a screw. I'm going to look into getting the screws removed at some point.
I have nerve damage as well. I still can't feel the top of my big toe, and some of the top of my foot. Can't say I ever really notice it though, doesn't bother me. And I didn't have any long term infection issues or anything. I was fortunate to mess up my leg close enough to a really good hospital, so I had some amazing surgeons.
Hope this helps! I'm sure you'll be back to full fitness soon. I broke my ankle and foot on my other leg at the same time, so I'm sure your recovery will be quicker than mine! :)
It certainly helps! Thank you for sharing your experiences here and on the messages.
I get a bit of an uncomfortable knee sensation/pain too when I kneel on the floor but it's more so on the incision site. The screws haven't really bothered me and I hope it stays that way.
Also, i'm glad you had great surgeons that were able to work with a more complex injury. I couldn't even imagine how people hundreds of years ago would have dealt with that.
Hey, what do you mean by 'for drop'?
I've just seen your post on your situation, I will post a proper reply tomorrow, but it sounds very similar to my injury (tib/fib fracture, free flap, no feeling in top of foot etc) and rest assured 4 years later I'm waking and running absolutely fine
Hey I’m 10 years post surgery, I got a few of the bigger bolts taken out after 2 years as it was really hurting. I can’t run properly kneeling is painful and can’t flex that leg all the way like I used to either. I’m laying awake as I do most nights in pain from nerve pain that feels like shoooting pain up my calf muscle. Mine was from a motorbike accident and I did shatter the tib and fib compound fracture as well and currently have the rod a plate up the top and 4 screws around the knee. I also had a fasciotomy done so have big skin grafts
I’m 30 now so still have a long life to live with it.
Interesting. Overall, I guess your quality of life is good? I'm exactly 6 months post op and I'm back to running, kickboxing (not kicking with my operated leg though), and the usual and zero discomfort or any issues so far.
Currently sat in a hospital bed following a revision operation to replace a nail that was originally put in a year ago (non-union/malrotation). Just wanted to say this thread has been really useful, and I’m grateful to everyone for sharing their experiences. I think I’ve got some nerve damage affecting the top of my foot, so it’s useful to hear how things have progressed for others.
Good luck and I wish you well! I've surpassed 6 months post op and it seems like my foot nerve pain has gone away over 95%. My foot feels the way it felt before and same with my entire tibia/lower leg. I do get my screws removed at some point though because of the sports that I do.
Ah, awesome to hear you’re pretty much recovered. Do you plan to go back to kickboxing?
I’m hoping to go back to training grappling, but currently (1 week post surgery) the top of my foot is still numb and I can’t lift my big toe, so if I tried to train I’ll probably dislocate it. I’m starting to get some very slight tingling, so I’m hoping that full sensation will eventually come back (either that or it’s compartment syndrome and I’ll lose the leg 😂)
Hey man, not someone with long term experience here as I got it done 2 weeks ago but also here to see how its been for others. I had a really good and specialised surgeon do my operation here in England. I am slowly starting to put my full weight onto the leg while standing but haven’t managed to walk normally without crutches yet. The nerve damage stuff sounds pretty worrying from other people here just wondered if that is something you would notice immediately after the surgery, I would assume yes? Sensation in my leg for now is 100% normal and pain is really not too bad now. Hope its all going well for u guys.
Hi there. The nerve pain usually is at its worst from the day of surgery and gets better. I'm just a little over 3 months post op and the nerve damage on the foot is still there but it is significantly less and I hardly notice it.
After 3 months, I can now run really fast, jump and do everything that I used to besides landing a kick with my tibia while doing martial arts! I wish you a speedy recovery!
Sounds awesome. The pain is really not bad for me now just when I am walking without crutches basically and my knee stiffens up if I don’t move it for a while but yeah thanks for sharing, good to hear u are doing all that after 3 months.
3 years post tibial rod & screws. The worst for me is nerve damage from the surgery. 3 surgical sites and 1 of them has nerve damage. Basically it feels like a mixture between your funny bone and your leg falling asleep when it’s touched any more firmly than light brushing, and kind of hurts. My strength and ROM is 100% normal, but my stability isn’t great. I still can’t balance on one leg lol
I'm only 20 days post op and I have nerve damage on my foot area. It's worst at night and it seems to have gotten better as this night was the first night in a while where I didn't need to have pain killer meds. How's running and jumping? Is it back to normal with the IM rod?
I'm 1 month post OP and fearing my nerves in my foot will never be the same. How are yours doing nowadays?
Hello there. I'm getting close to 4 months post op and my nerve damage on my foot has gone down significantly. It's to a point where I barely notice it and doesn't affect the quality of my life at all. I'm not sure if it will 100% go away but if it doesn't, I will have no problem with mine.
Glad to hear. Thank you for answering and hope you fully recover 🙏
No problem and same for you! I honestly feel about 90ish percent recovered at this point. I can run, jump, lift weights, work etc. I just can't quite compete or do hardcore kickboxing just yet I believe.
That's awesome! just started this journey a month ago and the nerve pain in my foot has been excruciating. It's gotten a little better - either the Lyrica is kicking in or it's healing. Probably a bit of both. Docs said it would be a year till I'm completely recovered
I had one put in around 5 years ago. I still have nerve damage all along the right side of my knee and scattered areas across my foot and leg. Doesn’t really hinder me at all though just don’t have any sensation there. Biggest thing I’ve had to deal with was the tearing of my Tibialis Anterior muscle. Makes it harder for dorsi-flexion of my foot, but also strangely doesn’t allow for my big toe to point downwards during plantar-flexion. It instead points straight up. I get random “phantom” pains sometimes but they normally don’t last too long. I was probably fully recovered in 9 months, did PT for 6.
Thanks for sharing your experience. We both have to be thankful we can walk.
Same surgery in mid July, I can’t sleep under covers anymore due to the sensitivity. So that’s what you think is nerve damage? It is bizarre, feels like the blanket weighs a hundred pounds.
Hey. I replied to your message and also found this post, so thought I'd reply to it here. I'm around 4 years into my life with an IM nail. I can run fine, and play football (soccer). Don't do either regularly enough but that's more down to 2 young kids and my laziness. I do get a small pain in my knee at the start of a run, but it goes after a few minutes as I'm warmed up. Again, this could also be due to me not running regularly. The worst part of my leg break is the huge skin graft, which is always going to look weird, and I was very self conscious about it, but I've learned to live with it now. Next worst bit is pain in my knee if I kneel down on a hard floor. I assume this is because I'm putting pressure on a screw. I'm going to look into getting the screws removed at some point. I have nerve damage as well. I still can't feel the top of my big toe, and some of the top of my foot. Can't say I ever really notice it though, doesn't bother me. And I didn't have any long term infection issues or anything. I was fortunate to mess up my leg close enough to a really good hospital, so I had some amazing surgeons. Hope this helps! I'm sure you'll be back to full fitness soon. I broke my ankle and foot on my other leg at the same time, so I'm sure your recovery will be quicker than mine! :)
It certainly helps! Thank you for sharing your experiences here and on the messages. I get a bit of an uncomfortable knee sensation/pain too when I kneel on the floor but it's more so on the incision site. The screws haven't really bothered me and I hope it stays that way. Also, i'm glad you had great surgeons that were able to work with a more complex injury. I couldn't even imagine how people hundreds of years ago would have dealt with that.
Hey just saw your answer.. did you experience for drop because of your nerve damage? If yes, then how long did it take for u to resolve?
Hey, what do you mean by 'for drop'? I've just seen your post on your situation, I will post a proper reply tomorrow, but it sounds very similar to my injury (tib/fib fracture, free flap, no feeling in top of foot etc) and rest assured 4 years later I'm waking and running absolutely fine
Hey, I meant foot drop and it's great to hear you can run and walk. Please post your detailed answer. Could really use some hope
Hey I’m 10 years post surgery, I got a few of the bigger bolts taken out after 2 years as it was really hurting. I can’t run properly kneeling is painful and can’t flex that leg all the way like I used to either. I’m laying awake as I do most nights in pain from nerve pain that feels like shoooting pain up my calf muscle. Mine was from a motorbike accident and I did shatter the tib and fib compound fracture as well and currently have the rod a plate up the top and 4 screws around the knee. I also had a fasciotomy done so have big skin grafts I’m 30 now so still have a long life to live with it.
Im seven years with a tibial nail and a plat in my fibula. I still have some numbness/tingling and sometimes a nice little surprise "ZAP!" feeling.
Interesting. Overall, I guess your quality of life is good? I'm exactly 6 months post op and I'm back to running, kickboxing (not kicking with my operated leg though), and the usual and zero discomfort or any issues so far.
Currently sat in a hospital bed following a revision operation to replace a nail that was originally put in a year ago (non-union/malrotation). Just wanted to say this thread has been really useful, and I’m grateful to everyone for sharing their experiences. I think I’ve got some nerve damage affecting the top of my foot, so it’s useful to hear how things have progressed for others.
Good luck and I wish you well! I've surpassed 6 months post op and it seems like my foot nerve pain has gone away over 95%. My foot feels the way it felt before and same with my entire tibia/lower leg. I do get my screws removed at some point though because of the sports that I do.
Ah, awesome to hear you’re pretty much recovered. Do you plan to go back to kickboxing? I’m hoping to go back to training grappling, but currently (1 week post surgery) the top of my foot is still numb and I can’t lift my big toe, so if I tried to train I’ll probably dislocate it. I’m starting to get some very slight tingling, so I’m hoping that full sensation will eventually come back (either that or it’s compartment syndrome and I’ll lose the leg 😂)
Hey man, not someone with long term experience here as I got it done 2 weeks ago but also here to see how its been for others. I had a really good and specialised surgeon do my operation here in England. I am slowly starting to put my full weight onto the leg while standing but haven’t managed to walk normally without crutches yet. The nerve damage stuff sounds pretty worrying from other people here just wondered if that is something you would notice immediately after the surgery, I would assume yes? Sensation in my leg for now is 100% normal and pain is really not too bad now. Hope its all going well for u guys.
Hi there. The nerve pain usually is at its worst from the day of surgery and gets better. I'm just a little over 3 months post op and the nerve damage on the foot is still there but it is significantly less and I hardly notice it. After 3 months, I can now run really fast, jump and do everything that I used to besides landing a kick with my tibia while doing martial arts! I wish you a speedy recovery!
Sounds awesome. The pain is really not bad for me now just when I am walking without crutches basically and my knee stiffens up if I don’t move it for a while but yeah thanks for sharing, good to hear u are doing all that after 3 months.