Halfway thru year 4

June 2026

Still experiencing significant pain when moving. There is severe pain when first moving up and away from chair after sitting. This seems related to post traumatic arthritis. It subsides a bit after walking a few steps.

Other pain is when weight bearing and using quadriceps. Stair climbing is quite painful. Removal of the screw on left leg (August 2025) has not reduced the pain on the outside of the knee as expected. Right leg quadriceps and quadriceps tendons are producing as much or more pain than ever.

I am now convinced that pain and inflammation are due to irregularities in bone around fracture and significant scar tissue. This particular serious related to the gnarly fracture sight on the right femur. I think the compression is complete with my right leg now a full 1 inch shorter than my right.

In addition to rough area of the fracture, o believe there are issues with the femoral nerve.

According to literature and physician discussion, it appears that this long term chronic pain is “normal” and expected considering the extreme damage. The recommended treatment is PT exercises, massage and pain medicine.

Here is a quote from a recent study regarding unexplained pain after a femur fracture:

“What are the causes of prolonged disability? The time course of recovery is poorly understood, and the sources of disability are similarly unclear. There is general agreement that knee pain is a substantial functional problem following fracture of the femoral shaft. Ricci and colleagues9 reported knee pain in up to 36% of patients with fractures of the femoral shaft, but the severity and clinical importance of this knee pain remains unknown. Causes of knee pain are generally poorly understood. Various theories propose that intra-articular pathology, intraosseous hypertension, prominent hardware and muscle deconditioning may be the primary sources of knee pain following fracture of the femoral shaft.10–16 Hip pain is also reported after intramedullary nailing. About 10% of patients report hip pain.9Sources of hip pain include damage to the abductor musculature related to nail insertion.17,18”

I have settled into a regimen of 325mg aspirin and 300mg Gabapentin twice daily-taken with food. Occasional substitution of Ibuprofen or Naproxen for the aspirin. I take 1.2 oz of alcohol in Bourbon whisky (3 oz of 40%) each night for sleep. No kidney or liver issues indicated in my recent blood work. Long term use of NSAID’s is risky but my dose is relatively low. I have been following this regimen now for 3 years. 

Recently I have added topical application of Diclofinac (Voltaren) twice daily. Another NSAID but with less risk and possible positive interactions with aspirin in that it tends to reduce the risk of bleeding caused by the aspirin.

In addition I am getting Stem Wave treatments twice weekly  for 6 weeks. Efficacy is yet unknown,

I selectively use a stabilizing knee brace about 30% of the time-when quadricep tendon seems to have a higher pain level. It helps sometimes-sometimes not.

My daily use of the racing simulator is a serious workout with continuous bending and force applied to the ankles, calves and quads. It does not seem to increase my pain. I do notice that the rapid application of throttle with my right leg does occasionally induce pain in the quadriceps.

I have recently purchased a sophisticated powered “lift” chair that has back massage and heat therapy. This, my exercise and occasional use of my Teeter inversion device seems to have solved my back pain.

My Primary Care Physician and my Orthopedic Surgeon have recently reviewed my condition. X-rays indicate bones have healed and are slowly remodeling. Both physicians more or less indicated there was nothing to do for me other than PT. Attempts to contact Neurosurgery PA and DPT have been frustrating and unsuccessful. I feel I am in a situation where nobody knows how to cure my pain-it appears to be accepted as “sometimes the outcome is less than ideal” after the trauma. 

My main avenue now is to pursue aggressive self help using exercises and massage in the hope that breaking up scarcities and strengthening muscles may reduce pain.

I go in and out of severe depression. My relationship with Jesus and continued prayer is the only effective treatment. Chronic pain without the hope of recovery is a very tough scenario.