Broken ankle :-(

[Tokie]

Hi Everyone - I was having a lovely training ride on Sat when I took a turn too fast and crashed. The ambulance knew exactly where to find me - it's where bikes crash all the time - the turn on a beautiful descent but it is completely flat - I chose to go off the road uphill thinking I would slide along the dirt & stop. DH was behind me & said I kind of launched up the hill then flopped down. I'm so lucky to have no road rash,head or back injuries - just broken tibia & fibula. I had surgery Saturday night & will be non weight-bearing for 2 to 3 months. I am glad I take Fosamax! My right hip is bruised & sore, but not broken - YAY! Now looking into getting a kneeling walker - anyone have experience with them? I have a walker & crutches & DH is on summer vacation for another month - so lucky. Oh, & we took out Access America trip insurance so our ride from Niagara Falls to New Hampshire will be mostly reimbursed. Just riding the sofa for now......tokie

[bmccasland]

Owie! Hope you get to feeling better soon. May I suggest DH makes a library run for you? Daytime television is going to get real boring real soon. Although at least this week you have the TdF to keep you going.

I found when I was riding the couch that library books were my friend. Oh, one other thing: bathroom towel bars do not equal handicapped grab bars. :o I still need to replace the one I bent.

[indysteel]

Ouch, Tokie! I'm glad you didn't sustain more serious injuries, but a broken ankle sure doesn't sound like much fun. I hope you heal quickly and fully!

[spokewench]

Sorry, to hear about your injury. I'm sure you will heal up fast!

[Owlie]

Could have been much worse, for sure, but a broken ankle still sucks. Agreed--get your DH to make a library trip or two for you. Happy bone-mending vibes in your direction. Heal fast!

[redrhodie]

I hope you heal fast and get to take your trip soon!

[colorisnt]

Ouch!! No advice other than definitely give it time.

My sister got a broken ankle as a cross country runner from running in the wrong pair of shoes. Her coach didn't think it was anything and she has a high pain tolerance, so she just kept going and ended up with a HUGE fracture and an ankle that still bothers her today.

Get better soon!

[NbyNW]

Wishing you a smooth healing process!

I haven't used a kneeling walker, but I have had an injury where I had to re-learn how to walk. (A kneeling walker would not have been appropriate for my injury) Step one: practice shifting weight to my injured side. I would guess that's the point of the kneeling walker -- you can keep using your muscles on your injured side from the knee up, while the lower leg is healing. Hopefully the PT people will weigh in as well ...

[molliewog]

I had a trimalleolar fracture a few years ago. I was non weight bearing for 11 weeks. It was really rough! I just used crutches. I really wish i had one of those kneeling things. I have to say though that it was quite fun zipping around the grocery store in one of those electric carts. One thing that was really hard for me was going from being quite active, to having to sit all day with my leg elevated. I started doing pilates the week after my surgery. Many pilates exercises can be done with no weight on the leg at all. It was a great way to get at least some exercise! I was also cleared to swim and use a stationary bike on super low resistance before I could walk.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[VeganBikeChick]

Sending healing vibes your way.

[Tri Girl]

oh no. :mad: :(
So sorry to hear that!

Sending speedy healing vibes your way. I hope you're able to get back out and at it again soon! :(

[Crankin]

Get better!!!

[Catrin]

Eeeek! Take care of yourself and get better soon!

[Ritamarie]

Awww... Tokie, I'm so sorry to hear it. The first 48 hours is a b**ch isn't it? But it gets better from there. :( Mend well.

[OakLeaf]

Ow ow ow ow ow. Heal quickly and completely!

[tangentgirl]

Oh no, Tokie! Hope you feel better very soon and are back on your bike in no time.


The ambulance knew exactly where to find me - it's where bikes crash all the time

This made me laugh. Out loud, even.

[PamNY]

Sounds like no fun at all. Hope you have an easy and uneventful recovery.

[surgtech1956]

Brings back very bad memories. I broke my ankle December 2, 2010 - had surgery, plates and screws - trimalleolar fx(next to the worse fx). Now, 7 months, 18 days later, my ankle is about 80% back to normal. I hope you a speedy recovery and back on the bike this year - work very hard in physical therapy.

[Tokie]

Thanks all for healing wishes! The first 48 hrs were awful, but by 36 hrs, able to discontinue pain pills. At this point my ribs,butt and back feel worse than my ankle. Some gastritis from emotional distress - will see therapist (must call for appt) soon for some perspective on this. All well wishes from work include "this is your second bad bike accident, do you think it's time to quit riding your bike, we do". I feel bad about being off work - and I miss work and riding my bike both. Good to hear about the value of PT. My fracture is only bi-malleolar and doc said my challenge will be a stiff ankle. I am so lucky that my breaks are above the joint. I am ready to do whatever my doc and PT tell me to do! bouncing back, tokie

[tzvia]

:eek::eek::eek:
Oh my! Get well quick!

What awful luck.:(

[BikingNurse]

Knee walker?? I am a nurse for a podiatrist. and my ankle fracture patients love them! Much safer and easier than crutches. Soo sorry about your injury! keep me posted on your recovery please.
Yea, that first 48 is always the worse.. glad that part is over for you.

[redrhodie]

All well wishes from work include "this is your second bad bike accident, do you think it's time to quit riding your bike, we do". tokie

By that logic, if you were in a car accident, would they suggest you stop driving? Just a thought on how to deal with that kind of comment.

Glad you're off the pain meds so soon. You're a tough chick!

[skinimini]

So sorry Tokie about your crash. I had a very similar accident 1.5 years ago with three lower leg/ankle fractures and a complete rupture of the syndesmotic ligament. Took four months, surgery with all the appropriate hardware, four types of casts, totally non-weight bearing. The knee walker was a god-send! It also took a full year to be 100 percent. Really push with the PT and you'll be back on the bike in no time.

Good luck with your recovery

[rubysoho]

ouch! Hope healing goes quickly and without complication!

[surgtech1956]

Tokie, good luck in PT. I am diff a fan of PT. Mine was a Tri-Malleolar. :(

[Tokie]

Wow, how time flies - sort of! I am in the last 3 wks of PT. Newer stuff includes some plyometric moves and jogging on a mini-trampoline. I also am doing some independent aqua aerobics at the local rehab pool - 92 degrees F and outdoors, pretty nice. The water work-out is great for stretching my tight muscles, it feels great on my ankle too. This is my second week back at work. Mostly it hurts (I'm on my feet all day) but has pushed my recovery faster than I would have done to myself! PT has been super helpful, I'm grateful for all the encouragement to work hard in PT from you all - I've had my moments! tokie

[surgtech1956]

I too am I my feet all day too. My orthopod said that some ankle fx patients do well with a little elevation in their shoes. So I tried some Danskos, a world of difference, I am also pain free working.