r/Orthopedics

Hello all,

I'm getting shoulder surgery (rotator cuff fully torn with tendon anchors) and I need to protect it for months afterwards. I will be doing all the surgeon related healing (PT, strength training, etc.). But I'm looking for some extra padding or protection to put over my shoulder. I bump into an offensive amount of doorframes and I really want to make sure my shoulder is padded from any bumps like that during the healing process.

Any kind or insights or suggestions would be really helpful. Thanks!

I am about 2.5 months post op from a broken tibia and fibula. Tibia has a plate and screws. The xray shows a protruding screw near my ankle and I can feel it through my skin. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working in the orthopedic recovery space, and I’m considering starting a podcast. I’m not looking to pitch a product, but only to create a high-density resource that bridges the gap between surgical training and the reality of being an attending.

So questions...

• As a busy resident or attending, do you actually have 45 minutes for a podcast, or is the market already too saturated?
• What is the one thing you wish was covered more in your residency or medical school curriculum? Pls tell me what topics are interesting
• Yay or Nay?? Please be brutal! I’d rather pivot now than after 10 episodes

Tri-malleolar (spelling?) fracture 8 months ago and I'm FINALLY getting back to walking normal, but only in gym shoes.

I still have limited range of motion, and weak "toe-ing" off, so can't do heels or something with a small toe box.

I just wasted an hour trying shoes on, and nothing worked.

The flats pinched my toes.

Even a pump is too extreme of a heel.

I can't properly heel-toe in anything with a strap around the back of the ankle rather than actual structure.

I don't want to order anything online without recommendations. Anyone find something that worked well?

Nasty fall during soccer, index finger snapped at the knuckle and was sideways, teammate who’s a paramedic placed it back. X ray deemed no fracture and just PIP dislocation which went right back. Assuming the middle finger got jammed as it looks even worse oddly enough. Anyone have any experience with this? Feel like my finger is being dramatic but guess the blunt force alone promoted more trauma. Knuckles look like speed bumps. No pain meds. Just elevation and splinting

I (m28) am due to have a remplissage and bankhart repair on my shoulder for a large Hill-Sachs lesion. I have read a lot of mixed things regarding recovery time, and I am worried if I would ever be able to get back to activities like going to the gym and boxing.

It says in the NHS leaflet that recovery should take 3-6 months to go back to doing contact sports - is this accurate information?

I feel like this sounds abit short compared to other people’s recovery times I have read about on here. What is a realistic expectation to get back to contact sports?

My main goal is to get back into climbing. Would I be able to get back into activities like running sooner?

Thanks!

Has anyone ever broken their tibia and had to have a rod inserted? What was your recovery like?

Hello the room. In 2017 I had a complete rupture of my left thumb UCL thanks to a work injury. I had surgical repair, anchored and extensive hand therapy. I never regained full range of motion.

About 3 months ago the joint started to ache continuously. Within the last 2 weeks the thumb itself has become floppy feeling and there is the start of bruising around the base. Is it possible for the original repair to fail? I put it back in the old thumb spica brace yesterday but it's really hard to do my job with such a rigid brace. Can't get into the doctor until the 24th. Thoughts?

Rolled my ankle on a run about 6 months ago. Have had chronic pain on outer foot but it's been manageable with limited mileage. I finally had enough of the lack of progress and got x-rays done yesterday. Surgeon seems very adamant about surgery, either screwing/pinning the fractured piece back on or removing it and tightening the tendon. Kinda appealing, he said the surgery is 40mins and I can be back running at the 4-6 week point should things heal nicely.

After reading up on this injury, seems like surgery is typically avoided. Perhaps my hubris thinking it'd heal and being on my feet/running the last six months has ruined the natural healing process? I likely would have needed a boot and to stay off of it. Just wondering if I should consider a second opinion before diving into surgery.

6’ 230lbs 29 year old male, no medical history related to injury of the muscle.

So for as long as I can remember I’ve always had very large and muscular calves. No specific exercises, I am over weight but not obese for my size. I’ve always been able to flex my calf muscles right to the point where they begin to cramp and the just as quickly stop it. The muscle begins to shake move on its own, but it’s not accompanied by and soreness or pain.

The reason I bring this up is that even after years of stretches related to hamstrings and other stretches of my ankles and other lower back muscles I am still unable to achieve any kind of dorsiflexion, the heel of my foot will always maintain a 1-2” elevation. Whenever I try to push deeper I start to feel the strain really specifically in my calf in Gastrocnemius.

Speaking with physical therapist they say it’s possible it’s a Equinus deformity but they are unsure. They recommend I reach out to someone specialized in orthopedics. Money is really tight so I just wanted to check before I spent money out of pocket as my insurance won’t cover it.

Hi everyone, 27M I’m dealing with both knees having MRI-confirmed issues: Patellofemoral cartilage damage, worst medially, with almost full-thickness loss in places Possible medial meniscus posterior horn/root tears in both knees Ligaments mostly intact, no major effusion Symptoms: Can’t jog, play sports, or train legs at all and haven't played my usual 5 a side football in around a year Can walk ~20 minutes before pain Worse when sitting for long periods Pain is diffuse, hard to pinpoint, no locking I’ve had 8 weeks of physio with no real improvement. I’m looking for advice on: Injection options that might help (steroid, PRP, hyaluronic acid, others) Rehab/strengthening strategies for someone with my limitations Any experiences or tips for functional recovery before considering surgery I’m hoping to avoid further worsening and improve walking tolerance and eventually get back to sports. Thanks in advance for any guidance or personal experiences