Coming back from a fractured hip
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Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:18 pm
Managed to fracture my hip on the weekend. All pinned/screwed up now and on the road to recovery.
All the medicos are impressed with how I have recovered so far, citing that because I am lean and fit, it is a big help.
Now my question is for others that have suffered the same injury.
How long before back on the bike and able to be putting power through the legs again?
I am not young at 61, so appreciate it all takes time when we are older to heal, just looking at what others may have experienced?
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby ValleyForge » Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:42 pm
How did it happen - generally the trauma of the accident dictates recovery more than the trauma of the operation.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 11:57 am
Hit the ground quite hard.
The surgeon tells me that he got it all back in line well and it screwed together well.
Just wondering how others may have fared in getting on back on the bike and any problems they encountered along the way
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby find_bruce » Wed Sep 05, 2018 1:08 pm
- ValleyForge
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby ValleyForge » Wed Sep 05, 2018 2:31 pm
Yup. Starting at the top there is a sub-capital fracture which is fixed either with pins (quick recovery) or a partial hip replacement (slow recovery). Then there is the classic femoral neck fracture (often called inter-trochanteric) which is usually fixed via a lateral approach on the thigh with a pin & plate (recovery medium to long). Then there are the sub-trochanteric and proximal femoral fractures fixed with a plate via a lateral approach or a nail using a closed/posterior approach (slow to very slow recovery).find_bruce wrote:I'm aware of a few cyclists who have broken their hip, but there recovery times varied markedly
Anything sound familiar Arbuckle? A displaced fracture usually occurs due to greater trauma and correspondingly takes longer to recover from (and is harder to fix and harder to keep in position).
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 3:36 pm
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Klaatu » Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:04 pm
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Fri Sep 07, 2018 1:43 pm
Been doing physio since the day after surgery.
Getting around the house on one crutch already.
I have been thinking of getting a smart trainer and getting on Zwift for a while.
If my physio OK's it (her partner is a cyclist so she knows how addicted we are) it may be the trigger to go that way to assist the recovery.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby MichaelB » Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:44 pm
Heal well.
Don't rush it.
Listen to advice, and follow.
Trainer sounds like a good start.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Klaatu » Sat Sep 08, 2018 8:07 am
Best to focus first on exercises that build leg strength, balance and increase the range of movement. Aim to improve weight bearing ability and this will help you walk properly without a recognisable limp before too long.
Working through tolerable levels of discomfort in the early weeks will see rapid improvements but back off anything that is genuinely painful. More walking as cross training also worked for me before returning to the bike. A full length mirror is useful in detecting flaws in stride and show out some remaining weaknesses.
Hope you have a speedy recovery and sympathies if you're also on anti-coagulant needling for the first 5 weeks of recovery. I know it's in the head but used to dread having them daily.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Ross » Sat Sep 15, 2018 3:36 pm
The surgeon did say that possibly the screws may cause pain or discomfort later on down the track (more prone with skinny people like myself, rather than larger people) and have to come out. Otherwise leave them in. So far, so good, a couple of years and ~30K km later.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Sat Sep 22, 2018 12:07 pm
Sitting upright with flat pedals is recommended for the moment.
So good to get out and felt great, no pain.
Might go for a longer ride tomorrow
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby nemo57 » Sat Sep 22, 2018 3:10 pm
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Sat Sep 22, 2018 3:27 pm
That's what they all keep telling me If you are going to do something silly and injure yourself, fitness speeds the recovery.nemo57 wrote:Good for you! And I'm betting that your recovery is progressing way better than most of your/our age thanks to all the miles in those legs beforehand.
Although being older means you don't bounce when you hit the deck, which my wife keeps reminding me of!
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Tue Oct 02, 2018 12:14 pm
Glad I decided to go that way, twisting to release from the left cleat is still difficult at the moment.
But got a good ride in without too much discomfort, just got to be circumspect getting out of the saddle
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby CKinnard » Tue Oct 02, 2018 1:01 pm
Has your bone density been mentioned?
Were you recommended to start a drug called bisphosphonate?
What about a post surgical leg length difference?
Did you have back or knee pain with the accident, or before?
Healing time depends on patent circulation (and quality of nutrient/O2 delivery) to fracture site, and that varies between head, neck, intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric regions. It also depends on bone density.
Your femur will still be weak 2 years after your pain with walking is <2/10. About 8 weeks post op, you might be able to start resistance exercise for your lower limbs - super slow step ups/downs, lunges, squats. Confirm with physio and surgeon, and make sure they explain the risks of the 'screw' loosening. The bike won't be as helpful with bone growth and remodeling. You need heavier resistance work eventually. In the early days though the cycling will be good for circulation and preventing adhesions.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Tue Oct 02, 2018 3:22 pm
The excises you talk about I was doing in week one and harder load from week two.
Had me off crutches in a week, encouraging me to walk properly and concentrate on not limping.
Had back pain for many years, old heavy equipment mechanic, goes with the territory.
No knee pain.
Leg length not measured, presume that may happen with my orthopedic follow up in a couple of weeks.
No bone density tests. I have thought about it, but I did hit the ground hard.
Aspirin for four weeks for clotting so I did't have to inject (hospital choice, not mine)
No other drugs.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby CKinnard » Tue Oct 02, 2018 4:17 pm
If you are slim, those resistance exercises won't be too challenging.Arbuckle23 wrote:The physio assigned by the hospital had me doing full bodyweight exercises from early on the fractured side.
The excises you talk about I was doing in week one and harder load from week two.
Had me off crutches in a week, encouraging me to walk properly and concentrate on not limping.
Had back pain for many years, old heavy equipment mechanic, goes with the territory.
No knee pain.
Leg length not measured, presume that may happen with my orthopedic follow up in a couple of weeks.
No bone density tests. I have thought about it, but I did hit the ground hard.
Aspirin for four weeks for clotting so I did't have to inject (hospital choice, not mine)
No other drugs.
Nevertheless, if they had you doing full lunges, squats, and step ups/downs (onto chair height, not steps) then the fracture cannot be that nasty.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:32 am
It was nice to get outside on the roady again, it was too beautiful a morning to resist .
No problems, I am lucky in my area, no traffic lights so only had to unclip the left leg a couple of times.
Felt good. Recovery coming along well ( I think )
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby foo on patrol » Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:08 pm
Foo
Goal 6000km
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby glawrence2000 » Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:46 pm
Been there, broke mine at the Scott 24 hour probably 10 years ago.
Mine was a very nasty complex break. Good 8months before I could get my self onto a bike. Physically not capable of the rotation required to get on.
Eventually did, short rides, hurt like a mutha. Kept at it, but in moderation.
Was eventually going to the sport Physiotherapist, they’d be like “see if you can do 20minutes on this reclined exercise bike” . They were shocked when I’d say, should be ok, I rode 20ks this morning.
Pain is still there from time to time, left leg is left considerably shorter which has has its own demons. Riding definitely helped / helps. Keep at it champ.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby trailgumby » Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:53 pm
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:54 am
My feeling that my left leg is now longer than my right is confirmed.
Will continue, just at a slower rate.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Mububban » Mon Dec 03, 2018 2:19 pm
Be gentle on yourself. A workmate recovering from hip surgery decided to try "a light jog" rather than the strict walking only regime prescribed by her doctor. She set her recovery back 4 months!Arbuckle23 wrote:Saw my surgeon Friday. He told me to wind it back a bit. Probably right I might be pushing a bit too much.
My feeling that my left leg is now longer than my right is confirmed.
Will continue, just at a slower rate.
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Re: Coming back from a fractured hip
Postby Arbuckle23 » Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:30 pm
Got the sign off to go back to full training/riding/racing, with a firm instruction of "don't fall off"
Told the Doc I never intend doing that any time
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