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broke my calcaneus last october, got metal installed. since i was non weight bearing for 10 weeks alot of scar tissue built up in my ankle. my PT was unable to break it up so i have limited range of motion and can tell you when the weather is going to change.

i'm pretty tired of gimping around on bad days and not being able to wear high heels (don't laugh, i'm a chick and i hear heels makes your ass look small, more importantly, i have a closet full of shoes I CAN'T WEAR!!!)

my ortho says he can go in remove the metal and scar tissue. no problem.

now i know alot of BASE jumpers sport metal and wonder how many of you have elected to have it removed. is the risk of surgery worth it?

btw. i have metal holding my tib/fib together and it doesn't bother me a bit.

thank you for your responses,

teresa a.k.a fatass

Femur- rod, 4 screws
chin-plate, 8 screws
cheeks(face) 4 screws each
rt knee-plastic,glue/cement

no problems here.

Good luck

Alan

I've read some pretty great stories about getting metal removed. I'd be inclined to say that if it's bothering you at all, you should take it out. As with your tib/fib hardware, I've never had a problem with mine, and have no plans ever to have it removed.

 One issue to think about is a re-injury. If you have a rod in and bend or re-brake a limb..... It can be extremely complicated to fix. As well as cold issues for winter sports..... oh yeah.... your in Texas !!
I personally have had all of my metal removed. Luckily that was all before I ever even saw a parachute.

Virgil....... any comments????

Got a rod and 3 screws in my femur and I can't wait to get them out! I've also heard that if you break the bone with the rod in, it doesn't break, it explodes! The hip pin bugs me out a little when I'm running.

Gotta figure out what to do with the rod once it's out. Wind chime? Wall art? Bike part?

While I would like to have my hardware removed, there is the matter of cost. The Ortho told me it would be between 8000-10000 complete to have it removed, plus 8 weeks of no work (I have a physical-type job). While I could put life on hold and wait 2-3 years to come up with the money for the surgery, I'm not willing to do so. I'm 40plus and not getting any younger.

I had the pin in my shoulder taken out since it prevented me from lifting my arm past 90 degrees.

 

Ive seen the same question asked in ortho clinic many times, and the response seems to be if its bothering you enough, its probably worth taking it out. Just be aware that there are screw holes that are in your bone, and those will take a little bit of time to heal, and until they do, the bone will me much more likely to refracture.

An important consideration is if the metalwork consists of any rods inside the bones. If they are, a reinjury risks a much more serious injury as the bone just shatters into lots of pieces. The risk of loosing the limb is much higher.

If the rod/plate is on the outside, its still serious no where near as bad.

My wife had the same brake in her ankle skyjumping three years ago. She got two plates and 4 pins. After she made her come back to jumping and running. Her ankle would hurt and yes I had to here her bitch about her shoes to. So a few mouths ago she got it all out. She said it was the best thing ever. Now she back to jumping and running. Only took her 6 weeks to jump. She was walking and running on it in a week. And thank god she can where her shoes now. For now I do not have to here her bitch. Hope this helps

LittleStranger,

4 years ago I had my calcaneus rebuilt (due to a low turn skydiving) with a titanium plate and 10 screws. From day 1 the surgeon told me the critical element was not the reconstruction, but rather, minimizing the scar tissue. So my early therapy sessions were not focused on movement at all. Instead the therapists worked the shit out of my scar (which didn't tickle) and broke up almost all the scar tissue.

Since then, I have done extremely well on my robo-foot: marathon, ski boots, half-ironman, etc. The only thing I haven't been able to do comfortably with my metal in place is wear hockey skates. So I haven't been compelled to have it removed.

With your ongoing restrictions, since your heel has healed well, and no longer requires the metal to support it, I would recommend having the metal and scar tissue removed.

My two cents.

Incidentally, did you rock anything else along with your calcaneus? I managed to do calcaneus, L1, L2, L3, 3 ribs, my spleen, and both kidneys. Mom was pissed.

Cheers, and good luck!

~ Chris

i stubbed my toe : )

I've broken Tib/Fib/Femur/Pelvis/L5TP in one accident, had a rod and screws put in Tib and Femur. I never had rods removed, but did have screws taken out because they were causing pain... so I'd recommend that. Taking a rod out of the bone is pretty traumatic, and not really necessary.

I later re-broke the Femur (with rod still inside) and it broke the Femur in multiple places... but I had a new rod put in (had the pieces arranged as best as could be) and it didn't give me problems after that.

I'd recommend getting the scar tissue and hardware out of the ankle though... range of motion is pretty important... but it will sacrifice strength temporarily.

Good luck!!!

I tried to have scar tissue reduced and metal removal under surgery, and it almost killed me. Remember, surgery is a gamble, and at least now you know what you have. 35 surgeries later and I would not go under again unless it meant certain death. It is not a science, but art. I did go to Athletes Performance in Arizona (they also have a site in Florida) for scar scraping and they did wonders. It will hurt like hell. Anyone can PM if they are looking for details. AP will cost less than surgery and I personally think it is worth it.

This is so interesting to me. I broke my calcaneus in September. Never had to get metal. My scar tissue makes it harder to flex my foot. Great for me because high heels are even more my friend now, and it was easier to go back to ballet en Pointe. After our show this last week, I irritated it enough to have to wear heels to walk at all.

As far as heels making your ass look small, it's just because it makes the muscles in the buttocks and upper hamstring flex to support your weight. If you tone that area up it'll look the same with heels or completely naked!

I'm getting my tibia hole grafted so I can get my hardware out as soon as work is less chaotic. Was supposed to have it done May 4th.

While not pleasant I'd much rather break my leg in the middle of the bone where it can grow together or be fixed instead of living with arthritis from shattered joints or soft tissue damage that doesn't heal.

the metal in my leg won't come out easily.

as I rarely notice it, I have no intention of being cut open again. heck, my ortho was surprised I am limp free. no need to risk that!

BUT if you notice your metal...

I think you need to PM me a series of high definition photos so I can better understand your point.

Yep!

i checked out the website, this scar scraping is done without surgery? sounded like they scraped the skin over the scar tissue...could you explain this a bit more?

thanks,

t.

I've busted both heels, right ankle, tib / fib, talus. 5 screws in right holding ankle together, 2 plates, 9 screws holding left heel and calcaneum cuboid together. It hurts on the left after being on feet for a while, but fuck going through surgery unless it's really necessary. Can't wait to be jumping again though

Curious why so many of you are sketchy about
going under the knife? Fear? Bad experiences?

Granted I have only had 6 surgeries, however
five* of them were really good experiences.

Nice nurses, warm blankets, wicked good drugs
in the O.R., a script for home, and a few days
of laying in the bean bags watching movies.

* Skin grafts hurt like a mother fucker

Hey Lil'Stranger,
I did the same thing - pancaked my calcaneus at BD 5 years ago. No sideways rotation at all, hurts like hell most morning, especially after a long day of walking. If you are in Houston, there is a store called CraZCoil on 59 South that has these weird-ass shoes with big springs in the heels. The look goofy as feck, but I have 3 pairs and they are awesome - highly recommend them for any foot/leg/hip/back pain (and they are high-heels, technically!!).
Other than that, glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin, shark cartilage and other pills seem to help the joints.
Cheers!

I had the same problems with the metal in my ankle and the build up of scar tissue. My deciding factor to remove my hardware and the scar tissue was that I had severe pain when snowboarding. I've had my hardware out for over a year now, and I have to say that I am very happy I had it removed.

But just remember, surgery is a big deal... But like me, quality of life may be your deciding factor.

Michael

Instead of wearing high hills to make you ass look small, just use the BASE jump pucker when you go out. It works in BASE, so I'm sure it will work nicely on a night out on the town ...

I had a plate and six screws going into my fibula, and one through my ankle after a BASE accident I posted about here. I got it all out 4 months after it was put in and it was pretty much healed a month or so after that. I just went with the doc's recommendations. I keep the hardware in my car and show it to people when they do something stupid.

My girlfriend had a compound tib/fib skydiving and got a rod down her tibia with 3 screws on the top and bottom. She got the screws out of the bottom before ski season so she could wear a ski boot. The rod and top screws will probably stay. She hasn't jumped besides a couple of tandems with me since, but may again soon, and she still limps and falls over sometimes.

how is the scar tissue now?

i spoke to a friend today that had scar tissue removed from his hand, the result was even less mobility than he had before. apparently the surgery caused more scar tissue to build up. my ankle is kind of sketchy since i have skin grafts that further complicate things.

i have an appointment for a second opinion, see what this guy has to say.

btw. in order to maintain the base jumper pucker don't you have to be experiencing a certain element of fear? : P

My is much better and the scar tissue has stayed down. I think most of my scar tissue was forming because of the screw coming out of my ankle was rubbing against my footwear (hiking and skiing boots).

got a second opinion...the risk of developing even more scar tissue after surgery and being worse off than i am now is too great.

metal in.

thanks for the input.

t.

<<As far as heels making your ass look small, it's just because it makes the muscles in the buttocks and upper hamstring flex to support your weight. If you tone that area up it'll look the same with heels or completely naked!>>

Holly,

We met at Nick DG's.
I just want to remind you: A picture is worth a thousand words

I broke my toe nail!

don't recommend this, but a hard landing will break up alot of scar tissue!

in a couple of weeks i might even be able to walk in them : )

uh... congrats!

Whistle, nice legs!

I have broke alot of stuff, my right hand pretty good and had 3 plates and 10 screws. didnt feel right sore and achy. doc said thats how it will be.... after it was removed felt great just fine.

i had a rod in my femur for a while. it hurt like hell all the time after the leg healed, like my body was trying to reject it. i had it taken out and the leg feels a lot better. i still have pins in my ankle and they used to bother me. now the bone continues to grow over it .