Broken Ankle Update

[pirate]

Hello all... I just thought I'd post an update on my ankle situation... I had the surgery last Monday, and everything seems to be going nicely so far. They installed a plate and screws to fix my broken fibula, and then put a long screw through both the fibula and tibia to help fix the ankle. (it had been all stretched apart) The pain the night of the surgery was probably 20 times worse than that of actually breaking the ankle, but that only lasted about a day. I've never mowed through so many pain killers so fast, though!!! I think I took 60 percocets in about 4 days!
Anyway, I get the staples out next week. After that I'm not really sure about a timetable for getting back on the bike. I'm guessing it'll be about another 3 months. :-(

I hope everyone is enjoying the nice autumn riding! I am really jealous.

Brian

[Brizn]

glad to hear. and what about the dumb comments?

[iplayoutside]

I know what you ae talking about when dealing with the pain, not to make this any worse but I broke my fibula and shredded all my tendons and ligaments except for acheles. I have the steel plate and six screws in my ankle right now. Did you do much ligament damage? That is what takes the most time to heal. I was off the bike from mid june till the end of september. Most of that time i was in a full legged cast. So best of luck may you heal fast!!

[Pinoy Rider]

Ouch sounds like you had a syndesmotic sprain plus the broken fibula. Double whammy!!! Get that rehab in! Good luck!

[dcraider]

Get well soon Pirate. I feel your pain, I fractured and tore all three ligaments in my right ankle playing football, ruined my chances of going pro, whatever. Its a long road to a good solid recovery. Fortunately for you, as it sounds, you don't have to deal with any ligament recovery. It took me nearly a year to get back to 100%, but I'm better now than before I broke it.

While you have so much down time (pun intended) get a netflix or blockbuster subscription. They both have plenty of kick butt MTB dvds to get. Lots of freeride/downhill/trials stuff, plus much more.

Good Luck with the recuperation.

Kris

[jayem]

Hey Pirate.

Glad to hear things are going well. Heal well, we gotta ride again when you are 100%. :D

Jason

[jvanbrecht]

I'm guessing everytime you wince or complain about the pain..... your wife suggests you should pick up a new hobby :)

[jvanbrecht]

like maybe knitting :D It's so much safer, and its a hobby the whole family can partake in (shoot me.. someone actually said that to me once...)

[shortbus]

or puzzles :p

hope you heal soon!

[pirate]

Wow, I feel like I don't know that much about the actual injury... The doctors just kinda said, "Yeah, that needs to be fixed... Come in next week."

I do know that I tore something in there, but I'm not sure what. If it helps anyone guess, my foot rotated almost 180 degrees counter clockwise. And the x-rays showed the tib/fib spread apart where they are supposed to be together...

I'm going to ask a bunch more questions when I go back on Tuesday. :confused:

[pirate]

like maybe knitting :D It's so much safer, and its a hobby the whole family can partake in (shoot me.. someone actually said that to me once...)

Believe it or not, someone actually said the exact same thing to me. Ugh. What a douche. :rolleyes:

I'm guessing everytime you wince or complain about the pain..... your wife suggests you should pick up a new hobby

My wife has been pretty good about the whole thing. She knows how much I enjoy bikes and riding them.

[Mrs. Outlaw]

I'm guessing everytime you wince or complain about the pain..... your wife suggests you should pick up a new hobby :)

Not all wives are like that! ;)

[Squirrel Girl]

I'm guessing everytime you wince or complain about the pain..... your wife suggests you should pick up a new hobby :)Or at least be slightly less of a daredevil! Sure biking is fun. And I wouldn't suggest quitting. Not at all! But if you've broken two bones in a year and had to spend months off your bike, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to be just a little mellower.

But, regardless, I wish you a very speedy recovery and that you're back in the saddle again soon! :)

[pirate]

But if you've broken two bones in a year and had to spend months off your bike, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to be just a little mellower.

The problem is, I think I'm a bit of an Adrenaline Junky. Mellow doesn't really do it for me. This is probably part of the reason I do the Volunteer Firefighter thing, and why when I'm skiing, I'm either flying down the hill as fast as possible or looking for jumps. :)

[Squirrel Girl]

The problem is, I think I'm a bit of an Adrenaline Junky. Mellow doesn't really do it for me. This is probably part of the reason I do the Volunteer Firefighter thing, and why when I'm skiing, I'm either flying down the hill as fast as possible or looking for jumps. :)Lord knows *I* am not contented with just reading books (though I like that, too). So I appreciate not wanting to be held down (insert rude remark here).

I guess you're willing to accept being laid up for weeks/months whereas I would rather be a little more careful, and not be laid up at all (again-time for another rude remark here).

I still hope you get well quickly and we can go out on the trails again soon, but it sounds like you're getting what you deserve! :D :eek: :rolleyes: :p

[absolutcq20v]

Glad to hear you're doing well (relatively speaking).
I recall the 'say a prayer for...' post awhile back; sounds like you had a great group of people around to make you as comfortable as possible and get you safely and promtly to the ER. Makes me think: my buddies would probably laugh and videotape my injuries...a la Jackass. :p

Anyhow, get well...and get riding again soon! :cool:

[redneckp3ngu1n]

Glad to hear that your getting better. All major injuries seem to feel the worst on the 2nd and 3rd day after they occur so your out of the worst of it. As for missing fall riding it looks like you actually broke your ankle at the best time of the year. Soon it will be too cold to ride and you will not have to worry about watching the spring and summer pass by. You also have a bit of winter to start training on the road /inside after your leg heals so that when spring comes you can be at a decent level of fitness and not have to skip any good rides

[bikerRob]

Hello all... I just thought I'd post an update on my ankle situation... I had the surgery last Monday, and everything seems to be going nicely so far. They installed a plate and screws to fix my broken fibula, and then put a long screw through both the fibula and tibia to help fix the ankle. (it had been all stretched apart) The pain the night of the surgery was probably 20 times worse than that of actually breaking the ankle, but that only lasted about a day. I've never mowed through so many pain killers so fast, though!!! I think I took 60 percocets in about 4 days!
Anyway, I get the staples out next week. After that I'm not really sure about a timetable for getting back on the bike. I'm guessing it'll be about another 3 months. :-(

I hope everyone is enjoying the nice autumn riding! I am really jealous.

Brian

11/03/06 >> Holy Smokes! :eek: What the heck happened and what's the story??! Detail, details, Details!! The "How" and the "Where"! When you posted this as an update I thought maybe there was a story somewhere else on the forum. I don't see one. Dude, probably the only good thing of having something like this happen is that you get to tell the story to all us "sidewalk riders".. :o .
Please, please...Story! Story! Even if the story might tend to make you look stupid...don't worry about that, everything in life is an experience that needs to be shared. The FOB ( Forces of Bikedom ) are waiting in humble silence ( ..and we are not worthy ) :o

[pirate]

11/03/06 >> Holy Smokes! :eek: What the heck happened and what's the story??!

The details were all tangled up in THIS (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5267&page=5&pp=20) thread...

[urbaindk]

Hey Brian,

Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. When you gonna burn those DVD's for me? It's not like you are doing anything else. :D (Sorry that was mean).

Later...

[langer]

Soon it will be too cold to ride and you will not have to worry about watching the spring and summer pass by.
Watch your tongue young paduin! Never too cold to ride (around here at least). Ok, intermission over, back to our regularly schedule program. :D

[redneckp3ngu1n]

Watch your tongue young paduin! Never too cold to ride (around here at least). Ok, intermission over, back to our regularly schedule program. :D

Haha yea i usually ride in the winter but its usually not trail stuff because of the poor drainage in winter. If its been dry for a while ill go someplace with alot of trees to sheild wind but usually i just ride street or help people build.

[DMarchy1]

Red, Dont give away the fitness level you worked hard to attain this spring summer and Fall, Get out whenever you can and Ride. You are not far from some very weather resistant trails. Gambril, Greenbriar, and the shed. Just 1 month of not riding can erase 11 months of fitness building.

Dave M.

[pirate]

Okay, so I got my hard cast off today! Now I'm in a walking boot. It feels good to have the cast off, but I can hardly put any weight on my bad foot.
The good news is, the doctor gave me the go-ahead to start using my stationary trainer (with low resistance) and I have already made an appointment with a Physical Therapist on Thursday. She sounded pretty cool, too... She sounds like a pretty hardcore road cyclist who has even tried downhilling.

Anyway... I'm on my way to getting back on the bike, and just wanted to tell someone! :D

[urbaindk]

Anyway... I'm on my way to getting back on the bike, and just wanted to tell someone! :D


Sweet! Have fun in physical torture...

[redneckp3ngu1n]

Good luck man. its always good to have somebody help you who has tried what you like to do (and got hurt in the process) so that way they can help you get back into the right fitness level faster.

[crashmore]

Great news. I look forward to hitting the trails with you as soon as you're healed up.

-J-


Okay, so I got my hard cast off today! Now I'm in a walking boot. It feels good to have the cast off, but I can hardly put any weight on my bad foot.
The good news is, the doctor gave me the go-ahead to start using my stationary trainer (with low resistance) and I have already made an appointment with a Physical Therapist on Thursday. She sounded pretty cool, too... She sounds like a pretty hardcore road cyclist who has even tried downhilling.

Anyway... I'm on my way to getting back on the bike, and just wanted to tell someone! :D