Coping with inactivity following injury
Discussion
My wife suffered a Lisfrancs fracture in her foot on Tuesday evening. Don't really need advice about the injury, suffice to say she's currently in hospital waiting for the swelling to go down before surgery.
It's more a question to those who have been very active people who've suffered an injury that has meany a long lay off, how did you deal with this and how were you emotionally.
My wife has kept herself very fit for a long time now, she goes to the gym doing PT, weights, spin and pump classes etc every day of the week. She also played netball, but I think Tuesday was her last game
She doesn't sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time, she's always doing something, it's bloody exhausting watching her sometimes tbh. She's a hairdresser which involves standing up all day, so a long period off work is also involved.
I do wonder how she's going to deal with the next few months, as she can't put any weight on her foot for 6-8 weeks after surgery, then only light pressure for I think another 4 weeks, with a total recovery time of around 7 months. Not working or exercising is going to drive her nuts!
Has anybody else had similar and how did you cope with the lack of activity, as I think she's going to be fed up with watching films and daytime tv before she even gets home!
It's more a question to those who have been very active people who've suffered an injury that has meany a long lay off, how did you deal with this and how were you emotionally.
My wife has kept herself very fit for a long time now, she goes to the gym doing PT, weights, spin and pump classes etc every day of the week. She also played netball, but I think Tuesday was her last game
She doesn't sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time, she's always doing something, it's bloody exhausting watching her sometimes tbh. She's a hairdresser which involves standing up all day, so a long period off work is also involved.
I do wonder how she's going to deal with the next few months, as she can't put any weight on her foot for 6-8 weeks after surgery, then only light pressure for I think another 4 weeks, with a total recovery time of around 7 months. Not working or exercising is going to drive her nuts!
Has anybody else had similar and how did you cope with the lack of activity, as I think she's going to be fed up with watching films and daytime tv before she even gets home!
I broke a bone in my foot a few years back. I went from being extremely active to doing sod all, except to see atrophy of my leg muscles set in!
For me, I simply accepted I couldn't do much and sat and caught up on box sets and reading. I knew that once the bone had healed, I could then integrate into my previous active lifestyle.
It's all about acceptance of your current fate, and realising it's only temporary.
For me, I simply accepted I couldn't do much and sat and caught up on box sets and reading. I knew that once the bone had healed, I could then integrate into my previous active lifestyle.
It's all about acceptance of your current fate, and realising it's only temporary.
I've had a few major injuries that had me immobile for a long time; broken foot, then hip/ribs/collar bone, then 2 vertebrae/shoulder blade- as mentioned, just accept it- reading, learning something new, researching, making plans- these things kept me sane.
I started back as soon as I was able, slowly building up. Upper body stuff might be doable, but probably not worth the potential set back risk. Things do come back fast when you get back to it, so it's not too bad. Too soon and you risk more problems though.
I started back as soon as I was able, slowly building up. Upper body stuff might be doable, but probably not worth the potential set back risk. Things do come back fast when you get back to it, so it's not too bad. Too soon and you risk more problems though.
There will be lots she can do in the gym, some leg work may be a problem, but I'm sure a trainer will be able to point her in the right direction.
I don't know much about that particular injury, but I broke my leg playing footie many years ago, was back in the gym after a week, just avoided the stuff that hurt.
I don't know much about that particular injury, but I broke my leg playing footie many years ago, was back in the gym after a week, just avoided the stuff that hurt.
My daughter (mid-twenties, so the at the "young person rushing around" stage of life) is just coming out of the other side of this. She broke her foot in a car crash just before Christmas and spent the usual amount of time in a cast then a plastic support boot.
Her injury totally borked her ability to do anything. She needed help in and out of bed, to use the toilet and to shower. She rented a wheelchair, a commode, crutches and even a zimmer frame from the Red Cross while she mended and all items were used. She still has the wheelchair here as, even now, a long day will mean she can't cope with walking around in the evening. The plastic boot (looks like a grey ski-boot) still comes out on occasion.
Physio started a a while ago and is concentrating on rebuilding the strength in the ankle and leg muscles - the broken bones repaired themselves a long time back courtesy of a metal plate and five pins, but it's the extended period of inactivity and the joint being kept in a fixed position that has caused the current problems. Physio lady is pleased with progress (daughter is a dancer) but has made it quite clear that things won't be back to normal for some time. Mind you, her mobility is 100 times better than it was a few months ago although stairs are still taken slowly.
Her mind has been kept active by doing the admin and finances for the local dance school and she returned to work as an IT project manager (working from home on reduced hours) a couple of months ago. Up until that point the sheer exertion of moving around meant that she slept a lot and was physically exhausted so her days were punctuated with numerous naps. Her physio will advise on driving again at the next appointment. They've already had this discussion but they both feel the foot/ankle isn't yet strong enough to apply the brake in an emergency, so for now I'm still chief DadTaxi driver.
It's a long old process!
Her injury totally borked her ability to do anything. She needed help in and out of bed, to use the toilet and to shower. She rented a wheelchair, a commode, crutches and even a zimmer frame from the Red Cross while she mended and all items were used. She still has the wheelchair here as, even now, a long day will mean she can't cope with walking around in the evening. The plastic boot (looks like a grey ski-boot) still comes out on occasion.
Physio started a a while ago and is concentrating on rebuilding the strength in the ankle and leg muscles - the broken bones repaired themselves a long time back courtesy of a metal plate and five pins, but it's the extended period of inactivity and the joint being kept in a fixed position that has caused the current problems. Physio lady is pleased with progress (daughter is a dancer) but has made it quite clear that things won't be back to normal for some time. Mind you, her mobility is 100 times better than it was a few months ago although stairs are still taken slowly.
Her mind has been kept active by doing the admin and finances for the local dance school and she returned to work as an IT project manager (working from home on reduced hours) a couple of months ago. Up until that point the sheer exertion of moving around meant that she slept a lot and was physically exhausted so her days were punctuated with numerous naps. Her physio will advise on driving again at the next appointment. They've already had this discussion but they both feel the foot/ankle isn't yet strong enough to apply the brake in an emergency, so for now I'm still chief DadTaxi driver.
It's a long old process!
Be very careful with what she eats. I suffered a knee injury that left me hobbling on crutches for several months, unfortunately the diet and appetite of a rugby player didn’t mix well with my lack of activity! I gained about 3 stone due to not training as I was prior to the injury, and not adjusting my diet.
Not very well admittedly
Got a impingement in my shoulder and it's been badly inflamed for months. Means I can't swim and swimming is everything. It's stupid of me to do so, but I've been back swimming a number of times after caving in from just 2 weeks rest. Truthfully, I think such problems take months.
I caved in even though I tried to change tack and do exercise that didn't involve using the shoulders; running, cycling etc. But I can't stay away from water. But that is the only solution I can see...if her foot is buggered, just go do stuff that doesn't used the feet!!
It has been getting better with rest and strength exercises from the phyiso though. I can swim, but I can't do fly or breastatroke without Extremely sharp pain. At a guess I reckon I've only succeeded in making recovery take longer.
Got a impingement in my shoulder and it's been badly inflamed for months. Means I can't swim and swimming is everything. It's stupid of me to do so, but I've been back swimming a number of times after caving in from just 2 weeks rest. Truthfully, I think such problems take months.
I caved in even though I tried to change tack and do exercise that didn't involve using the shoulders; running, cycling etc. But I can't stay away from water. But that is the only solution I can see...if her foot is buggered, just go do stuff that doesn't used the feet!!
It has been getting better with rest and strength exercises from the phyiso though. I can swim, but I can't do fly or breastatroke without Extremely sharp pain. At a guess I reckon I've only succeeded in making recovery take longer.
Cheers folks, sounds like an overwhelming message to focus on doing as she's told by the physio.
Operation was this morning and went well, although she's in a fair bit of pain now. She's in an open cast for next couple of weeks, then a closed one for another couple. The surgeon seemed reasonably confident that she can be walking a little bit in 4-6 weeks but no driving until August.
This is less recovery time than I initially expected, so means she hasn't got be too patient before she's back exercising her upper body again.
Operation was this morning and went well, although she's in a fair bit of pain now. She's in an open cast for next couple of weeks, then a closed one for another couple. The surgeon seemed reasonably confident that she can be walking a little bit in 4-6 weeks but no driving until August.
This is less recovery time than I initially expected, so means she hasn't got be too patient before she's back exercising her upper body again.
I struggled with it. Ripped my chest a while back, misjudged coming back and had a setback.
It was difficult mentally. I love begin active, and I loved being so much stronger than others and impressive feats.
So to be inactive and weak for a long time was tough, just being patient and looking ahead to a far goal is one way to muddle trough.
It was difficult mentally. I love begin active, and I loved being so much stronger than others and impressive feats.
So to be inactive and weak for a long time was tough, just being patient and looking ahead to a far goal is one way to muddle trough.
Cold said:
She may well be prescribed a daily injection of blood thinners to help prevent clots due to the inactivity. It's often suggested these are administered in the belly just above the waistline area, so she might need help doing this - great fun and good payback. 
she did have injections in the hospital, she's brought tablets home with her today. Thanks to one of the posters above, she enjoys swimming so that's a good idea.
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