Jeff Viniard
Granny Gear
Posts:35
Registered Users
Murray/Crestwood, KY
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| 03/31/2008 9:05 AM |
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Heya folks, I've got a recovery question for you all. I was out running on campus yesterday (trails are too wet down here), went to jump over a puddle, and promptly broke my ankle upon landing. Now I'm laid up in a soft cast, popping Ibuprofen like M&M's, and waiting for the orthopedic doctor to open up shop this morning so I can call over there and figure out just how bad it is.
Which leads me to my (somewhat obvious) question about what on earth this is going to do to my mountain biking season. The spitball estimate at the ER yesterday was that I'd be couch-bound for six weeks: for those of you guys and gals who have gone through this, how long were you laid up? Aside from the general fitness issues that come with being sedentary for well over a month, did you have problems upon getting back in the saddle? Thanks in advance!
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G-MAN
Big Ring
Posts:152
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 03/31/2008 9:55 AM |
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| That SUCKS! I'm no doctor, but I know everyone heals differently. A lot depends on your age; take Marvin for example: he's so old, his shoulder may never heal. A broken ankle is like having a broken piston rod; not good! Wash your bike and park it next to your couch. |
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Jeff Viniard
Granny Gear
Posts:35
Registered Users
Murray/Crestwood, KY
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| 03/31/2008 2:26 PM |
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Yeah, but Marvin's a former Marine. I'm not saying that that has anything to do with recuperation, but let's just say I wouldn't be too surprised if he implements some special healing voodoo they taught him at Parris Island and is kicking tail before the summer's out.
Anyway... thanks for the condolences! If there's one thing this experience has taught me thus far, it's that four-pivot linkages belong in bikes, and NOT in ankles.
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RIC0
Big Ring
Posts:231
Registered Users
sumwaresin, KY
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| 03/31/2008 3:15 PM |
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| I had a severe sprained ankle and it took many many months before I was even close to being OK. Your better off with a break and I would think 2 months you'll be a couch tater. |
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Duane
Big Ring
Posts:232
Registered Users
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| 03/31/2008 3:40 PM |
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You could always put your Road Bike on the trainer and practice one-legged drills with your good leg. |
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russell g
Big Ring
Posts:266
Registered Users
Louisville, KY
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| 03/31/2008 6:43 PM |
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| Im no doctor (but i do play one on TV) but If you keep your ankle immobilized and are able to ride a trainer with no pain I say go for it. the more blood you can get flowing the better plus you can retain your fitness, although not your sanity, by riding the trainer. |
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:81
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/31/2008 9:31 PM |
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Posted By RIC0 on 03/31/2008 3:15 PM
I had a severe sprained ankle and it took many many months before I was even close to being OK. Your better off with a break and I would think 2 months you'll be a couch tater.
I've gotten a severe spain from playin b-ball and if you're only going to be laid up for a month and a half you got off easy compared to a bad sparin. My ankle would hurt driving my automatic car 2 months later and I was afraid of my rehurting that ankle for a long time. I hope you the best. |
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Jeff Viniard
Granny Gear
Posts:35
Registered Users
Murray/Crestwood, KY
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| 04/01/2008 11:18 AM |
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Posted By Rod on 03/31/2008 9:31 PM Posted By RIC0 on 03/31/2008 3:15 PM
I had a severe sprained ankle and it took many many months before I was even close to being OK. Your better off with a break and I would think 2 months you'll be a couch tater. I've gotten a severe spain from playin b-ball and if you're only going to be laid up for a month and a half you got off easy compared to a bad sparin. My ankle would hurt driving my automatic car 2 months later and I was afraid of my rehurting that ankle for a long time. I hope you the best.
Agreed, Rod. I've turned my ankle badly before, and while this is more incapacitating, the pain is significantly less.
One-legged drills would probably keep my cardio on life-support, so to speak, but methinks that'd be downright dangerous on my rollers. Looks like my recovery plan is going to consist mostly of building my KYMBA post count and applying for internships. Thanks for the ideas, fellas.
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chuck_clark
Big Ring
Posts:147
Registered Users
Louisville
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| 04/01/2008 11:43 AM |
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You need a minimum of six weeks for bone healing. Beyond that, it depends on which bone you fractured and where the fracture is located specifically. There are some other variables such as if you sprained a ligament, two or three or jammed anything real good. See a lot of these in rehab and they normally do good. Get a lot of guidance from the MD about how much you can weight bear and when. You should at least be dong range of motion exercises fairly soon if the fracture is a minor one.
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Jeff Viniard
Granny Gear
Posts:35
Registered Users
Murray/Crestwood, KY
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| 04/03/2008 10:17 PM |
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Saw the doc today, and the prognosis sounds pretty good, all things considered. The bone's fractured, but there's nothing out of place, surgery not needed, etc. He said no weight for at least a month (is this SOP?) and to come back on the 21st for a follow-up. Looks like I'll be playing lots of Ghost Recon this next month.
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Rutnick
Tricycle
Posts:2
Registered Users
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| 04/06/2008 1:59 PM |
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August 19, 2007, I broke my Fibula MTB riding. 2 days later I had sugery and a Ti plate installed. 3 weeks and 4 days later, I was riding bike. I raced at the Race to the Canal race and probably could have raced at the 12 hours of Canal.
When I started riding again, all my power was basically coming from the left side but I could ride. It was easier to ride than to walk at that point.
I was peg legging a stationary bike 3 days after surgery.
While your foot is in the soft cast, keep your toes moving. Flex your toes up and down constantly. This will keep the ligaments in there flexible and you will be able to start walking sooner. Even with that, it took months to get full motion back.
Get in that air cast and start walking on that as soon as possible. Basically, I doubled my recovery time. Doc said I couldn't ride for 8 weeks. It was almost 4 before I could. He said 6 weeks before I could walk without a cast and it was 3.
I apparently am a good healer and too bull headed to stay down.
It has taken a lot of work and I wouldn't say I am still at full power but it is dang close. I know my left leg has gotten WAY stronger and is still .5" bigger than my right.
Don't be discouraged if you don't have a lot of power on the right side when you start riding again. Believe me....it WILL come back.
Take Calcium chews, vitamins and anything else you can to help bone growth. I was eating calcium chews like they were candy. The chocolate ones are addictive!
Just make sure everything is lined up right. Two doctors told me I was surgical even with a fibula fracture and I'm glad I got the surgery. I healed much quicker than if I was just in a cast. Both doctors said I would heal quicker and less instance of arthritis later.
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Big Tommy C
Little Ring
Posts:63
Registered Users
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| 04/06/2008 9:53 PM |
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My broken collarbone kept me off the bike from the middle of October to late December, but that's a totally different part of the body, so YM will definitely V.
Just don't push more than the doctor allows--you don't want a 6 week healing process to turn into 6 months due to impatience.
Seems like I saw an article on a pro cyclist with a leg injury, he rode the trainer one-legged and apparently that is 70+% as good as both legs for keeping fit.
If you only have rollers, I'd borrow a trainer. This seems like the right time of year for it since everyone can finally get on the road again. |
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