Broken bones - rider

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YorkshireLady

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How many of you have borken a leg/ankle/foot and how long till back in saddle?

any tips for when you get back on, support, boots anything

thank you
 
I badly broke my ankle and had it plated and pinned in Jan 09. I was back riding 3 months later
I would say do all the physio you can Yes it is likely to hurt but you have to push through it (on physio's advise as certain exercises should be stopped with pain ASK which ones)


don't make the mistake I did in that some months later the pain was worse than at first and I was told oh that's normal as you do more, so I ignored it.

Ankle had collapsed and I am now on my 3rd surgery for ankle replacement and revision of loosened replacement
 
I badly did my leg and ankle wasn't out of plaster for 12 weeks but with consultants agreement got straight back on. My biggest bit of advice particularly if it involves a joint such as ankle is to find a good sports physio to mobilise the joint. For me support boots wouldn't have helped and actually made me feel more uncomfortable to ride.
 
I had a friend who broke her tib and fib, then asked the guy putting the plaster on if he could shape it lower at the back of her knee and reinforce the foot so she could put it in the stirrup iron, she did continue to ride. Not that id suggest that approach, she's hardcore.
Touch wood never broke anything but wrecked a couple of joints, hope you feel better soon.
Ask the docs and phisios at the # clinics, they may have some good ideas
 
well 4 weeks in on the plaster - I have had 6 screws in the fibula. Aiming at sports Physio and just hoping I get the air boot on in 2 weeks...

JUst really wondeirng if there were any tips. Been lucky not hurt me since surgery at all and not on pain killers. Bored - but least I had the Derby today:)
 
Cant really help with the "how long till back in the saddle" bit as I developed a DVT after I broke my ankle, so that complicated things a bit!

I wore a strong ankle support when I started riding again, and my Mountain Horse boots with steel shanks helped, as did my bendy stirrups.

Good Luck. :D
 
Broke my ankle - decided after 2 weeks id had enough of not being able to ride / drive etc so dunked plaster in the bath and pretended I'd 'fallen' in - Saturday night in a&e doctors were busy so I just got my cast off, convinced them i was fine, and went on my way. Back in the saddle next again day : D
 
I broke my tibial plateau, pinned and plated. Took 12 weeks before i could walk then found swimming helped hugely to build strength again. I don't use a knee support, makes no difference to me.
 
I had a severe fracture in my sacrum, 5 broken vertibrae in my back, dislocated hip, fracture in other hip socket and fractured my pubic bone. Bed rest for 3 months :(

Docs told me I wouldnt ride for 1-2 years but I was back in the saddle after 4 months :)
 
Ok - some of you have had it much worse than me - though I am not sure if the screws are a blessing or a curse

If they had given me anything other than this cast it would have been off! I am worried I will get too complacent
 
I broke my ankle, tib and fib. Was riding after 3 months. Might hav tried riding before if my mum had let me! And had my own sensible horse to start on as had to ride a friends.
In also a physio.
I had 5 screws and a pin down my leg. 2 of the screws hurt when I jump so had then removed from inside if my knew.
I brought reli thick/tough long boots for extra protection. I'd recomment waitin til dr says so cos things cab go wrong so easily and especially wiv plates etc if u break it again it's v. Serious! I hav seen this happen!
Make sure u work on ur ankle range of movement as soon as out of cast cos that gets reli stiff! Recomment standing on edge of step on balls of feet and dropping heel down off step once u can weightbear.
Good luck
 
I broke my ankle (pilon fracture distal tibia which included damage to joint surface :( ) Aug 10, had plate, screws and pins Aug 17. 3 weeks in plaster then into a ROM boot (darth vader boot!) for a further 3 weeks. Took 6 weeks to build up to full weight bearing.

I started riding again 8 December as the fracture healed really well. I started 5 mins in saddle building up time slowly and currently can do nearly an hour without pain due to stiffness and the ankle seizing up, supposed to keep moving it every so often but forget!:rolleyes:

I have sprenger stirrups and ariat H2o tall boots with the lace at front of foot so can bend easier and allow for swollen days. They are supportive but also have give and flex. I found that too ridgid boots hurt me more.

I am still having weekly physio and do my exercises as much as I can. Still have pain but its from the ligaments, muscles and tendons in the foot, ankle and leg that I am struggling with. I had acupuncture yesterday too and it worked really well for the pain.

Ask for as much as possible if your under the NHS as you won't get if you don't ask. I also went to private physio at the same time as NHS so could get treatments 2 or 3 times a week. I also did my first session mounted on a mechanical horse with a physio. Glad I did as I thought I'd get on and it wouldn't hurt..... my oh my glad I did as it really hurt so postponed getting on my horse for a few more weeks and the physio gave me exercises that would benefit me in the saddle as its completely different muscle groups used to walking. The NHS get you walking but don't work on the riding muscles etc so try and build them up too.

Good luck in your recovery! Wishing you fast and happy healing :D
 
Very interesting that there is so much difference in what people do with casts and then boot etc...will have had 6 weeks in plaster and hoping that is it

I have NO intention of riding before able, but was merely saying what a temptation it is. Will be getting supplementary sports physio as I cannot really stand the idea of it taking longer than necessary but also what to make sure joint gets as strong as possible. Mine was dislocated and broken..

plus my hands hurt from frames and crutches!!! And I hate looking at how little the leg in cast looks...
 
I also got some gel filled cycling gloves off ebay to stop my hands getting sore on the crutches! They worked fab!

My leg looked like a chicken wing when it came out of my pot and boot which was much amusement to my family and friends!! :p

The boot I had allowed the ankle to move up and down but kept the fracture stable but allowed me to start work on the ankle joint earlier to help the health of joint cartilage etc.

I also went onto www.mybrokenleg.com. Fab site with lots of help, tips and other broken leggers that can help you on the discussions forum. Spent many an hour on there whilst sat around healing!!!
 
YorkshireLady said:
Very interesting that there is so much difference in what people do with casts and then boot etc...will have had 6 weeks in plaster and hoping that is it

I have NO intention of riding before able, but was merely saying what a temptation it is. Will be getting supplementary sports physio as I cannot really stand the idea of it taking longer than necessary but also what to make sure joint gets as strong as possible. Mine was dislocated and broken..

plus my hands hurt from frames and crutches!!! And I hate looking at how little the leg in cast looks...
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Sounds like you did exactly the same as me!! You are doing the right thing waiting until they tell you to ride! I also waited and still things went wrong for me, hence the ankle replacement. Like I said in my other post please please listen to both your DR and your body, If after a few months you notice an increase in pain insist on going back and having xrays, if I had done this I may still have my own ankle joint now.
I also really wish I had made the effort and done some swimming, it seems it is particularly hugely helpful with this injury!! I will be doing it this time! Also I recommend getting yourself and exercise bike as if you have one at home you can do little bits here and there and that will REALLY help too. The stronger you can get your muscles the more they will support the weak bones!

CarmaandFlin said:
I also got some gel filled cycling gloves off ebay to stop my hands getting sore on the crutches! They worked fab!

My leg looked like a chicken wing when it came out of my pot and boot which was much amusement to my family and friends!! :p

The boot I had allowed the ankle to move up and down but kept the fracture stable but allowed me to start work on the ankle joint earlier to help the health of joint cartilage etc.

I also went onto www.mybrokenleg.com. Fab site with lots of help, tips and other broken leggers that can help you on the discussions forum. Spent many an hour on there whilst sat around healing!!!
Click to expand...

You could have told me about the gloves:p I have Rheumatoid arthritis and my hands are murder, mind you so are my shoulders

I get my solid cast off on Thursday :D:D:D and will be in an air cast (the dark vader thingy) for a few weeks too. Not sure how long this time, will have to wait and see
 
It probably took over a year for my leg to look the same as the other one.....do all the exercises you are told to do and go swimming, it did really help, in fact I could swim before I could walk (once I could get in the pool of course!) Good luck
 
I was lucky (well relatively!) when I did my leg - I had a spiral fracture of tib and fib with 4 breaks in tib one in fib. I landed up at Frimley park hospital with a great ortho surgeon who put an intermullary nail in - I left hospital 2 days later with 4 sticking plasters! Was back on a horse (quietly) after 5 weeks, took me 3 months to feel normal again tho! And I didn't jump til they took the nail/screws out a year later.
 
I am not a fan of swimming but will do it for this

My legs are strongest part of me - so luckily the good one can take the strain of hopping but still gets sore at times

I am dreading the idea they may need to remove any of the metal...May now be a confirmed dressage rider as opposed to a dressage rider that jumps!
 
YorkshireLady said:
I am not a fan of swimming but will do it for this

My legs are strongest part of me - so luckily the good one can take the strain of hopping but still gets sore at times

I am dreading the idea they may need to remove any of the metal...May now be a confirmed dressage rider as opposed to a dressage rider that jumps!
Click to expand...

Its no big deal if they remove the metal work. I had part of mine removed. They left the long plate in along the fibula as it would not be strong enough without it

Don't give up on the jumping! I got back into it before the ankle collapsed, then started again after the replacement, I intend to do it again after this op too

However I think I am going to invest in some kvall stirrups as the support the whole foot, which has to be better than trying to put all my weight through the ball. specialist says it will be better for all my joint. I think they will take some getting used to though
 
not got a plate as such...there was some talk that they had put a bone graft in on the fibula...but I am not sure

back to clinic in 2 weeks and will see what they say. Have got a wire round the ankle and was also a break in the tibia, though no where near as bad as the fibula

Rode every day - these 4 weeks been awful - but have been taken out lots to horse things and have written for judges etc
 
I broke my ankle cleanly, no pins etc, and was in plaster for 7 weeks. The joint was very stiff when the cast came off - I limped like Herr Flick and couldn't run for a few weeks afterwards! as others have said, keeping the mobility is important. I found that flexing my ankle in the bath really helped, as the warm water makes it easier. It is still a bit stiffer than the other one, but I find the stirrups with the flexy/bendy bits make it more comfortable.
 
[/QUOTE]You could have told me about the gloves:p I have Rheumatoid arthritis and my hands are murder, mind you so are my shoulders

I get my solid cast off on Thursday :D:D:D and will be in an air cast (the dark vader thingy) for a few weeks too. Not sure how long this time, will have to wait and see[/QUOTE]

Sorry Soulfull :o hadn't realised your hands were sore. The cycling gloves were good for my hands but my wrists hurt then! I hope your healing is much quicker this time. Did they have to refit your ankle replacement or was it a case of just lining it back up again?

YorkshireLady - I am considering asking for my plate etc out as I still haven't recovered full ROM in ankle and I'm uncertain if the pain is from a reaction to the plate or just the need to strengthen everything. They won't remove my plate till after 12 months anyway so going to spend next few months trying to get rid of the pains first.
 
I had one of the pins in a finger removed as it got infected...after the pin had moved - see I am now bionic

but they have left the other in but its wrecked anyway - so I guess that is why I am so nervous. I was just counting the days off and looking fwd ot walking again - now slight panic. This will pass I am sure

I have put tennis raquet padding on the zimmer! That hurts much more than the crutches
 
i forgot to mention swimming in my previous post- swimming or hydro if u can find a local pool are great for gaining range of movment, walking nornally (without the weightbearing effect) and strengthening your legs. Highly recommend it. My leg felt much stronger sooner from it.

Stationary cycling is also really good and u can pick bikes up reli cheap.

i still jump n compete etc as before. Only time i get any discomfort is if i land steeply after a jump i bruise the inside of my knee where i used to have screws (thats why i had them out). and i cant reli run as still feel i limp on it (but i absolutely hate running anyway!)

you can always use tubigrip round ur ankle to support it more but thats unlikely to fit in ur riding boot!
 
Thank you - I will be doing all I can - interesting about the cycling.

I Think I may get away with tubi grip - as have narrow ankles and always have room in boots at ankle...its the calves that do not!!
 
Wow! You lot are made of tough stuff! I broke my leg and ankle badly in November 2007...I had to have three operations and took me nearly 9 months to get back on a horse. I had the metal work removed, which was agony for about 2 weeks...and even now I still have lots of problems with pain in the ankle joint and its still at least one inch more swollen than my other ankle.
 
I broken my knee cap and 2 months in a full leg cast made all of the leg muscle bugger off so then it was another month before my leg was back to normal ish fitness and then another month till I was competing as normal :D

Typical me the day after I got my cast of I went riding and woooow what a sight it was try rising trot with 1 leg its not a pretty sight haha ;)

But when the physio gives you exercises to do like he said to me to do 10 so and so's a day but if you do like:
Day 1: 10
Day 2: 12
Day 3: 15
Day 4: 18
Day 5: 20

It makes the whole process a lot quicker because they have to say 10 just to cover themselves incase it all goes tits up :p But obviously if it starts to get too much then reduce and carry on :p
 
Jon -you are saying all the things my friends would expect me to do...

some people say I should be doing some exercises now for the thigh...

I will see...only 1.5 weeks now till cast off
 
You could have told me about the gloves:p I have Rheumatoid arthritis and my hands are murder, mind you so are my shoulders

I get my solid cast off on Thursday :D:D:D and will be in an air cast (the dark vader thingy) for a few weeks too. Not sure how long this time, will have to wait and see[/QUOTE]

Sorry Soulfull :o hadn't realised your hands were sore. The cycling gloves were good for my hands but my wrists hurt then! I hope your healing is much quicker this time. Did they have to refit your ankle replacement or was it a case of just lining it back up again?

YorkshireLady - I am considering asking for my plate etc out as I still haven't recovered full ROM in ankle and I'm uncertain if the pain is from a reaction to the plate or just the need to strengthen everything. They won't remove my plate till after 12 months anyway so going to spend next few months trying to get rid of the pains first.[/QUOTE]

It is odd because I thought I could feel it moving a bit, but couldn't quite be sure. Xrays always looked fine, but I knew I had not had one doen on a day I felt it was out of place. as usual I didn't say much about it

Then last time I went I said it felt wrong and was starting to be more painful. The xrayed it and where it attaches to the Tibia it was in the wrong place. Hence surgery booked post haste.
However despite it having moved it was rock solid. It therefore took surgeon hours to get it out. A new part was fitted and a bone graft done.

Fingers crossed this time. I'm not convinced it is going as well as I had hoped cos I think I have already felt it move a few time
I always tell myself I am imagining it, trouble is I have always always been proved right in the end. God I am so hoping this is the first time I am wrong or that it just heals from now on

It takes months of strict physio to get your ankle right again and the physio can be very painful, making you think you should stop. however keep going or it won't get strong enough!!
 
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