Ankle injury

[stillwaterpaddler]

Hello all, just wondering if anyone out there has ever broken an ankle before? My six week mark is next week and I can bear full weight on my foot (still have my cast on) but of course they are telling me not too so I am still hobbling around on my crutches. Just kinda wondering what to expect as far as paddling and such. I am not really willing to delay paddling anymore after I get my cast off and hope not to piton. The surgeon isn't much help at all. Any comments greatly appreciated.

[Dave Frank]

I can't help you much other than to say I am in a similar predicament and time table, with my shattered heel. Been on crutches for 6-7 weeks and have about the same to go still.

I'm now allowed to put 30 lbs of pressure on it. the leg alone weighs over 20.

I did (grudgingly) get the green light to hit the pool now. Should be limping on it by may.

good luck. don't push it too early. you've got to walk on that thing for the rest of your life.

[nicmayer]

The biggest problem you will be up against is the muscle atrophy associated with being in a cast. Your muscles are not being used like normal so they start to go away. Your leg will be noticably smaller when you get your cast off. Don't blow off the physical therapy, even if they do not set you up with physical therapy find your own to go do. It is the best way to get the strength and flexibality back faster. Stiffness and flexability is sometimes slow in coming after a break.

A blanace table (you know.. the thing that is half of a ball on a wood platform that you stand and balance on) that is the best thing to get after to get strength, flexability and balance back.

Good luck!

As far as the guy with the shattered heal... that is a total bummer. Really tough injury to recover from in a timely manner.

Originally Posted by stillwaterpaddler

Hello all, just wondering if anyone out there has ever broken an ankle before? My six week mark is next week and I can bear full weight on my foot (still have my cast on) but of course they are telling me not too so I am still hobbling around on my crutches. Just kinda wondering what to expect as far as paddling and such. I am not really willing to delay paddling anymore after I get my cast off and hope not to piton. The surgeon isn't much help at all. Any comments greatly appreciated.

[Dave Frank]

As far as the guy with the shattered heal... that is a total bummer. Really tough injury to recover from in a timely manner.

Thanks for your encouragement. Got on the spin bike today for the first bit of excercize since the accident. While it didn't feel great, it was encouraging. Nice to get some sort of a workout anyway. Planning to try cramming it in a boat for some flatwater any day now.

[nicmayer]

Sorry! You really do deserve more encouragement than that. Great job getting active even with your injury. I just watched a friend go through that ahnd he was out of work for 4 months and 2 surgeries.

I wish you wonderful flat water and more spinning bike time to speed the recovery process.

Originally Posted by Dave Frank

As far as the guy with the shattered heal... that is a total bummer. Really tough injury to recover from in a timely manner.

Thanks for your encouragement. Got on the spin bike today for the first bit of excercize since the accident. While it didn't feel great, it was encouraging. Nice to get some sort of a workout anyway. Planning to try cramming it in a boat for some flatwater any day now.

[dvanhouten]

I broke my ankle a couple of years ago in late November, back skiing in early February (easy runs) & started boating mid-March. Muscle atrophy was noticable when scouting/portaging, but never had any in-boat trouble, other than some minor pain when jamming into my playboat. I was a little more cautious, guarding the injured ankle, but I think most of it was mental (though I did have a few more months of recovery time before boating season). Good luck in your recoveries!

Doug