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Main
Date: 11 Oct 2006 10:45:24
From: Daniel
Subject: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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[I know: "Who cares?" Well, maybe somebody has helpful thoughts and
ideas, so I'm offering *too much information*, as follows.]
I broke my left fibula Sunday morning, and received a fiberglass
splint at emergency clinic. Went in to the "real" dor yesterday
afternoon. They did more X-rays. The fracture is straight through
the diameter of the fibula at the lower end just above the wide spot.
Dor said it sometimes happens that the "ligamentous mass" (his
term) stays connected to the bone and when overstressed, it is the
bone that gives way. He palpated my foot/ankle (OUCH!!!) and said he
did not see on X-rays or feel in the joint any immediate sign of
ligament or tendon damage beyond a "bad sprain".
We threw away the splint and I was fitted with a "boot cast" -- a
highly engineered device that immobilizes the ankle in a roughly 90
degree (as though standing flat footed) position. The boot has so
much steel, hard plastic, soft padding, velcro flaps, steel rings and
velcro straps -- it reminds me of a cross between Frankenstein's
footwear and something a S.W.A.T. team member would wear. It is heavy
but since it does a better job of stabilizing the joint, I have less
pain.
The plan goes like this:
1.) No Weight Bearing on the left leg for the next 2 weeks.
2.) OK to remove boot to wash, and OK to move the joint "as comfort
allows"
3.) Week 2 - 3 infrequent testing of weight on left leg (when in the
boot) "as comfort allows"
4.) Week 3 to 5 increase non-weight-bearing range of motion and
walking in the boot
5.) Re-examination (probably with followup X-rays) November 15.
6.) Only after that does the possibility of strength reconditioning
and weight bearing without the boot arise.
Bottom line to possible *beginning* of running - "Plan on giving
yourself all of 2 months off."
I had to ask what he thought of the possibility a Half-marathon on
February 4 2007. He said, "I don't see why not."
There's a big "if". That is, the schedule above only works "IF" I
stick with the plan and work conservatively. If I act like a cowboy
and take a "who needs this shxx" attitude, I'll be back in 5 weeks so
they can schedule surgery to pin it. Dor said unfortunately he
sees it all the time when patients are impatient. So the "as comfort
allows" above really means *comfortable* not just teeth-gritting
*tolerable*.
Peace,
--
Daniel ( deltaechomike@usa.net )
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 11 Oct 2006 12:32:36
From: runsrealfast
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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Daniel wrote:
> [I know: "Who cares?" Well, maybe somebody has helpful thoughts and
> ideas, so I'm offering *too much information*, as follows.]
>
> I broke my left fibula Sunday morning,
Did it hurt? And how did you break it. Either there is a sports story,
or an interesting one at least.
<snip >
Good luck with rehab. I had a buddy in HS that did the same thing
during football season. He was a great 400 meter runner. it happend
fall of junior year, by track season (spring) senior year he was back,
not as fast, but was back. So good luck.
John
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Date: 12 Oct 2006 12:01:49
From: Daniel
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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On 11 2006 12:32:36 -0700, "runsrealfast" <tay01020@yahoo.com >
wrote:
>
>Daniel wrote:
>> [I know: "Who cares?" Well, maybe somebody has helpful thoughts and
>> ideas, so I'm offering *too much information*, as follows.]
>>
>> I broke my left fibula Sunday morning,
>
>
>Did it hurt? And how did you break it. Either there is a sports story,
>or an interesting one at least.
>
><snip>
>
>Good luck with rehab. I had a buddy in HS that did the same thing
>during football season. He was a great 400 meter runner. it happend
>fall of junior year, by track season (spring) senior year he was back,
>not as fast, but was back. So good luck.
>
>John
Thanks John.
Oddly it didn't hurt too much at first -- pain increased as time
passed -- a function of pressure from swelling?
If only... If I had stopped to put gas in my car instead of racing to
deposit my paycheck at the bank, I would have been more likely to
drive to a nice spot to begin my run on a different route. If I had
been thinking of actual traffic possibilities instead of running on
the left side of the road, the cross traffic entering from the left
would have been no concern. If I had been thinking about cars coming
toward me from side streets instead of drinking in the beauty of the
morning I might have been ready to move more gracefully to the
sidewalk. If I had been looking at the pavement instead gazing in the
sight of a big blacktail buck crossing the street up the hill ahead, I
might have noticed the uneven pavement. Oh well.
*If* I am able to run the San Francisco Half-Marathon on February 4,
2007, I'll probably be aiming to just finish and enjoy the pageantry.
By the time I'm cleared for weight-bearing, then strengthening,
walking, running... I'll really only have a month or so to build up
conditioning. Oh well.
--
Daniel ( deltaechomike@usa.net )
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 12 Oct 2006 20:59:42
From: bj
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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"Daniel" <deltaechomike@usa.net > wrote in message
news:larsi259c6jtgq1nie6mco241mf1hv4eo5@4ax.com...
>
> *If* I am able to run the San Francisco Half-Marathon on February 4,
> 2007, I'll probably be aiming to just finish and enjoy the pageantry.
> By the time I'm cleared for weight-bearing, then strengthening,
> walking, running... I'll really only have a month or so to build up
> conditioning. Oh well.
> --
Good luck with your healing & rehab.
Meanwhile, even though it's not running-specific it can help you generally
if you do things like seated aerobics & various chair exercises; an armcycle
can be useful here too. You'd be surprised how much lung-work you can need
doing these things!
bj
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Date: 11 Oct 2006 11:00:14
From: Beginning runner
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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In article <il9qi2h6f6bsidop6g0jhifj5h715okpof@4ax.com >,
Daniel <deltaechomike@usa.net > wrote:
> There's a big "if". That is, the schedule above only works "IF" I
> stick with the plan and work conservatively. If I act like a cowboy
> and take a "who needs this shxx" attitude, I'll be back in 5 weeks so
> they can schedule surgery to pin it. Dor said unfortunately he
> sees it all the time when patients are impatient. So the "as comfort
> allows" above really means *comfortable* not just teeth-gritting
> *tolerable*.
Just keep reminding yourself of that. And good luck with it.
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Date: 12 Oct 2006 12:01:49
From: Daniel
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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On Wed, 11 2006 11:00:14 -0700, Beginning runner
<bogus@invalid.com > wrote:
>In article <il9qi2h6f6bsidop6g0jhifj5h715okpof@4ax.com>,
> Daniel <deltaechomike@usa.net> wrote:
>
>> There's a big "if". That is, the schedule above only works "IF" I
>> stick with the plan and work conservatively. If I act like a cowboy
>> and take a "who needs this shxx" attitude, I'll be back in 5 weeks so
>> they can schedule surgery to pin it. Dor said unfortunately he
>> sees it all the time when patients are impatient. So the "as comfort
>> allows" above really means *comfortable* not just teeth-gritting
>> *tolerable*.
>
>Just keep reminding yourself of that. And good luck with it.
I'll try. :o) and thanks.
--
Daniel ( deltaechomike@usa.net )
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 12 Oct 2006 06:41:28
From: Al Bundy
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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Daniel wrote:
> [I know: "Who cares?" Well, maybe somebody has helpful thoughts and
> ideas, so I'm offering *too much information*, as follows.]
>
> I broke my left fibula Sunday morning, and received a fiberglass
> splint at emergency clinic. Went in to the "real" dor yesterday
> afternoon. They did more X-rays. The fracture is straight through
> the diameter of the fibula at the lower end just above the wide spot.
> Dor said it sometimes happens that the "ligamentous mass" (his
> term) stays connected to the bone and when overstressed, it is the
> bone that gives way. He palpated my foot/ankle (OUCH!!!) and said he
> did not see on X-rays or feel in the joint any immediate sign of
> ligament or tendon damage beyond a "bad sprain".
>
> We threw away the splint and I was fitted with a "boot cast" -- a
> highly engineered device that immobilizes the ankle in a roughly 90
> degree (as though standing flat footed) position. The boot has so
> much steel, hard plastic, soft padding, velcro flaps, steel rings and
> velcro straps -- it reminds me of a cross between Frankenstein's
> footwear and something a S.W.A.T. team member would wear. It is heavy
> but since it does a better job of stabilizing the joint, I have less
> pain.
>
> The plan goes like this:
> 1.) No Weight Bearing on the left leg for the next 2 weeks.
> 2.) OK to remove boot to wash, and OK to move the joint "as comfort
> allows"
> 3.) Week 2 - 3 infrequent testing of weight on left leg (when in the
> boot) "as comfort allows"
> 4.) Week 3 to 5 increase non-weight-bearing range of motion and
> walking in the boot
> 5.) Re-examination (probably with followup X-rays) November 15.
> 6.) Only after that does the possibility of strength reconditioning
> and weight bearing without the boot arise.
>
> Bottom line to possible *beginning* of running - "Plan on giving
> yourself all of 2 months off."
>
> I had to ask what he thought of the possibility a Half-marathon on
> February 4 2007. He said, "I don't see why not."
>
> There's a big "if". That is, the schedule above only works "IF" I
> stick with the plan and work conservatively. If I act like a cowboy
> and take a "who needs this shxx" attitude, I'll be back in 5 weeks so
> they can schedule surgery to pin it. Dor said unfortunately he
> sees it all the time when patients are impatient. So the "as comfort
> allows" above really means *comfortable* not just teeth-gritting
> *tolerable*.
>
> Peace,
> --
I had two rolls of coil steel fall on my leg when I was 18 and
expected to be back walking in 60 days. It was six months later before
the final cast was removed and years before a semi-normal function
returned. I'm not one to coddle injuries. Generally, I figure two weeks
to start working out after a break and three weeks for fully stressing
things. However, in your case, I would just put everything on the back
burner as far as scheduling a return. Wait until you are nearly pain
free and start a serious walking program before any running. The risk
of chronic orthopedic problems is too great from forcing a return too
early.
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Date: 15 Oct 2006 11:02:42
From: Miss Anne Thrope
Subject: Re: Broken bone - Orthopedic Surgeon visit
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Oh for Christ's sake, it's one bone out of over two hundred in your
body.
Just walk it off Nancy.
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