I broke my right tibia very badly on June 17, 2020 and my first surgery was having an external fixator installed in my leg from my thigh to my ankle. 11 days later, a different, and MUCH better surgeon, repaired my break using 2 Plates, 12 Screws and Bone Cement plus he also repaired my meniscus. I am now scheduled on March 15th to have my plates and screws removed as my leg is still swollen and I still have a lot of pain. PT isn't helping, if anything, it's making it worse! I'm at my wits end! And although I'm not thrilled about having to be cut open again, he said this will be done on an outpatient basis and I'll be walking out of the hospital this time. I couldn't weight bear for 3 months after my surgeries! He said he would be using the same scars although he may have to go a little longer this time.... they're already at least a foot long.

For those of you that had your plates and screws removed, what was your recovery like? How long until you were back to normal?

He's also mentioned that I will probably need a knee replacement within the next 2 years and said I would have to have them taken out before that anyway. 9 of the screws go right underneath my knee crossing over each other.

I'm so glad I found this thread! Hearing everyone's stories is giving me some hope!