Has anyone had hardware removal from their leg?
I had a double osteotomy and plates and screws put in for healing of the bones and now getting removed. I was wondering if anyone knows if it helps?
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My sister had pins put in both hips as a your girl for ‘slipped epiphasis’ and I know the spelling is wrong. As a young woman she had the pins removed from one side that she sleeps on as she felt them. She slept better. That’s all I have on that topic except that all these years later, she had both hips done. Now she actually has more hardware.
shellylynn34,
not the leg but lylaaaa posted about hardware from her back https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ive-had-all-my-hardware-removed-after-t2-t10-fusion-ask-me-anything/
The chiropractor I see had a single pin removed from his lower leg and was pleased.
I just want to be feeling better after the surgery it is monday. Like the tightness from the plate and screws make my knee extremely stiff. I hope it doesn't make it easy to break or be too much on the bones sin e the holes wil be there and has to fill back in and heal .
For what it's worth, I had bunioneictomies on both big toes, including fusion with screws and plates. Now that the joint has fused, my surgeon said I could have the hardware removed. But it doesn't bother me so I'm leaving it alone.,
If the hardware does bother you, and the surgeon says it can be removed safely, I'd probably get that done. See Aaron's post about his sister.
All the best to you!
Joe
Thank you for your advice and support I also just had a Bunyan removed. It feels ok too.
Hi again Shelly. Yeah as long as your bones have a healthy blood supply (the opposite of osteoarthritis), your body will fill any gaps from the removal of metal with bone, over time.
I broke a tooth on the top-front of my mouth two weeks ago and had to have it pulled. I want to get an implant in 3 months, and the surgeon said my body will regrow bone in the now empty socket. I have two other, three-root molars implanted and each time a bone graft was done.
Anyway it sounds like you'd feel better if the hardware is gone, and if your surgeon supports it, it seems like you could do it. I'm pretty sure that would be an easy surgery and an easy recovery.
Joe
In 2010, I fractured my tibia and fibula. I had plates and screws put in initially to hold the tibia together so it could heal. It was very uncomfortable with all of that hardware, but had to leave it all in for sometime, partly because we were in Montana on a motor home trip.
After we returned to California, I finally found a good orthopedic doctor who removed all the heavy hardware and instead inserted a titanium rod into the tibia itself, which would help it heal from the inside out. The relief of no longer having all of that hardware was amazing, but of course, my leg took a long time to totally heal and I was still experiencing pain, but more tolerable,
The surgeon had told me that I’d probably have a limp or have to use a cane, but after PT and working with it, I was able to walk into his office the day I was released instead of being pushed in a wheelchair.
I realize this is a pretty long story to answer your question, but I think it helps to get the big picture for the best understanding, Best of luck with your healing, do the PT as best you can, and never give up!