Broken leg, smashed knee - 6 months plus recovery
Discussion
Absolutely gutted - I had a nasty fall whilst skiing last week and badly injured my knee.
damage toll runs to 2 fractures, torn ACL and brusing of bone.
its going to be a long time before I am well enough to ride again.
wondering what to do at the moment - thinking may even have to sell my bike to pay for surgery bills in 3 months time to reconstruct my ligament which doc is telling me is more likely to be required than not.
In my hour of depression does anyone have any stories like this with a more positive than expected outcome that I can draw inspiration from?
damage toll runs to 2 fractures, torn ACL and brusing of bone.
its going to be a long time before I am well enough to ride again.
wondering what to do at the moment - thinking may even have to sell my bike to pay for surgery bills in 3 months time to reconstruct my ligament which doc is telling me is more likely to be required than not.
In my hour of depression does anyone have any stories like this with a more positive than expected outcome that I can draw inspiration from?
Real tough luck that -best wishes for a quick recovery.
(better keep quiet about how you did it though or the Nanny State/PC Police will be after introducing safety measures in ski slopes.
Who knows what next- a Ski Camera Partnership??)
Now that would make me shudder never mind your injury....
(better keep quiet about how you did it though or the Nanny State/PC Police will be after introducing safety measures in ski slopes.
Who knows what next- a Ski Camera Partnership??)
Now that would make me shudder never mind your injury....
wilftwo said:
......... torn ACL and brusing of bone.
its going to be a long time before I am well enough to ride again.
In my hour of depression does anyone have any stories like this with a more positive than expected outcome that I can draw inspiration from?
I unfortunately have lots of experience of this - not the breaks - but the knee problems.its going to be a long time before I am well enough to ride again.
In my hour of depression does anyone have any stories like this with a more positive than expected outcome that I can draw inspiration from?
Tore my ACL playing football in July 2003. Had keyhole surgery to take the ligament out in August - as I could not move knee at all - the ligament was torn and was jamming the knee from moving. Oddly had never shown up as this serious on the MRI - in fact the surgeon had never seen anything like it and now lectures using my photos as example.
After surgery I was told no more football, or contact sports til I had the ACL replacement.
However did not stop me doing my bike test in April 2004, or riding to Gibraltar in September 2005, or off roading at BMW school or anything else. Knee always felt weak - and a little sore but could still ride.
In May 2006 I (stupidly) tried to play football - just a kick around in a charity match - knee went again in about 5 mins. Back to see the surgeon who said how lucky I was to have not done any more damage, and I was pursuaded to get the ACL replacement done.
September 2006 - had the ACL replacement. Easily the most painful thing I have ever had done - and bloody hard work to teach yourself how to walk again. Sorry I cannot be kinder - but that is the truth.
Was back on the bike at Xmas - although very tentatively - and probably a bit too early. Did my first trackday in May 2007 - so not too bad a turnaround.
Unfortunately more surgery in Sep 2007 to take the metalwork out - and finally I feel like I am getting somewhere - still sore, still seizes up, but no issues with riding bikes whatsoever. Off on an off road school in Nov 2008 in Malaga. Will be a good test!!! I will let you know how I get on.
My surgeon has said that most of my issues were because I left having the ACL replacement done for so long. I would definitely recommend once the bones are fixed to not delay an ACL replacement - I did it for work reasons as I was worried about the amount of time off - one of the only thing I ever regretted.
Good Luck and if you have any questions - happy for you to PM me as I have lots of experience of what you are going to go through!
Thanks for replies which have given me some encouragement.
I am fighting off the talk of selling the bike. My first post was made at a really low point - a day after hearing the bad news.
I have gone private so far as want to give myself best chance of recovery. As a keen (if not gifted) sportsman and x4 week devout gym goer I am finding the prospect of the prolonged recovery pretty crap. As said above, its more frustrating than anything else esp since had already planned active sailing and surfing holidays in the next 6 months.
Big saving grace at moment is being able to drive an automatic car. Having said that my own car is a manual and I am either going to have to hire an auto or chop my beloved motor for and auto at some point soon (as have to return the auto I have borrowed pretty soon).
I am fighting off the talk of selling the bike. My first post was made at a really low point - a day after hearing the bad news.
I have gone private so far as want to give myself best chance of recovery. As a keen (if not gifted) sportsman and x4 week devout gym goer I am finding the prospect of the prolonged recovery pretty crap. As said above, its more frustrating than anything else esp since had already planned active sailing and surfing holidays in the next 6 months.
Big saving grace at moment is being able to drive an automatic car. Having said that my own car is a manual and I am either going to have to hire an auto or chop my beloved motor for and auto at some point soon (as have to return the auto I have borrowed pretty soon).
hornetrider said:
Why would you have to pay for surgery? Our glorious NHS will sort you out, no?
Minimum of a 12 week waiting list on the NHS for decent surgeons at the moment. Not happy hobbling around waiting for a date, knowing I may have another 10 weeks wait on my hands. I havent taken a day off work yet, but may do nearer the op to get the swelling down a bit. I wouldnt sell anything if I was you. You'll only regret it when your fixed!
Depends where you are but the consultants in my case were the same whether private or NHS. The difference is you pay for the private treatment - or rather, your health insurance does.
I snapped my patella in two and walked (yes, really!) into A+E, got an x-ray and was admitted for an op. Spent the night in the orthopaedic ward and had my op the next day. Mentioned I was private just before the op and they moved me to the local Nuffiled for recovery - but it would have been the same surgeon who performed the OP either way.
I snapped my patella in two and walked (yes, really!) into A+E, got an x-ray and was admitted for an op. Spent the night in the orthopaedic ward and had my op the next day. Mentioned I was private just before the op and they moved me to the local Nuffiled for recovery - but it would have been the same surgeon who performed the OP either way.
Mate I work in sports rehabilitation in Oxford, correct rehab is important and you can start now with some static work. I have one patient who had his ACL reconstructed in Sep 07 and is now running for 30 mins on a treadmill at an incline level of 2 degrees.
If you want a programme now so you can start pre op exercises just mail me on here.
To be fair mate, fractures take around 6 weeks to settle and once swelling goes down and you can start building up your lower limb strength, you'll be back on your bike well before your ACL op.
If you want a programme now so you can start pre op exercises just mail me on here.
To be fair mate, fractures take around 6 weeks to settle and once swelling goes down and you can start building up your lower limb strength, you'll be back on your bike well before your ACL op.
Edited by 996 sps on Thursday 6th March 12:47
wilftwo said:
As a keen (if not gifted) sportsman and x4 week devout gym goer
996 sps said:
Mate I work in sports rehabilitation in Oxford, correct rehab is important and you can start now with some static work. I have one patient who had his ACL reconstructed in Sep 07 and is now running for 30 mins on a treadmill at an incline level of 2 degrees.
If you want a programme now so you can start pre op exercises just mail me on here.
If you want a programme now so you can start pre op exercises just mail me on here.
Fats25 said:
My surgeon has said that most of my issues were because I left having the ACL replacement done for so long. I would definitely recommend once the bones are fixed to not delay an ACL replacement - I did it for work reasons as I was worried about the amount of time off - one of the only thing I ever regretted.
Firstly great news that you are fit. Secondly take advice of 996 sps - the more pre-work you do the easier it will be to recover.As I said above my issues were the delay. In the three years in between injury and op - I did no physical exercise (played golf and that was it). I could not run, could not cycle, could not do any sport. Admittedly I am sure I could have done more than I did - but only sport I played was football 3 times a week, and that was a no-go.
Hence by the time I came to have op and started re-hab - I was 49lbs heavier than when I first had the injury! Hard work moving with that amount of weight gain.
Get the op done ASAP - and keep as fit as possible in the meantime.
I have finally started to shift some of the weight - only another 20lbs to go - and then I will be back on the football pitch, and can finally start to think about ski-ing again. Still too heavy to risk it at the moment!
Edited by Fats25 on Thursday 6th March 13:02
Broke my right Femur in 2001. Open fracture lost four pints of blood.
Had surgery that day and a nail inserted down the length of the bone. The next day I was back on my feet and two days later had an op to close the wound. I was out of hospital three days later and rested for a month before starting phisio.
Off work for five months but I was fully fit when I went back.
Had a minor operation the year after to remove some screws that had snapped but other than that no problems.
Since the accident I've climbed Mont Blanc and Mera Peak in the Himalayas.
Must admit the NHS looked after me very well and my surgeon was a top guy.
Listen to the experts and keep a positive mindset. It's going to hurt but you WILL get better.
Set yourself a goal and work towards it ( mine was Mont Blanc ).
Good luck !
Had surgery that day and a nail inserted down the length of the bone. The next day I was back on my feet and two days later had an op to close the wound. I was out of hospital three days later and rested for a month before starting phisio.
Off work for five months but I was fully fit when I went back.
Had a minor operation the year after to remove some screws that had snapped but other than that no problems.
Since the accident I've climbed Mont Blanc and Mera Peak in the Himalayas.
Must admit the NHS looked after me very well and my surgeon was a top guy.
Listen to the experts and keep a positive mindset. It's going to hurt but you WILL get better.
Set yourself a goal and work towards it ( mine was Mont Blanc ).
Good luck !
wilftwo said:
996 sps - Would be very interested in any rehab info. Tried to email you direct but said your direct mail is not enabled.
Anything that gets me back on me bike and in me car sooner is welcome
My apologies for the delay mate been off line a few days, whats your e-mail address and i'll send some info?Anything that gets me back on me bike and in me car sooner is welcome
996 sps said:
wilftwo said:
996 sps - Would be very interested in any rehab info. Tried to email you direct but said your direct mail is not enabled.
Anything that gets me back on me bike and in me car sooner is welcome
My apologies for the delay mate been off line a few days, whats your e-mail address and i'll send some info?Anything that gets me back on me bike and in me car sooner is welcome
Kicked the edge of a door on sunday night (while a bit tipsy) and I've broken my big toe!
Foot is nicely purple, toes strapped together and wearing my slippers for work, being in the RAF my uniform looks nice with fluffy turquoise slippers, should go buy some big animal ones
Painkillers every couple of hours, but it aches, alot!, the thought of my bones rubbing together makes me feel a bit faint though....
Meant to be moving this weekend and my bike test soon after, bugger!!
Best wishes to the OP
Foot is nicely purple, toes strapped together and wearing my slippers for work, being in the RAF my uniform looks nice with fluffy turquoise slippers, should go buy some big animal ones
Painkillers every couple of hours, but it aches, alot!, the thought of my bones rubbing together makes me feel a bit faint though....
Meant to be moving this weekend and my bike test soon after, bugger!!
Best wishes to the OP
Edited by Rach81 on Tuesday 11th March 17:23
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