Fractured fibula(sp?)

[schafer]

So, I fractured a bone in my leg, and I have a cast on for 4 weeks (2 down already). I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar injury, and how long it took you to get back to playing. I'm on a walking cast, btw.

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

I broke mine playing soccer on March 4. I had a cast for six weeks--came off on April 17. I had an air cast after that, until May 16. I've been jogging every day since then, did four miles today. I'm not playing soccer yet, but I suppose I could, but I'm going to wait until I'm in shape, probably 3-4 more weeks from now. I'm 35 and I find it's no fun going out and wheezing, plus I think I'm more likely to get hurt again if I'm in poor condition. Going up and down hills hurts.

Right now the ankle (I broke my fibula right near the base of the bone...I don't know where the ankle ends, and the leg begins, to be honest) is pretty sore, but nothing a man can't handle.

Hang in there, it's a pain in the ass but the cast will be off soon. Also one of the best scratches in your life will be when the moment the cast actually comes off--I scratched my leg like a MF, there were flecks of skin and leg hair everywhere, and it felt very very good.

[schafer]

I broke mine playing soccer on March 4. I had a cast for six weeks--came off on April 17. I had an air cast after that, until May 16. I've been jogging every day since then, did four miles today. I'm not playing soccer yet, but I suppose I could, but I'm going to wait until I'm in shape, probably 3-4 more weeks from now. I'm 35 and I find it's no fun going out and wheezing, plus I think I'm more likely to get hurt again if I'm in poor condition. Going up and down hills hurts.

Right now the ankle (I broke my fibula right near the base of the bone...I don't know where the ankle ends, and the leg begins, to be honest) is pretty sore, but nothing a man can't handle.

Hang in there, it's a pain in the ass but the cast will be off soon. Also one of the best scratches in your life will be when the moment the cast actually comes off--I scratched my leg like a MF, there were flecks of skin and leg hair everywhere, and it felt very very good.

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like yours was/is worse than mine, as my cast is only on, as I said, for 4 weeks. Hopefully that will mean my recovery won't be as long, plus I'm younger;) Did you have a walking cast as well?

Anyways, all the best in your recovery.

[Jc18star]

I shattered a section of mine when I broke and dislocated my ankle. I had to have a metal plate put in to secure the bone.

That was in Sept. 17th 2003, I came back and really started playing again in Feb. 2004 but the plate was bothering me so i too it easy an donly played the odd game here and there until I had the plate removed in Sept 2004. With that you have to wait just like a leg break for the holes in the bone to heal for about 6 weeks.

Once I thought it was healed I didn't get really fit again and ended up with a stress fracture in the leg from a combo of putting on too much weight in my off time and landing on it in an awakkard positionn when playing which sat me another 6-8 weeks.

Finally it all healed and I started playing a lot again almost two years later.

The point of this story is make sure your fit across the board then start playing again. Mine really could have been a much shorter recovery time if I would have not just jumped into playing again out of haste and took it easier and built myself back up.

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

I shattered a section of mine when I broke and dislocated my ankle. I had to have a metal plate put in to secure the bone.

That was in Sept. 17th 2003, I came back and really started playing again in Feb. 2004 but the plate was bothering me so i too it easy an donly played the odd game here and there until I had the plate removed in Sept 2004. With that you have to wait just like a leg break for the holes in the bone to heal for about 6 weeks.

Once I thought it was healed I didn't get really fit again and ended up with a stress fracture in the leg from a combo of putting on too much weight in my off time and landing on it in an awakkard positionn when playing which sat me another 6-8 weeks.

Finally it all healed and I started playing a lot again almost two years later.

The point of this story is make sure your fit across the board then start playing again. Mine really could have been a much shorter recovery time if I would have not just jumped into playing again out of haste and took it easier and built myself back up.

Yeah, this is my first--hopefully my last--break, but I'll second that, take your time and get fit before you play again. Your bone may be healed but if you're out of shape you're more likely to injure it again, because you'll be tentative.

[schafer]

Thanks alot for the advice, esp. about waiting to get back into shape, because with other injuries, my biggest problem has been rushing back. Did either of you have any physiotherapy?

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

I had one physical therapy session. It's pretty useless--the exercises are designed for senior citizens (at least, that's my health plan). One thing I neglected to mention is, when you've got your cast on, as time goes by your muscles atrophy. This isn't altogether as bad as it sounds, b/c it leaves a little room between your leg and the cast. Use that room to move your foot around and stretch everything out. Whenever you're sitting around, watching tv, reading a book, whatever, always wiggle your foot. Try and bend it in every direction and as much as the cast permits. When your cast finally comes off, it'll still feel really weak and stiff, but you'll have started the PT well beforehand. Avoid the painkillers, they're a crutch and you won't push it as much as you would without them--I'm not a masochist but the pain is good. You can instinctively tell the difference between the pain that's just a side effect of the injury, and the pain that's a signal from your body to stop whatever it is you're doing, before you do permanent damage. A painkiller throws a filter over that signal--in my opinion, it's dangerous.

Not to sound like a he-man--if I get my appendix out, or something like that, yes, I'm going for the painkillers. But get off them as soon as possible.

[schafer]

I had one physical therapy session. It's pretty useless--the exercises are designed for senior citizens (at least, that's my health plan). One thing I neglected to mention is, when you've got your cast on, as time goes by your muscles atrophy. This isn't altogether as bad as it sounds, b/c it leaves a little room between your leg and the cast. Use that room to move your foot around and stretch everything out. Whenever you're sitting around, watching tv, reading a book, whatever, always wiggle your foot. Try and bend it in every direction and as much as the cast permits. When your cast finally comes off, it'll still feel really weak and stiff, but you'll have started the PT well beforehand. Avoid the painkillers, they're a crutch and you won't push it as much as you would without them--I'm not a masochist but the pain is good. You can instinctively tell the difference between the pain that's just a side effect of the injury, and the pain that's a signal from your body to stop whatever it is you're doing, before you do permanent damage. A painkiller throws a filter over that signal--in my opinion, it's dangerous.

Not to sound like a he-man--if I get my appendix out, or something like that, yes, I'm going for the painkillers. But get off them as soon as possible.

Thanks alot. I was actually wondering if it was a good thing that I was able to move my ankle, as I thought maybe the cast was too loose. It's good to know that it's normal, and that it can help with the recovery.

[Jc18star]

I stopped the pills 3 days after my operation because for one I think they are a crutch for weak minded and two they made my back and chest itch something f'n awful. All and all I took them for 7 and 1/2 days including the night of the break and disloacation the 3 days I was stranded in my house because of a hurricane hitting my area and then when they opened me up and the following 3 days after the operation.

I felt ok going off of them and it was easier to judge the healing factor when I wasn't all doped up, I could tell what really hurt and what I should and shouldn't have been doing.

[schafer]

I got my cast off a week ago, and the ankle was very weak, although not as bad as I thought. The ankle is feeling better, but when I run there is pain where the fibula was fractured. Is that normal?

[VOwithwater1]

So, I fractured a bone in my leg, and I have a cast on for 4 weeks (2 down already). I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar injury, and how long it took you to get back to playing. I'm on a walking cast, btw.

I had it happen to me much worse then what you had by the sound of it. They could not reset it I was in that tourture chamber for an hour with them trying to set it.

Needed three operations that had to drill holes in the bone and add hardware to hold it in place. Then another opt to take off some of the hard wear so I coulf put weight on it. Then another to taker out the rest. I was messed up for over year.

The leg atrified badly took time to rebuild up.

[schafer]

I had it happen to me much worse then what you had by the sound of it. They could not reset it I was in that tourture chamber for an hour with them trying to set it.

Needed three operations that had to drill holes in the bone and add hardware to hold it in place. Then another opt to take off some of the hard wear so I coulf put weight on it. Then another to taker out the rest. I was messed up for over year.

The leg atrified badly took time to rebuild up.

Damn, from the looks of it I got off easy compared to you guys.

[VOwithwater1]

Did you lose any feeling in your thigh I did and hair stopped growing on some parts of the lower leg and thigh.

[appleCORR7]

I broke my foot and had a cast on for 4 weeks. It was a walking cast so it wasnt too bad. I was back after about 4 months after that.

And fractured my leg and was in plaster for a few weeks again and i was back after about 6 months with that.

The main thing is once you have the cast of not to worry about kicking a ball its doing simple things like walking to build up the muscle again go for a walk everyday or something and then start with gentle runs. Just don't try and rush back take your time or it will affect you in the long run.

appleCORR

[schafer]

The thing is, the doctor who took off my cast said that as soon as I had full mobility with my ankle, I could go back to playing soccer. Obviously I would need to strengthen it to play competitively, but did anyone else receive similar instructions?

[VOwithwater1]

The thing is, the doctor who took off my cast said that as soon as I had full mobility with my ankle, I could go back to playing soccer. Obviously I would need to strengthen it to play competitively, but did anyone else receive similar instructions?

Your ankle needs therapy. My ankle and shin was bad. But it did not happen why I was still growing. Ankle problem while you are still growing is a major problem. Because the grouth plate is there.

Have to be very careful that both legs are growing the same. So you have to be exrayed and both actually meassure at least once a month after till you stop growing. If the bad leg is not growing the same as the other. They have to break the leg again and reset it. Groth plate breaks near the ankle is a major injury for a kid still growing.

[Paul.eta]

The thing is, the doctor who took off my cast said that as soon as I had full mobility with my ankle, I could go back to playing soccer. Obviously I would need to strengthen it to play competitively, but did anyone else receive similar instructions?

a late response, but you need to build/strengthen the muscles around your ankle to support the stress.

a light and easy excercise is to get a flat cutting board and put a golf ball underneath it (center of the board). roll your foot on top of the board for about ten minutes, changing directions at your discretion.

i just fractured my tibia...i'll have to get a full leg cast (up to my upper thigh). luckily, the bones are for the most part intact and i'm debating whether to go with surgery (straighter alignment) or just the cast (can take up to two years to become "normal").