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

[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!

[TriMoms]

Ladies,
Spent all day online trying to figure out the best way to rehab my ankle and get on my bike. I know lacing up sneakers is going to be a lot longer.

Yesterday I sprained my ankle while playing soccer with my 6yr old daughter. Guess she schooled me! SO, after 5 yrs in the ER and a negative xray (thank god). I find myself in an aircast, pain meds, crutches, elevation and ice.

This is coming up on 24hrs. I've been wiggling my toes and moving my foot gingerly up and down without pain. The thought of twisting in or out sends me to a bad place. Clipping out of pedals would NOT happen. BUT - I may try the gym.

Any other suggestions on how I can get back to it? H.E. M. ankle method users out there?

This is my first sprain. Thanks so much

[KnottedYet]

Ask your doc when you can start riding again.

Use your pedal wrench (every woman should have one, and know how to use it!) to put platforms on your bike once you can start riding again, and use them until you have better lateral stability.

[HillSlugger]

Ladies,
Spent all day online trying to figure out the best way to rehab my ankle and get on my bike. I know lacing up sneakers is going to be a lot longer.

Yesterday I sprained my ankle while playing soccer with my 6yr old daughter. Guess she schooled me! SO, after 5 yrs in the ER and a negative xray (thank god). I find myself in an aircast, pain meds, crutches, elevation and ice.

This is coming up on 24hrs. I've been wiggling my toes and moving my foot gingerly up and down without pain. The thought of twisting in or out sends me to a bad place. Clipping out of pedals would NOT happen. BUT - I may try the gym.

Any other suggestions on how I can get back to it? H.E. M. ankle method users out there?

This is my first sprain. Thanks so much

5 yrs in the ER? That's a long time to wait!

I sprained my ankle a few years ago and was riding again in about a week, but I switched out my clipless pedals for toe clips for a while.

[zoom-zoom]

Ask your doc when you can start riding again.

Use your pedal wrench (every woman should have one, and know how to use it!) to put platforms on your bike once you can start riding again, and use them until you have better lateral stability.

Yep. Ask your doc, but I think I was off for a week or two, IIRC. Took me 5.5 weeks to get back to running--and that was very few miles, very slowly, rebuilding my weekly mileage very gradually. I think it's been about 12 weeks since my sprain. My ankle is still far from healed, but I think that's in large part to how poorly I treated my ankle in the first couple of days. Continuing to run nearly 10 miles on trails after the initial grade 2 sprain was not wise and if it happened again I would likely not continue. I still can't run at all on uneven surfaces (like grass or the gravel shoulder) without discomfort and my range-of-motion is pretty restricted compared to my other ankle.

[malkin]

Ok, for your entertainment while healing, and make you feel brave, active and athletic, I present the story of the worst ankle sprain of my life.

I was 19 years old. I was in general terms, fit; I could dash off 15-20 miles anytime I had the time and inclination.

On this occasion, I was standing in line at the bank.

I was holding a random stack of dollars and cents, waiting to have them swapped for krone and ore, as this was 1978 in Oslo at the university.

I had my legs stylishly wrapped around each other, and managed to get the worn out wooden part of my shoe sole in contact with the shiny slippery floor. My foot flew off one direction, my ankle another direction, and my cash scattered in all directions. I passed out.

I came to in the arms of another US student, a guy named Clyde from Florida, I think, as he was plopping me on the counter of the health center, which was conveniently located just upstairs from the bank. Someone else trotted behind, having collected my money off the floor.

The health folks patched me all up and I have been more cautious in bank lines ever since.