Bone healing?

[Fitz]

No.. not the kind that Richie or Bergs is always asking about... bone healing specific to a femur.

It's been ~10 months and two surgeries since my femur decided it needed a break from being functional. The doc's have officially deemed it a non-union and I go back for additional surgery on the 17th of this month. The damn thing just. won't. heal.

They're going to unscrew the distal screws and slide hammer out the 16" rod that's in the center of the femur and then plate the bone adding somewhere between 6-10 screws. Bone graft will come from the hip and hopefully help stimulate cell growth in the marrow and surrounding tissue.

So.. for you folks that have broken major bones like this... tricks? tips? Chinese herbs to snort? I'm already on enough supplements to treat an elephant (2,000 IU's of vitamin D, Calcium 3x a day, Ostrophin PMG, Calcifood, etc) and hooked up to a bone stimulator for 10 hours a day. Other ideas? Hell, does GMD have any special tools for this?

Thanks,
Fitz

[DuncanMoto]

Have you followed all the doctors orders?

I know it sucks, but us older folks have to follow the doctors orders including eating proteins and keeping weight off a certain way and excercising / stretching a certain way, etc.


I myself had to down over 1,000 beers, 5 sides of beef, a Salmon or two, smething called Broccolli and a ton of Oxy derivatives in between extensive occupational therapee sessions with Josie...... A year and 3 months later I was officially cleared to ride again. And I'm better than new.

All joking aside, I hope your docs figure it out and get you healed up all straight. Wishing you all the best and a fully functional healing.

[scubasteveRR]

I was very afraid of this happening to my 5th Metatarsal break last year, they have a reputation of becoming non-unions because of the lack of blood flow to that part of the foot. (Supposedly the worst of any bone) I also used a bone stimulator (that my boss gave me not doctor prescribed) and I started drinking tons of milk

Do you smoke or have a history of diabetes in your family? I’m sure the doctor asked you but these were the two things my doctor asked me. I guess either one of these can restrict enough blood flow to your legs to cause these issues. I highly doubt you have this issue but it was just a thought.

I hope the surgery you have helps allow your bone to heal properly. I couldn’t use my foot for 2 months. I couldn’t even imagine it being broken for 10 months and still not being healed.

[OreoGaborio]

Send a PM to Tricky Mike. He can weld a baseball card to a banana.



On a more serious note.... that REALLY FUCKIN SUCKS, bro.

[solgirl]

I had a broken arm in my early 30's that didnt take and had to do the bone marrow procedure...that didnt take either so they shaved both sides of the bone down and it finally fused....total time a little over a year and a half. Its slower as we get older.

I was just eating right and massaging the arm...

[seth399]

wow sorry to hear that, but I don't have any other good tricks. All I've used for broken bones besides healing time is bone stimulator.

[Fitz]

Have you followed all the doctors orders?

Explicitly. Dad's diabetic but it was brought on by years of dietary abuse and neglect. I'm not a smoker, nor have I ever been.

I have significant low density bone growth so they think that circulation and health is good. My bone graft will be coming from the hip when they plate the bone.

They think the initial alignment may be part of the issue. They're (Brigham & Womens, Mass General, Concord Ortho, Bedford Ortho, etc) just not sure. They did mention daily Forteo injections as a possibility. Anyone have any experience with this?


Thanks,
Fitz

[scottieducati]

All I have experience is with electro-magnetic therapy which for me, didn't work at all. Ended up going the route via screws and finally it took. I really hope this gets things sorted out for you Fitz!

[Pittenger5]

Sucks dude.

Have you tried duct tape and zip ties? I mean you ARE a racer!

[yesterdayze]

I had to have a bunch of pins and such put in for bones I broke and the number one thing I found that speeds healing and promotes healing is red meat. Kid you not. Eat lots of rare steak etc. Keep it good and rare.

I learned this when I first broke a wrist falling backwards off a balcony. Healed poorly the first four times (yep, read that right....hockey...punched a kid in the face...he deserved it... baseball...fight). Then I started pounding the red meat as per a suggestion and huge difference. Had it pinned and it healed so fast the doctor actually asked me if I happened to eat a lot of red/rare meats and when I said 'yes' he was like 'oh, okay, that explains it - I was rather confused on why it was healing so quickly but that will do it.'

Since then anytime I have broken something... red meat

[Sportygurl131]

dont drink soda

[intergalactic]

I also had a non-union of the femur. It was caused by the screws "k-wires" which caused the non-union.

In my case they shattered the distal end of the femur accidentally with the k-wires in it, as they were unaware I had a non union (no x-rays taken) but basically once the wires were gone it healed fine.

The only advice I can give is no salt. Zero. The body leaches calcium out of the bones to bind with the chlorine in table salt (sodium chloride). Which isn't going to help you grow bones.

I think once you aren't being held apart by the rod, it might be ok. I healed with no screws, but I had nothing to screw to, and the knee alignment sucks.

I hope your carpenter (oops surgeon) is better at getting a tight joint this time.

I have some horror stories to tell another time.

Explicitly. Dad's diabetic but it was brought on by years of dietary abuse and neglect. I'm not a smoker, nor have I ever been.

I have significant low density bone growth so they think that circulation and health is good. My bone graft will be coming from the hip when they plate the bone.

They think the initial alignment may be part of the issue. They're (Brigham & Womens, Mass General, Concord Ortho, Bedford Ortho, etc) just not sure. They did mention daily Forteo injections as a possibility. Anyone have any experience with this?


Thanks,
Fitz

[Awesome]

They have an electro magnetic device that stimulates bone growth, you can also be perscribed something to stimulate the growth. It's something they give to old ladies for osteoporosis or something like that. The bad is if you're imobile it will cause ostioperosis in the parts that you can't move.

Or you can find some steroid freak and get yourself some HGH.

[BSR6]

If you were Rossi you would be in the Hyperbaric chamber right now. I was reading up on Hyperbaric Medicine a while back. Talk about crazy shit! I wonder what kind of person get's access to that technology these days?

[zaninorm]

I was wandering the web and found this, you should be able to get most of them at wally world or GNC. Hope it helps some



Some content removed due to DMCA request. Original content can be viewed here.

[Fitz]

Have you tried duct tape and zip ties? I mean you ARE a racer!

Yes. Liquid nails is next on the list. You drill and we'll let bergs inject.

Since then anytime I have broken something... red meat

Christ... how can I argue with that? Sign me up.

don't drink soda

I don't. Coffee. Water. Iced Tea. Beer (rarely now).

you can also be perscribed something to stimulate the growth.

Forteo injections? The docs entertained that option and decided that it wasn't what I needed.... not that I was looking forward to daily injections either...

Or you can find some steroid freak and get yourself some HGH.

Anyone have any experience with an HGH booster; ZMA or something similar?.... or have a reliable source for HGH? *cough*

Zaninorm; Thank you much. I'm on a lot of those already. I'll digest that material and get back to you with any questions.

Much appreciated folks.

Thanks,
Fitz

[yesterdayze]

If you were Rossi you would be in the Hyperbaric chamber right now. I was reading up on Hyperbaric Medicine a while back. Talk about crazy shit! I wonder what kind of person get's access to that technology these days?

Agreed man! I did a whole research project on that years back, even built a miniature hyperbaric chamber to raise insects in to study the results. That crap is amazing!

[Trouble]

I was told by multiple sources that while you definately need your daily allowance of calcium, a balanced diet maybe more important. Yeah, this means eat your fruits and veggies too. Lots of one thing or another isn't necessarily helpful.

[KB]

Talk to HesssoAWESOME he had a bad break that just wouldn't heal. I think he sold his soul to some chinese herbalist or something.

KB

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

I broke (not a fracture) my foot 2.5 weeks ago, 3 bones in it. Didn't get a solid cast, just crutches and an air cast. I just got off the bike and back from sturgis yesterday I rode everywhere everyday. Although a femur being a different case since it is such a large bone, but I walk 100% now and have no issues. Drank lots of beer, fat cigars, milk, OJ, steak/buffalo, seafood and beef jerkey on the reg. Never once deprived myself of sleep.
My point here being everyone is different and what works for one won't always work for another (duh). If what you're doing now clearly isn't working that well, it's time to try something new and if that means completely changing what you've been doing/eating/recovering then so be it.

[Fitz]

My point here being everyone is different and what works for one won't always work for another (duh). If what you're doing now clearly isn't working that well, it's time to try something new and if that means completely changing what you've been doing/eating/recovering then so be it.

Agreed.

Just woke up from yesterday morning's surgery. I have no idea where the past ~24 hours went. Those drugs are nuts! They removed the distal fixation and the intermedullary rod; plated the bone; added a bone graft from a local site instead of the hip and also added some synthetic bone. While they were scoping the knee they found a decent sized tear in the miniscus that they fixed as well. Crosses fingers that this is the last time they have to go in....


Fitz

[elissama]

If it doesn't work again ask them to use some BMP (bone morphogenic protein) I believe there is one out for limited use in people produced by what is now Phizer.

THe Forteo pen I wouldn't worry about - its a very small needle with a 5 second injection - it will help boost bone growth and structure