Broken Femur

Title says it all.

A month ago I broke my femur in three places. No epic story. Just mountain biking and had to avoid a 10 year old kid who didn’t realize where he was.

Other bikers and first responders were all wonderful people who took good care of me.

I’m told I’m healing up nicely. Despite that I’m very concerned that I’ll never be able to get back into the various outdoor things I enjoy. Climbing, backpacking, mountain biking, skiing, ect.

I’ve been told six months to try those activities again. A full year for a full recovery before I can push myself. Considering I’m 47 I hsve concerns about this  

Anyone here ever had a similar injury?  What was your recovery like?  

Thanks for any experiences you can share. 

Man that sucks, I'm sorry that happened. I'm a year and a half out from breaking both heels and some other things. I'm still improving and making progress. A friend of mine told me about breaking his femur after my accident. He said it was 2 years before he felt really normal again. Everyone's experience is different but keep at it and do the pt. You'll keep getting better too

Your reflex to avoid mangling the kid are admirable.  Best wishes for your  continued recovery, Chad.

I have no broken-femur experience to relay, just a badly broken ankle 15 years ago. Doctor thought I was active enough to not need PT though he offered. In hindsight, I think it might have helped with more quickly getting back full mobility.

No firsthand experience, but my dad broke his femur in 7 pieces at age 57. He was a lifelong multisport endurance athlete, and like you, getting back to the activities he loved was of the utmost importance.

He attacked PT with gusto, but impatience compelled him to try to getting back too soon (the psychology is completely understandable). This prevented full recovery, and sadly, he was never able to run again.

As you are all-too-aware, a broken femur is a massive injury. PT, PT, PT. And equally—patience and, if I can say it, gentleness and grace to yourself. As significant a physical battle as this is, it is likely to prove most difficult in emotional and psychological ways. Rely on a network to support you on this front. If you want/need to reach out beyond your immediate circle, know that the whole community is rooting for you. I don’t have relevant expertise, but I can listen. Feel free to message me. 

Sincere condolences for this setback and best wishes to you as you travel the road of recovery—may it be complete.

Thanks everyone.

It seem unlikely that I’ll  get back to being able to doing the things I used to pre injury.

Oh well. 

Chad Miller wrote:

Thanks everyone.

It seem unlikely that I’ll  get back to being able to doing the things I used to pre injury.

Oh well. 

For every story of someone not making it back there are those that do. I understand not getting your hopes up, but I also wouldn’t accept defeat this early. As was said upthread, the psychological battle is probably going to be the toughest. I didn’t break my femur but I did break my back in multiple places. I mountain bike and climb without pain. You know what causes me the most pain 30 years later? Washing the dishes. The body responds in weird ways. Hang in there.

+1 for patience. Trying to come back too early can undo all the tough work you’re going to put into your PT

Climb On wrote:

For every story of someone not making it back there are those that do. I understand not getting your hopes up, but I also wouldn’t accept defeat this early. As was said upthread, the psychological battle is probably going to be the toughest. I didn’t break my femur but I did break my back in multiple places. I mountain bike and climb without pain. You know what causes me the most pain 30 years later? Washing the dishes. The body responds in weird ways. Hang in there.

+1 for patience. Trying to come back too early can undo all the tough work you’re going to put into your PT

Thanks.

As others said, the mental aspect is the toughest. I know what I could do. Nothing special, barely average. Now I have a difficult time raising up my let to put on shoes.

It’s a struggle. 

You have a delicate dance ahead of you between desire and reality. You can recover fully. That is the truth. Three year plan has you doing everything pretty well at sixty years old. Six months the bones are well fused but weak. One year you can walk around normal but not do anything particularly stressful. Two years you can get out there and have fun but being very cautious about how you do it. Three years you are good to go. Don't rush it. Do kick ass on the PT game. No avoiding that reality. Right now give it a month or two to heal and fuse. Start grinding on the PT at about three months and stay at it. Steady steps. Don't over do it. Make a schedule. This or that much per day. Rest days once or twice a week. Eat well. Don't get drunk all the time. For your head trip start playing guitar or learning to draw. Take your beatings and make this stretch of your life worth something. Naturally there will be some set backs. That is why it is a three year plan and not a one year plan. Chin up man. You can do it.

Chad Miller wrote:

Thanks everyone.

It seem unlikely that I’ll  get back to being able to doing the things I used to pre injury.

Oh well. 

you don't know that.

stay positive!

i am 41. i have broken both my feet at different times. broke my collar bone less than two years ago. my back isn't perfect i have some sciatica. i climb and ski and bicycle all the time.

i knew a guy who fell at tahquitz and really f'd his sh*t up and he still runs and climbs and everything.

do all the PT you can and never stop!

there is a good chance you will be able to do everything you used to do. theres also a chance things will change. focus on what you can control and the choices you can make now. hoping the best for you. don't assume the worst.

Thanks everyone.

I’m still youngish (47) and in decent shape. My surgeon thought I'd be back 100% within a year.

At a month from the injury(6/14) I’m at 50% weight bearing. I’m doing a dozen PT exercise each day with 15-30 minutes of stationary biking. All ortho and PT approved / directed.

in another two weeks I’ll meet with ortho again to see when I can be 100% weight bearing  

Good luck healing. Broken bones heal much better than ligaments so hopefully you will be good to go.

Chad Miller wrote:

Thanks everyone.

I’m still youngish (46) and in decent shape. My surgeon thought I'd be back 100% within a year.

At a month from the injury(6/14) I’m at 50% weight bearing. I’m doing a dozen PT exercise each day with 15-30 minutes of stationary biking. All ortho and PT approved / directed.

in another two weeks I’ll meet with ortho again to see when I can be 100% weight bearing  

Did you get specific bad news from your ortho?   A month out seems really early to draw conclusions abt long term outcomes unless there’s a known problematic ortho issue.  

At 73 I have broken the same bone in the same leg twice in different places, first one with an external fixator for 3 months and just had my ankle replaced in February. Each episode was and is a fairly long recovery but there is recovery. Just do what you will be able to do as your leg will tell when you’ve done too much. But hey you’re not in an electric wheel chair guiding it around with a pencil in your mouth. 

Chad, you will be fine. Last year I tripped in my living room and snapped my right femur in two. A titanium piece was inserted. Now the leg is as it was and functioning well.

I am 88   

Hey Chad.  

Nobody can say with 100 % certainty but I am extremely confident that you can get back to all the activities you mention.  

I am 53.  I've had a more than a half-dozen surgeries on my lower limbs and feet, and after each one I've worked hard, re-built, and come back, stronger in some ways, compromised in other ways, but active and happy. 

I am well aware of what a femur fracture entails, but I would say that it's not as bad as osteoarthritis, ligament damage, and so forth. Your bone can and will heal!

I've never found a better resource than Pete Dickinson, who I originally found through Uphill Athlete.  I'm based in Europe, and even though he is thousands of kilometers away, my physical therapy work with him has been absolutely vital for me mentally and physically to recover from my injuries and return to mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, alpine climbing, and so on. You can book telephone consultations, share videos, and so on.  His level of experience and knowledge are incredible.  I simply can not reccomend him highly enough.  He will guide you through your recovery.  

https://www.worldcup.physio/about

You can absolutely do this.  It takes time, patience, and commitment.  But it is possible.  

Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just need support.

Bruno

Chad Miller wrote:

Thanks.

As others said, the mental aspect is the toughest. I know what I could do. Nothing special, barely average. Now I have a difficult time raising up my let to put on shoes.

It’s a struggle. 

Buddy now is the time to buck up and bite down. I was 0 weight bearing for a little over 2 months and when I could stand up in those boots I had to wear it didn't feel good, really for the 1st month a lot of things hurt worse than the accident. I had one month of weight bearing before turkey season started, I was told I wouldn't hunt them that season. I hunted every day out of sheer damn, "watch me do what you said I won't". You will decide whether or not you recover, and you might have to get mean with yourself to do it. All of this happened in my 40's as well.

I’m still bummed about how weak I am.  It’s difficult not to feel like a failure.  I know I cannot push past my current PT limitations until I get 100% weight bearing.

I’m really  bummed that I probably won’t get to do my typical solo elk hunt this September with my recurve bow.  There is a chance I’ll be able to go.  I’m worried about the 8-10 miles a day of difficult hiking combined with hauling out  four 65lbs elk quarters. 

William K wrote:

Did you get specific bad news from your ortho?   A month out seems really early to draw conclusions abt long term outcomes unless there’s a known problematic ortho issue.  

I’m most concerned about having to take a year off from everything. The amount of work and dedication I've had to put into things just to be average is astounding. Being 46 I wonder how much I’ll gain back.  

I’m hopeful I’ll get to do some degree of the things I enjoy earlier than a year. Right now I’m going to the gym to maintain upper body strength. I’m going recumbent stationary biking. I’ll be back out shooting my recurve bow soon. 

Chad Miller wrote:

I’m most concerned about having to take a year off from everything. The amount of work and dedication I've had to put into things just to be average is astounding. Being 46 I wonder how much I’ll gain back.  

I’m hopeful I’ll get to do some degree of the things I enjoy earlier than a year. Right now I’m going to the gym to maintain upper body strength. I’m going recumbent stationary biking. I’ll be back out shooting my recurve bow soon. 

You don’t have to take a year off. You don’t have to take even one more day off. The amount of exercises you can do right now to strengthen your whole body (all of which will support your recovering leg) are too numerous to ever complete.

As for your previous comment, it’s ok to feel like a failure. Like most feelings, it’s not a reflection of reality, just a fleeting cascade of chemicals accompanied by a set of thoughts. As thoughts change (requiring no effort at all), so will the feelings. And like anything else deeply or lightly felt, once this feeling passes, it will feel like a dream you only vaguely recall.

Do what you can do. Fortunately, you can do a lot.

If an hour or a day or a week is spent doing nothing beyond breathing and feeling miserable, that’s fine, too.

Please put at least as much work into your mental health as you do to your physical recovery. 

J W wrote:

You don’t have to take a year off. You don’t have to take even one more day off. The amount of exercises you can do right now to strengthen your whole body (all of which will support your recovering leg) are too numerous to ever complete.

As for your previous comment, it’s ok to feel like a failure. Like most feelings, it’s not a reflection of reality, just a fleeting cascade of chemicals accompanied by a set of thoughts. As thoughts change (requiring no effort at all), so will the feelings. And like anything else deeply or lightly felt, once this feeling passes, it will feel like a dream you only vaguely recall.

Do what you can do. Fortunately, you can do a lot.

If an hour or a day or a week is spent doing nothing beyond breathing and feeling miserable, that’s fine, too.

Good point.

Right now I’m limited to 50% weight bearing. In terms of my leg I’m doing everything I can while the bone heals. I’m looking forward to getting 100% weight bearing so I can do more PT. 

Other than weight training,  not sure what I can be doing to maintain climbing, mountain biking, cc skiing, backpacking, and paddling.  I cannot do any of those things right now. I was told it will be a full year before I’ll be able to get back into those activities 100%.

Do you have any ideas on exercises I can do beyond my PT and general weight training?  (all machines , can’t carry any weight around right now).