6 weeks post IMN tibial shaft x-rays
On April 4, 2026 I (32f) was playing a rugby game in a mid-sized US city when I was tackled from behind. My foot was planted, I felt a snap, and then ended up at a really nice hospital with a trauma 1 center and had surgery the next day.
My surgeon was able to do an intramedullary nail placement because the break was relatively uncomplicated. A few bone chips but no involvement beyond the break. Closed fracture as well. I was released with a CAM boot and crutches and was weight bearing as tolerated.
I’m a sports dietitian so I work closely with a local physical therapist who has had a lot of experience with this surgery, so he got me set up pretty well with rehab starting about 10 days out. I also have been mostly very consistent with nutrition, eating a lot of calories, protein, calcium, and also supplementing vitamin D because I was a little low.
The first 2 weeks were tough, especially at night. I was alternating Tylenol and 800 IBU with oxycodone for breakthrough pain and I still couldn’t get on top of it through the night. Midway through week 3 I started being able to sleep through the night and sit up more and more. During the 3rd week I phased out the crutches and the 4th I phased out the boot. I mostly wore a cushy running sneaker at home, but at 6 weeks I’m pretty comfortable barefoot around the house. My ankle is still really stiff so my pace is not very fast and I have to focus to not limp.
Prior to the injury, I was pretty active and strength training is a hobby of mine so I’ve been back in the gym since I could drive again (about 3 weeks). I started with training only the unaffected leg and upper body, and over the last few weeks I’ve been lightly strength training the affected leg now. All guided by my physical therapist who is a board certified sports PT so I trust him a ton.
I just got my 6 week x-Ray and it‘s kinda cool that you can start to see the cross-bridging and callus formation. Also equally as crazy that the bone is still fully broken and I’m just walking around the house and going to the gym.
I definitely have a long way to go, and I also recognize that I’ve landed in “best case scenario“ territory for most of this but I have gotten a lot out of reading everyone‘s stories so I hope this is helpful for someone!