Is there ‘skate-life’ after serious leg/ankle injury?

[Ripitup24/7]

Originally Posted by msk

I do. It doesn't bother me at all, and if anything, gives me a bit more confidence because it gives me the stability that I don't have any more. At least in my case, it doesn't really affect flexibility because that ankle doesn't have any...

Ha, Yeah...I know what ya mean! I think I may go back to wearing my old school hi-tops! I've worn a knee brace before to help support an injury...ankle seem a bit different. Is it just neoprene, or stiff lace up or velcro?

[Xgecko]

I have both of S-ones ankle braces the stiffer plastic sided lace up


and the velcro strap and lace up one.


I use the stiffer one on my once badly sprained left ankle and the other on my recently broken right ankle, mostly for warmth but also for protection and a bit of stability

[msk]

Originally Posted by Ripitup24/7

Ha, Yeah...I know what ya mean! I think I may go back to wearing my old school hi-tops! I've worn a knee brace before to help support an injury...ankle seem a bit different. Is it just neoprene, or stiff lace up or velcro?

I use a McDavid™ Lightweight Ankle Brace, which laces up and has 2 U-shaped spring steel inserts on the sides for stability:

[Ripitup24/7]

Originally Posted by Xgecko

Yeah there is I'm 42 and I broke my ankle last september (motorcycle accident), ended up with 6 screws and a plate that can forecast the weather. It took me until December to walk without a cane. What Wells said is very important, I rushed things a bit and felt foolish though luckily I didn't hurt anything when I attempted to snowboard last winter. I start riding a cruising board and doing some light Downhill in February and set foot back in the park end of March and have ramped up my skating since then. What turned out to be the best therapy for me was spending the summer commuting by bicycle. I wear ankle braces for Pool/Park though not for Cruising, Slalom or Downhill. I have completely altered my pool/park skating though Gone are airs of any kind for the moment, Instead lots of carving, grinds, various plants and back to (re) learning Inverts again

Thanks for your input and ankle brace advice! I also plan to grab the mountain bike to start rehab as soon as the Dr. clears me. Do you feel comfortable back in the bowls now? I think I'm gonna have more of a mind-obstacle to get over...guess that happens when look down to see your ankle swung out the opposite direction...and when ya do it skating. I too had a motorcycle accident years ago-broken femur (same leg) and 3 weeks in the hospital. Although I was completely comfortable getting back on a bike months later. I just don't wanna loose my nerve when getting back in the bowl....thats just a set-up for more injury!

Thanks again for input on the brace.

[Ripitup24/7]

Originally Posted by msk

I use a McDavid™ Lightweight Ankle Brace, which laces up and has 2 U-shaped spring steel inserts on the sides for stability:

Thanks for input...minimal lateral movement on that brace, I assume??

[Alpha06]

Originally Posted by lmcmahon

Abso#######lutely!!!!

15 years ago I tore an ACL in each knee (separate times) and both resulted in reconstructive surgeries. After the appropriate amount of physical therapy I felt fine on my board. I took it slow at first and before I knew it, I was strong enough to ride without worrying about it or feeling pain. My mother said maybe I should take up rollerblading or something easier and I absolutely refused. Thank god because when I am out riding around and I see the rollerblading moms, I am so stoked that I am the mom on the longboard. Hopefully my two year old son will appreciate that some day. Best of luck for a quick recovery!

I didnt know you are a longboarding mom. My mind just got blown. Props.

[Tboy]

I was going to say that I sprained my ankle and not being able to skate hurts more than the injury itself but nevermind...

Ankles suck!

[Xgecko]

Originally Posted by Ripitup24/7

Thanks for your input and ankle brace advice! I also plan to grab the mountain bike to start rehab as soon as the Dr. clears me. Do you feel comfortable back in the bowls now? I think I'm gonna have more of a mind-obstacle to get over...guess that happens when look down to see your ankle swung out the opposite direction...and when ya do it skating. I too had a motorcycle accident years ago-broken femur (same leg) and 3 weeks in the hospital. Although I was completely comfortable getting back on a bike months later. I just don't wanna loose my nerve when getting back in the bowl....thats just a set-up for more injury!

Thanks again for input on the brace.

just a word of warning the amount of strength and endurance that you will loose in both of your legs is phenomenal....don't get discouraged it will come back eventually

[smallss]

If Bruce Lee was able bounce back from a complete paralyzation, and continue to fight in martial arts tournaments, I think we skateboarders can toss some plywood around after we blow out our ankles, and/or knees. With your thoughts you create your world.

[TIMORNE]

Originally Posted by smallss

If Bruce Lee was able bounce back from a complete paralyzation, and continue to fight in martial arts tournaments,

Bruce Lee was not ever a tournament fighter,check your facts.

[smallss]

exhibition and tournaments are different, for sure, but the principle is the same.

[FlyKneeGrow]

sorry to hear about your injury.

+1 regarding not pushing it too hard too soon...

I broke my left elbow a few years ago, had a plate and screws installed, but started doing things like boarding again before it was totally healed. and what happened... I ####ed it up again and necessitated a second surgery. don't be that guy...

[king edward]

Hi-top skate shoes only for like the first 10 months after your therapist clears you to skate. Honestly after having broken my leg/dislocating my foot, my ankle hurts like a b1tch if I DON'T go out and skate.

Keep fit. Keep your nutrition up.

Some day I'd like to put together a competition where only people with skate injury surgery scars can participate..

[FaceVsAsphalt]

I broke my ankle 3 months ago and had screws put in. The hardest thing for me is to stay off the board while healing. I was dumb and tried to skate and fell. Luckily I didnt reinjure myself, but I could have. Just make sure to take the time to fully heal. I just started wearing an ankle brace and I cant even tell I have it on. It just provides a bit of support for my weakend ankle muscles.

[grahambo]

I shattered both my heels 4ish years ago in a climbing "accident"- fell about 14ft onto concrete heels then elbows then head. Lost about 2 years of my life memory wise and while I can skate again now it's not the same. My balance is perma-fuct and i cannot push with my primary foot(right). if skating any distance I have to do it switch. Any moves that require rapid body repositioning (disasters, 360s, etc) are almost out of the question.

I wish you better luck then I've had, at least you got in a good many years before the big one happened.

[Ripitup24/7]

Originally Posted by king edward

Hi-top skate shoes only for like the first 10 months after your therapist clears you to skate. Honestly after having broken my leg/dislocating my foot, my ankle hurts like a b1tch if I DON'T go out and skate.

Keep fit. Keep your nutrition up.

Some day I'd like to put together a competition where only people with skate injury surgery scars can participate..

Looking forward to the Retro-Skate look of some hi-tops in a few weeks.

The skate competition sound like a great idea! Maybe you could get Blue Cross/Blue Shield to sponsor it!? "Scars on Skates" ....I'll look for promotions for it next year when I'm back in the grove!

[FlyKneeGrow]

Originally Posted by grahambo

I shattered both my heels 4ish years ago in a climbing "accident"- fell about 14ft onto concrete heels then elbows then head. Lost about 2 years of my life memory wise and while I can skate again now it's not the same. My balance is perma-fuct and i cannot push with my primary foot(right). if skating any distance I have to do it switch. Any moves that require rapid body repositioning (disasters, 360s, etc) are almost out of the question.

that's terrible. wow. sorry to hear it.

what were you doing, climbing-wise?

several years ago I fell about 18ft while leading a route in Arizona... just below the next/5th bolt, fell and in a split-second pendulum-ed into the wall feet first, which caused a tendon to snap so hard it pulled a fleck of bone away from my left ankle. it's still floating around in there, but I'm fine otherwise. hurt like hell for a few weeks though, plus I had to hike out that day which was a couple of thousand meters to the car.

anyway.

/tangent

[speshlspeclsteak]

ive got a torn acl and i skated a couplt times since then but ive gotta stop cus i have tears in my meniscus and some serious strains in my mcl but ill be skatin after im done with my rehab in late march or early april

[fatlip]

Although none of my injuries are as bad as yours, both of my knees are shot from years of skating and ache all of the time and now my left ankle is giving me problems too. I wear knee braces as well as pads and I guess I am going to have to invest in something for my ankle. Are those things even remotely comfortable? They look awfully bulky.

Originally Posted by Xgecko

I have both of S-ones ankle braces the stiffer plastic sided lace up


and the velcro strap and lace up one.


I use the stiffer one on my once badly sprained left ankle and the other on my recently broken right ankle, mostly for warmth but also for protection and a bit of stability

[FaceVsAsphalt]

Originally Posted by fatlip

Although none of my injuries are as bad as yours, both of my knees are shot from years of skating and ache all of the time and now my left ankle is giving me problems too. I wear knee braces as well as pads and I guess I am going to have to invest in something for my ankle. Are those things even remotely comfortable? They look awfully bulky.

I wear one almost just like the bottom one and cant even tell im wearing it. It is really comfortable actually.