Broken tibial plateau

[Mizuchi23]

After a period of too much inactivity and sporadic lifting due to a previous l4-l5-s1 disc issue I decided to recommit to lifting. I was putting on weight (still underweight) and working on squat form.

I was slowly starting to feel great when I got asked to play basketball. I hadn't played in a while and thought it might be good for me socially. Figured I'd be smart and do a couple of practices before committing to see how I felt.

Long story short, 2 weeks ago my first practice back felt great but ended up changing direction badly and went down holding my knee. No pain but something was wrong. Couldn't put weight on it and it swelled up. Went to dr and physio, ordered MRI but tried to get it moving again thinking probably torn meniscus or ACL. But had MRI and it's a broken tibial plateau as well as maybe some meniscus damage.

My knee hardly hurts at all, still some swelling anteriorly, my calf definitely hurts but isn't that bad. I've been on the bike trying to get it moving with no real pain and even a light leg press at physio before we knew it was broken.

My question is what do I do from here? I'm in a brace. They have vaguely indicated I don't need surgery and I'm allowed to have the brace unlocked already but I don't see ortho guy until next week.

Do I really just need to wait until I'm out of the brace? Are there things I can do now?

I'm in a small town in the bottom of western Australia. Is there still a SS coach in South Australia? Or is online coaching a good idea for a while once I can weight bear?

I just want to walk, look after my family who are struggling and lift again. I am happy to never touch a basketball ever again.

[Mizuchi23]

An update on my situation 5 weeks post injury for anyone who might go through something similar.

I read SSC Emily's meniscus article which encouraged me greatly. I'd recommend anyone read that in any similar scenario.

My situation has almost become comical. No ortho appointment was made as they made a phone call and decided no surgery was needed then didn't tell me that. Then at 4 weeks my GP got a follow up x-ray for evidence of healing which actually found another vertical fracture going halfway down my tibia... Fortunately still no surgery indicated and have progressed to toe touch weight bearing until follow up in 2 weeks when I will get another x-ray and hopefully start the walking process.

I have been doing single leg dumbbell deadlifts, seated db press mostly. Added to that a cheap floor pedal bike and the basic post knee surgery exercises on the injured side 3 times a day.

1 week of no weight bearing at all made my quad and calf completely disappear so I will be making them and myself as big as possible when I'm done with this.

I'm taking vitamin D, C, liver tablets, milk and n acetyl cysteine regularly.

I don't really know that else I can do but be patient and try to not annoy my wife who is doing basically everything right now.

[Will Morris]

After a period of too much inactivity and sporadic lifting due to a previous l4-l5-s1 disc issue I decided to recommit to lifting. I was putting on weight (still underweight) and working on squat form.

I was slowly starting to feel great when I got asked to play basketball. I hadn't played in a while and thought it might be good for me socially. Figured I'd be smart and do a couple of practices before committing to see how I felt.

Long story short, 2 weeks ago my first practice back felt great but ended up changing direction badly and went down holding my knee. No pain but something was wrong. Couldn't put weight on it and it swelled up. Went to dr and physio, ordered MRI but tried to get it moving again thinking probably torn meniscus or ACL. But had MRI and it's a broken tibial plateau as well as maybe some meniscus damage.

My knee hardly hurts at all, still some swelling anteriorly, my calf definitely hurts but isn't that bad. I've been on the bike trying to get it moving with no real pain and even a light leg press at physio before we knew it was broken.

My question is what do I do from here? I'm in a brace. They have vaguely indicated I don't need surgery and I'm allowed to have the brace unlocked already but I don't see ortho guy until next week.

Do I really just need to wait until I'm out of the brace? Are there things I can do now?

I'm in a small town in the bottom of western Australia. Is there still a SS coach in South Australia? Or is online coaching a good idea for a while once I can weight bear?

I just want to walk, look after my family who are struggling and lift again. I am happy to never touch a basketball ever again.

I have a colleague in Adelaide named Joel Rasmussen (joel@australianbarbellclinic). He owns Australia Barbell Clinic in Adelaide, and he is in my top 5-10 best rehab coaches in existence today. I work with him on a regular basis, and I would put his knowledge and abilities with working with injured people just under my own.

[Mizuchi23]

Just wanted to thank you for your response.

I finally got some good news on it and healed enough by 7 weeks to start the weight bearing process as much and as fast as I can handle. Though it's been and extra week before they told me so actually 8.

I'm glad there's someone in Oz who's useful. I'll look in to what options I've got there when I need it.

Thanks, once again. Can't wait to be back under a barbell. A good wake up call to take strength more seriously.