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Hi all, yes quite simply turned my ankle right over and crack ,broken the bone that goes down the side of the leg above the ankle.

I must quickly say that it was nothing to do with paramotoring though just uneven ground one evening and very simply done.

Needless to say that I am in plaster now,however what I would like to ask is does anyone have any experience of it happening to them, and getting back to flying again.

:):)

Although the plaster comes off in 5 weeks time ,how long afterwards should I wait before humping 30kg onto my back, what would be a sensible time to wait I wonder.

It was so painful that I don`t fancy breaking it again because I went on it too soon .

I suppose getting a pair of special Hangwag boots would be a sensible start perhaps.

Any experience or advice very welcome regards Tony.

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I know a bloke that did his tib and fib (both lower leg bones) and pulled the ligament off from his ankle. He went on to attempt selection for the TA SAS 18 months later. While he didn't get in he did do a shed load of training with a heavy Bergen and it didn't affect a regular career in the forces after that.

His secret was to do all the physio exercises twice over.

Just don't give up and visualize yourself flying again.

Tj.

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Sounds like just a fib, if it is you'll be back up and flying in 3 months. I did tib and fib in a spiral fracture (Judo comp) Finished my fighting dojo career (33 yo anyway...) I took a full 12 months of pain to get 90% fit, still only 95% 20 years later. Doc will be the best estimate.

All the best on that one!

Richard (Crispy boots and Andy Murray ankle supports....)

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I suppose getting a pair of special Hangwag boots would be a sensible start perhaps.

I love my Hanwags and would never fly without them. Sure they have saved me from a few injuries - including a nasty fall in the Atlas mountains in Morocco.

Went flying (and climbing) in the Alps with them just a few days after breaking my big toe (doing something else) and they kept it nicely secure. I reckon these non flying activities cause more injuries .....

You can only really go on your Doc's advice but the good news is that when it is fully healed the bone will be thicker & stronger than before so unlikely to ever break in the same place. :D

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Thanks tj its good to hear other peoples experiences,I have thought about getting the mountain bike out to strengthen things up, and I won`t give up.

Your injury sounded painful norbetflyer, wow 12 months of pain,regarding specialist ,I must have been in his room less than 3 mins and the next patient was ushered in, no advice given, nothing .I expect its up to me to request physiotherapy after the cast comes off,first bone broken you see.not sure whats expected or offered.

I`ll have to find out what the andy murray ankle supports are, hmm 3 months eh thanks.

Aquatix thanks for your reply also,so you wear the Hangwags and swear by them, i`ll have to look into getting a pair, don`t want to have this pain again.

I didn`t know that the bone would be stronger afterwards at the site of the break, thats good to know.

Anyway guys thanks for your replys advice and support Tony :)

.

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I'm with you on this one, approaching nine weeks into it.

Plaster "hotdog bun" for two, then fiberglass cast for three more.

When the fiber cast went on, the tech wrapped one layer and then bent the foot up, leaving a crease and hard point right where ligaments were torn (fibular, ankle sub-lux external supination 90 degrees). This has been the largest part of recovery so far, getting range of motion back to a natural step that doesn't cause pain. Not close yet. So, if you feel ANY discomfort or hard points from the cast I would suggest you request a new cast (and the cleanup between them feels good too). You may need to wait until break pain subsides to notice. They used power tools to put me back together and that pain was 15x that of the break. If you didn't dislocate when the break occurred, you'll be well ahead when the cast comes off.

Bones heal quick, but while they do those stretched ligaments shorten/scar and the leg wastes.

You're probably in a no weight bearing cast?

If you've got a stationary bike, get on it and favor your weak leg to keep muscle mass as I'm sure I lost 5-10lbs on my leg not using it for five weeks. I do miss it now that I'm hobbling again and I did use the bike as soon as I felt able. I wish I had tried to break the cast more by flexing the foot, but didn't want to do further damage.

Your doc can't tell you how it feels, and even less without an MRI. Ligament damage is a dark art otherwise and you're the expert at how it feels. Push it as soon as you can, the pain will tell you when it needs a, er, break...

Good luck with it.

Some reading - pick yer fracture!

http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/ankle_fracture_menu

IBUPROFEN - get some if you're not already taking it. Pain meds do little to nothing for swelling, and that's where most of the pain and possible tissue damage comes from. I felt kinda thick when I realized I wasn't taking anti-inflammatories and they have helped a great deal more then the ice bucket.

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Hi Pete

Just on that score, back in the ealry nineties I did the tib and fib paragliding, with a plate and screws put in.

I was getting a fair amount of pain with it so the doc arranged for them to be taken out, which helped tremendously. It still gets stiff in winter (ooer missus) but nowhere near as bad without the metalwork in.

BTW, they gave me the bits afterwards, jeez the screws look viscous, no wonder it hurt. :roll:

Oh and Welshy, if they offer you the option of a plate, I'd recommend viewing it as a last resort only.

With hindsight I wish I'd perservered with the cast.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cheers

Steve

broke both plate and 6 screws in one and a 2 inch screw up through the other (Hanwags saved the leg), took 12 months to get back in the air , but it still plays up now .

Pete B

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Hi Welshy

Lots of horror stories about injuries in this post, enough to put anybody off! :D

I had exactly the same injury a few years ago after a hard landing when I was skydiving (broke the Fibula just above the ankle) the issue that I had at the start was that I was in the 'countryside' and the local hospital put me in plaster which wasn't very supportive so I went to a hospital in London.

The difference was that I was originally told to keep weight off it for 6 weeks but in London they put a fibre glass cast on and I walked out!

The damage to the ankle ligaments caused a lot more trouble than the break and after 6 weeks the bone had built up and was probably stronger than it was to start with!.

I think TJ is spot on and 3 months would be my estimate too.

Good luck with it and hope it all goes well

regards

Eddie

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Hi Pete

Just on that score, back in the ealry nineties I did the tib and fib paragliding, with a plate and screws put in.

I was getting a fair amount of pain with it so the doc arranged for them to be taken out, which helped tremendously. It still gets stiff in winter (ooer missus) but nowhere near as bad without the metalwork in.

BTW, they gave me the bits afterwards, jeez the screws look viscous, no wonder it hurt. :roll:

Oh and Welshy, if they offer you the option of a plate, I'd recommend viewing it as a last resort only.

With hindsight I wish I'd perservered with the cast.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cheers

Steve

Got a hospital appointment Wednesday to see if I can have the screw out, the plates ok.

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Wow, I haven`t been on here for a while ,so many replys and good advice thanks everyone,

Thanks T_Andrews,9 weeks since you broke yours ,It does take a long while doesn`t it.As it turned out the my first cast was too loose,(perhaps swelling had gone down) allowing the foot to waggle about in relation to the bone and causing pain .

This one is much better holding everything securely now ,what a difference as when on crutches you can`t help swinging the foot slightly.It does make sense to go back if you feel something isn`t right.

Thanks Pete,argh! you must have suffered too,plates and screws, it sounds as if i am very fortunate not to have had these fitted,although I was warned many times that if I didnt look after it while healing and it went out of place then they would have to operate and fit a plate.

Radical,Hi,Thanks for your good wishes Steve, Its surprising how many people have had the same injury and I now feel very humble compared to what others have suffered.

On a lighter note regarding Ibuprofen, I cant take them,(makes me short of breath) so been given something else ,However no one told me they put a stop to daily movements if you know what I mean, ! oh no! :oops:

Edward C .Thanks Eddie for your best wishes, yes it sound as though the ligaments will take some time to build back up . It was very interesting to hear everyones experiences and get their advice ,because when your not flying , all you can think of is getting fit again to get back in the air.

Thanks again guys look after yourselves Tony.

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Just a note on Ibuprofen - suggested only to alleviate swelling, the pain reduction is secondary to that.

Opiates (T3's, percocet, many Oxy somethings) in general can make many folks short of breath and weak like a kitten, but not heard of it for Ibuprofen - a pharmacist could certainly offer an alternative anti-inflammatory. Worth checking as it reduces the need to go cold turkey from pain meds for a whole day of body ache withdrawal just to be a regular kinda guy.

For me it pulled down the need for pain meds enough that the daily dose no longer had the ill side effect you mention.

Neither the surgeon or my doc suggested it and as I say I feel a bit stupid not coming to the realization myself, but that's why I post it, so someone else can get back to normal faster than I did.

No plate or screws is a good thing as sometimes they come back out and can delay normal function return from all the studies I've since been reading. I certainly wish mine was gone and I've still got the hobble.

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*This isn't medical advice* however! Nsaids (non steroidal anti inflammatory *removed by admin*) include aspirin and paracetamol. Ibuprofen is the best of these, however as mentioned can cause shortness of breath, asthmatics beware!

Have a chat with your gp/hopsital doctor for best nsaid advice. Tell him about paramotoring, then hammer the physio! (if she's pretty ;-) )

Tj.

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