After a week of rubbish attempts at walking without my splint I finally got to see my physio. She confirmed that there is a slow progress with my range of movement in my knee (now at 40) but was concerned to see how wobbly I was on my crutches. The problem was that I was so scared of my leg giving way, I was trying to compensate with the rest of my body and holding myself way too stiff to make any decent attempt at walking.
She decided to try me out walking between parallel bar in the gym, which I managed surprisingly well, without panicking too! So from there she suggested I tried a walking (zimmer) frame until I build my confidence up a little more. This worked great and I was even able to walk with my brace let out to 90% ... I'd still been trying to walk with it locked until then!
I've been using the walker at home for 4 days now and have progressed from a stooping dithering wreck, to being confident enough to stand up straight and tall and take "real" steps, with one foot in front of the other, instead of mini shuffle steps. Today I actually sat at the table to eat a meal instead of having it on my lap, first time in 2 months! Best achievement of the week though has to be making it to the loo on my own ... time to start regaining some dignity at last!
The exercises are still very hard work and a few extras have been added. Now that I can sit with my leg to the floor I can do some heel slides from that position, and I also have a bolster for under my leg to try short leg raises when I sitting on my bed. I'm still not able to get my leg from bed/sofa to floor and vice versa without some help, but I guess as my confidence continues to build I will experiment with some ways to achieve this.
What a difference a week makes ... this time last week i was ready to give up and feeling very sorry for myself, ... this week I can see some of the light at the end of the tunnel ...even if it is a long way off yet.
Saturday 28 January 2012
Friday 20 January 2012
More Tips .....
Gel Ice Packs
I'd bought these a couple of weeks back after reading about them and anticipating that I may need them after my physio sessions. One evening my knee was swollen and hot so I used the ice pack for the first time. After about 10 minutes, the soreness had gone and after 20 mins the redness and swelling had also started to disappear. So now I use the packs after each exercise session to stop the swelling before it has chance to start. I only need to ice the joint for about 20 mins but it certainly does the trick! It also helps to ice the joint for 10 mins or so before I start the routine - I've read somewhere that the cold numbs the area somewhat and so makes it more tolerable to push the boundaries slightly.
Hanging my Heels
This is probably the best tip I've been given yet and it was given to me by a Knee Geeks member. I slide down to the bottom of the bed and start by just letting my heels slightly overhang the edge of the bed. Gradually, I shuffle down further towards the edge, letting my heels dangle further over, testing the water for tension (and any likely pain!) as I go. This has the effect of allowing gravity to gently work on the bend in my knee, therefore improving my range of motion. The first couple of times I did it, I only shuffled far enough to be able to feel the gentle pull on my muscles but the last couple of times I have been able to let my heels move closer to the floor. The effect is amazing! After sitting there for about 30 mins, shuffling further every 5 mins or so, move back up the bed and try your heel slides again ... you will be pleasantly surprised!!
I'd bought these a couple of weeks back after reading about them and anticipating that I may need them after my physio sessions. One evening my knee was swollen and hot so I used the ice pack for the first time. After about 10 minutes, the soreness had gone and after 20 mins the redness and swelling had also started to disappear. So now I use the packs after each exercise session to stop the swelling before it has chance to start. I only need to ice the joint for about 20 mins but it certainly does the trick! It also helps to ice the joint for 10 mins or so before I start the routine - I've read somewhere that the cold numbs the area somewhat and so makes it more tolerable to push the boundaries slightly.
Hanging my Heels
This is probably the best tip I've been given yet and it was given to me by a Knee Geeks member. I slide down to the bottom of the bed and start by just letting my heels slightly overhang the edge of the bed. Gradually, I shuffle down further towards the edge, letting my heels dangle further over, testing the water for tension (and any likely pain!) as I go. This has the effect of allowing gravity to gently work on the bend in my knee, therefore improving my range of motion. The first couple of times I did it, I only shuffled far enough to be able to feel the gentle pull on my muscles but the last couple of times I have been able to let my heels move closer to the floor. The effect is amazing! After sitting there for about 30 mins, shuffling further every 5 mins or so, move back up the bed and try your heel slides again ... you will be pleasantly surprised!!
Knee Geeks
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| Knee Geeks |
One member wrote about the hinge brace she had used once her splint was abandoned. I was relieved to know it was very similar to the one I’d ordered, I had chosen the right one after all! Another member suggested ways to improve my range of motion, in particular, hanging my leg off the bed and letting it bend slowly under its own weight.
I would recommend this forum to anyone with knee injuries. There is a bulletin board for almost every type of injury/problem and also a diary post area where members record their progress, blog style. There is so much helpful information on the threads its invaluable. The support the members offer is honest and because these are real people, who have experienced the highs and lows of recovering from a knee injury, their advice is second to none.
First Steps in My New Hinge Brace
This week began with the news that my physio appointment was cancelled and I would have to wait over a week for the next one. I was immediately disheartened because it had already been a week since the doctor had told me to start walking without the splint and I'd been hoping that the PT would be able to help me out with this. So it looked as though I was on my own with it for now, another week was too long to wait without doing something to try to advance my progress.
That same evening, I trawled the Internet for information about various knee supports and braces. What a mine field that is! There are so many different types, for various problems, and just selecting which one would be appropriate was quite nerve wracking ... I didn't want to buy the wrong one and do more damage! In the end I settled for a lockable hinge brace. I felt that I needed to be able to lock it straight to begin with, until I get used to not having the security of my splint, and then slowly let out the flexion as my range of motion improves. After much internet research, I decided on the PhysioRoom Elite Hinged, see below.
The brace arrived in two days and I was both excited and terrified at the same time! The first thing I did was inspect the hinge adjustments to make sure they locked securely and set it at zero range for added security! I tried it on for size and the immediate impression was how much lighter than my splint it was. Time to stand up and test the water next .....
It turned out that standing up was the easy bit. On the other hand, taking my first steps was an absolute disaster! I was convinced that my muscles would not be strong enough to hold me and that my knee would give way when it took the weight as I moved my good leg forward. The first step was kind of ok once I finally managed to pluck up the courage to move my good leg, at least there was no pain. But I was so nervous, I tensed up every muscle in my body and on the second step my knee jolted backwards because I was holding it so stiff. It didn’t hurt but I hadn’t been prepared for movement in that direction ... I totally freaked out and gave up there and then!
The following day I resolved to try again, determined that if I didn’t master this then everything that followed would be an even bigger mountain to climb. The brace in place, I got to my feet and took a deep breath. This time as I was about to lift my good foot forward, I let my injured knee bend forward slightly – it couldn’t bend too much as I’d locked the brace in place. Success! There was no backward jolt, no pain and although I was shaking like a leaf I managed to take my first few unsplinted steps in seven weeks! The more I concentrated on the steps and movements, the harder and scarier it got, to the point where I almost froze to the spot so to take my mind off it I sang nursery rhymes as I plodded along! Ridiculous almost to the point of insanity, but I swear it worked! I rested for a bit and then tried again, this time all the way to the living room and back. And then later another attempt, from bedroom to bathroom to living room. I’d only covered a short distance, but it felt like such an achievement I may have actually just walked on the moon!
There is still much confidence building to be gained through practice before I can say its time to release the hinge a little, but practice makes perfect they say, so all I can do for now is keep at it, again and again and again....
Search for More Knee Braces here...
Search for More Knee Braces here...
Friday 13 January 2012
Tips
I am coming across little things each day that help me either with my physio routine or with stuff generally. So I though I would set up a post to add them to as Tips as I come across them.
They're not major things, but as they say "Every little helps"!
Stop Watch
Now that I have to do my physio exercises every hour I found I was forgetting the time and missing out on a few sets. So now I set my stop watch on my phone for 60 mins to remind me. Simple but effective!
E45 Massage
Before starting the physio routine, I use E45 lotion to massage my whole leg. This helps to warm up the muscles before I start to work them. Initially, I did it to "test the water" as I was very scared of touching my injured leg, especially around the knee area, so the massage helped to remind me that it was fine and build my confidence a little before starting the routine. The massage also has the advantage of moisturising my skin and keeping my leg silky smooth!
Toilet Roll
Yes, I know this sounds weird, but I've found that when I'm doing my quad presses a half used toilet roll placed underneath my knee is way more helpful than a hand or rolled up towel. It has sufficient "give" to allow the knee to press down without discomfort that is caused purely by having something rigid underneath of it. As the range of movement increases, I will be able to use a bigger toilet roll to give me more to press down on.
Counter Flexing
When I'm doing either knee bends or quad presses, after a little while I feel as though my joint is beginning to "lock". I've found that its helpful to release the muscle slightly by doing a counter action. For example, when working on heel slides to bend the knee, do an occasional quad press to release some tension and then continue with the heel slides.
Toilet Roll
Yes, I know this sounds weird, but I've found that when I'm doing my quad presses a half used toilet roll placed underneath my knee is way more helpful than a hand or rolled up towel. It has sufficient "give" to allow the knee to press down without discomfort that is caused purely by having something rigid underneath of it. As the range of movement increases, I will be able to use a bigger toilet roll to give me more to press down on.
Counter Flexing
When I'm doing either knee bends or quad presses, after a little while I feel as though my joint is beginning to "lock". I've found that its helpful to release the muscle slightly by doing a counter action. For example, when working on heel slides to bend the knee, do an occasional quad press to release some tension and then continue with the heel slides.
Thursday 12 January 2012
6 Week Check Up
Yesterday was my 6 week check up with the hospital. The X Ray showed good results and I was told the fracture has healed well.
Now all that remains is to get my knee bending again and to build up the quad muscles enough for me to walk again. The doctor proposed to remove the splint and progress me to a short hinge brace. However, the nursing staff would not fit this and instead tried to squeeze my knee into a sort of sleeve support that was a size too small, they didn't have a larger one in the size I needed. When it was realised that this wouldn't fit my swollen knee, it was announced that I would have to make do with a tubey grip bandage instead. I objected to this, as my PT had said the day before that my quads weren't strong enough for me to walk without something to support me yet.
So the doctor was sent for again and he eventually agreed that I could keep the splint to get around with for now, on condition that I remove it and try to do as much as I can without it once I was home. I have to say it wasn't a pleasant experience, and the nurse would really benefit from improving her bedside manners in future! I am not due to see my physio again until next week, so in the meantime I will just do what I can with getting used to not wearing the splint and building my confidence enough to stand and possibly try walking without it.
On the plus side though, although the stiffness in my knee was causing me some discomfort, there was no actual pain when the various inspections and procedures were carried out. This has given me a bit more confidence to try to do more with it and its encouraging to know that 6 weeks of doing nothing has helped to heal the break .... even if it HAS made my muscles disappear and my joint stiffen up big time! Can't have it all ways I guess, so back to the exercises for now ......
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| X Ray showing my healed fracture and the hardware used to fix it (6 weeks, 2 days after surgery) |
So the doctor was sent for again and he eventually agreed that I could keep the splint to get around with for now, on condition that I remove it and try to do as much as I can without it once I was home. I have to say it wasn't a pleasant experience, and the nurse would really benefit from improving her bedside manners in future! I am not due to see my physio again until next week, so in the meantime I will just do what I can with getting used to not wearing the splint and building my confidence enough to stand and possibly try walking without it.
On the plus side though, although the stiffness in my knee was causing me some discomfort, there was no actual pain when the various inspections and procedures were carried out. This has given me a bit more confidence to try to do more with it and its encouraging to know that 6 weeks of doing nothing has helped to heal the break .... even if it HAS made my muscles disappear and my joint stiffen up big time! Can't have it all ways I guess, so back to the exercises for now ......
Tuesday 10 January 2012
Early Stage Rehabilitation Exercises
These are the exercises I've been given to do so far.
All of them are carried out sitting upright in bed with my back supported and my "good" leg flexed up for support.
I have no idea what the official "names" for these exercises are, so I've just made up my own!
1. Ankle Circles
2. Ankle Stretches
3. Knee presses
4. Knee presses with quad squeezes
5. Supported Heel Slides
* At the moment I am just doing 1/2 sets of each exercise during each "workout", depending on how sore and/or tired I am. I am trying to do at least some of the exercises every couple of hours for now.
(Diagrams in this post are credited to the websites they are linked to)
All of them are carried out sitting upright in bed with my back supported and my "good" leg flexed up for support.
I have no idea what the official "names" for these exercises are, so I've just made up my own!
1. Ankle Circles
- Circling the ankles clockwise and anticlockwise, 5 times each way to warm up
- Pull my foot backwards towards me until I feel the stretch in my calf muscle, hold for 5 seconds, release, then point toes forward away from me as far as possible, hold for 5, release. Repeat 5 times.
- An extenstion to this when the ankle needed extra work was to use a ribbon (or other non-elasticated object such as towel) to hook under the foot and use to pull my foot backwards towards me, hold for 5, release.
3. Knee presses
- Push the back of the knee down into the bed/sofa/floor. Hold for 5. Repeat 5 times. I find it useful to place a rolled up towel, pillow or even hand underneath the knee to give something to press down onto, it helps to get the exact movement that you need to work the correct muscle in the correct way.
4. Knee presses with quad squeezes
- Flex foot backwards, push back of knee down and squeeze quad muscle at top of thigh. Hold for 5. Repeat 5 times. (I'm not sure if this exercises my quads or my bum more, but either way it has to be beneficial!).
5. Supported Heel Slides
- I only move onto these after I've done the exercises above so that my leg is sufficiently warmed up. Place a plastic bag or something slippy underneath my heel. Someone holds my foot in one hand and slides the other underneath my knee for support. Slowly pull my heel back towards me, hold for 5 (if possible), then slide heel back down. Flex ankle to help release the stretched muscle. Repeat 5 times. REST!!!
- See diagram below - plus hands for support
- Like it says on the box ... as above, but without the support. I find that I can't achieve as much bend like this, but still do them as I feel its building my confidence and quad strength even if its not improving the ROM.
* At the moment I am just doing 1/2 sets of each exercise during each "workout", depending on how sore and/or tired I am. I am trying to do at least some of the exercises every couple of hours for now.
(Diagrams in this post are credited to the websites they are linked to)
Starting Knee Bends
4 January 2012
The second physio session was quicker than the first. Some progress with my ankle flexes and related calf muscle strength. The PT had spoken with the consultant who confirmed that it was ok for her to begin some knee bends. After a few quad exercises, she supported my foot and underneath my knee to try a few bends with her taking control of the movements. The range of movement was still pretty dire unfortunately. She showed us how to do commence some supported heel slide exercises, this time with me working to pull my knee up, with gentle support underneath to help build my confidence. A plastic bag was placed underneath my foot to help my heel to slide up. We were shown how to remove my splint so that I can see properly how the muscles are working when I exercise.
My quads are still not strong enough to support me to try walking without the splint. I am to continue with the exercises as often as possible until next Tuesday, when she will assess me ahead of my next appointment with the consultant.
The second physio session was quicker than the first. Some progress with my ankle flexes and related calf muscle strength. The PT had spoken with the consultant who confirmed that it was ok for her to begin some knee bends. After a few quad exercises, she supported my foot and underneath my knee to try a few bends with her taking control of the movements. The range of movement was still pretty dire unfortunately. She showed us how to do commence some supported heel slide exercises, this time with me working to pull my knee up, with gentle support underneath to help build my confidence. A plastic bag was placed underneath my foot to help my heel to slide up. We were shown how to remove my splint so that I can see properly how the muscles are working when I exercise.
My quads are still not strong enough to support me to try walking without the splint. I am to continue with the exercises as often as possible until next Tuesday, when she will assess me ahead of my next appointment with the consultant.
Saturday 7 January 2012
The First Physio Therapy Session
30 December 2011
Four weeks and four days after my surgery I went to meet my physio therapist for the first time. The session took over an hour and was bascially an assessment of how things were doing. We chatted about the details of my accident and injury and then she took a look at my leg. With the splint removed I felt very vulnerable. My leg felt weak and the muscles in my thigh had shrunken down to almost nothing. She was very gentle though and worked with me to build my trust and confidence as she started by gently running her fingers over my leg and progressing to very gentle massaging movements around my knee. The tissue around my knee had hardened in places and she showed me how to massage it slowly with lotion to start to losen it. Despite doing lots of foot flexes over the weeks, I wasn't able to flex it back far enough to her liking so she showed me how to exercise this to improve and strengthen the range of movement in my ankle. She needed to check with the consultant how much she was allowed to push my knee, so for now, she did a couple of test flexes ... which revealed a rather dire Range of Movement (ROM) in the joint, almost zero in fact! She showed me another exercise for my quads and checked how I was walking with the crutches to make sure my posture was ok. I got the ok to open the splint myself at home for washing, massaging and exercising my ankle and quads.
Four weeks and four days after my surgery I went to meet my physio therapist for the first time. The session took over an hour and was bascially an assessment of how things were doing. We chatted about the details of my accident and injury and then she took a look at my leg. With the splint removed I felt very vulnerable. My leg felt weak and the muscles in my thigh had shrunken down to almost nothing. She was very gentle though and worked with me to build my trust and confidence as she started by gently running her fingers over my leg and progressing to very gentle massaging movements around my knee. The tissue around my knee had hardened in places and she showed me how to massage it slowly with lotion to start to losen it. Despite doing lots of foot flexes over the weeks, I wasn't able to flex it back far enough to her liking so she showed me how to exercise this to improve and strengthen the range of movement in my ankle. She needed to check with the consultant how much she was allowed to push my knee, so for now, she did a couple of test flexes ... which revealed a rather dire Range of Movement (ROM) in the joint, almost zero in fact! She showed me another exercise for my quads and checked how I was walking with the crutches to make sure my posture was ok. I got the ok to open the splint myself at home for washing, massaging and exercising my ankle and quads.
Getting Around in a Splint
So for the next 3 weeks I split my time between bed, sofa and laps of the living room to keep me moving. Walking on the crutches was slow and hard work. But it was the getting up and down that I found difficult as I was unable to get my leg from bed/sofa to floor and vice-versa unaided. I think this was partly due to the weight of the splint causing pressure and pain on my knee, partly due to the increasingly useless quad muscles in my bad leg, and partly due to the injury itself as a straight leg lift is virtually impossible with a fractured patella. I need someone to lift my leg whilst I turn myself around and then place it to the floor for me. I think someone needs to invent a device that will help with this, how people who live alone would manage I'll never know!
To make things worse, this was Christmas time! No shopping, no dining out, no cinema, no pantomime! I did manage to get out on Boxing Day though, after a family effort to get me into our car. This involves putting the front seat flat, lowering myself down onto the seat, having someone lift my leg from the floor whilst I slide my bum up the back of the seat far enough to be able to turn my leg into the car and then lower it down into the footwell. Quickly place a pillow under my leg to support it, raise the seat again and off to go! .... Yes, driving is a long way away yet!
To make things worse, this was Christmas time! No shopping, no dining out, no cinema, no pantomime! I did manage to get out on Boxing Day though, after a family effort to get me into our car. This involves putting the front seat flat, lowering myself down onto the seat, having someone lift my leg from the floor whilst I slide my bum up the back of the seat far enough to be able to turn my leg into the car and then lower it down into the footwell. Quickly place a pillow under my leg to support it, raise the seat again and off to go! .... Yes, driving is a long way away yet!
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| Moshi Monsters checking out my splint |
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| Pamper time! Getting a foot massage |
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| Out and about on Boxing Day (that's a wafer sweet by the way, not my knee cap poking out of the splint) |
Wednesday 4 January 2012
From Cast to Splint and Staple Removal
14 December 2011
"Having staples removed is always fun" was a quote posted on my Facebook page! Well, I guess I was about to find out. After having the cast cut away with that macabre looking saw tool, I lay on the bed for the nurse to "whip out" my 24 staples. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of this experience, I would say, really don't worry, its not as bad as it sounds. A few tiny stings at the worst and most of them I didn't feel at all. Just don't make my mistake and Google it first, as pictures of the little blighters will make their extraction appear excruciating, if not impossible!
The deed done, I was taken to Xray to find out how things were doing 16 days after surgery. Ouch! Why do Radiographers always require broken bones to be placed into the most inconvenient positions for their snapshots?! I think my words were, "this really isn't feeling good right now" before he moved it into a slightly more bearable position. Very polite I thought, given the circumstances.
I didn't get to see the consultant back at the clinic, but he apparently surveyed my Xrays and his registrar came to deliver the news. Not the exact words, but it went something like this .....
"Yes, it was a very bad fracture, but the surgeon has done his best to repair it. Expect to experience early onset of osteo-arthritis though as the underneath of the bone is not quite smooth enough"
Didn't exactly fill me with glee to be honest, but I was relieved to know that my, by now, throbbing joint was going to put into a splint and left alone for the next four weeks ... well, apart from a little "gentle" PT (Physio Therapy) that is.
"Having staples removed is always fun" was a quote posted on my Facebook page! Well, I guess I was about to find out. After having the cast cut away with that macabre looking saw tool, I lay on the bed for the nurse to "whip out" my 24 staples. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of this experience, I would say, really don't worry, its not as bad as it sounds. A few tiny stings at the worst and most of them I didn't feel at all. Just don't make my mistake and Google it first, as pictures of the little blighters will make their extraction appear excruciating, if not impossible!
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| This is my scar 2 weeks after the staples had been removed |
The deed done, I was taken to Xray to find out how things were doing 16 days after surgery. Ouch! Why do Radiographers always require broken bones to be placed into the most inconvenient positions for their snapshots?! I think my words were, "this really isn't feeling good right now" before he moved it into a slightly more bearable position. Very polite I thought, given the circumstances.
I didn't get to see the consultant back at the clinic, but he apparently surveyed my Xrays and his registrar came to deliver the news. Not the exact words, but it went something like this .....
"Yes, it was a very bad fracture, but the surgeon has done his best to repair it. Expect to experience early onset of osteo-arthritis though as the underneath of the bone is not quite smooth enough"
Didn't exactly fill me with glee to be honest, but I was relieved to know that my, by now, throbbing joint was going to put into a splint and left alone for the next four weeks ... well, apart from a little "gentle" PT (Physio Therapy) that is.
First Orthopedic Checkup
7 December 2011
A short visit to see the orthopedic knee specialist at my local hospital. The hospital system was unable to open the files showing my original Xrays that had been sent there. After a brief discussion with the consultant, it was decided that my cast should stay on for another week. I was to continue with partial weight bearing with the crutches and keep on the pain meds. Appointments were made for the following week.
A short visit to see the orthopedic knee specialist at my local hospital. The hospital system was unable to open the files showing my original Xrays that had been sent there. After a brief discussion with the consultant, it was decided that my cast should stay on for another week. I was to continue with partial weight bearing with the crutches and keep on the pain meds. Appointments were made for the following week.
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Surgery and after ...
28 November 2011
At 10am the next morning I was taken to the operating theatre. The surgery lasted 2 hours. My shattered knee cap was fixed with 3 pins and an arrangement of surgical wire around its circumferance to hold the displaced fragments together. The wound was closed using 24 metal staples and my leg was immobilised in a velcro splint to allow time for the swelling to go down. I was dosed up with painkillers and prescribed a course of 4 antibiotic shots to keep away any potential infection in the wound. Also, due to my mother's medical history, it was decided that I was at high risk of developing a DVT and I was given an anticoagulant shot to try to prevent this. I was told that I should be able to leave the hospital the following day, once the antibiotics course was complete. The orthopedic specialist came to see me and told me that the trauma team had been divide over whether or not the damage was too much to try to repair, but that the surgeon had felt it was worth a try. They appeared to be very pleased with the results and he was very complimentary to the surgeon for managing to repair the mess inside my knee.
The next morning, my leg was put in a full cast, from just above my ankle right up to the top of my thigh. Some more Xrays were taken and I was able to see my "before" and "after" images to see for myself what the fuss was about. A physio therapist came to see me to show me how to walk on crutches, partial weight bearing on my injured leg. Crutches forward, bad leg, good leg, crutches forward, bad leg, good leg ...
My case notes and Xrays were forwarded to the hospital in my home town, a supply of painkillers provided and at 4pm I was discharged. Unable to fit my immobilised leg into our own car, my aunt and uncle travelled to collect me and I was propped up with pillows and duvets on their back seat to commence the four hour journey home.
At 10am the next morning I was taken to the operating theatre. The surgery lasted 2 hours. My shattered knee cap was fixed with 3 pins and an arrangement of surgical wire around its circumferance to hold the displaced fragments together. The wound was closed using 24 metal staples and my leg was immobilised in a velcro splint to allow time for the swelling to go down. I was dosed up with painkillers and prescribed a course of 4 antibiotic shots to keep away any potential infection in the wound. Also, due to my mother's medical history, it was decided that I was at high risk of developing a DVT and I was given an anticoagulant shot to try to prevent this. I was told that I should be able to leave the hospital the following day, once the antibiotics course was complete. The orthopedic specialist came to see me and told me that the trauma team had been divide over whether or not the damage was too much to try to repair, but that the surgeon had felt it was worth a try. They appeared to be very pleased with the results and he was very complimentary to the surgeon for managing to repair the mess inside my knee.
The next morning, my leg was put in a full cast, from just above my ankle right up to the top of my thigh. Some more Xrays were taken and I was able to see my "before" and "after" images to see for myself what the fuss was about. A physio therapist came to see me to show me how to walk on crutches, partial weight bearing on my injured leg. Crutches forward, bad leg, good leg, crutches forward, bad leg, good leg ...
My case notes and Xrays were forwarded to the hospital in my home town, a supply of painkillers provided and at 4pm I was discharged. Unable to fit my immobilised leg into our own car, my aunt and uncle travelled to collect me and I was propped up with pillows and duvets on their back seat to commence the four hour journey home.
Monday 2 January 2012
The Fall
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Away for a weekend break with my hubby and friends, having a brilliant time! Decided to go and grab some food before settling down to watch another entertainment act. We ate our food and were just leaving the fast food diner when the accident happened. The step was shallow and unmarked and the lighting inside the food hall was poor. I didn't notice that it was even there when my left foot unbalanced on the edge of the step and my ankle twisted, sending me crashing down onto the floor below the step with my right knee taking the brunt of the fall. I rolled back into a sitting position with my knees bent up in front of me, and this is when I noticed the jagged lumps on my knee cap protruding underneath the material of my skinny jeans. We didn't need to be medical experts to know that this was going to need more than an ice pack to fix it!
A First Aider was called who took one look and telephoned for an ambulance immediately. Unfortunately, there was no ambulance in the area at the time - the nearest A&E department being over an hours drive away, so a paramedic was sent to assess the situation in the meantime. He checked my knee, my pain levels and made sure I was kept as comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrived, two diversions and an hour and a half later. I was stretchered into the ambulance and given entinox as pain relief whilst the knee was examined. By this time, my knee had a swelling the size of a tennis ball on the knee cap and was already bruising nicely. The initial protrusions were no longer visible due to the swelling and the ambulance medic suspected that my patella was dislocated. The entinox was increased whilst he tried to manipulate it back into place.
Over an hour later, with the help of the entinox we made through the winding lanes to the hospital A&E department. A doctor made a quick assessment and two Xrays were taken. I was told that I'd "made a good job of it". An orthopedic doctor was sent for to explain further.
I was diagnosed with a comminuted displaced patella fracture, which basically meant my knee cap was broken into at least four pieces. I would require surgery as soon as possible to pin and wire it back together. I was put on the trauma list for the following morning, my leg was put in a plaster of paris half cast splint and I was taken to the orthopedic ward where I was given diamorphine, ibuprofen, paracetamol and codeine for pain relief. It was a very long night, and the beginning of a long road to recovery.
Away for a weekend break with my hubby and friends, having a brilliant time! Decided to go and grab some food before settling down to watch another entertainment act. We ate our food and were just leaving the fast food diner when the accident happened. The step was shallow and unmarked and the lighting inside the food hall was poor. I didn't notice that it was even there when my left foot unbalanced on the edge of the step and my ankle twisted, sending me crashing down onto the floor below the step with my right knee taking the brunt of the fall. I rolled back into a sitting position with my knees bent up in front of me, and this is when I noticed the jagged lumps on my knee cap protruding underneath the material of my skinny jeans. We didn't need to be medical experts to know that this was going to need more than an ice pack to fix it!
A First Aider was called who took one look and telephoned for an ambulance immediately. Unfortunately, there was no ambulance in the area at the time - the nearest A&E department being over an hours drive away, so a paramedic was sent to assess the situation in the meantime. He checked my knee, my pain levels and made sure I was kept as comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrived, two diversions and an hour and a half later. I was stretchered into the ambulance and given entinox as pain relief whilst the knee was examined. By this time, my knee had a swelling the size of a tennis ball on the knee cap and was already bruising nicely. The initial protrusions were no longer visible due to the swelling and the ambulance medic suspected that my patella was dislocated. The entinox was increased whilst he tried to manipulate it back into place.
Over an hour later, with the help of the entinox we made through the winding lanes to the hospital A&E department. A doctor made a quick assessment and two Xrays were taken. I was told that I'd "made a good job of it". An orthopedic doctor was sent for to explain further.
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| Fractures of the Patella. (Mine was a comminuted displaced fracture similar to the 4th diagram here) |
I was diagnosed with a comminuted displaced patella fracture, which basically meant my knee cap was broken into at least four pieces. I would require surgery as soon as possible to pin and wire it back together. I was put on the trauma list for the following morning, my leg was put in a plaster of paris half cast splint and I was taken to the orthopedic ward where I was given diamorphine, ibuprofen, paracetamol and codeine for pain relief. It was a very long night, and the beginning of a long road to recovery.
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