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[Skierchickie]

I went to the walk-in clinic this morning, since my sprained ankle from my mountain bike crash on Sunday seemed to be getting worse. Still swelling more.

So, I broke a bone. "Oblique anterior fibula" was what the doctor said. I go back tomorrow morning to have a metal plate installed. :(:(:( 6-8 weeks before I can do anything. Time off, but can't DO anything!

I was having such a great biking summer! Plus, we were going backpacking on Isle Royale at the end of August. I am really bummed out. I'll be off work for at least the rest of this week - don't know about next week.

Sigh..........:( Sorry - just needed to whine.

[andtckrtoo]

Oh man! How frustrating!!! I'm so sorry to hear that. Prayers for a fast recovery.

[divingbiker]

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that. Right during the peak of the summer, too. Darnit.

[HappyTexasMom]

I'm sorry, that really sucks :(

[Biciclista]

oh bummer. That fibula is so over rated! :p get well soon.
I'll bet it really hurts.

[Skierchickie]

It aches a little, but actually, it doesn't really hurt that much unless I put weight on it and try to move it at the same time. Laterally, especially. So I was slowly shuffling around until they put me on crutches today, which I hate (has anyone here figured out the stairs/crutches thing?? I'm terrified.). I fully expect the real pain to start tomorrow, after the surgery. Well, and there is the mental and emotional pain of the very thought of the next couple of months.

I had this perfect 43 year long streak with no broken bones. :mad: Hey - does anyone know if calcium supplements are helpful while mending? I made sure to eat yogurt & drink milk today, anyway.

Thanks for the kind thoughts, everyone.

[TrekTheKaty]

Metal plate?! Bummer :( Sending you "get well" vibes.........

[emily_in_nc]

Oh ugh...so sorry to hear this news!

When I fractured my pelvis and graduated from a walker to crutches, there was no way I was going to attempt them on our hardwood stairs. I did exactly what I'd been doing while on a walker, the butt scoot. I butt-scooted my way up and down stairs for at least a good month while I was not allowed to bear weight on my right side.

Try it, you'll like it. Good upper body work-out too. :D

Heal fast! And use the "time off" to catch up on reading, maybe find a new hobby (I got a neat book on making hemp bracelets, which I did a few of while recuperating), and take some naps....naps rule!

P.S. I didn't break a bone til the pelvis at age 44 -- beatcha by a year!

[AnnieBikes]

Darn, what a bummer! You can put both crutches under one arm for going UP the stairs, and using the rail, put good foot up first, using crutches to bear weight. Then bring broken one up, then crutches. For going DOWN, put crutches down first, then bad foot, then good one...crutches will bear the weight.

Hope you get over the surgery and recovery fast. :(

[solobiker]

So sorry to hear of your injury. I had a fairly bad crash this past weekend on my mtn bike too. (not as bad as yours) Both my legs and back are all bruised and swollen I hope you heal quickly. Try to use this "down" time to start a new hobby. There was a time that it seemed like every fall I had an injury that would sideline me for several weeks. I would get pretty frustrated as I did not have any non-active hobbies. Well, long story short I took up quilting, teaching my self the guitar, wood working etc. Best of luck my thoughts are with you.

[OakLeaf]

Ouch. :(:( Sending healing vibes.

[kenyonchris]

Oh, that sucks.
Hopefully speedy recovery.

[tc1]

Owie! I know it hurts, I broke my fibula while hiking. I got bad medical advice so didn't see a physical therapist until months later. So now I have lesser mobility, lesser flexibility, gave up skating because I can't skate straight, am having to do a lot of tuning to my ski boots 'cause I can't put that outside edge down, have to wear orthotics, and am developing trouble with the outside of that foot. And I never had surgery. Oh yeah, it hurts all the time too, a little bit.

Find someone who knows about rehab and do it. Just walking won't fix it. And FWIW, I used a cane and never crutches because crutches scared me.

[HappyTexasMom]

For the stairs, I did: crutches level with me, lift myself up and put good foot on next step. Once I make sure I'm stable (all weight on foot), then, bring crutches up. Repeat.

For going down, crutches go down first, then bring good foot down.

Basically you never want the crutches higher than where your good foot is resting, because then they will be too high to fit under your arms.

[sarahspins]

When I was on crutches after I tore my ACL (and again after surgery) I just hopped up/down stairs on my "good" leg.. faster and easier, and just about the only physical activity I could do on crutches (I wasn't cleared for PT either time until I was walking).

I'd hold both crutches in one hand, with my other hand on the railing.

[Skierchickie]

Thanks for the crutches tips, everyone. Once I get better with them, I'll have to practice. We have a log house with log stairs (open steps), no carpeting anywhere, so I'm a little afraid. For now, DH has moved stuff downstairs for me (tv, computer, etc - we have a bedroom & bathroom on both floors, so I can just stay down here for now).

I feel like such a pest right now. Poor DH is doing most things for me. I can't even carry a plate. This stinks!

Here is a picture of my new bionics (hey - I'm part metal now - maybe I'll be able to pedal faster!).

[nolemom]

Sending healing thoughts your way. I am sure that you will be hopping around quickly within a short time. My DH swears that his knee with the pins is a lot stronger than the other one. At least the tour is a good diversion while you are sidelined.

[Ana]

That metal looks scary on the x-ray :p

Wishing you a speedy recovery! :)

[sundial]

Ow! Ow!! I'm sorry you are down for awhile. Maybe you'll be out during the hottest part of the summer and will be right as rain for the beautiful fall season. :)

The good news is you can spend alot of time here on TE. :D

[Trek420]

6-8 weeks before I can do anything. Time off, but can't DO anything!

Owwwwwwiiiie! That was quite a crash. Nothing? Can you:
swim
do yoga
pillates (sp?)
stretch
walk (with crutches)
weight lifting :)
rowing .....

Sometimes injuries are great teachers of other things we can do. It still sucks and is a heck of a way to learn to cross train :o

[Skierchickie]

It sounds like nothing at all. I see the doctor next Tuesday, so hopefully he'll have something to suggest. Nothing weight-bearing, anyway. I suppose stretching (not something I ordinarily do much of, but probably a very good idea). I don't actually know what pilates are, to tell you the truth. I should probably check into that. Maybe some sort of Yoga (something else I've never done).

No swimming (partly the foot position, and partly the cast). It is supposed to be completely immobilized. We actually have a rowing machine, but I'm pretty sure the foot motion, even if I don't push with that one, would be bad.

I definitely need to check into the stretchy/yoga-y stuff. Hadn't thought of that. Maybe sit-ups & push-ups. Thanks for the ideas! I'm supposed to do nothing much at all except crutch around every hour or so for the first few days.

The tour is a blessing right now! :)

[sundial]

walk (with crutches)


I once walked a mile on crutches. :p

[redrhodie]

That x-ray is going to give me nightmares!

May the next 6 weeks fly by!

[bmccasland]

Skierchickie - hope you feel better soon! There's your's and Snap's x-rays to give us all nighmares. Screws, nuts, and bolts DO NOT belong in bodies!!! The human body, some assembly required.

Have fun with the crutches, make sure the armpit padding is good.

[emily_in_nc]

Hope they will have you do PT.... When I had my ilium fracture, I couldn't do any "real" exercise, but they had a PT visit my home a couple of times weekly while I was homebound. Once I could bear some weight, I went to the PT place. They gave me simple exercises I *could* do to rehab. I was also allowed to start pedaling easy (no resistance) on the trainer 8 weeks after my surgery, which was when I was allowed to do weight bearing on the bad side again. I could pedal before I could walk without crutches.

They should have given you a walker, just for around the house. My DH made a simple tray for mine, and I could go fetch food and beverage in the kitchen and take it back to wherever I was sitting or lying. That way I didn't feel like such a burden on him.

I couldn't have done yoga, Pilates, rowing, or any of that for quite awhile after my injury. With the PT, I mostly worked on strengthening the injured side and, later, getting my gait as close to normal again as possible. Don't push yourself...take your time. You just have to be as patient with yourself and your recovery as possible. Believe it or not, looking back, the down time will seem like nothing. I'm four years out, and I can hardly remember all those days of recovery!

[Skierchickie]

Thanks, you guys. Right now I'm feeling down about it, but probably mostly because I have a bad headache and haven't showered in a couple of days. DH picked up a hand-held shower thingy yesterday - he's going to hook it up this afternoon. I'll bet that will help a lot.

I emailed that picture to my friend who is a PT, and she said "very cool", and that they did a very nice job, and that it should hurt my range of motion at all. :)

Poor Levi! I can relate - figured it wasn't a big deal, put off having it checked out, now he's sidelined, watching his friends ride away! :(

I am really sick of not being able to carry anything. Maybe I'll take a small backpack to work when I go back. My DH mentioned a walker, but nobody at the hospital mentioned anything like that.

Gotta watch the tour now.....