Broke my femur...now what?

harktosh
harktosh Posts: 25 Member
edited November 7 in Health and Weight Loss
Did something silly and broke the condyle of my femur. I can't obviously run (even though I ran a 5k on it without knowing it was broken..thought it was a sprain) and I'm not allowed to move my leg past a 50 degree angle. Bearing weight on the right leg is also out of the question at least for the next 3 weeks.

I know I need to keep my calorie intake at a deficit, but I'm going stir crazy. Does anyone have ideas on exercise or activities that I can do?

Replies

  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Are you allowed to swim? You could do some upper body strength training.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,336 Member
    Walking on crutches burns a bunch of calories. I had to do that when I injured my knee and could not bear weight on it.
  • harktosh
    harktosh Posts: 25 Member
    I'm not sure whether I can or not, but I will check with my doctor. Thank you!
  • harktosh
    harktosh Posts: 25 Member
    Oh trust me, I'm feeling it haha. I am using muscles in my arms and core that I didn't know I had.
  • Sailatsorf
    Sailatsorf Posts: 161 Member
    Worst case scenario, there are exercises that are made specifically for people who are bound to chairs/wheelchairs. You could look up some videos or order a DVD until your femur is better!
  • harktosh
    harktosh Posts: 25 Member
    Worst case scenario, there are exercises that are made specifically for people who are bound to chairs/wheelchairs. You could look up some videos or order a DVD until your femur is better!

    Thank you! I'll start looking.
  • UtahWI
    UtahWI Posts: 257 Member
    Look up seated exercise on youtube and sparkpeople.com. i have uses loas of these videos...i break a lot...MANY abdominal surgeries, current tibial stress fracture.
    That said, use caution with your deficit...currently nutrients are needed for healing. I would eat at maintenance or a cautious deficit. I am notorious for doing just the opposite...so i am trying to change my ways...;-)
  • natashacronsell
    natashacronsell Posts: 1
    For a long time after I broke mine I found that swimming was amazing, biking was way better than walking, ice skating was difficult but did not hurt very much, and hot yoga was hands down the best I've ever felt physically after that - it's not for everyone but for me the hot air made it so I could achieve a range of motion that I couldn't anywhere else.
    Oh and PT of course!! (Home exercises as well.). Best of luck in your recovery! Mine was quite a long one -or at least it felt like it-!
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    harktosh wrote: »
    Did something silly and broke the condyle of my femur. I can't obviously run (even though I ran a 5k on it without knowing it was broken..thought it was a sprain) and I'm not allowed to move my leg past a 50 degree angle. Bearing weight on the right leg is also out of the question at least for the next 3 weeks.

    I know I need to keep my calorie intake at a deficit, but I'm going stir crazy. Does anyone have ideas on exercise or activities that I can do?

    You can still do marathons.

    Qt9DZOd.png
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    harktosh wrote: »
    Did something silly and broke the condyle of my femur. I can't obviously run (even though I ran a 5k on it without knowing it was broken..thought it was a sprain) and I'm not allowed to move my leg past a 50 degree angle. Bearing weight on the right leg is also out of the question at least for the next 3 weeks.

    I know I need to keep my calorie intake at a deficit, but I'm going stir crazy. Does anyone have ideas on exercise or activities that I can do?

    Oh goodness!!! So sorry to hear that! Are you in a lot of pain? Are you on painkillers? If so, make sure you drink a lot of water and consider adding a temporary stool softener since painkillers are notorious for constipation.

    As for "exercise", do you belong to a gym or anything? If so, focus on upper body exercises. You can also see if you can get a referral to a physical therapist.

    Feel better and speedy recovery!
  • Camo_xxx
    Camo_xxx Posts: 1,082 Member
    Meh, it's only 3 weeks. Going stir crazy is an accectable short term activity. Focus on healing.
  • AFMOMX2
    AFMOMX2 Posts: 18
    I would say you are lucky...when I was a kid I broke my femur. I was in traction for 30 days and a partial body cast for 6 weeks. =(
  • Holla4mom
    Holla4mom Posts: 587 Member
    Luv it!
    _Waffle_ wrote: »
    harktosh wrote: »
    Did something silly and broke the condyle of my femur. I can't obviously run (even though I ran a 5k on it without knowing it was broken..thought it was a sprain) and I'm not allowed to move my leg past a 50 degree angle. Bearing weight on the right leg is also out of the question at least for the next 3 weeks.

    I know I need to keep my calorie intake at a deficit, but I'm going stir crazy. Does anyone have ideas on exercise or activities that I can do?

    You can still do marathons.

    Qt9DZOd.png

  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    some gyms have staionary "arm cyles" you can use-like biking but your arms peddle.. You can also get bikes like this-with a hand crank but probably too expensive for a short term injury
  • myfelinepal
    myfelinepal Posts: 13,000 Member
    Skipping on one leg?
  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    I'm sure her leg has healed since last September. That marathon thing is spot-on.
  • harktosh
    harktosh Posts: 25 Member
    Haha well, the good news is that it has healed since I broke it in August. It still gives me some pain, but nothing I can't live with. Thanks for all the advice though and the marathon thing! That's basically what I did....and now I have 4lbs to work off again.
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