ankle/broken leg update (very long)

[Morgail]

I went back to the orthopedist today to get the splint taken off (he put it on after I had surgery a week and a half ago). My ankle and leg were really swollen since I'd been at work most of the day, and even though I try to keep it elevated, it isn't as elevated as it is when I'm sitting on my couch at home. Anyway, they took the staples out (OW! A few of those HURT coming out.) I finally got to find out what he put in my ankle (my husband couldn't remember what he'd said after the surgery). It's some newer technology that will hold the bones in the ankle together while the ligaments heal, but it doesn't involve screws. The main part of the injury was actually a syndesmosis injury (aka high ankle sprain). The thing can stay in and shouldn't bother me after it heals.

Then he gave me a boot - yay for no cast!!! He gave me strict orders to keep it on except for bathing and to not put any weight on it for 5 weeks. Ugh - 5 weeks more of crutches. That will include (if I pass the bar) my swearing-in ceremony by the state supreme court. But that's not so bad, considering what happened next.

I asked when I could skate again. He said, "Skate again?" like I'd grown a second head or something. Not for a few months. I said, "December?" He made a face, and said maybe, but more likely late winter. :cry: I left the office and then cried all the way home. I'd had visions of myself skating again by November. This hurts. I'm not sure if he understands that I'm a serious skater - as in, I know what I'm doing and I don't wear crappy rental skates that have no ankle support. I'm really depressed. I feel like I've lost a huge part of myself. I feel lonely and bored. What in the world am I going to do to distract myself from no skating for the next few months? There will be skating on TV to watch, and I get watch Regionals in a few weeks, and I can go watch my synchro team practice - but it's not the same thing. I thought about priorities on the way home. I realized that after my family, skating is the most important thing to me. These next few months are going to be hard...and dull...and very long without skating.

I'm still hoping for late December. Maybe if I work really hard in PT, and then take it very very slowly when I get back on the ice. I want to heal, but isn't part of healing pushing yourself a little?

On a happier note - I came home to 2 messages about jobs I'd applied for last week:) I wonder if I should warn them that I will be coming to the interviews on crutches? (I also wonder if my nice interview/court suit pants will fit over the boot).

This is long. Thanks to everyone who actually read all of it:bow:

[NickiT]

If it's any consolation I was told no skating for at least six months after surgery to fix my broken ankle, but I was back on the ice just 3 months later. I worked hard on my physio and took it carefully when back on the ice. Everyone is different so see how it goes!

Nicki

[doubletoe]

Poor doctor just doesn't understand AOSS, does he?! LOL! Hmm. . . So as not to scare him, maybe you could call back and ask when you'll be allowed to walk--i.e., put your weight on that foot-- in the support boots he gave you? After all, that's basically what you'll be doing when you start skating on that foot, right? You might also ask around at your rink and see if anyone can recommend a specialist who is used to treating skaters and/or other athletes. A second opinion never hurts. :)

Meanwhile, that's really exciting that you are about to take the bar!! At least you've clearly got something to keep you occupied while you're off the ice (which--fingers crossed--will not be until late winter!).

[karliey]

Hey Morgail (just caught this before going to bed :)

It's hard when you just want to skate, I too cried after I got home with my broken bone x-ray. I find it helps me for friends to tell me about their skating practices, what they did, how the coach was, so I can think about what'll happen when I return.

No cast though, brilliant! Oh to be able to wash my entire arm... There are lots of good things to come besides skating, and taking time to be ready will only help you. Stepping on the ice too early could be another bad fall on weakened joints, try hard not to rush into it and not to set yourself a time-frame. You know already that it may not be the difficulty of the move that causes the fall. Take it a day at a time, almost.

How about some off-ice exercises to do on one leg? That can be fun. Things like practicing standing in spin positions, turns, half rotation loops maybe? Obviously be sensible about it. Try to think positively, in the long run your skating is going to be even better than it was before the injury. Good luck!

[Morgail]

If it's any consolation I was told no skating for at least six months after surgery to fix my broken ankle, but I was back on the ice just 3 months later. I worked hard on my physio and took it carefully when back on the ice. Everyone is different so see how it goes!
Nicki

That makes me feel much better! :D

Poor doctor just doesn't understand AOSS, does he?! LOL! Hmm. . . So as not to scare him, maybe you could call back and ask when you'll be allowed to walk--i.e., put your weight on that foot-- in the support boots he gave you? After all, that's basically what you'll be doing when you start skating on that foot, right? You might also ask around at your rink and see if anyone can recommend a specialist who is used to treating skaters and/or other athletes. A second opinion never hurts. :)
Meanwhile, that's really exciting that you are about to take the bar!! At least you've clearly got something to keep you occupied while you're off the ice (which--fingers crossed--will not be until late winter!).

No, I don't think he quite gets AOSS at all! :) He did tell me it would be 5 weeks before I can start putting weight on it. I may bring up the skating issue again at that time, or perhaps after I've done some PT and the ankle feels stronger. A second opinion isn't a bad idea, though. I think I'll wait to see what he says when I ask again, and if it's an adamant no, then I'll go for a second opinion. I actually took the bar in July. They just like to make us wait until October to get our results:twisted: Mean, isn't it?

Hey Morgail (just caught this before going to bed :)
It's hard when you just want to skate, I too cried after I got home with my broken bone x-ray. I find it helps me for friends to tell me about their skating practices, what they did, how the coach was, so I can think about what'll happen when I return...

I keep reading everyone's skating blogs and that has been keeping me a little occupied! I have a friend who has just started skating again, so maybe I'll bug her too:) One leg exercises! Heehee! I'm actually pretty good at balancing on my right leg (it's all that skating!). I think I'll start doing crunches & other ab exercises, since I can do those lying on the floor. I'll have some killer core muscles when I get back on the ice:)

[SynchroSk8r114]

Here's to a fast recovery and showing that doctor how us skaters do it! Keep at your therapy and work on healing so that you can be back on the ice by December. Hey, pretty soon skating will be on TV and you can kick back , relax, and enjoy watching all the great competitions to come!

And, while it's discouraging that you're off the ice, at least you've still got that December goal to work towards. ;)

Good luck with your bar results! Waiting that long can be torture!

[ibreakhearts66]

good luck! I know how frustrating it is to be off the ice. Could you see about picking up some other hobby while you're off? I picked up quilting (yes, quilting. and i'm 17 lol). and its really fun! If you are into that type of stuff, maybe take some sewing classes? That way when you get back on the ice you can have some cool home-made skating apparel!

I know the next few months are going to be rough, but when you DO get back on the ice, you will appreciate it about a billion times more. Just be sure to keep up with the rehab--you don't want your skating or your health to suffer when you get back because your ankle isn't strong enough.

[Sessy]

I asked when I could skate again. He said, "Skate again?" like I'd grown a second head or something. Not for a few months. I said, "December?" He made a face, and said maybe, but more likely late winter. :cry: I left the office and then cried all the way home. I'd had visions of myself skating again by November. This hurts. I'm not sure if he understands that I'm a serious skater - as in, I know what I'm doing and I don't wear crappy rental skates that have no ankle support. I'm really depressed. I feel like I've lost a huge part of myself. I feel lonely and bored. What in the world am I going to do to distract myself from no skating for the next few months? There will be skating on TV to watch, and I get watch Regionals in a few weeks, and I can go watch my synchro team practice - but it's not the same thing. I thought about priorities on the way home. I realized that after my family, skating is the most important thing to me. These next few months are going to be hard...and dull...and very long without skating.

I'm still hoping for late December. Maybe if I work really hard in PT, and then take it very very slowly when I get back on the ice. I want to heal, but isn't part of healing pushing yourself a little?


Same thing for me... They told me in summer like - MAYBE half-rotation jumps by january and no axels for a year. I figured, hey the doc doesn't know what he's saying, he doesn't know about hard skates and stuff...
But I've got to say, so far it's looking like he's gonna be right... :(

As for pushing it... Hmm, no. It's WAY too easy to overpush, for me, the hardest thing is not to push. It seems fine at first, when you're doing it, then next day you discover it wasn't fine... I don't know why that is. Maybe cuz warm ligaments hurt less than when they cool down or something. Except every time you overpush it puts you back by like, over a month... So it's better not to push.

I understand how you feel, I really do. It's very frustrating to be off the ice.
I'm allowed back on ice again, but only doing MIF and spins. When I was back in the ice hall, the first thing I thought was "yay, life is normal again!"
The whole time I wasn't skating it felt sort of surreal, like just getting through the day on autopilot. But once you're back on ice it just instantly clicks back into place.

[sk8pics]

It's some newer technology that will hold the bones in the ankle together while the ligaments heal, but it doesn't involve screws. The main part of the injury was actually a syndesmosis injury (aka high ankle sprain). The thing can stay in and shouldn't bother me after it heals.

Is that the rope thing that they sometimes use? They were going to use that on me, but the surgeon didn't like how it was working out and switched to a syndesmotic screw instead. It sounds like at least part of your injury is similar to mine. For me, it was about 6 1/2 weeks before I could put weight on my leg, and that was a week or so ahead of schedule. So, maybe you will end up ahead of schedule, too!

But really, listen to your doc. I take it he is not a sports medicine doc? My surgeon was and that helped. Maybe down the road you could get a second opinion from a sports medicine specialist if you don't like the attitude your current doc has. Hang in there. You will find your leg is really weak after all that time, and you will need to build up a certain amount of flexibility and strength to even think about skating. But PT will help. I went through ups and downs, too, so PM me if you ever want to "talk".

In the meantime, maybe this is a chance to do some other things you've never had time to do? For me, I started learning how to play the piano in March. I just started lessons about 7 weeks ago, and my teacher told me last night she is amazed at how much better I've gotten so quickly. It was a good outlet for me when I was totally unable to skate.

Oh, I forgot to add, be really carefuly about blood clots! No weight on that leg means your calf muscles are not engaged in doing anything, and blood clots are a real risk. Pay attention to any indications of pain in your calf! I had no signs but ended up with a big clot in my leg after about 5 1/2 weeks!

Hang in there!

[Morgail]

Hey, pretty soon skating will be on TV and you can kick back , relax, and enjoy watching all the great competitions to come!

Thanks! That's what I'm looking forward to the most right now - skating on TV! And about the time it comes on, I'll be able to put some weight on my foot:)

good luck! I know how frustrating it is to be off the ice. Could you see about picking up some other hobby while you're off? I picked up quilting (yes, quilting. and i'm 17 lol). and its really fun! If you are into that type of stuff, maybe take some sewing classes? That way when you get back on the ice you can have some cool home-made skating apparel!


Good idea! I always liked cross-stitch, and I haven't done anything with it in a couple years. Maybe I'll do that. :)



As for pushing it... Hmm, no. It's WAY too easy to overpush, for me, the hardest thing is not to push. It seems fine at first, when you're doing it, then next day you discover it wasn't fine... I don't know why that is. Maybe cuz warm ligaments hurt less than when they cool down or something. Except every time you overpush it puts you back by like, over a month... So it's better not to push.
I understand how you feel, I really do. It's very frustrating to be off the ice.
I'm allowed back on ice again, but only doing MIF and spins. When I was back in the ice hall, the first thing I thought was "yay, life is normal again!"
The whole time I wasn't skating it felt sort of surreal, like just getting through the day on autopilot. But once you're back on ice it just instantly clicks back into place.

thanks, Sessy:) I'm looking forward to just going and sitting in the rink to watch my synchro team and to watch Regionals. I really really miss being at the rink, even if I can't do anything. I have to drive by it everyday to get to work, and I think, "hmmm...I wonder who's skating now?" I don't want to go back to skating before I'm ready to and end up setting myself back...I'm just hoping that I'll be ready sooner than the doctor predicted.

Is that the rope thing that they sometimes use? They were going to use that on me, but the surgeon didn't like how it was working out and switched to a syndesmotic screw instead. It sounds like at least part of your injury is similar to mine. For me, it was about 6 1/2 weeks before I could put weight on my leg, and that was a week or so ahead of schedule. So, maybe you will end up ahead of schedule, too!...

Yup, I think it is rope thing - he said something about "knots", so that would make sense. He was really excited about it when he was explaining it to me. He actually is trained in sports medicine (I just found out today), so I suppose he knows what he's talking about with my skating. I think he was just surprised that I was asking so soon about it. I had read your posts about the blood clot - that is scary! I am allowed to take the boot off to bathe and to do these "very gentle" (as the doc described them) movements of my foot once or twice a day. I'm hoping that will give my lower leg enough movement to prevent blood clots.

[sk8pics]

Yup, I think it is rope thing - he said something about "knots", so that would make sense. He was really excited about it when he was explaining it to me. He actually is trained in sports medicine (I just found out today), so I suppose he knows what he's talking about with my skating. I think he was just surprised that I was asking so soon about it. I had read your posts about the blood clot - that is scary! I am allowed to take the boot off to bathe and to do these "very gentle" (as the doc described them) movements of my foot once or twice a day. I'm hoping that will give my lower leg enough movement to prevent blood clots.

My surgeon was pretty psyched about the rope, too. Too bad it didn't work on me! Apparently he actually put it in my ankle and didn't like the way it was holding. He was also very aggressive all along in prescribing PT and telling me what activities to do.

And the movements that you wrote about here are exactly the same as what I was allowed to do. I had the boot off multiple times a day and was flexing my foot as much as I could, which wasn't that much of course. I really think it doesn't engage the calf muscle at all. You might want to ask your doc specifically about this. I was also taking a baby aspirin a day, as directed by my doc, but it apparently didn't help. I know what happened to me is unusual, but nothing has shown up to explain the clots aside from the non-weight bearing and inactivity. I don't want to see you go through the same thing, given how scary and life-threatening it can be.

[Mrs Redboots]

Once you're able to put weight on your foot and walk without pain, you'll probably feel ready to at least attempt to get back on the ice. As the others have suggested, it might be worth seeing a specialist sports physician, who will understand that late winter isn't an option!

[Sessy]

In the meantime, maybe this is a chance to do some other things you've never had time to do? For me, I started learning how to play the piano in March. I just started lessons about 7 weeks ago, and my teacher told me last night she is amazed at how much better I've gotten so quickly. It was a good outlet for me when I was totally unable to skate.

Yeah, I made some skating dresses, some skating-themed stuff and I took up the guitar again.
Keeps ya sane.

[miraclegro]

Well, i thought when i broke mine in January that it would be 6 weeks and i'd be skating again! Boy was i wrong....it was 4-5 weeks in a cast, 4 weeks in the moon boot and another 4 in an air splint/cast in my tennis shoes.

It took like forever for the swelling to go down....

And when i went back to skating months later, it felt like i had never skated before!

I was a terrible patient, the first few weeks it hurt so much, i couldn't even read a book, and daytime t.v. is HORRIBLE! So i learned patience and a lot more sympathy for the handicapped meanwhile!

So, skating is SO much sweeter now and life doesn't end, it just takes time and find something good to do meanwhile (chocolate was my friend!).

[doubletoe]

No, I don't think he quite gets AOSS at all! :) He did tell me it would be 5 weeks before I can start putting weight on it. I may bring up the skating issue again at that time, or perhaps after I've done some PT and the ankle feels stronger. A second opinion isn't a bad idea, though. I think I'll wait to see what he says when I ask again, and if it's an adamant no, then I'll go for a second opinion. I actually took the bar in July. They just like to make us wait until October to get our results:twisted: Mean, isn't it?

Mean? No, I'd say it's downright TORTURE! 8O :twisted:

[Morgail]

Well, i thought when i broke mine in January that it would be 6 weeks and i'd be skating again! Boy was i wrong....it was 4-5 weeks in a cast, 4 weeks in the moon boot and another 4 in an air splint/cast in my tennis shoes.

So i learned patience and a lot more sympathy for the handicapped meanwhile!


Yikes! That's a long time in various leg entrapments! Moon boot is perfect description of it. I was calling it a robot foot. My hubby said it looked like a Klingon boot. :lol:
I have TONS more sympathy for the handicapped now. And when I read about others being injured, I really think about it a lot more. Like that football player they thought was paralyzed, but now it looks like he's not. I felt so bad for him, and was very thankful that I'm not paralyzed!

[kiwibabe]

Hey I hope you heal fast. I'm 7 weeks post op on my knee and have another 3 weeks before I can go back on ice.

I banned all talk of skating otherwise I feel frustrated.

Find a new hobby, buy lots of good books, sleep in, rest up.

My biggest problem has been keeping the weight off as I'm not allowed to do aerobic exercise or impact bearing exercise.

[dbny]

When I broke my wrist in 2001, I still had to drive my daughter to the rink, and missed out on skating with Mr and Mrs Redboots when they visited NY (did go to the rink with them, though). Even an arm in a cast is enough to evoke sympathy for the handicapped. Driving wasn't such a big deal one handed, but parking was quite another story! My orthopod was actually understanding about "When can I skate again?", and commented on how all the skaters ask that question. He understood, he said, because as a kid he was very active and broke a lot of bones! Nevertheless, he made me wait two weeks after the cast was off. I do think it's better to be safe than sorry, but agree that another opinion is in order.

[Sessy]

Yikes! That's a long time in various leg entrapments! Moon boot is perfect description of it. I was calling it a robot foot. My hubby said it looked like a Klingon boot. :lol:

Ai, but them Klingons are an inspirational kind! ;) Klingon sayings:

"Real power is in the heart."

"Klingons fight to enrich the spirit."

"A Klingon conquers what he desires."

"To understand life, one must endure pain."

"Victory must be earned."

"A warrior is not concerned with comfort."

"Even the best blade will rust and grow old unless it is cared for."

"The used kut'luch is always shiny."

"A Klingon does not run from his battles."

"Today is not a good day to die."

"Only a fool fights in a burning house."

"I hope pain is something you enjoy."

[LilJen]

Sessy, I'm cracking up at your Klingon sayings.

The boot *is* rather like a Klingon boot--Morgail, do you have the black soft foam thing, anchored to a hard bottom & two metal strips on the sides with various strips of velcro? That's what I had.

I don't know how old you are but I'm 38 and I was on the same time schedule as you and sk8pics. I got back on the ice after about 4 months and it's starting to feel more normal now. I was really tempted to go back earlier--after all, I started PT about 8 weeks after my surgery and was in decent shape--but I'd put my boots on at home and I had ZERO stability on that itty-bitty steel blade we crazy people like to slide around on. So I figured better safe than sorry. I figure until I have a good, solid outside edge and very minimal pain, I'm NOT jumping. Well, not clockwise, anyhow (I could really go either way, and I'm really only at the half-flip/sal/toeloop stage anyway, so not terribly advanced). I might try some CCW jumps in a week or so, but I definitely won't be jumping until at least the first of next year, I"m guessing.

DEFINITELY get some PT (STILL can't believe my dr wasn't going to order this for me--but I insisted!). It was both dismaying--to see how much strength I'd lost--and encouraging--as I saw how I improved. Best tools for me were the BAPS (bimalleolar ankle platform system--basically a huge heavyweight plastic plate with half-spheres anchored to the bottom, and you can roll around on it, weight-bearing or no); the thera-band (elastic with which you can do lots of stretches and pushing/pulling exercises); this wooden board that had a half-cylinder under it (stand on it and rock forward/backward or left/right, and practice balancing); and the BOSU (squishy half-sphere that you can balance on).

I know the "wiggling the foot around" doesn't feel like it's doing much but keep wiggling. The flexibility of your ankle disappears really quickly and it's important to regain the range of motion (me, I'm despairing of ever regaining my ever-deepening hydroblade, just 'cause that left ankle does NOT want to bend that way), so stretching is just as important as strengthening.

One of these days I"ll have to post my "progress pictures." I took pics of my ankle flexion every week or so to help me see that I was in fact progressing in regaining my range of motion.

Oh, and for what to do while you're waiting to heal? I happened to get REALLY busy with a work project. I guess the timing was good (ugh). But I did have a lot of semi-disturbing AOSS dreams.

Oh yeah--and doesn't that bath feel goooooooooooooood???? : )

[Sessy]

Actually with the wiggling, my doc said: 30 seconds of wiggling, 30 seconds rest, mandatory! and no more than 6 rounds of wiggling-rest at one time, no more than 5 times a day.

[sk8pics]

"To understand life, one must endure pain."
"Only a fool fights in a burning house." "I hope pain is something you enjoy."
I liked these the best of the ones you quoted! Thanks, Sessy!

I can't believe all the broken ankles we have collectively had on this forum! Yikes!

I have noticed lately an improvement in my ankle strength, and I'm still fighting for those last couple of degrees of motion when I point my toes. Pretty much it's all back when I flex, but still tight in the back. sigh.

[Sessy]

I can't stretch the toes out at all. I have got my hydroblades back, but ANY attempts to stretch my toes result in immediate sharp pain all the way through my leg, so that's obviously gonna take a looong while more. :(
And hence, no jumping for now either. :(
Strangely, it seems to be when I point my toes through. If I get up on my toes, it doesn't happen as badly. Still happens though.

And in our group class of like, 12 students? I had a broken ankle since february, A. had one since april, and E. has got an infection of the slime bags in the ankle or whatever that's translated like? So a quarter of the students have ankle problems. Hmm. :??
I remember reading in an old ballet book that ballet "thickens up the ankles". Well so does figure skating, apparently... Not quite the way they meant it in the book, but still...

[Morgail]

Thanks everyone for your kind words & support. It really means a lot to me to have a bunch of people who completely understand!! :)


I banned all talk of skating otherwise I feel frustrated.
My biggest problem has been keeping the weight off as I'm not allowed to do aerobic exercise or impact bearing exercise.

Heehee - I did the opposite. I keep inundating myself with skating stuff. Watching videos on YouTube and logging onto multiple skating forums far too many times each day:)
I'm worried about the weight too. I lost almost 30 lbs in the past year, mostly from skating. I managed to get on the scale last week, and I hadn't gained any yet. I'm not sure how long that will hold out though. At least I'm getting the crutches workout!

Ai, but them Klingons are an inspirational kind! ;) Klingon sayings:


LOL! Those are hilarious! I like the last one the best. I'm going to share them with my husband, the Trekkie.

Morgail, do you have the black soft foam thing, anchored to a hard bottom & two metal strips on the sides with various strips of velcro? That's what I had.
...but I'd put my boots on at home and I had ZERO stability on that itty-bitty steel blade we crazy people like to slide around on. So I figured better safe than sorry. I figure until I have a good, solid outside edge and very minimal pain, I'm NOT jumping. Well, not clockwise, anyhow (I could really go either way, and I'm really only at the half-flip/sal/toeloop stage anyway, so not terribly advanced). I might try some CCW jumps in a week or so, but I definitely won't be jumping until at least the first of next year, I"m guessing.

I know the "wiggling the foot around" doesn't feel like it's doing much but keep wiggling. The flexibility of your ankle disappears really quickly and it's important to regain the range of motion (me, I'm despairing of ever regaining my ever-deepening hydroblade, just 'cause that left ankle does NOT want to bend that way), so stretching is just as important as strengthening.

One of these days I"ll have to post my "progress pictures." I took pics of my ankle flexion every week or so to help me see that I was in fact progressing in regaining my range of motion.

Oh yeah--and doesn't that bath feel goooooooooooooood???? : )

Yup, that's the boot! I'm 28, by the way. My skating brain thinks I'm still 12, though:) Good idea to try the skates on before going to the rink. That would definitely give me an idea about whether I'm ready or not. Right now, my ankle feels completely weak. When I take that boot off to take a bath (which feels SO good!), I feel like my ankle is just dangling off the end of my leg. It's such a weird feeling. When I do the foot stretching thing, I get these pins & needles in my toes and the bottom of my foot. And there is NO range of motion. Well, maybe a little, but barely anything compared to how it used to be.

It's good that you have a choice in your jumping direction. I'm firmly CCW, and I'm thankful that it's my left foot and not my right that was injured. I'm afraid of what's going to happen to my spins, though. Especially the sit. I may be doing a lot of backspins for a while:)

I'd love to see some of your progress pics - it would give me hope:)

Actually with the wiggling, my doc said: 30 seconds of wiggling, 30 seconds rest, mandatory! and no more than 6 rounds of wiggling-rest at one time, no more than 5 times a day.

I got - a few stretches each way (back and forward), just once or twice a day. I think I'm doing well with not pushing it. I was afraid that I'd try to do more, but I've been good about following orders:) I'm almost afraid that I'm going to dislodge the thing in my ankle or rip the baby healing ligaments!


I can't believe all the broken ankles we have collectively had on this forum! Yikes!

I know! I think we're all missing a healthy dose of fear!

[LilJen]

When I take that boot off to take a bath (which feels SO good!), I feel like my ankle is just dangling off the end of my leg. It's such a weird feeling. When I do the foot stretching thing, I get these pins & needles in my toes and the bottom of my foot. And there is NO range of motion. Well, maybe a little, but barely anything compared to how it used to be.

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. The foot = this dangling, lifeless appendage. It was even more of a bizarre feeling when the dr allowed me to start putting weight on it. Definitely pins & needles, which I guess is appropriate because the foot/ankle are "waking up" after being asleep for a while.

I'll see if I can get hubby to get those pics--he's the technical one in the family, alas. . .

[FallDownGoBoom]

Oh, Morgail. I'm so sorry for your trouble. Last night I discovered your videos on YouTube and watched them several times. Very useful!

I hope better news comes your way.

[NCSkater02]

I think I was non-weight bearing for about six weeks. The hot boot (it was neoprene lined) was on all the time except for baths--couldn't stand long enough to shower. I'd open it up and put ice on it. The doc said I could sleep without it as soon as it was comfortable. That wound up being four or five weeks.

At about six weeks, he took me out of the boot and put me in a small clamshell splint, but told me to use the crutches for distance, or if I could get stranded (like at the mall) I used them to walk into work, then put them in my locker once I got there.

He let me back on the ice at 14 weeks. I was on less than two hours after he cleared me. It would have been sooner, but I needed to eat first! It was sore and hurt, especially the outside edge and ccw crossovers. No "tricks" until I saw him again in six more weeks. I did do one or two waltz jumps at about five weeks. Not to mention that it took most of that time to build my strength back up. In all, it was a total of about six months before I was back to the point where I started.

Weight started creeping on at about eight weeks--just about the time I started increasing my activity level. I also nearly starved myself so wouldn't gain. I ended up gaining about ten pounds.

And you're right--boredom is the biggest enemy!

[Sessy]

I was scared to stand up on the foot after the cast came off... It was like spaghetti, just standing on two feet required me to focus on tensing all the muscles in it.
Makes ya look at those movies where somebody jumps up from a 5 year coma and goes slaughtering off their enemies immediately quite in a different fashion! (Kill Bill, Faith in Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Santa Barbara, etc)

And I, too, gained weight. Well not weight. No I actually lost weight (muscle mass), I gained inches. I had nothing to do all day in bed but eat, since we were on holiday with the cast. So I took up smoking to keep some of the weight off, which I meanwhile quit again too (I took the lightest of the lightest cigarettes, those are very easy to quit). I lost most of those cast-pounds meanwhile though.

And oh yeah when I took the cast off, I just used a plastic butter knife to scrape the skin off first. It itched SO bad.

[kayskate]

All injuries are different, but start exercising now. Talk to your MD first, but maybe you should be doing leg lifts, etc. I also stretched in my cast. I broke my ankle 7/06 and was on the ice 10/06. Now I do everything I used to do. I also run again and have for quite a while. Your muscles will atrophy, but you can get them back. As soon as my cast was cut down below the knee, I was exercising. As soon as it came off, I was trying to walk. I walked in 2 days, not much, but I got going. Skated about 1 month later.

And crutch walking is a great ab workout.

There are pics of me in my cast doing spirals, no less, on my web site in the photo gallery. There are links from there to journal entries about the injury.

Kay

[Morgail]

Oh, Morgail. I'm so sorry for your trouble. Last night I discovered your videos on YouTube and watched them several times. Very useful!
I hope better news comes your way.

Thank you:)


He let me back on the ice at 14 weeks. I was on less than two hours after he cleared me. It would have been sooner, but I needed to eat first! It was sore and hurt, especially the outside edge and ccw crossovers.
Weight started creeping on at about eight weeks--just about the time I started increasing my activity level. I also nearly starved myself so wouldn't gain. I ended up gaining about ten pounds.


Heehee - I'll probably do the same once I'm cleared to skate! I suppose the weight gain is inevitable. Nothing right now can replace the aerobic exercise of skating:(


Makes ya look at those movies where somebody jumps up from a 5 year coma and goes slaughtering off their enemies immediately quite in a different fashion! (Kill Bill, Faith in Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Santa Barbara, etc)

And oh yeah when I took the cast off, I just used a plastic butter knife to scrape the skin off first. It itched SO bad.

That's funny because I just watched the episodes of Angel soon after Faith came out of her coma and was running around wreaking havoc:lol:
And I shuddered when I read about your skin in the cast. Eek! Thank heavens I do not have a cast!

All injuries are different, but start exercising now. Talk to your MD first, but maybe you should be doing leg lifts, etc. I also stretched in my cast.


I've been thinking about whether I could stretch. I'm going to call the doctor on Monday to see if I can do some floor stretches. Perhaps I can keep at least some of my flexibility! I'll ask about leg lifts & such too - any exercise right now would be wonderful. I don't think it would be a problem, unless there hasn't been sufficient time for my leg bone to heal enough.