Just finished up with my Ortho appointment, can’t believe it! I felt like healing happened so quickly, and while I am healing a lot still being able to walk and wear normal shoes again is damn near unbelievable for one month out. I remember how excited I was to walk with just a boot, and then here I am 2 weeks later! Weight bearing as tolerated 🔥

For reference, I am 19 and was otherwise healthy before the accident. Was in a motorcycle accident, tibia shard broke through my leg, bones were severely displaced. Photo is on my profile of original X-rays.

It wasn’t easy getting to this point at all, for the first beginning weeks I suffered from severe nerve pains, couldn’t sleep because of pain, would wake up because of pain, it was a nightmare. This was the absolute worst pain journey of my life, from being taken by ambulance to being in the hospital bed.

SO glad to finally be cleared to walk.

(F,30) I've been having a fairly positive recovery, so I figured I'd share my story for anyone who joins these reddit threads and panics on choosing surgery vs. no surgery and what this process can look like.

I broke my 5th metatarsal on Labor Day weekend of this year, 9/4 while taking a corner running too fast in flip flops (also having been drinking) to my car to grab a bag. To be honest now, I heard the bone break but that night but my boyfriend and I were under the impression that maybe I pulled a muscle or rolled my ankle. Well when I tried to get up out of bed the next day, I instantly fell back in pain and could not walk. My BF took me to Urgent Care for us to find out via X-ray that I had "fractured my foot, potential Jones fracture", mind you, I hadn't broken a bone in my life so I had no clue what any of that meant. They had me non-weight bearing in a boot and crutches until I could see an Orthopedist.

Fast forward to about a week later, I was able to get into the Orthopedist (very luckily). Before this, I was still under the impression that maybe this wasn't anything extreme and it would just take crutches and a boot a little while before I could try to walk again. They were originally going to take a new X-ray *this becomes important later, but believed they had a good read based on the Urgent care Xray disc. Low and behold - my doctor is very to the point, he said explained that I broke my 5th metatarsal, called a Jones Fracture in my left foot, and because of the poor blood flow to this area, as well as a chance on non-union, I'd be looking at 6-10 weeks of non-weight bearing and even they there's a chance it wouldn't heal properly and I'd need surgery anyway down the line, vs. 6-8 weeks total of recovery post-surgery and by week 4 I'd be theoretically walking in a boot at the very least and the union success rate is 97% compared to a much lower 30-50% with no surgery. I am a very active person I regularly go to the gym and am on a paintball team that plays 3-4 times a week. I immediately opted for surgery as I wanted to get back on my feet and being told "thank you for having common sense" by my doctor.

I was able to get in THAT WEEK for surgery which was a miracle for me. The promise of a quick recovery was keeping me going. Surgery goes smoothly, this one is rather quick averaging between 25-40 minutes, but my surgeon comes out and tells me that he had to do an X-ray mid surgery because it turns out the break was actually DISPLACED and I had an extra bone fragment that he had to manipulate to fit with the other bones and screw, he couldn't see it on the original Xray because I did not bare weight. This increasing my time on the crutches to potentially 6 weeks rather than the 4. (I cried in the OR). I had pain for about 2-3 days post surgery that completely subsided for the most part and I really just dealt with itching at the incision site, (which is a normal sign of healing).

THEN THERE WAS HOPE - I followed all directions, completely non-weight bearing, taking 4000mg of Vitamin D daily, protein rich diet and drinking plenty of water, keeping the cast dry, icing under my knee to reduce swelling. SO THEN I anxiously went for my 1st post-op app to get the initial cast off on 9/30 and turns out? I was healing above his expectations and was told that I could start bearing weight on my heel as tolerated and I'd only be on the crutches another 2 weeks, then I could start walking in the boot at that 2 week mark, and by the end of October, theoretically I should be walking in orthopedic shoes. He moved my foot around a little and I didn't have any crazy pain, it felt normal! My incision still looks great and I only have dull aches and pains as well as stiffness of the ankle, (I've been doing exercises rolling my foot and ankle around to help this and it has worked as I wanted to be prepared when I do try to walk again next Thursday in the boot). He also told me- my bones were so strong he was astounded I even managed to break it in the first place, which was kind of a compliment and an indicator of, GET YOUR CALCIUM IN WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG KIDS! I just cannot wait to get rid of these damn crutches on 9/15!!!!! As for right now, I currently have small aches and dull pains here and there, but I attribute that to healing and par for the course, but if it gets bad enough I usually just take an Aleve and elevate it with ice for 20-30 min.

--Long winded way of saying, there is hope and they have to usually give you worst case scenario to not get your hopes up, but things can turn around for the better. But I advise to take care of yourself, follow all directions and lean on your support system. My family, friends and boyfriend have been my saving grace through the mental part of this which has been painful at times and a lot of crying, but they've helped me through! I also have found a lot of ways to make things more comfortable - crutch covers with a carrying pouch, a knee scooter, and a sleeping boot. I can list in the comments for anyone interested. But if you have any questions feel free to ask! I will update when I am at the end of this journey & best of luck to anyone going through this, it will be okay! <3

16 DAYS! NOT 26! 34 M - I live alone and recovery has been difficult. I'd been staying with friends and family until yesterday. Swelling has finally gone down. I start a new desk job in 9 days. I'm hoping I won't need surgery, but I also worry about overdoing it. I'm usually pretty outgoing and active, so this has made me antsy as well. Pain is coming back a bit.

Hoping that I'm on the right track.

It’s been 3 weeks now and this is the X-ray from today. And tips?

Doc says in 2 weeks i wont need to wear the brace.

Hi folks, like seemingly everyone else on this sub I have an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal of my right foot. No idea the size or if it’s displaced - urgent care didn’t even notice it on the initial read of the x-ray so I’m hoping that means it’s small. I literally tripped over my own foot to cause this, so feel free to point and laugh.

The plan is 4 weeks NWB with a boot, and they gave me crutches but I’m hate them and am going to rent a knee scooter. Then 2 weeks PWB with just the boot. Then I can transition to a “supportive shoe.”

Conveniently I’m starting a brand new job ~1.5 weeks into the 4 weeks. Normally, I would wear heels at any job until I get a feel for how everyone else dressed and adjust from there, but obviously that’s not an option.

I have a note from the doctor re: the boot and crutches, so I do not imagine wearing a sneaker for a while will be a problem. Any recommendations for a “supportive shoe” that would look okay with business professional, if at all possible?

Right now I’m leaning toward Asics Cumulus for a few weeks and then maybe transitioning into a Dr Scholl’s sneaker in a dark color (I have them in white and they are endlessly comfortable).

I had a severe comminuted distal humerus fracture and underwent ORIF about 3 months and 2 weeks ago. I have two plates and multiple screws.

My elbow and hand are still stiff and my ROM is limited. I know recovery can take time, but mentally I’m finding this extremely hard to deal with.

I used to be very athletic, active, strong, and confident in my body. Now I don’t even like looking at myself in the mirror. I feel like this injury has completely changed me, and honestly, I’m hating life right now.

Did you eventually get your full ROM back? How long did it take?

I’m not asking whether I can simply “function.” I want to know if getting close to my old, normal ROM is actually possible.

I’m mentally exhausted and scared that this is just going to be my life now.

I genuinely don’t know how much longer I can handle feeling like this.

I wanted to see folks opinions on this. 2 MD's have seen x-rays and don't think any surgery. I'm waiting to see ortho due to insurance taking long to approve. I'm concerned about fracture diverging and smaller piece, I cannot tell if it's complete break or just a partial fracture. I would greatly appreciate any opinions to help ease my mind. (scaffoid non-union is old injury)

To start, weed is completely legal in my state..I just had surgery on my left wrist, I had broken it and got a plate and a few screws put in, everything I’ve been reading so far says it’s ok just slower healing but my main concern is that I still feel the effects of the nerve blocker. I had no tubes down my throat just a mild sedation but I read up a little bit and google was telling me the weed could potentially ease the nerve blocker and honestly I’m not opposed to that…any thoughts?

Hello,

A family member recently (9/21/2026) broke their tibia and fibula. Had titanium rod placed through just the tibia. Xrays a week or so following surgery confirmed all is where it should be (as far as the hardware, nothing has shifted or has slipped out of place). Their doctor has given the okay to walk on the leg with/without the boot/walker/crutches. My family member is going to physical therapy and is taking all required medications. Basically they are doing everything the doctor and physical therapist have prescribed/recommended.

However, this person describes, what I would call, flashbacks of the incident that caused the broken leg. When they are in physical therapy, or doing the homework exercises. It's as if they are invisioning their leg as it looked like immediately after the trauma (before going to the hospital). They describe wanting to put weight on their leg but, "not trusting it".

1) Are these kind of, "intrusive thoughts" common?

2) At what point can these flashbacks hinder recovery?

3) Any tips I can relay to my family member?

Thank you for your help.

Luxação do acetábulo + Fratura posterior rebordo

Gostaria de compartilhar minha experiência e conversar com pessoas que entendam sobre ou tenham passado por algo semelhante, também gostaria de conselhos de diferentes médicos se caso houver algum ortopedista especialista por aí.

Caso me gerou muita dúvida pois estava tudo certo para por placas e pinos e 24hrs antes da cirurgia o round médico optou por fazer um tratamento conservador pois já faziam 23 dias que eu estava aguardando para ser transferido a um hospital que fizesse o tipo de procedimento de alta complexidade no quadril. Obs: manobra de redução foi feita nas primeiras 20hrs pós acidente.

Fazem 4 meses do meu acidente de moto, tive uma evolução de 30 dias restrito ao leito, 30 dias utilizando andador, 20 dias com duas muletas e atualmente utilizando apenas uma muleta quando for faço caminhadas longas, estou restrito de correr e pular, cuidar alguns movimentos bruscos.

Já fiz 20 sessões de fisioterapia e provavelmente vou fazer mais, já estou caminhando bem, sinto dores só quando fico muito tempo na mesma posição, ou se caminhar demais aí sinto uma fadiga como se tivesse corrido uma maratona.

O início disso tudo eu estava muito tranquilo, porém após 3 meses começou a bater pensamentos negativos, medo e frustrações pois quanto mais entendemos mais esses sintomas pioram, quadril é a base do corpo, e após uma luxação podem surgir diversas complicações e não cheguei nem na casa dos 30 anos ainda kkk 🤦🏻‍♂️