Sprained ankle...how long before I can bike?

[indigoiis]

After all of this advice I gave.... and Sunday I went out mountain biking and was going up a grade, went to clip out like a wimp, and it wouldn't go, and I started to fall, the foot came out, bent backwards, *SNAP!*

Thought it was a sprain.
Nope. I broke it in two places.

Zoom, I'll join you on the bench. I am bummed.

[OakLeaf]

Owwwwww. Indigo, you heal up quick too!

[zoom-zoom]

Oh no oh no oh no...ack, I am so sorry! I hope you are not in too much pain. How long will your recovery be? Are you in a cast? Were you alone?

And I hope it's not catching. I'm doing a group ride tomorrow night with my clipless pedals.

[indigoiis]

I see the Orthopedic Specialist today to determine if this will require surgery (aaack!) or not... he is a sports medicine specialist (I love my general phys - she runs and rides, too, so she made sure to recommend someone who can get me back to training.)

I wasn't alone but was with DH. We rode from home up to Big River (about four miles on dirt road), entered the woods on the Southeast corner, and I did fine for the first half hour. I have little confidence in myself until I've been on the trail awhile. I'm scared of sand and screechy about stumps. Because of that, I developed the bad habit of riding with one foot always ready to clip out. Anyhow, we got about three or four miles in and turned off a main trail onto a twisty turny up and down trail of my choosing. I was all confidence because there were like, no rocks or logs, just roots and pine needles. I was all clipped in no problem. I then saw ahead of me a big dipsy doo and went down the one side and as I came up the other, my wimpy side decided I wouldn't make it and attempted to clip out. Clip held. I started to go over from not pedaling, wrestled with my foot, and fell just as my foot came out of the clip and *tried* touching down. Bike and me came on top of that and I heard (and knew just because of the angle that this was bad) *snap!* I rolled out from under the bike and waited in that single minute before the howling starts, thinking, moveyourtoesmoveyourtoesgetyourshoe off. Then, I howled. DH circled back and found me on the ground, took my shoe off, looked for blood. LOL. Anyhow, at that point we weren't *exactly* sure where we were, just had a general idea, and Big River is Big, with a lot of unmarked trails. We were on one of them. It was sunny and hot and humid out. I had my cell but knew I had to walk. So we splinted it with my headband and two sticks. I was able to walk - it was when my foot even remotely pointed inward that I was completely disabled with pain. My DH went ahead and came back and said the fire road was about a mile out. So we walked it. We got out to the fire road and I coasted and walked. He offered to go home and get the truck, but I knew that would take a long time and I just didn't want to wait in the heat / humidity and I figured if we could just get out to route 3 I would be okay on the road. Well, so after a couple of miles we came out on route 3 which is about 10 miles from my house. So we took that with a headwind going maybe 8 mph all the way home, my left ankle resting on the pedal. I looked a sight.

What's funny is, Sunday and yesterday I could walk on the thing. Limpy walking, but I could bear weight. Yesterday my gen. phys. gave me crutches. I got home and it got very swollen and ached all night and kept me up. Today I can't put any weight on it. So I am glad I have an appointment with the orth. doc because maybe I will then get a boot. This crutches thing is no fun.

I want to find out from him when I can ride again, and then, when I can run again. Although I know I will not be able to run the full in October, I could shoot for a half in February in Hyannis.

Plus I have biking stuff booked for this year - we're doing the Kanc in August and the Seacoast Century in September. So those I don't want to miss.

[zoom-zoom]

Oh, man...I could feel your pain--and I have never really broken anything other than my tailbone. *knocks on wood* Wow. Yeah, the not running thing has me sorta bummed, but this isn't the worst time of year to be unable to run. Running in Summer heat is kinda icky and I had planned to bike more than run this Summer, anyhow. But if I had a Fall marathon goal like you do, that would be a different matter. My only upcoming running race is the Vegas HM--and I'm not doing that to PR, it's just an excuse to get together with a group of runner friends from all over the country...and party. The race is just one fun part of the weekend and will be more like an on-foot sight-seeing tour.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't require surgery. Sounds like you are in very good hands.

[zoom-zoom]

Tonite...30 miles, fastest ride ever...I should break my ankle every month! But, really, it felt so good. I'm sure the awesome speed (for me) has everything to do with being hyper-rested from ample sleep and no aerobic workouts of any sort since I was injured going on 2 weeks ago.

I did find that unclipping my left foot was a bit of a challenge...it didn't hurt, I just have greatly reduced ankle strength. Amazing how much strength our ligaments supply. It sure ain't just about muscles!