Prevention

[Leespring]

Hi all,
I'm new here and am here because I want to prevent what my doctors say will happen. I fell out of a tree (don't ask) and badly fractured my tibial plateau. Reconstructive surgery 5 weeks ago has me still in bed with a thigh to ankle brace, lots of pain and a bad attitude. Doctor says I will get arthritis in my knee and will eventually need a knee replacemant. Doctors can be such doom-sayers, worst-case-scenario lovers ( "You'll never walk again," etc.) I would like to start now to do the right things and not get to the point he has planned for me. So, any ideas, things that worked for you, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[yalinda]

welcome leespring, sorry about your fall... i unfortunately have no advice but i am certain someone may come along and have info to share.... in the meantime i would follow whatever advice in joint preservation your doctor may have to offer... perhaps therapy may be in your future and a good PT should be able to give you an exercise routine to stregthen the muscles and preserve your joints. good luck in your healing well hahaha no pun intended it just jumped out at me. ~*yalinda

[user11]

Dear Leespring,

Welcome to HealingWell, you've found a great site.  Oh, and don't feel silly...I was just in a tree on May 28th (don't ask) Bummer about the break! But, I do like to put a positive spin on things...better to break a bone instead of a ligament.  Ligaments heal 3 times slower than breaks.  But in all...it stinks nonetheless.

Do you know the specific type of fracture?  Transverse, Compression, Comminuted?  Did the bone shatter? Break into pieces? Or a complete clean break?

Well, to make you feel better...you've been healing quite a but already within the past 3 weeks!  Hoorah!  So the bone is now at a point where it has formed a callus natural splint.  And that contains: Calcium, Phosphorus, and osteoblasts.

***So there is a clue on supplements to take now and for as long as you see fit...a Calcium plus Vitamin D supplement with Phosphorous!  Glucosamine & Chondroitin too you can supplement with if you're not allergic to shellfish, and Gelatin for joint mobility.

And when you are totally healed from the fracture and the cast is off...you'll start PT.  From there on in, walking, keeping a normal weight to free the knees of excess body weight,  weight bearing exercises and supplements like above will keep a lot of problems away.

So how are you doing?  Is there much swelling? 

Do you have anyone that knows how to find the pulse in your foot?  Just to make sure there's no compression problems & the blood is flowing nicely.

Any weird numbness, tingling, coldness, turning blue of feet?  Wanna make sure that you have feeling in your toes too.

Really glad to have ya here.  Write back soon.

Sincerely,

erin

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Active, Severe Rheumatory Arthritis. Crohns. AS. Chiari Malformation & Right Brain venous anomoly. Partial complex seizures. Emphysema. Rheumatic Lung & Heart. MVP and Tricuspid prolapse. Had Lymes disease for 10 years.