Spiral Break of Left Femur Posted: 05-10-06 11:37am
17 days ago I was in a 4 wheeler accident
that resulted in a spiral break of the
left femur. Reading some of your stories
leaves me a bit uneasy. I am trying to
think positive, eat properly, do my pt and
most important stay off the leg. My
biggest discomfort is my butt. I am a
hairdresser so i'm used to being on my
feet all day. Now that I will be on my
butt for the next 2 months, I can't get
comfortable. Any devices out there any
one can recommend?
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metall5468
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Selden, NY
Devices? Posted: 05-23-06 11:08am
Mlady777,
hey you probably read my post. "broken
femur need help!" and got scared. I too
am always on my feet at work. As far as
devices I personally never needed one for
my butt, but I did sit comftorably with my
leg elevated on some pillows. Maybe a
pillow or a little air seat cusion would
help. They sell them at wal-mart, I
think. I can't tell you how many times I
got to drive around in the little
electronic shop cart crashing into things.
:-) lol.
My broken femur was unusual. Non-union
(non-healing). So it took more time to
get better. However eating good will
help. Eating a lot of green vegtables
will help. But all in all it just takes
time. Like I tell everyone else just try
and think of it as a longggg vacation.
Good luck! If you have any questions just
reply to the post.
~steve~
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
6 Weeks Posted: 06-06-06 18:05pm
Today I had a 6 weeks follow up appt.
The dr took new x-rays and was very
encouraged by my progress thus far. I
have been very diligent in doing all the
things I was told to do. I excercised
3-4 times daily. Worked on range of
motion, ate good food, took supplements to
enhance bone growth and protein drinks.
Did not do any more than toe touch weight
bearing that amounted to 20 lbs that I
actually worked on at a bathroom scale so
I would know what that felt like. Today
I was told that I could now add 25lbs to
that. That brings me to 25% body weight.
He says that next week I can go to 50%
body weight, the following week I can do
75% and then by week 10 when I go in for
my next check I could be walking in the
door on my own. I have read a lot of sad
stories about people not healing or having
prolonged healings. I am a 53yr old
postmenapausal women. I am in good
health but I did fear complications. I
work as a hairdresser and I am so glad to
know that tomorrow I can go back to work,
it will be short days and I will be
confined to working off a stool, but at
least I am up and doing well. I know a
lot of people have experienced prolonged
pain. I have not taken any pain pills
other than otc for 3 weeks. My dr
encouraged me to stop taking them asap.
I guess I just want to encourage all of
you to do what your Dr. Says and combined
with a lot of prayer support, you should
get through it fine. Just remember,
there are worse things that could have
happened and be grateful they didn't.
Keep a positive attitude and enjoy the
time you have to reflect. I have learned
a lot about myself. God be with you.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
Now I'm @ 7 Wks Post Injury Posted: 06-14-06 22:13pm
Hey all, I just want to encourage anyone
who has suffered a similar injury. When
you realize how serious a femur break is,
you feel fortunate to be alive. To
actually be healing without complications
or delays is such a blessing. I have
been back to work for a week now.
Working 8 hour days. Getting around on
the stool and doing what ever my clients
need me to provide for them. I use
crutches to and from here to there and
carry stuff in a back pack, note: if you
put a water bottle in there be sure it is
closed tight, arrrgh. I heard about a
lady that has custom crutches after
spending years on hers, it is called
lemonade crutches. She gives a lot of
her proceeds to charity. It was started
after a serious accident that claimed her
husband and son and left her on crutches
for 3 years. Her crutches have special
pouches and purses and colors and
amenities. Anyway, I just want to be an
encourager, when I first went on line and
read the things available about femur
breaks I really had to fight the
depression. I have to say, it is hard to
spend 6 weeks doing nothing but let your
body heal. But, use your time to reflect
and think and seek. Its amazing what you
can learn about yourself. Accept the
fact that it will take time and use it
wisely. This is really an opportunity
for you.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
4 Months Later Posted: 08-19-06 11:05am
I am up and walking great. I started
using a cane to get around at week 11.
It was hard at first, even a little scary.
Working as a hairdresser I am on my feet
a lot but I think it has been good for me.
Clients that come in weekly comment on
my improvement each time they come in.
Uneven ground is where I have problems but
I just take it slow and easy and remember
to heel-toe and focus. My knee is still
working to adjust to walking but it will
just take time to build back the strength.
I went through a museum last week.
Spent two hours wondering through looking
and felt great. I did take my cane but
mostly for security. Feels good to be
doing so great.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
6 Months Later Posted: 10-20-06 12:11pm
After 6 months I am progressing great.
At the gym I am up to 150 pounds on the
leg press. I am scheduled to have the
pins out of my knee next month. There is
some numbness in the knee associated with
the pins and some arthritic type of
discomfort which I am hoping will resolve
when the pins come out. I am walking
really well and on my feet most of the day
working 9hr days 5 days a week. It is
great to be up and around and doing so
well. It's hard to remember back to the
accident.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
Pins Out At 7 Months Posted: 12-03-06 21:23pm
It's almost 7 months to the day that the
dr took the pins out of the lower part of
the leg. Very near the knee. On the
x-ray the pins look like they are in the
knee. Anyway, they are out now. I got
to take them home. The procedure was
pretty simple. I did have to go under a
general anesthetic. I was able to walk
out of the hospital, didn't need crutches
and no pain. I had the procedure done
day before thanksgiving, took that day
off, save fixing the feast for my family.
Was back at work on friday. I am so
thankful for my good recovery.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
1 Year Later Posted: 04-30-07 14:54pm
It has now been a year since the spiral
break of my left femur. I do notice when
the weather is changing. I do take stairs
a bit slower. But yesterday I was out in
the yard working and cleaning up. Riding
my 4 wheeler and getting around great. It
feels good to be active and working and
knowing that I was very lucky to heal so
completely.
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mlady777
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Alaska
Life Is Good Posted: 07-25-07 02:54am
I am so grateful for how well things are
going. Logged on tonight and see that
there are more of you breaking your legs.
Are we not stupid or what? I am so
gratefull that I am back to normal
activities. More so than most I think.
It must be my genes that helped me to heal
so completely. Also the fact that I
didn't sit home feeling sorry for myself
but did what my Dr. told me to do and did
my PT beyond what was expected. I feel
great. Playing ball with kids 1/4 my age
and they can't keep up. I must enourage
yu to work and work and work and not feel
sorry for yourself. Hang in there and do
what must be done.
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castevenscpa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Location: North Carolina
Broken Femur With Pain Posted: 07-25-07 21:15pm
64 year old female, quite healthy
hiker...fell, broke the neck of
femur...have a stainless steel ball with
composite spike appx 9 inches inside
femur....am one year out...do pt 2-3 times
weeks. have a lot of pain, cramps at
times, sometimes feel fine, other times
have hard time even with cane recently
had a bone scan and x rays, showed, no
fractures, no loosening...anyone else with
these problems...thanks castevenscpa