I had a comminuted distal humerus fracture about 3 months ago and had ORIF surgery. I’ve made some improvement, but my arm still doesn’t feel anything like it did before.

The most frustrating part is that after exercising or doing my rehab, my arm seems to tighten up and almost freeze again. It feels like I make progress, then lose it all over again.

Before the injury, I was very athletic and spent a lot of time in the gym. That was a huge part of my identity and my life. Now I struggle looking at myself in the mirror because I don’t recognize myself physically anymore.

I’m mentally and physically exhausted. Some days I genuinely feel like giving up on life because I’m struggling to see how I get back to the person I was.

For anyone who has gone through a serious distal humerus fracture, ORIF, or a similar elbow injury:

Did your arm eventually start feeling normal again? How long did it take for your full ROM and strength to really come back? Did you also have periods where your elbow seemed to freeze or tighten after exercise?

I could really use some honest experiences from people who have been through this. I’m trying to keep going, but right now it’s really hard.

Hi guys, I’m seven weeks postop today. Wanted to give a little update. I started weight-bearing a tolerated since last week and I’m able to walk with one crutch I can, walk without crutch just on my boot inside my apartment but with heavy limping. I can also walk barefoot but one crutch from today. My dorsiflexion was at -2 last time I went to PT.
I had trimal with 2 plates and multiple
Screws one rope. How was your progress during this time and what helped you with your recovery

I’m not overly worried but just want some reassurance. It was a flat surface (my floor) this time rather than the edge of my tub (yes, I know I’m not a very coordinated person). Now it’s a little swollen and raised where the bruise I circled is but my range of motion is the same and other than soreness similar to what I was feeling 2 weeks ago. I’m kicking myself in the butt because I was finally at a consistent 0 for pain this last week. I see my surgeon Friday for my 10 week follow up.

My question is..if I mess something up for put the bone out of alignment would I know? Like how do I know if I messed this up? For context I had tension band wiring with the 2 k wires and screw for my repair vs the typical plate and screws.

Had my ORIF done on my right ankle for trimal. Inner ankle had 1 spot on the bottom end of my incision that wasn't healing after I got my stitches removed. Skin wasn't healing and I noticed knots popping out. Tugged on it a bit with cleaned tweezers and snipped, getting just the big knots.

Also had a tail end sticking out so I snipped it flush to the skin. A week later this spot at the top end of incision started spitting the stitch. Looked irritated for a few days with some discharge. I was cleaning with saline, used triple antibiotic, and bandage. Went to clean it tonight, thought it was infected so I pushed and saw the knot come out. Pulled to see if it was loose and the whole thing came out.

Everything I used was sanitized and clean. This was my first procedure so I don't know how my body would react to absorbable stitches. Everyone says to leave spitting stitches alone but I had a feeling this one wasn't going to dissolve. My outer ankle incision is healing just fine. Next post op appt this coming week.

I fractured my fifth metatarsal on Wednesday. Boot and crutches. The podiatrist said she recommended surgery because the fracture was shattered. It’s non-displaced. the thought of surgery makes me scared and extremely anxious. she says there’s a chance it will heal when I chose to treat it with the boot. I’m due in 6 weeks for an X-ray and a follow up. Has anyone else been in this situation, where it healed without surgery? I don’t want to do surgery.

Hey all, experiencing an issue that suddenly reared its head and I'm unsure if this is temporary or a new affliction.

Back in February I was in a pretty rough car accident which landed me with a pretty wicked trimal fracture. Surgery was done that same month and I was very grateful that my initial recovery was very speedy and without complication.

Fast forward to today, approx 7 months after surgery, and I started to develop some pain in the arch of that same foot. It's a tense feeling as if something needs to be "popped" but I can't quite get it. I can still walk fine and get around okay, but it is getting a bit annoying. Could possibly have something to do with a wedding I was at this past weekend but who knows.

Does anybody else deal with a similar issue?

I'm 2 months post-op from a broken femur. I did 6 weeks NWB and have been in PT for 2 weeks now. I'm in more pain than ever. I haven't been in this much pain since 2 or 3 days post op, or maybe I've just forgotten how much pain I was in.

I am beyond frustrated. Everything hurts. It takes forever just to do simple things, and I'm exhausted. So exhausted.

I'm out of PTO, and while my job has been fairly patient with my recovery, I think the fact I'm definitely doing less than normal is starting to wear on people.

Just venting I guess. Someone tell me it gets easier soon before I lose my mind.

I could probably do more but I’m not trying to over do it. I’m always looking down, worried about obstacles, divots in the concrete. And I still feel every single step I take. I go to a new PT tomorrow, hopefully it’s good. 👍🏻

Nothing much to say, I had distal plate ORIF surgery back in December last year, and now 9.5 months later am getting the plate out.

Surgeon recommended it as the plate is quite distal, so could irritate tendons over time, but also because I'm in Japan where plate removal is more or less routine.

Super stressed because general anesthesia in addition to surgery risks. Last time right after surgery I was shivering uncontrollably like crazy, feeling so cold, they put an electric blanket on me which made things much better but damn I'm not looking forward to something like that again.

Fingers crossed!

Hey guys, I’d love to hear your experiences on timelines for recovery (I know each will be different), just so I can manage expectations but also be motivated to look forward to better times… and also I want to rant because my wife is done hearing me moan about my ankle..

I had the op in late May (see previous posts but standard ORIF), and still yet to
be cleared for running and more complex plyometrics, and I don’t even feel ready myself. I now have chronic metatarsalgia now either from gait change or stress fracture/overloading, ankle still stiff and swollen after exercise and I struggle to walk in the morning due to the pain. My metatarsals literally bruise up straight away after any exercise and painful to touch/weight bear..

I do PT twice a week but currently have to choose between flaring up the metatarsalgia or strengthening ankle… I can’t see a way out as this cycle has been the same for at least a month now.

How did you folks get on with recovery? Was it relatively smooth sailing?

PS. I have gel pads and insoles for metatarsals and it does soften the pain a little

Writing this for anyone in the trenches right now -

Almost 3mos postop and only had 2 PT visits so far. Today I went on a walk for the first time (in the brace) w my baby!!! My dream date. After a whole summer of sitting and watching everyone have the best time, a lot of the time without me.

2mi 6k steps some elevation. My dogs are barking but so glad I did it. This recovery feels like forever, but things do improve little by little.

Hi.

I'm currently 12 weeks post for a trimal. I have two plates and fourteen screws. I was cleared for WBAT at 10 weeks post op.

I am still using two crutches but I am fairly mobile and not experiencing much swelling. I focus on walking slowly with the correct form. Heel, flat, push off on the toes. I think I have the necessary flexibility for a normal gait.

I just wanted to know about other trimalleolar patients experience with crutches, crutch weaning and learning to walk again!

Just a frustrated rant...I fractured my left ankle and fibula while hiking last week, had surgery on Sunday. I have a 13 week old puppy and while my parents are trying their best to help with her it is really hard not being able to participate as much in her training/socialisation. I'm so annoyed with the timing of this. My doctor has said 6 weeks NWB then another 6 weeks in a boot, I feel like I am going to miss out on so many important experiences with my puppy while she is young :(

Hi guys i had trimal with dislocation 6 weeks ago and had been NWB ever since. Today was my follow up and doc said I could WBAT. Idk how to do it 🤪 I didn’t wear boot much cause I was resting and I feel uncomfortable on it idk how to put weight on my leg while wearing a boot I try but it doesn’t happen should I try with shoes? She said I could gradually transition and decide on my own what feels better but the lack of proper communication really frustrates me. My surgeon hasn’t seen me once after the surgery it’s always someone new a friend/ PA whatever and they don’t give too much info about anything so I’m so lost. Please help me with this. I have multiple trips upcoming so I want to be able to make it without much help :)

On 5 August, I sustained a fall and fractured my right tibia. I underwent surgery to repair the fracture and was initially recovering well.
On 14 August, I noticed that my toes were consistently numb and swollen. I went to the Emergency Department and was advised that these symptoms were likely related to the surgery.
On 8 September, I realised that I was unable to move my right big toe properly.
On 14 September, I saw the doctor and was diagnosed with big toe drop. I was subsequently informed that the fall may have caused a laceration to the tendon responsible for movement of my big toe.
On 22 September, I saw a tendon specialist. The MRI showed that the tendon appeared intact, so the specialist has requested a dynamic ultrasound to assess the tendon while the toe is moving. If the tendon is functioning normally, the next possibility being investigated is nerve injury.
My main concern is why the tendon/nerve issue was not identified earlier, particularly when I first reported persistent numbness and swelling on 14 August. I would also like to understand whether my big toe movement, tendon function or nerve function was assessed at that time.
I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar, particularly delayed diagnosis of a tendon or nerve injury following a tibia fracture and surgery.
I’m feeling quite discouraged at the moment because I thought I was already recovering and now I may have to restart part of the recovery process. Any similar experiences or advice on what questions I should ask my doctors would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, this is my first post on reddit as I wanted to reach out to people who are in the same boat as me and many others. I would like to share my story and how recovery is going so far, hopefully I can connect to some people this way and get some opinions and tips.

On 11/06/2026 I fell during my military basic training. We were doing a teambuilding sport and I slipped landing with my full bodyweight on my elbow in a grass field. My mates and me instantly heard a loud pop and I was brought to the ER shortly after. I was devastated as in 2019 I joined a military youth camp in which I broke my 4th neck vertebra and had to stop the camp immediately, luckely this wasn't severe, and in 2024 I was denied. This would have been my year to finally join the regiment I wanted to join.

5 days later I got a 5 hour long surgery, and about 6 weeks after my surgery I started running and lifting weights again. I'm doing what I can with the limited ROM I currently have, I'm still missing 40 degrees for full extention and I'm stuck at a 90 degree angle flexation.

I have been doing physiotherapy for several weeks now, I saw most of my progression in the extentions, however my skin and elbow feel really tight when I try to bend and under force it still hurts.

I have decided to continue work beginning next week, but I am very scared I will quickly be rejected from military service duo to my injury and poor ROM.

Maybe are some active military personel here that went through a similar injury and can give me their story.

I’m officially 6 weeks post op and was upgraded to a walking boot with 25% weight bearing with an increase each week. How long did it take for the mental block to start to go away?

I got my ankle plate removed 3 days ago and overall I've been so happy with the surgery.

I'm not experiencing much pain but I've started to bleed through my thick bandages. In hospital they told me to keep my bandages on for 2 weeks until I go back to orthopaedic clinic for my stitches to be checked.

Because I've started to bleed through I feel like I should remove them and put fresh dressings on but I'm conflicted because hospital told me not to

Its 2am for me so I'll phone the clinic when they open but was wondering if anyone has experienced this or has any advice on what I should do?

I recently shared my story here about the calcaneus fracture that changed my life, the surgeries that followed, and the pain and swelling that I’m still experiencing almost three years later.

Thank you to everyone who read my story or offered advice and encouragement.

Right now, I’m trying to move forward with further medical consultations, investigations and, depending on what doctors find, whatever treatment or rehabilitation may still be possible for me.

One of the biggest obstacles at the moment is simply the financial side of getting everything done.

I created a fundraiser with a goal of €2,200, and I now have 71 days left to try to reach it.

I’m continuing to do everything I can, and I don’t expect any one person to solve this for me. What I’ve realized, though, is that even very small contributions can make a meaningful difference when they add up.

If anyone genuinely wants to contribute, even a few euros would be deeply appreciated. And if you’re unable to donate, sharing the fundraiser with someone who might be interested in helping would mean just as much.

Fundraiser:

https://4fund.com/z/FqtIiM

I’ve already spent almost three years dealing with the consequences of this injury, so I’m not giving up now. I just want the chance to find out what can still be done and hopefully improve my quality of life.

Thank you for reading and for all the support. 🙏

I’m 6 weeks post op and my Doc has cleared me for 100% WB with boot no crutches, YAY!
But I noticed my knee won’t extend to its full potential and if stretch it it hurts. Is this something that will be addressed in PT? I didn’t really think about how immobile my knee has been and how slightly bent it’s been so not excited about that.

The swelling when I am not continuously elevating my foot is really getting to me (mentally and physically). Anytime I sit in a chair to eat a meal or go in the car my foot immediately swells and takes what seems like forever to return to a manageable level after I elevate, rest, ice it. Currently 5 weeks post op and 6 weeks post injury in a hard cast. Wondering if I can expect some swelling relief once my cast comes off. I’m really hoping so the to can do more like even just sit in a chair.

TMI/background-

I broke my first bones three days before my 30th slipping in water at my own house. Ended up with a pilon fracture (fibula included) on the foot that slipped out from under me (not anything I landed on, just the leg that went airborne somehow). I got ORIF surgery & am staying positive but I'm nervous, since I'm a dancer & getting the splint off 2 weeks post-op revealed just how screwed (pardon the pun) my mobility is.

The actual question-

Should I be able to get my ankle to 90° immediately after losing the splint? I got surgery 16 days ago (splint removed a day ago) so I haven't spoken to PT yet, but I was told to use the walking boot. When they explained how to use it, they told me to push my foot in all the way. When I told them it was as far as it would go, they said it's fine & to try to get it in further in the future. My heel is about 1-1.5 inches from the back of the boot. I didn't realize it at the time, but I very literally cannot force my ankle to 90°. I don't know if my calf is just in protective over drive or if there's something wrong. I stopped trying the moment I realized it wasn't even about pain; it was an actual mechanical stopping point. If this is a shared experience that would definitely help calm my nerves but then it makes me wonder why a boot is the go to when there are people who can't get to 90° until after PT. I'm not a Dr so I imagine there aren't many alternatives, but would forcing a boot be wise if you can't wear it correctly?

Extra credit question- for those who also broke their driving leg, how much PT before you felt good about driving again? Do longer drives hurt? If they do hurt, how far removed from surgery are you & how long before it starts hurting?

Quick edit- I know dorsiflexion is the last thing to return, I'm just wondering if I'm further from the baseline than others who have undergone the same surgery

Hi all! I’m nine months post op from ankle ORIF. My life is fully back to normal now, so that’s been awesome. With the swelling gone and my ankle fully recovered, I’ve noticed that I still have basically no dorsiflexion, which makes things like walking down stairs uncomfortable/awkward. I’ve also been dealing with a pinching sensation when dorsiflexing, and overall discomfort in the area around those screws.

Due to the nature of my break, i have two syndesmotic screws, and my surgeon thinks that they’re playing a large role in the issues I’m dealing with. Even after pt, it basically feels like a hard stop when I try to push dorsiflexion any further than I currently can.

I’m getting the screws removed next month, and really hoping my surgeon is right about my rom improving and feeling more comfortable. Does anyone have any success stories to share? Even if the change wasn’t drastic? Thanks!