i wouldnt think there is anyone on here that remembers but about 6 and a half years ago we were due to go to one of the meets on this site. then about 3 weeks before i went and had a motorbike crash. long story short, spent 3 weeks in hospital, broken leg, wrist, ankle and broke i believe 4 ribs, had a bar fitted inside my femur. this didnt heal so they fitted another one, again this didnt heal so they did bone graft. this also didnt heal so i was referred to a different hospital in 2009 and they wanted ti fit an external fixator. works comitments ment i couldnt go ahead with it then. then 6 months ago i could feel movement in my leg so decided it was time to get it looked at. then on the 4th of jan this year i went in and had the external fixator fitted and im now trying to live with it. anyone else had one fitted??????
dont want to bore you to much so will leave it at that
we do have a camping trip booked for the end of may so need to be fit by then. all being well it will be off and all healed by the start of April but its not all gone to plan as yet. not been out of hospital 2 weeks yet and have had an infection. i humor is something that you do need to get though it. one guy i was in hospital with told me of a story of one of his mates having had an external fixator and his mates chained him to some railings though it. think i would struggle to find the funny side of that one though if it was me.
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 20/1/2013
If you think you have problems im looking for Wallace and Grommits the wrong trousers thing..
that would prob be easier to live with than a whacking great bar sticking out my leg. and a spanner hanging round my neck for adjusting the thing 4 times every day
Pip had one on for 16 weeks two years ago. At first it was a pain in the neck - he needed help with everything, including getting to the loo.
I found that baths - shallow ones - were easier than a shower. I put a couple of bin bags over the fixator, put a towel in the bath, and helped him.
Not sure of the full detail of your, but we were backward and forwards every weeek to Alder Hey for physio and dressing change. It was funny because teh shape of the fixator that Pip had on mean that he could not wear socks to the foot tended to get rather grubby - improved when they started the hydrotherapy so that it got a wash.
We were advised by the hosptial to use old bedding as the pins can tear stuff. We also took a blanket with us where ever we went. Not only was Pip in a wheelchair when we went out, as he was unsteady on crutches - but that was because of the shape of the frame (his had a heal ring, and this is a common problem with them) - but it also meant that that he could wrap it around the frame to save teh pins catching if we were in somebody's house. Saw others in clinic who were perfectly able to get by with just crutches.
Much of it adapting to what could or could not be done when the thing was on - and for me it was like having a baby again, because I had to take him everywhere - no more nipping to the shops, because I was afraid tha the might have a fall.
Yet I have a photo of Pip, complete with his crutches, playing on the trampoline.
We were so lucky with Pip as his was only on for sixteen weeks - we were told that this was the minimum time, and were prepared for longer as Pip's bones are not as strong as they should be.
The surgeon was amazed when the 16 week xray showed that the op had been a major success and that he could have the fixator removed. The op to remove it was a day case - whereas he was in hospital a week when he had it fitted.
He went back to see the specialist last week and everything is still fine - back in a year.
Hope that the infection clears up - we were warned that these are common (we were lucky as Pip didn't get one), so it is not just you. Also when I was in my weekly clinic visits, you would see the same kids week after week - and you would find the mums saying that Billy or whoever had had an infection.
Wishing you a speedy recovery from you infection so that you can get out of hopital and get on with your life. It will take a couple of weeks to get used to having the thing - but it will soon become second nature.
Oh and I recommend Primark for cheap jogging bottoms that you can cut up to accomodate the damned thing.
camping nutcase thank you for that all great info.
i have so fr only had showers. dont think i would be able to get out a bath. and the wife wouldnt be able to lift me as im 6.2" and 20st lol.
i have a single bar that sticks out the side of my leg so i have to be carefull that people dont catch it and also have pins that can rip stuff as i found out in hospital ripping 2 lots of sheets. i now have an old duvet on the sofa to protect that.
all being well mine willl be off somewhere around the end of feb so only 8 weeks but mine is not the full circle frame and i only have to lengthen 20mm so not a massive amount.
wouldnt have had it done had i had to have it on 16 weeks as wont have enough sick time at work.
Pip's was a fixed frame, as he needed an ankle straightening - so he only had the frame altered once by the consultant. Some of the kids were altered every week or so. We saw both types of fixator on our weekly jaunts to the clinic.
The biggest thing is just getting used to it and at times people#s curiosity.
Soon after Pip had had his removed, we were at the zoo - and as it was a nice day Pip was wearing shorts. He was still in the wheelchair, as he wasn't allowed to fully put weight on it and when we went on the monorail the guard asked when he had had the frame on, as he recognised the scars from when his nephew had had the op - and let us on free.
It might be worth asking them if you can wrap and then mould dollops of something like car body filler (or some other composite that is soft to apply but then hardens) to the tips of the pins that poke out?
We do this to the ex fix's we use on dogs and cats as sometimes the position of them mean they can catch their other legs or furniture etc.
It shouldn't get in the way of the nuts and may save you a few sheets!
------------- August 2012 Nicholaston Farm, The Gower
Hi I remember that too. First visit to the site for ages!!!
Anyway,my friend fell off a moped last Sept and had a fixator on...they only left it a week tho and then did another operation to fit an ilizarov cage.....which I suppose brings similar difficulties.
She also broke her shoulder so couldn't use crutches at first, just to make things even more difficult!
We were talking about this with a guy in the same boat at the hospital the other day, saying there should be some kind of leaflet with hints and tips.
Anyway we have found the following tips to be useful.
Up and down stairs on your bum and when you get to the top use a low stool to get you up off the floor.
Until you are able to bathe or shower sit on loo for washing....most of water goes in loo instead of floor and you're sitting down so don't hurt the leg.
Bin liner tied around leg in shower, and shower before changing dressings.
Cheap joggers from primark and cut the leg off at the knee...the only thing really wide enough to stretch over the frame.
Old bedding on cos the nuts and bolts do ruin the bedding.
A ladies snood....6 quid from primary to cover your leg when you go out to keep leg warm...although sometimes its safer if people can see the damage
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: external fixator fitted
