Feeling absolutely down from not skating

[tidesong]

I haven't been able to skate ( i think its one and a half weeks) after hurting my ankle. And its starting to get on my nerves, the large amount of time I usually spend skating is now spent on trying to study more so I can get back to skating without worrying about school work.

But it isn't working and I'm just stressed out and I can't skate to relax. So I'm in a really bad situation right now... And I can't believe its only one and a half weeks... it feels like an entire lifetime already...

[sk8er1964]

Oh Tidesong, I feel for you. I was off for 2 weeks with my hip flexor, just getting back on the ice last week. I ate chocolate like there was no tomorrow - probably looking for the endorphins (is that the right stuff?) that skating provides. I grumbled to my husband that I felt fat and irritable - he said I wasn't fat ;).

Hang in there - it is better to come back healthy than to come back too soon. That is a lesson that I am very reluctantly learning. If you haven't yet seen a doctor, you probably should. I know the physical therapy that I'm doing now is helping already, and I just started it last week.

[garyc254]

Tidesong, I know the feeling. After I had my shoulder surgery in November, I couldn't skate for weeks. I found myself showing up at the rink just to talk and watch. Very frustrating.

Do you have access to a gym or some exercise equipment? Sometimes getting any type of exercise helps get the "juices" flowing. Even if it is only upper body work, it might help.

Hang in there!!! :D

[MissIndigo]

I understand where you're coming from too...I have been off the ice for two weeks due to illness. Our local seasonal rink has closed for the season, so I'll have to drive a bit if I want to skate now. Not usually a problem, but academic obligations are keeping me from going. I do need to get my schoolwork out of the way and rest my body completely before I try to skate again, since there's no sense in trying to go at it when I'm fatigued--I don't want to set myself up for any further injury. It is frustrating though...the rink is one place I can go and see a different group of people and completely forget about the other things in life that are bugging me, and right now I really really need the stress relief. :frus:

You and I sound like we're in sort of the same boat. :)

[iceskaterdawn]

I can relate. I've been off the ice since August with a fractured shoulder and am waiting for this semester to end so I can have surgery. Hopefully I will be back on the ice in the mid to late summer. It is so hard to not be able to skate. I used to stop by the rink every so often to see my friends, but it is too hard to be that close to the ice and not be able to skate. In the meantime I have been pouring all of my energy into my school work. It definately isn't as fun as skating, but it does keep me busy.

[Mrs Redboots]

Tidesong, trying to study more isn't going to work - you will just get more stressed out and screwed up! Keep to the same study hours, but see if you can find something else to do when you would normally be skating - can you, for instance, go for a swim instead? I know it's not quite the same thing, but at least you will be taking exercise, which is partly what your problem is - your body is used to a certain amount of exercise and is apt to complain very loudly if it doesn't get it!

[emyh]

Originally posted by Mrs Redboots
Tidesong, trying to study more isn't going to work - you will just get more stressed out and screwed up! Keep to the same study hours, but see if you can find something else to do when you would normally be skating - can you, for instance, go for a swim instead? I know it's not quite the same thing, but at least you will be taking exercise, which is partly what your problem is - your body is used to a certain amount of exercise and is apt to complain very loudly if it doesn't get it!

This is true. I took a half-year long break so I could focus on my studies... and I think I went insane. But my sanity has come back to me now :o

[tidesong]

Thanks pple for all the encouragment... I am rushing a project right now... but just had to take a break :P

One thing is my exams are coming... and i am planning to skate as soon as my ankle heals, so I'm trying to study for the exams first... and that is so stressful....

I really don't know if I'd go for a swim... hard thinking of what I can do without hurting my ankle...

I am icing my ankle whenever it hurts... but haven't seen a doctor... I really don't know what doctor to see... I don't know, I can walk without pain yesterday... but today it got achy again...

I guess I am slightly better today... I got some therapy after reading all the traumatic world championships news... being upset for someone helps take load off being upset with yourself...

[sk8er1964]

Originally posted by tidesong
I am icing my ankle whenever it hurts... but haven't seen a doctor... I really don't know what doctor to see... I don't know, I can walk without pain yesterday... but today it got achy again...


I went to a sports medicine doc. He was able to rule out things like stress fractures and torn muscles, and recommended physical therapy. My regular doctor would have recommended staying off the ice, something the sports doc knew I wouldn't want to do! The nice thing is that I'm doing my PT at the ice rink (the same place AN is being held) so those folks have dealt with figure skaters before. It's helping - wish I had done this right away in February instead of trying to tough it out. :roll:

[Mrs Redboots]

If you have sprained your ankle, you'll find it does ache when you are tired, for a surprisingly long time. I know when my daughter did hers, she wore an elastic bandage longer than I thought necessary, but it was her ankle! Oddly, the only place she really felt comfortable was on the ice - her boots provided enough support that her ankle didn't ache!

I basically suggested swimming as it wouldn't stress your ankle, being non weight-bearing!

[Mel On Ice]

:( I'm in the same boat.

Completely wrenched my ankle in a choreography and style class 2 - 1/2 weeks ago. Thought I could tough it out with some motrin ice packs and time. Tried skating last night and was in so much pain, I had hubby take me to the ER. Had x-rays done, nothing's broken, but now I have to find an orthopedist who isn't up to his neck in patients for a better evaluation of my ankle. ER thinks I tore some tendons and ligaments, and I have irritated some contusions around the ankle area by trying to skate on it to soon.

Initial diagnosis from the doctor? In all caps, with 3 exclamation points:

ABSOLUTELY NO ICE SKATING FOR ONE MONTH!!!

And I'm supposed to be a fairy godmother and was offered a solo in the spring show, in addition to competing at the Synchro Championships in Chicago.

Gary, if you see this, don't tell Susan, I'm telling the team tonight. :(

:cry: I've done plenty of this in the last 12 hours. :cry:

[garyc254]

Originally posted by Mel On Ice
[BGary, if you see this, don't tell Susan, I'm telling the team tonight. :( [/B]

Mums the word. Darn it Mel!!! I feel for you.

Take it very, very easy and heal quickly.

[dbny]

Ouch! So many injuries. You all have my sincere condolences. I was out for 3 months with a broken wrist. My orthopod commented about how all the skaters just can't wait to get back...he seemed puzzled :lol:

I forced myself to use the Nordic Track just about every day to keep in shape, but of course, it wasn't fun like skating.

iceskaterdawn - what are you doing for your shoulder until the surgery? It sounds awful having to wait to get it taken care of.

tidesong - have you tried watching skating to relax? I watched a lot of tapes when I was off the ice, and at least now, we have Worlds going on.

Mel On Ice - I would be fit to be tied, missing out on a show solo and a competition. I know what you mean about finding an orthopod. I was in a total panic over that when I got home from LP with my broken wrist. How can they all be so busy? I found one by calling a skater friend who had broken his arm the year before.

[iceskaterdawn]

Originally posted by dbny

iceskaterdawn - what are you doing for your shoulder until the surgery? It sounds awful having to wait to get it taken care of.



Not much. The breaks in the bones have healed, but the joint isn't working properly nor is my rotator cuff muscle. I've had 6 months of physical therapy. Now I am just taking it easy and trying not to use my arm too much until I get it fixed.

[tidesong]

Watching skating doesn't help! I want to skate!... I was planning to skate next week, since I am walking fine and even ran for the bus without knowing I could...

But after reading what Mel On Ice wrote.... i'm just thinking oh dear....
how bad was your ankle when you tried to skate on it? I can't put more than a bit more than my weight on the ankle without pain. i.e. I can tiptoe on that ankle ( a bit of pain ) but can't jump (don't dare to jump... i can step over.... I was still trying to do waltz jumps on land)

Oh and there is this SARS outbreak in singapore, hk and china did you guys hear about it? So my mum doesn't want me to see the doctor in case I catch SARS from somebody...

I don't plan to jump when I get on the ice though... my left leg is ok and I plan to do lots of spins on my left leg....

[dbny]

Originally posted by tidesong
Oh and there is this SARS outbreak in singapore, hk and china did you guys hear about it? So my mum doesn't want me to see the doctor in case I catch SARS from somebody...

It's all over the news, and there have been a few cases in NYC too, I believe. You really do need to go to the doctor though. You would be seeing a specialist in orthopedic surgery, so the chances of meeting someone ill with SARS in the waiting room would already be lower than at the family practitioner's office. Tell your mom you will wear a mask and do a lot of handwashing. You could even bring some alcohol wipes with you to clean your hands as you go. I understand your mom's concern. I have some friends in HK (with school aged childern) that I'm a bit worried about. Additionally, they may well be attending the same social function that I am next week in CO, so now I'm worried about that and feeling like an idiot and a jerk for it, but I'm a world class worrier :roll:

[jazzpants]

Originally posted by Mel On Ice
:(
Initial diagnosis from the doctor? In all caps, with 3 exclamation points:

ABSOLUTELY NO ICE SKATING FOR ONE MONTH!!!

And I'm supposed to be a fairy godmother and was offered a solo in the spring show, in addition to competing at the Synchro Championships in Chicago.

Oh, man!!! MEL!!!! :cry: I definitely wouldn't want to be in your shoes... I'm so sorry!!! :cry:

Re: SARS... if I caught SARS, the doctor's office or hospital is probably the best place for me to be at. Man! I hope they get rid of this one... I know enough people that are afraid of traveling to HK b/c of the outbreak...

Cheers,
jazzpants

[sk8er1964]

Originally posted by tidesong
I can't put more than a bit more than my weight on the ankle without pain. i.e. I can tiptoe on that ankle ( a bit of pain ) but can't jump (don't dare to jump... i can step over.... I was still trying to do waltz jumps on land)

I don't plan to jump when I get on the ice though... my left leg is ok and I plan to do lots of spins on my left leg....

Oh Tidesong, please get to a sports-type doctor. You're going down the same, frustrating road that I did - a couple months of pain and jump avoidance. With me, it actually made things worse because 1) I was favoring the bad leg, messing up technique, and 2) even though jumping doesn't really hurt much anymore my mind is still practicing avoidance - I'm having trouble committing to the jumps. :evil: This is not a fun road to go down, especially with all the worry about when it's going to feel better, and if there is anything wrong with it worse that you think.

[Mel On Ice]

well, the first night I could hop on it, putting very little of my weight on it. It was getting gradually better, but still very stiff. Jumping was out of the question, tho I gave it the old college try. My biggest pain is in 3 turns, mohawks, choctaws, brackets, basically anything where I had to bear down on my right leg while skating. This puts synchro out of the question.

I did do some jumping around at teh Red Wings/Blues game and am paying for it now. :oops:

Thanks for your concern everyone. Jazzpants, people like you are the reason I love these boards. :D

[tidesong]

ok.. how about I skate twice... coz thats all the time I have before the exams and go favour my good leg... rest for three weeks ( i usually don't skate during my exams) and hope the sars thing dies down and then go see a doctor after my exams?

[Mrs Redboots]

From what I understand, if someone has SARS, they will be far too ill to be at the doctors' waiting-room; it's a question of ambulances and Casualty departments, I think. Anyway, are there any cases in the USA?

If your ankle is showing no signs of thinking about healing after nearly two weeks, you should certainly take it to a doctor - you are not likely to catch worse than a cold in the waiting-room! However, if you reckon that it's better than it was, there's no need. After all, what can the doctor tell you that we can't? Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.....

[dbny]

Originally posted by Mrs Redboots
From what I understand, if someone has SARS, they will be far too ill to be at the doctors' waiting-room; it's a question of ambulances and Casualty departments, I think. Anyway, are there any cases in the USA?

Can't post the link because it's one of those AOL things: "In the United States, 39 people have the disease, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 32 of those had traveled to Asia. The others were health-care workers or family members of infected patients." That was dated March 25.

[jazzpants]

My understanding is that anyone coming from HK are quanranteed at airports and checked for symptoms of SARS... We had a few cases right here in the Bay Area so far, but they were all contained at a hospital. No deaths, thankfully! In fact all the cases that surfaced here in the Bay Area are said to be doing fine.

SARS Case in Bay Area (http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/5476176.htm)

[dbny]

Thanks for the info. I'm about to call my friends in Boulder and find out if the HK family is coming. I really want to see them, it's been years.

To get back to the topic - I hope all of you on the injured list find the time to get to the doctor and get the treatments you need. Meanwhile (((((tidesong,mel on ice,iceskaterdawn)))))).

[singerskates]

I know all about wanting to skate but not being able to skate. I went through 2 months of staying off of the ice and then two more months of playing it safe after having ovarian cyst surgery. I only had one month of real time to try to relearn stuff/jumps and spins for competition. But remember to think about the long term goal. And take it from me, the longer your really find out what is physically wrong, the longer it will take to get the problem fixed which will cause you not to be able to do your best. It was more than a year that I had pain in my right lower ab and I thought it was a groin pull but it turned out to be a cyst. I'm glad I finally found out what the real cause was and took care of it. I now can leg press 170 lbs, abs 105 lbs and back 80 lbs and that's only after three weeks working out at the gym. Before that I was really weak from the surgery. I could only leg press 80 lbs, abs 50 lbs and back 40 lbs three weeks ago. Make sure to take care of yourself and find out the true cause of your pain.

Brigitte

[tidesong]

ok... i have decided to see my school's doctor... but one reason why I am not too concerned is that my ankle has been improving slowly but steadily... except for the day when my friend stepped on my foot(it got worse that day) the oher days have been improvements. But still I agree that I should see the doctor and I will... :)

[Mel On Ice]

:cry:

Just got back from the orthopedist. Diagnosis - torn ligaments in the ankle. He wants we to stay off the ice for 6 weeks -- from now! That would mean technically two whole months off the ice. I told him that was unacceptable, which I think he found amusing. He then threw me into a domanitrix looking ankle boot, prescribed icy/hot therapy (ice one night, heat the next) and now I am going to a sports therapist. My biggest perscription and surprise: exercise, and lots of it, to keep me active instead of sedintary (sp?). I have a feeling there's lots of weight lifting and swimming in my future.

NO ICE FOR 6 WEEKS? That'll kill me!

[tidesong]

My doctor just gave me an ankle guard and told me that ankle sprains take about 6 weeks to heal. Gave me this list of exercises to do and thats all. So I have two weeks down four to go and should conicide nicely with the end of my exams :P