Broken ankle

[jwitz04]

yep, title says it all. broke 2 bones in my ankle in a hockey game over winter break, slid right into the boards foot first. got 7 screws and a sweet metal plate in it . had surgery 3 weeks ago, getting my cast off in 3 more, then supposedly ill be walking. my doc says ill be able to skate by march

and just got back for the new semester, so these next 3 weeks are gonna suck, not to mention my hockey season is done (at least i have a nice bottle of oxycodone left)

has anybody here ever broken an ankle or weight bearing bone? how long were you on crutches? how long until you were able to play hockey competitively again?

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[timekeep]

Ouch, feel for ya, don't rush it listen to the doctors. Sorry never broke an ankle.

 

[jwitz04]

yeah its hard to think about not rushing it, im having some serious hockey withdrawals here which is the hardest part of this whole thing. going back to that other thread the best feeling in hockey-- the best feeling ever will be stepping onto the ice again, or even asphalt, some roller would be just as good

 

[JustinW]

I had the same thing happen in the summer of 09. I still feel it right now, but its getting better. I was pretty frustrated that I couldn't skate as fast as I used to.

 

[jwitz04]

glad to hear that youre playing though, makes me feel alot better. did you get hardware in your ankle? how long until you first skated again? how did it feel your first couple times skating?

 

[canuck44]

Chipped a bone in my ankle, it was diagnosed as a sprain so I went for some physio, wasn't improving too much but I got back into skates probably in a month or so. About a year from then, I finally got arthroscopic surgery after an MRI. I don't remember what the exact time line was but I remember I felt like it should be fine if I put my ankle in skates since the boot works like a cast. It would feel decent while skating but it'd be painful if I took the skates off. So I ended up getting back to skating almost as soon as my doctor said I could get off crutches. Definitely regret that one.

 

[JMeiser919]

I'm right there with ya. I just broke my femur in my game Sunday night. Had surgery Monday afternoon.

 

[JRZ DVLS]

The same thing happened to a guy i played with last year. He was older, but same thing. he ended up getting shoulder surgery in the meantime since he was gonna be laid up anyway, but it took him a year (late 40's)

I broke My fibula, a little different, but still sucked. My brother broke both Fibula and Tibia. Had screws/plates and all that. Took him a good 8 months to play/Skate, but he was in his mid thirties, and a desk worker.
It all depends on how you rehab yourself. I was on crutches for 3 weeks, then walking boot for 3-6 more. My wife is a physical Therapist for Orthopaedic Surgeons (who i went to, no surgery since i was not displaced) and i work out a lot, so i did a ton of work with rehab, but also did not rush it and took it easy. they really do not send you to Therapy for Ankles, you just have to do some basic exercises. Like do the alphabet with the ankle, thera band while sitting to extend, contract and move in all direction, then move on to going up on your tippy toes and heels.

After my break in July, i started skating at public skates a few times in November and Hockey in December. Took a while to get used to it, or not to think about it in Hockey. Still feels awkward and that was over 3 years ago. Never the same feel unfortunately, but does not affect my play anymore. Took a good two beer league sessions to really get back to my old self.
You will no doubt need a longer skate lace because you will still be swollen for quite some time.

 

[JRZ DVLS]

I'm right there with ya. I just broke my femur in my game Sunday night. Had surgery Monday afternoon.

Wow, that is not a fun break. Hope it goes well for you. You have a full leg cast or something?

 

[JMeiser919]

Wow, that is not a fun break. Hope it goes well for you. You have a full leg cast or something?

no cast, they shoved a titanium rod in there and a few screws. hurts like hell thats for sure. I wish they wouldve done a cast just so its not like hanging there when im trying to get around on crutches.

 

[JRZ DVLS]

no cast, they shoved a titanium rod in there and a few screws. hurts like hell thats for sure. I wish they wouldve done a cast just so its not like hanging there when im trying to get around on crutches.

The worst part about breaking anything is that you can't really do anything. You get restless and have to do something. I went through all my old hockey cards and organized them. Found a crapload of good cards too.

 

[jwitz04]

My brother broke both Fibula and Tibia. Had screws/plates and all. Took him a good 8 months to play/Skate, but he was in his mid thirties

same exact thing happened to me, broke my tib + fib. glad to hear he's skating again. any idea if it feels normal for him when he's skating now? did he ever get the hardware taken out? i don't plan to

 

[A2HockeyDad]

Funny how threads like these seem to happen when you least expect it.

Yep, I turned over my left ankle almost 2 weeks ago. Thought it was a bad sprain. Incredible pain when I iced it that night but could actually put some weight on it a day or two after. It was still very swollen so I had a ortho guy look at it - turns out after seeing the x-rays it was a broken fibula. Saw a ankle specialist the day after that, and was told due to the break and massive displacement (about 8mm) I would need surgery. Went under the knife Monday afternoon. Plate, screws, the whole deal. Yesterday after the numbing block wore off was some of the worst pain I've ever had. Much better today.

I too am extremely anxious about how soon I will be able to actually get back into skates. I am committed to working on my PT like a madman to accelerate my return to this great sport ASAP!

If anyone has any more suggestions, tips, etc. - I'm all ears!

Good luck to the OP as well as all the other folks that have been nicked up - heal quick!

Cheers,
Kev

 

[doobie604]

had similar injury with only 2 screws though and that's it. after surgery, i think i was just laying there for about a month, month and half, and in a hard cast for another month, then walking boot. it was really hard just to start walking again because after few weeks of not using your leg at all, all the muscles just turned to mush. i think i could of played hockey again after 8 months, but decided to take time off and didn't hit the rink till a year later. took me 2 years before it felt like my injured leg is as strong as the good leg, but that could be mainly due to lack of commitment to strengthen it. good luck and remember to rehab it properly for a quick return.

 

[JRZ DVLS]

same exact thing happened to me, broke my tib + fib. glad to hear he's skating again. any idea if it feels normal for him when he's skating now? did he ever get the hardware taken out? i don't plan to

His "Frankenfoot" seems to be okay. He broke his about two years ago. He seems to be okay, but he didnt really rehab it well. The bone heals quicker than you think, its the ligament/Tendons/Muscles that take longer time.
He left it all in, not sure if he's ever gonna get them out. If it doesnt bother you i'd say leave it in

Funny how threads like these seem to happen when you least expect it.

Yep, I turned over my left ankle almost 2 weeks ago. Thought it was a bad sprain. Incredible pain when I iced it that night but could actually put some weight on it a day or two after. It was still very swollen so I had a ortho guy look at it - turns out after seeing the x-rays it was a broken fibula. Saw a ankle specialist the day after that, and was told due to the break and massive displacement (about 8mm) I would need surgery. Went under the knife Monday afternoon. Plate, screws, the whole deal. Yesterday after the numbing block wore off was some of the worst pain I've ever had. Much better today.

I too am extremely anxious about how soon I will be able to actually get back into skates. I am committed to working on my PT like a madman to accelerate my return to this great sport ASAP!

If anyone has any more suggestions, tips, etc. - I'm all ears!

Good luck to the OP as well as all the other folks that have been nicked up - heal quick!

Cheers,
Kev

My pain was when in a hard cast the blood would rush to my toes and the circulation sucked. I'd end up with what i called cabbage patch toes. It burned like hell...

I mentioned some exercises. Really to begin with it is all a bout the range of motion without resistance, hence spelling the alphabet with your toes. Then you move to the Thera bands in all four directions doing a few reps each. Work your resistance up of course. Then the two footted tippy toes and heal raises. Finally to single foot tippy toes and heal raises.
Then when you can hit the gym, take it easy and work up to it.

With a fibula break its non weigh baring, so you can walk and function.

 

[Halifaxhab*]

I broke my tib/fib at the ankle the same as you, but in multiple locations. I got 2 plates and 18 screws back in June. I've been playing since October and my overall speed is back but it's the 1st step burst that I am still working on that. I still have some lack of mobility in the joint and my cross over to one side sucks. But once the hardware comes out that should help. But expect to be rehabbing and retraining for at least 6 months to a year.

 

[jwitz04]

I broke my tib/fib at the ankle the same as you, but in multiple locations. I got 2 plates and 18 screws back in June. I've been playing since October and my overall speed is back but it's the 1st step burst that I am still working on that. I still have some lack of mobility in the joint and my cross over to one side sucks. But once the hardware comes out that should help. But expect to be rehabbing and retraining for at least 6 months to a year.

sounds like you recovered pretty good, glad to hear you have your speed back. how old are you btw? how did it feel when you first started playing again in october? and also does it hurt your ankle when hockey stopping to the side that you broke it? do you plan on getting the hardware out?

 

[ChiTownHawks]

I did not break my ankle, but last spring I sprained my MCL and fractured my tibia & fibula. I had to take about 2-3 months off and do a lot of physical therapy but no surgery. The main advice I can give is when you start the PT make sure to give it your all and finish it up even if you start to feel better. I ended up not going to my last few PT appoinments b/c I felt fine and the place was inconvenient for me to get to. Well my knee is still sore and at times I feel like I might have messed up by not finishing. I should have stayed in the PT b/c I probably could have worked it a little harder and maybe I would have gotten some tips for taking care of the knee in the future.

 

[190Octane]

Funny how threads like these seem to happen when you least expect it.

Yep, I turned over my left ankle almost 2 weeks ago. Thought it was a bad sprain. Incredible pain when I iced it that night but could actually put some weight on it a day or two after. It was still very swollen so I had a ortho guy look at it - turns out after seeing the x-rays it was a broken fibula. Saw a ankle specialist the day after that, and was told due to the break and massive displacement (about 8mm) I would need surgery. Went under the knife Monday afternoon. Plate, screws, the whole deal. Yesterday after the numbing block wore off was some of the worst pain I've ever had. Much better today.

I too am extremely anxious about how soon I will be able to actually get back into skates. I am committed to working on my PT like a madman to accelerate my return to this great sport ASAP!

If anyone has any more suggestions, tips, etc. - I'm all ears!

Good luck to the OP as well as all the other folks that have been nicked up - heal quick!

Cheers,
Kev

You must have an unreal pain tolerance. I turned my ankle up and in so the outside of my skate was flat on the ground. First (and hopefully only) time I couldn't get off a playing surface I stayed down and couldn't get up and get off the field. I had a crack in my fibula and I couldn't put any weight on it for weeks. I was in a cast for a month and a walking boot for a few weeks after that.

If you sprained your ankle bad enough to displace your fibula yet you could still walk on it, you are more of a man than me. My ankle probably swelled up to twice it's normal size and like someone said earlier, the pain when you can't elevate your leg is unreal.

I didn't play for 4 months but that was because of the sprain, the break was fine after the 4-6 weeks.

 

[A2HockeyDad]

Octane - Thanks for the props! (though I wasn't feeling like a stud on Tuesday let me tell you - crazy pain from the surgery!)

The reason I was SO surprised it was actually broken was because I was able to walk/stand on it. I figured it was just a crazy bad sprain - when I saw the x-rays I was blown away. Funny when I thought about it afterward, I was able to walk on it but couldn't cross my legs without a LOT of tenderness - because that outer bone was broken - go figure!

I am almost glad the most damage was to the bone and not the ligaments, though my doctor had hoped to get me into a walking boot in 2 weeks and now it looks like it will be 6 due to the unstableness of the ankle joint he saw.

I plan to set all new medical records and get back out before anyone thinks! (sort of tongue-in-cheek, but part of me hopes not!)

And ChitTown, I saw your post in the Noobie thread - I wish I was coming back in a month too - take care!

Cheers,
Kev

 

[Halifaxhab*]

sounds like you recovered pretty good, glad to hear you have your speed back. how old are you btw? how did it feel when you first started playing again in october? and also does it hurt your ankle when hockey stopping to the side that you broke it? do you plan on getting the hardware out?

At first my skating was absolutely horrible, stopping, starting speed, etc. After a couple months it has stadily improved. I had my skate heat moulded again to accomodate the extra width of my "new" ankle so that helped. Right now, the crossovers and direction change at speed on that side are hard to do.

I do plan on taking out the hardware, but that is more to do with my job than anything else.

My recovery has come along very well, but that's because I'm a 35yo 18year veteran in the NAVY, who was in pretty good shape before it happened (ran a triathalon 2 days before). I have a team of doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists, etc at my beck and call. And all the time needed to do the workouts to re-build the toothpick of a leg.


My advice is to listen to your doctors, but push yourself as hard as you can. But remember that the hardest part is the 1st month after the cast comes off because you'll want to get up and run but you need to take your time and work on your range of motion (THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IMO) you get the range, the rest comes super easy.

 

[jwitz04]

At first my skating was absolutely horrible, stopping, starting speed, etc. After a couple months it has stadily improved. I had my skate heat moulded again to accomodate the extra width of my "new" ankle so that helped. Right now, the crossovers and direction change at speed on that side are hard to do.

I do plan on taking out the hardware, but that is more to do with my job than anything else.

My recovery has come along very well, but that's because I'm a 35yo 18year veteran in the NAVY, who was in pretty good shape before it happened (ran a triathalon 2 days before). I have a team of doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists, etc at my beck and call. And all the time needed to do the workouts to re-build the toothpick of a leg.


My advice is to listen to your doctors, but push yourself as hard as you can. But remember that the hardest part is the 1st month after the cast comes off because you'll want to get up and run but you need to take your time and work on your range of motion (THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IMO) you get the range, the rest comes super easy.

thanks alot for the info and advice..i cant wait to get back on skates

 

[Fleuryoutside29]

Believe it or not you may have been better of breaking it. I severely sprained my ankle once and was relieved to find out it wasn't broken. However, I messed up my tendons so bad that I would have been better off with straight break. I was on crutches for 4 weeks and had to go to physical therapy for a while before I could walk properly or skate on it. Good luck with everything and I hope your experience is better than mine was.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

When it comes to ankles injuries I almost consider myself an expert at this. Having had 3 right ankles sprains in a 16 month period (2 serious with large pools of blood collecting at the bottom of my foot) and 1 that hurt but not what I would call serious). I'm still convinced I ripped some tendons on the one cause I definitely heard a pop when it rolled over but I never had a doctor confirm anything.

Fast forward about 4 months since I last injured anything (the least serious injury) and I still get pain from these injuries if I try running for more than a couple minutes on it.

Ankle recoveries are very decieving in that when you start to think everything feels good again it still isn't anywhere close to being recovered. A lot of the time the ankle won't hurt but it will feel extremely weak and tired even after only doing low impact activities like walking for a half hour.

Hockey actually isn't the worst sport on ankles (unless you are a goalie) because you are tied into a secure boot but don't rush back to early otherwise you'll regret it. Absolutely avoid sports like racketball or basketball until fully recovered. If you are going to the gym to do cardio avoid the treadmill for the first while and use the Eliptical and possibly the bike (but not with high resistance).

There are a number of different exercises that a physiotherapist can provide you. I know quite a few but can't properly describe them without diagrams or showing you in person. Just go to the physiotherapist and follow his orders.

Before you go back out on the ice again pick up an ankle tensor bandage for about $15 at Wal-Mart or Shoppers. It will help give you a little extra support.

Good luck in your recovery.

 

[AvDog]

I completely broke my tib + fib during a game in late July and got a rod installed through my tibia. I wore a cast for a week, then a walking boot with crutches for 3 months. The good news was that my tendons stayed in place, so I just have to rehab my leg due to the lack of use (It's amazing how fast muscle shrinks when you spend 6 weeks on the couch).

I still can't run or jump without pain yet. It should be good to go in a month. I can skate, but I'm not going to do any REAL hockey skating til then.

My recommendations:
1. Follow your doc's instructions and, if you think you can do more than instructed, call and ask him first.
2. Make rehab a priority and do it right. If you rush it, you might hurt yourself OR you might lose strength and mobility which will cause you to hurt yourself once you get back to playing hockey.
3. Get a Green Biscuit puck. Once you can stand on 2 feet again, it'll allow you to practice your stickhandling whenever you want. It felt great to be able to at least do SOMETHING hockey-related even though I couldn't get on the ice. I spent lots of time stickhandling in the garage.

I'm not planning on playing on a team again until the Winter Rec Leagues start up in the fall, just to make sure I don't rush it.

Good luck!