Fractured Femur - Recovery Time?

[Arrods]

15 months ago OH fractured her femur. It was a bad one, a spiral fracture in several places along the bone. A plate and various screws inserted in surgery.

We were warned that it would be a long job. To her credit, she is doing all the physio necessary but is getting frustrated at how long it is taking to get back to some sort of normality, including driving and walking relatively pain-free.

So, has anyone had any experience of the recovery time? No horror stories please!

[Sqad]

No I haven't had such an injury.

15 months is a long time for recovery to what you feel would be acceptable...i.e driving and walking pain free.

She is having physiotherapy and I assume that the plates and screws are still in place.

Many questions here:

Where was the fracture.....shaft or neck?
If shaft, then have X-rays indicated normal healing?
If neck, then is the joint in good shape or is it arthritic........in which case a replacement may be the answer.

Sorry I can't offer personal experiences or answers to your question.

[Arrods]

Thanks sqad. The fracture(s) are just above the knee with the main one I guess 4" above the knee along the shaft. As it happens, she has good movement in the knee and no problems are anticipated in that area. X-rays show that the gaps are knitting together, albeit slowly.

She was told that this would be an up to 18 months job, so we're not that surprised that she's not rock-climbing again (only joking!).

Thanks again.

[Sqad]

OK.....thanks....sounds a nasty fracture, but if it is healing and she has good knee movement....then press on as she is on the right track.

[woofgang]

I was going to ask what sqad has asked and agree with his comments. I have one question to add (and am amazed, given his usual prescription, that he didn't mention it!) but does she have pain meds prescribed and does she use them?...also I won't ask her age but do we know what her general bone health is like and is there any reason why it should be below par, eg menopause or a history of poor diet?

[Peter Pedant]

// We were warned that it would be a long job.//

they were right. keep on keeping on....

[Arrods]

OH won't mind me mentioning she was 63 when she had her accident - or that she did it waterskiing (she is an accomplished mono skier) in what was a freak accident in that her ski didn't fall off when she fell. Poor girl also had breast cancer 4 years ago and the chemo has affected her bones slightly (low side of normal they say). She has a high pain threshold and doesn't like taking pills. She still has the metalwork in situ and they say they'll leave it unless it causes problems in the future. We anticipate one last check-up with the consultant in January when we'll have a better idea of the healing. Thanks for all your interest.

[jennyjoan]

The metal work will stay in place as I have some in my arm from 1993.

[woofgang]

not always jj, sometimes it moves or causes problems then they take it out. My Dad had the screws removed from a shattered ankle, they were beautiful, stainless steel and knife sharp, he used them to repair his wooden greenhouse.

[woofgang]

Arrods that explains the long healing time. If pain stops her doing things she wants to do and her medical advisors don't see a problem with her doing them then if it was me, I'd take the pain relief!

[Arrods]

Thanks again all. OH says she wants to get back to waterskiing as soon as possible. I've told her she needs her head seeing to - not her leg!