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Chronic pain after compound tibia/fibula fracture
In 2016 I sustained a compound tibia/fibula fracture. A tibia nail and screws were installed. After 7 months it was determined to be a non union, and the tibia nail was replaced with a larger diameter nail as well as a bone graft from my iliac crest.
I had extreme sensitivity to touch in the five inch scar where my tibia tore through the skin. It was extremely painful when touched. In 2025 I had surgery to remove the neuromas from the affected area. The surgeon also removed a substantial amount of bone ossification. The sensitivity had finally receded after 9 years, however it is returning and it is just as painful to touch, or wear constricting socks.
My knee and ankle have always been uncomfortable since the surgeries. In 2025 I had the two screws near the ankle, and the two screws near the knee removed in hopes of improving pain and mobility. I have since seen a reduction in pain in my knee, and my mobility has improved. However my ankle seems to be getting worse. I underwent extensive physical therapy and EMS Dry Needling post surgery.
I have been dealing with a flare up in pain where the fracture occurred in 2016 since Summer of 2025. It has been treated with Lyrica and gabapentin, as well as Nortryptyline without improvement. The pain in getting wise and it has become immobilizing, and extremely sensitive to weather changes.
I have been referred to Interventional Pain for a consultation.
At this point the pain is so intense and interrupting to my life that I would ask for amputation, but I am told the risk of phantom limb syndrome is too high to consider it.
I am 2.5 years sober, but I have a history of alcoholism and do not wish to be on prescription opiates.
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@coconutaminos
Welcome to Connect. I had a compound tibia fibula fracture in 2020, and I had significant pain from the hardware and the scar tissue. Mayo contacted me recently because they are studying pain caused by hardware and if it resolves after hardware removal. For me it did, and I had all the hardware removed a year and a half after my injury. I had pain, skin discoloration and was getting hives all over my body. I have several scars that tighten up periodically, and I use techniques call myofascial release to loosen them. Essentially that is apply some pressure with your hand and pushing to the barrier of the tightness and waiting for the scar tissue to release so that the skin can move better and be looser. I had an external fixation frame right after the injury that was screwed into the front of the tibia, and it caused scar tissue that adheres to the bone. The tightness from that along with stiff muscles was putting pressure on the ankle joint and pinching the joint space. My ankle was giving out under me until I figured this out. Doing all this manual therapy on my own helps me stay pain free and have better function. I circle the joint around to make sure it moves better. I also release the surgical scar on the front of the ankle and the injury/surgical scar on the fibula side and the 2 contact scars from the external fixator. The Achilles tendon gets fatigue alongside the area next to it, so I work there too.
You may be interested in this disscussion about myofascial release therapy (MFR) to learn about it. There is a provider search at https://mfrtherapists.com/
Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
Send on Jennifer’s recommendation I too tried MFR and it has done wonders for my chronic back pain. My wife also receives MFR just because it feels so good. The relationship of our largest organ to our overall health is fascinating.