Broken ankle

[HeartWalker]

I fell last Thursday at Little Laurel shelter. The Forest Service ( thanks Bill Weldon, enforcement ) carried my pack out and I limped the 1 1/2 miles to his truck. I broke my fibula on my right ankle. I am in a boot now rather than a cast. Has anyone had this injury and if so what was the recovery. I am hoping for around 6 weeks so I could finish this year. Thanks Heartwalker

[rgarling]

I had a crack in the fibula just above the ankle (not bad, just a hairline crack) and was given a walking cast / crutches. It was strong in six weeks. Actually, it felt fine in just a week or so, but the cast stayed on for the 6 weeks.

[Wheeler]

Way to be a trooper. Sorry to hear about your injury, but s*%t happens. I broke some bones in my foot years ago, and it felt better in about 3-4 wks. Be safe though; you don't want to aggravate it.

[Hikes in Rain]

Wow, and I thought my brother was tough for walking down off Standing Indian with a broken arm! I'm impressed. Best of luck with the recovery.

Yeah, six weeks seems to be the standard for "routine" fractures. It's gonna suck for a while. My sympathies.

[middle to middle]

I was injured and thought I broke ankle, turned out to be torn libimant which dock said was worse and take longer to heal. My wife picked me up and I ended up in cast. As it happens I never finished my hike. Good luck to you.

[Schuetzen]

I missed the last step on the stairs at the Hiker Hostel on March 29th and landed on my knee. I thought I could walk it off and started the trail. I made it to Hawk Mountain shelter and knew I was not going to "walk it off". Josh picked me up at Hightower Gap the next morning and I went home and saw the Doctor, It turned out that I fractured my knee cap. I go back to the Doctor on May 7 for new xrays. I hope he says I can go back.

Good luck

[HeartWalker]

It helps knowing others have gone or are going through this too. Thanks for the comments.

[WalkingStick75]

I dislocated my ankle just south of Damascus in 75 on my thru attempt so I became a section hiker. You can always start a little further north and then flip flop so you don't have to push so hard once you get back on the trail.

Good Luck, I'm sure you will be able to get back on the trail in a few weeks.

[Foyt20]

I "sprained" mine about a month ago at rugby practice. And of course being a tough guy I havent seen a specialist yet, and am still in mild pain sometimes.

http://thebottlecapman.com/images/Unused%20Beer%20Plastic/Long%20Trail%20Ales.jpg

Heres to hoping I didnt tear anything.

[GGS2]

If you have a sprain, you tore something. The question is what and how bad. The best of luck.

[Doctari]

Yea, in 6 weeks you will be "Healed", but, this doesn't mean Pain Free. All it means is the bone is no longer broke. Your doctor may be able to give you an idea, after final X-Rays, of how much stress you can put on the leg. My right arm was "healed" after 6 weeks, but I couldn't go back to work for an additional 3 weeks as I did Heavy lifting. You, being a Thru Hiker, are doing Heavy WALKING, so may want to plan on adding a week or 3 to your down time.
Be sure to tell your Ortho Doc what you are doing so He/She can tell you what you are facing doing 10 - 20 mile days with a pack. You do NOT want to re break the leg & the joint will be somewhat weaker for a while still. Eventually, it will be stronger than the surrounding bone, just not right away.

[Gray Blazer]

in disbelief thatwow cd key (http://www.wow-gold-wow.com/) this nightmare ischeap wow gold (http://www.wow-gold-wow.com/) happening.

Afraid to try this link. Could it be ... (gasp) ...spam?

[Dogwood]

I'll relate my experience, what I've been told by various doctors, and what I did to speed recovery. Keep in mind I'm not a doctor. I'm only relating my own somewhat similar experience with a broken fibula. I also had stretched ligaments(slight tear) with my broken fibula. Also, keep in mind that your injury rather recently ocurred. So, like Doctari mentioned, your doctor(s) may be awaiting the swelling to subside, which can interfere with a proper diagnosis, before they can get a more accurate account of your condition through a clear MRI, Cat Scans, or additional X-Rays.

In late Nov 2005 while working out preparing for my 2006 AT thru-hike I was walking my bicycle across the road when I was struck by a car going in access of 80 mph. I received numerous injuries including a non-displaced broken fibula just above the ankle. When the swelling(inflammation) subsided after about 3 wks, and cat scans were taken, it was found out I also had severely stretched, but not severly torn, the antrerior ligaments in my ankle and foot. As someone else said I was glad a had not torn ligaments or broken my tibia. I've heard some horror stories of long term recoveries, surgery, pain, and time sitting on the sidelines regarding those types of injuries.

All fibula breaks are not the same! Some are more serious than others. Most are not terribly serious though as the fibula is one of the two bones in your calf that carry your wt. The tibia carries something like 85 % of your wt. But, again it depends on the nature of your break. For example where it ocurrs in your fibula(nearer to your ankle, mid calf, etc), if its displaced or non-displaced, if it occurs inconjunction with a compond break, etc. Depending on the break and the level of treatment I've seen professional athletes(skiers for example) get back on the slopes after only 4 wks while on some pain medication with a non-displaced fibula. I say level of treatment because there are some more expensive treatments, often employed by professional athletes that can speed recovery.

At first I was also sent home with a boot on crutches. I later was set in a cast that stayed on for about 6 wks. During the time I was in a boot and cast I did everything I knew to reduce inflammation that included taking several anti-inflammatory and joint/bone friendly natural supplements(bromaline, arnica, curcumin, Browallia serrata, glucocasime, chondroitin, MSM, Collagen, hyaluronic acid) and altering my lifestyle by reducing or eliminating all things that had a pro-inflammatory response in my body(smoking, coffee, alcohol, consuming various foods, soft drinks, hydrogenated oils, simple refined highly processed carbs, no typical fast food choices, etc). I also started putting a little wt pressure on my bones and very light pressure on my ligaments even when I was still in the cast. I also altered my diet by increasing my consumption of more healing foods - high quality lean protens, anti-oxidants, fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables, etc

When I got the cast off I could still feel pain and discomfort in my foot and ankle ligaments when I put all my wt on them. My muscles really weren't all that strong or supple either because of all the inactivity. I also felt a little, but not unbearable pain, around where the break in my fibula had ocurred. Once the cast came off I went to rehab, but mostly for strengthening and flexing the muscles and ligaments, not really as much for the fibula break.

Like Doctari also mentioned I communicated a lot with my OrthDoc and rehab technician. I told them I was planning a thru-hike in the near future. They both pushed me in rehab harder and spent extra hrs with me. I did lots of stretching and strength exercises at home too. My OrthoDoc said he never saw anyone heal faster with my injuries before. Again, realize I also had ligament issues.

I hit the AT on Apr 9 with a way too heavy pack. Needed to pop Alleve constantly. At first, did shorter mileage. That helped. Finally, lowered my pack wt and had sufficiently strengthened my joints, ligaments, and muscles and cardiovascular system by the end of North Carolina. Never had a thought about my ankle or fibula break after that.