My positivity has been completely crushed. :(

likeabanner
likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
in Motivation and Support
I posted some things here and there about how I was doing 30DS and felt a little pain in my leg. Went to my doc who did a cortisone injection that did nothing. Went to a specialist last Tuesday who took x-rays and found nothing but my patella being a little bit more slanted than the average woman - still nothing extravagant. I went for an MRI on Thursday.

Today.. I have a lateral tibia plateau stress fracture in my right leg. No working out, no working, no nothing but sitting on my couch and being fat for who knows how long. Now I lost all hope that I will ever lose weight or be healthy. I have been trying SO hard and now this. It's apparently so bad that if it cracks anymore, the top of my tibia is going to fall off in a chunk and then I will need a massive surgery and out of everything for 6 months.

What can I do? :'(

Replies

  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    You can still lose weight by just eating at a deficit. Diet is the most important contributor to weight loss. And weight loss will help with knee issues.
  • rowanwood
    rowanwood Posts: 509 Member
    Losing weight is about eating fewer calories than you use up. Exercise allows you to eat more food but is not a requirement. How do you think people in wheelchairs manage?
  • 64GT
    64GT Posts: 22 Member
    Google kneegeeks forums to find support for the tibial plateau fracture. Mine was ugly and required surgery, donor bone, screws and titanium plates to reassmble after being hit by a truck while standing alongside the road. Recovery from TPF is long and slow but not impossible. Pay close attention to physical therapy if you get it. Consider swimming when doc allows it. Many people have never heard of TPF and think a broken leg is a broken leg. Not true: a TPF is a crummy injury but hopelessness is not necessary. You will get better. They told me I might never walk right, might never climb stairs, etc. I worked very hard at recovery. Played 18 holes of golf on Saturday and rode my bike 10 miles Sunday. Going to the gym today to lift heavy and do elliptical trainer. I'm proof it's possible to recover from this and you need not feel alone in the journey. Set a determined goal to improve 1% every day. You can do this.
  • ellew70
    ellew70 Posts: 222 Member
    I know this isn't a long term thing, but you might look for some resources that are used for the elderly or disabled. For example, my gym has a cardio maching that is like a bike for your arms. My mother in law does a restorative yoga class that is chair based. You might be able to do light arm weights while sitting. Just something to move what you can just a little bit, so when the time comes for you to come back, you'll feel like you've done what you can within your limits.
  • cuterbee
    cuterbee Posts: 545
    You can still lose weight by just eating at a deficit. Diet is the most important contributor to weight loss. And weight loss will help with knee issues.

    ^^ This. I'm getting back surgery later this month and have been advised by my doc to only walk when I can, and to not lift anything. You may not be able to use your leg, but you can use your arms. I've managed to lose 22 pounds since December and haven't actually done more than 100 calories of exercise on any one day in that time frame (and rarely even that). Don't give up!
  • likeabanner
    likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
    Google kneegeeks forums to find support for the tibial plateau fracture. Mine was ugly and required surgery, donor bone, screws and titanium plates to reassmble after being hit by a truck while standing alongside the road. Recovery from TPF is long and slow but not impossible. Pay close attention to physical therapy if you get it. Consider swimming when doc allows it. Many people have never heard of TPF and think a broken leg is a broken leg. Not true: a TPF is a crummy injury but hopelessness is not necessary. You will get better. They told me I might never walk right, might never climb stairs, etc. I worked very hard at recovery. Played 18 holes of golf on Saturday and rode my bike 10 miles Sunday. Going to the gym today to lift heavy and do elliptical trainer. I'm proof it's possible to recover from this and you need not feel alone in the journey. Set a determined goal to improve 1% every day. You can do this.
    Mine isn't to the point of surgery YET, which is why I really have to take it easy. He has me on crutches/out of work for a week, and then a lateral unloading brace after that. He said if the pain comes back he is going to just continue to keep me out of work. He did not recommend PT for now... never even mentioned it. How long was your recovery? Ugh this whole time we all thought it was a lateral meniscus tear now nobody even expected to see this on the MRI. I'm worried because I have events coming up. One is Tuesday so I will go in crutches. Another is next Saturday and Sunday which I CANNOT miss, so at least I can go in crutches or a brace. Then I have my vacation to theme parks/roller coasters in 5 and a half/almost 6 weeks. I'm so worried.
  • likeabanner
    likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
    You can still lose weight by just eating at a deficit. Diet is the most important contributor to weight loss. And weight loss will help with knee issues.
    [/quote
    My BMR is 1600, so I eat 1600 or less daily. I will eat back my exercise calories only because I never consider me working exercising. I work 80 hours a week on my feet doing so much, so I know I burn calories... I just don't even know where to start to log that sort of caloric burn, so I don't. I have been good with this for 6-7 weeks now and only lost 5 pounds. I stopped losing once I stopped working out 2 weeks ago after the injury... so I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.
  • 64GT
    64GT Posts: 22 Member
    I tend to think that each person's TPF journey is a little different. It sounds like yours isn't nearly as severe as many, but only the doc can tell you for sure. Write down all of your questions so you don't forget any of them at your doc appt. and don't be afraid to get a second opinion or ask others in the practice (nurses, PA's, etc) your questions about treatment options. Ask if PT is something to consider now or maybe in the future. Mine was crutches with not even toes touching for 12 weeks after surgery. PT started 6 weeks in and I'm still in the gym all the time doing what they taught me for knee strength and stability 7 years later. Knee pain is rare but still there for me. Do not ignore the advice and treatment for this injury even if it's inconvenient. The TPF club is one nobody wants to be in, but you'll get through it.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    That really sucks, time for some video games, r&r, and working out your brain. I don't know about you, but I'd do upper body stuff, and see if I could do anything in the water to prevent potential atrophy.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    Try low-impact exercises such as swimming and the stationary bike.

    Back in January, I was diagnosed with severe bone-on-bone arthritis in my ankle--which also aggravated a 25+ year old knee injury/surgery site and together made it both difficult and excruciating to go up and down stairs.

    I started physical therapy, but both the PT and my ortho told me NO unnecessary impact stress on either ankle OR knee, dangit!!! I even got a "handicapped" parking permit for work to reduce the distance I would have to walk from parking lot to office.

    I did find that I could swim and also work out on both the elliptical and stationary bike without aggravating either ankle or knee, although I have had to allow myself more rest between workouts (I can really see and feel the swelling if I'm not careful.)

    So hang in there!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'm sorry, that would suck. I'd eat less for now. Good luck.
  • likeabanner
    likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
    PT is not recommended for now... just staying off of it. I have no idea how I'm going to pay my bills, I now have to cancel my vacation June 16th, and I can't even go to class to take my final exams. The game of waiting 3 weeks to get a check from disability when I might only be out for 4-5 weeks is slightly ridiculous to me. And on top of that, I might even lose my job in 2 weeks because the company is possibly being bought out.

    When it rains, it pours.

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