[Closed] Plating and Pinning - your experiences please...

I fractured my humerous and radius and also suffered a hyperextension at the same time about 17 years ago. I spent a week in hospital after having 2 pins put in to stabilise the head of the humerous. I spent 12 weeks in a cast from wrist to shoulder. Pins looked like mini kebab skewers and were removed with a huge pair of molgrips by a doctor who used some kind of freeze spray to numb the area around the pins (he froze his fingers at the sametime).

After 3 months of physio the joint was fully mobile again and remains pretty much pain free to this day, it aches and is a bit stiff when it is cold but in reality it gives me no trouble at all.

After seperating my should a year ago i find that sleeping on my side and using a cushion for support helps me get a decent nights sleep.

Do your physio properly, it is the key to a good recovery.

Do your physio properly, it is the key to a good recovery.

That. Even when if it feels better, carry on for as long as your are told to. I didn't and my shoulder (rotator cuff injury) never healed properly

- Recovery time and how to recover quickly: You'll take as long to recover as your body needs. There's not a lot you can do to speed that up. Doing too much or too little will sure as hell slow it down though.

- Promoting effective recovery: Do as they professionals tell you. not more, not less.

- Preventing complications: See above,

- Being comfortable after shoulder or similar surgery - sleeping etc...: Drugs will help.

Right, I'm off to work as a physio in a trauma orthopaedics unit.

I did my collar bone twice in two years. Second time, like yours; just a little lie down in the grass.

I had it plated courtesy of BUPA within 48hrs. They use 'filler' to make up the gaps. This is usually your bone harvested from elsewhere mixed with your blood. I elected to use donated bone as the harvesting in itself can be quite painful. You might need to ask for this if it's on your agenda.

The OP itself was fairly painless if not a little disturbing. I did have a DVT a couple of days later and they faffed about before taking it seriously. This can be really serious so watch out for inflating appendages (not [i]that[/i] one silly). ANY sign, get back in. I had a week of Heparin jabs in the stomach followed by a year on Warfarin so take care.

My physio was a 4 month cycle trip 3 weeks after my op and I was back on the road bike within a week of the op.

Good luck and go for it. If you want any specifics, PM me offline.

Thank you all.

I broke my collar bone 2 and bit years ago by giving a tree a high speed hug.

The NHS were a bit crap and indecisive about whether to operate or not even after several weeks. So I got a few more opinions from doctors in related fields who all said in my situation they would not hesitate to get it plated.

My work also give us free BUPA medical insurance so I thought I'd take advantage of it. Within a few days of seeing the BUPA doc the operation was scheduled and went without a hitch.

Straight away the shoulder felt much better with the plate and screws holding everything in place. Much less pain than before. After a few weeks it almost felt fine but I still kept my movements to a minimum as per the physio's advice.

2 years on and I have no problems. Mobility seems just the same, strength is normal. Just listen to the physio and do everything they tell you. If you are serious about cycling and going NHS I would also supplement with a private physio. From other breaks I've had the NHS will only get you mobile again. While the private physio will take your recovery further than just basic mobility and you'll be back to fighting fit in a shorter time scale.

Couldn't be more serious about keeping cycling - I see it as part of what makes me 'me'. Glad to know there is some relief when the op is done. I'm not 'needing' to take painkillers but my movement and comfort is obviously limited. I have to admit I'm happy with the NHS treatment so far - my break is a tad unusual and they wanted to give it a fair chance first.

I already have a private physio for lower back issues and he is primed and ready for the post-op phase!

I'm on my third plate on my radius.

I'm guessing you mean screws not pins? Pins are rods inserted down the legth of the bone inside where plating isn't practical. Plates go on the outside.

Can't complain much, still a little sore where the muscle probably rubs on it but on the third attempt they used a plate designed for leg bones as they were bridgeing quite a big gap. They also took a bone graft from my hip to fill it, but relative to the main operation that was a minor job (about an inch scar on the front of my hip).

My only tip would be, rest, rest and rest again. One of the possible reaons it didn't work 2nd time for me (1st was just another accident) was that I got back to cycling too soon and while some vibration/use stimulates bone growth a lot stops it and kills the bone at the join.

I can't be more serious about completing physio and really getting involved with the physiotherapist and working together with them about what is going to be best for you long term.. You need to put huge effort and dedication into returning to full fitness..

I had my hip joint and femur plated and pinned 20 years ago, and after thinking the exercises that the physio gave me were a bit lame and boring, the process too slow and frustrating, I just sacked it all off and got on with my life (I was in a pretty bad place at the time)

What a huge mistake

The actual surgery and metalwork have never been a problem but 20 years later and I have all sorts of problems with my back and leg, a knee injury that won't heal because of my awkward gait, constant pain that I have learnt to live with.. the list goes on..

Please make physio and rehabilitation your focus for the next six months or so.. fully embrace it and you'll thank yourself in later life

I had my shoulder plated for 6 weeks 2 years ago. I'll have a dig through tonight after work and link up my xrays with the plate in situ to give you some comfortable viewing jamj. 😀
I ignored drs advice (a little bit) not to go cycling till after 6-8 weeks and went back cycling a little after 3. As a result the plate worked itself loose and I had a noticeable lump in my shoulder which was the plate sticking up, it wasn't too bad and was removed a few weeks early but had healed properly by then. Really enjoyed the genuine sickness off work.

Rehabilitation is very important for me! The only complication is that I work for myself so a long break just isn't possible...

Yes, I did mean screws!

Do you have medical insurance or are you NHS? If the former choose your physio based on them being sports related if you're NHS you may need to think about paying for a specific sports physio.

Not slagging off the NHS BTW just NHS physios treat everyone so are often not sports related and this can affect recovery times if you're an active person.

With many physios and health/medical professional you can see them free at the point of use in the NHS, or you can pay a fortune to see that same person privately.

The main problem with the NHS is getting an appointment to see them. There seems to be hard targets for first response/appointment after referral but it all goes a bit off the radar afterwards.

I I'd go private if you have cover just to move things along. The NHS may be good it just isn't always very available.