Rider injury- broken tibia and ankle

Hi Moodymare88, really sorry to read about your injury.
Once you're allowed to move but not weight-bear, you might want to hire or buy a kneeling ride-on strider scooter. My husband used one when he had Achilles tendon issues and used it indoors and outdoors, zipping along the pavement to get on buses to go to town or to hospital appointments, etc. You need to be able to kneel on it with the injured leg. No weight is taken by the ankle or foot or lower leg. It gives you far more mobility and independence than a pair of crutches or a wheelchair. It works off-road too on level grass if you were going to Burghley as a spectator. Hope you heal proper and soon. Handy basket at front for anything you need too.

StrideOn - Hire or Buy UK's Number 1 Knee Walker Today

Hire or buy your knee scooter from the UKs No. 1 knee walker company. NHS Approved mobility aid. Next day delivery. Excellent reviews & customer service.
www.strideon.co.uk www.strideon.co.uk
 
This is so tough for you, and I’m sorry to hear it. My daughter did this about 15 years ago, she fell off and landed on her feet with a resounding crack. The only thing I have to add is that she found her screws through her ankle terribly painful and they continued to be irksome, so she had them removed after a year. Which the NHS did. She has retained a small rod on the side of the leg/ankle. Her muscles did waste a bit so it was lots of physio, as others have advised. Good luck going forward.
 
Moodymare88 said:
Hi all,

3 weeks ago, during a fab XC lesson where we were flying, I had an unfortunate fall after a fence when I tried to save myself, landed on my feet, heard a massive crack and after being taken to hospital it was confirmed that I have broken my ankle and tibia. I had surgery 2 days later and now have a rod from my knee to my ankle and screws in my ankle. Completely ruined my plans for the rest of the year, but I’m still here so I’m grateful for that. I was told yesterday no riding for 6 months as it is still susceptible to breaking again.

Anyway, I have decided to give my 8 year old mare the rest of the year off, it won’t do her any harm and I think will be good for both of us and allow me to focus on recovery. She had her back shoes taken off this week, and will have her fronts taken off when the ground isn’t as hard.

I’m taking vitamin d and calcium, along with using an arc 4 health and I start physio next week.

Has anyone suffered anything similar? Is there anything else I can do to help with the healing?
When I do get back on, are there any boots which offer more support? Are long boots better than short boots and chaps? Is there anything I can use to support my ankle? I’ve ordered a back on track physio ankle support. I really want to be able to drive as soon as possible to be able to get down to the yard, luckily a friend is currently looking after her and I have been down to see her.

I am also looking into going on a course where they teach you to fall safely and I have a plan in place when it comes to bringing her back into work, and that includes going to my instructor for some ‘boot camp’ when she is ready. Anything else I can do when I am able to, to prepare myself for getting back in the saddle?
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Hi, I’ve just had a similar accident and am 2 weeks post op. Would love to hear about your recovery, timeline, pain points. Fell off jumping my 5 year old, TiB and fib break into the ankle joint. I had TiB nail surgery and a load of screws..
 
Jester&Pie said:
Hi, I’ve just had a similar accident and am 2 weeks post op. Would love to hear about your recovery, timeline, pain points. Fell off jumping my 5 year old, TiB and fib break into the ankle joint. I had TiB nail surgery and a load of screws..
Click to expand...
I did the same to mine back in 2019. I used the Arc twice a day which really helped with pain and swelling. As soon as i was out of cast i swam a couple of times a week. I was very dubious about driving as it was my right ankle so i didn't really push to get driving again so i took about 3 months to get driving but that could have been shorted. I had no reason to ride either so I didn't get back on a horse until i got driving again. It was very much a 'peg leg' every morning for 18 months, then one day I just didn't notice it in the mornings, like the peg leg feeling had gone. Once i was back on my feet i still spent a lot of time nursing it with RICE, got compression socks off amazon which helped. And found Emuology muscle and joint cream amazing stuff for getting the soft tissue soft again as it will calcify while the joint is immobile. - https://emuology.uk/products/e-balm

It seems like a long road while your off your feet but once you get out the other side and the cast is off it's not too bad.
 
Suechoccy said:
Hi Moodymare88, really sorry to read about your injury.
Once you're allowed to move but not weight-bear, you might want to hire or buy a kneeling ride-on strider scooter. My husband used one when he had Achilles tendon issues and used it indoors and outdoors, zipping along the pavement to get on buses to go to town or to hospital appointments, etc. You need to be able to kneel on it with the injured leg. No weight is taken by the ankle or foot or lower leg. It gives you far more mobility and independence than a pair of crutches or a wheelchair. It works off-road too on level grass if you were going to Burghley as a spectator. Hope you heal proper and soon. Handy basket at front for anything you need too.

StrideOn - Hire or Buy UK's Number 1 Knee Walker Today

Hire or buy your knee scooter from the UKs No. 1 knee walker company. NHS Approved mobility aid. Next day delivery. Excellent reviews & customer service.
www.strideon.co.uk www.strideon.co.uk
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lialls said:
I did the same to mine back in 2019. I used the Arc twice a day which really helped with pain and swelling. As soon as i was out of cast i swam a couple of times a week. I was very dubious about driving as it was my right ankle so i didn't really push to get driving again so i took about 3 months to get driving but that could have been shorted. I had no reason to ride either so I didn't get back on a horse until i got driving again. It was very much a 'peg leg' every morning for 18 months, then one day I just didn't notice it in the mornings, like the peg leg feeling had gone. Once i was back on my feet i still spent a lot of time nursing it with RICE, got compression socks off amazon which helped. And found Emuology muscle and joint cream amazing stuff for getting the soft tissue soft again as it will calcify while the joint is immobile. - https://emuology.uk/products/e-balm

It seems like a long road while your off your feet but once you get out the other side and the cast is off it's not too bad.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your tips! 🩵 nice to know it becomes ‘normal’ again 😀
 
Jester&Pie said:
Thank you for your tips! 🩵 nice to know it becomes ‘normal’ again 😀
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Hi, sorry to hear about your injury. It does get better however it does take time. My tibia took 6 months to heal and i still have a lump where the bone has healed. I was back driving 7 weeks post-op and doing my horse (not riding, but poo picking, waters etc) i was hobbling around for months and everything took 4 times longer than normal, which was frustrating. It didn't help that the YO and all the other liveries made everything twice as hard for me, my horse was in the field furthest away all winter, the water situation was a real pain as i had to walk up to the other end of the field, back down to mine again with the hose and back to the barn to connect and turn it on (so an already difficult job was made much harder for me, but easier for everyone else!). Luckily, i have now left that awful place as the 'friend' who offered to do my horse for me threw that in my face recently (bearing in mind i did end up paying someone, so she did it for 4 weeks whilst she wasn't working, i bought her flowers as a thank you and also took her to a spa day...along with doing her horses in the summer and also after my injury. I was also down there with either my partner, mum or dad on crutches doing her 2 weeks post op as i hate having to need help. I have learnt that next time i will just pay someone to save it being thrown in my face 18 months later for no reason!)

I am a fast walker, so being unable to walk at my normal speed was frustrating. I was back on board 3 months post op, hacking and building everything up with short rides and in my dressage saddle. Mounting and dismounting was painful to start with (my left leg), but it didn't take long for things to improve, although i am still cautious when dismounting and also sometimes if i have aggravated it, mounting but i think that will always be the case.

I haven't jumped yet, but i have started doing light seat work etc now to start building my core and stability up. That is painful, and the day after i am in agony but i am hoping that will also improve the more i do. Physio is very important as well as trying to use it.

I do have pretty much full flexibility back, although inwards flexion is only 80% back to where it was, so i have to try and keep my toes pointed more when riding. Me and my partner went to Orlando in September, and i was worried but i did wear compression socks for the flight and took aspirin and was fine. The walking wasn't too bad, i think by day 4 i was starting to struggle and slowing down, but after a rest day i was good to go again.

It sounds weird, but i can't walk around the house without shoes on now. So i always wear either memory foam slippers or sketchers flip flops and trainers etc are very important to help with support and cushioning.
 
lialls said:
I did the same to mine back in 2019. I used the Arc twice a day which really helped with pain and swelling. As soon as i was out of cast i swam a couple of times a week. I was very dubious about driving as it was my right ankle so i didn't really push to get driving again so i took about 3 months to get driving but that could have been shorted. I had no reason to ride either so I didn't get back on a horse until i got driving again. It was very much a 'peg leg' every morning for 18 months, then one day I just didn't notice it in the mornings, like the peg leg feeling had gone. Once i was back on my feet i still spent a lot of time nursing it with RICE, got compression socks off amazon which helped. And found Emuology muscle and joint cream amazing stuff for getting the soft tissue soft again as it will calcify while the joint is immobile. - https://emuology.uk/products/e-balm

It seems like a long road while your off your feet but once you get out the other side and the cast is off it's not too bad.
Click to expand...
Thank you 🙏 I suppose the first part is the hardest, trying to look forward so your words help.
 
Moodymare88 said:
Hi, sorry to hear about your injury. It does get better however it does take time. My tibia took 6 months to heal and i still have a lump where the bone has healed. I was back driving 7 weeks post-op and doing my horse (not riding, but poo picking, waters etc) i was hobbling around for months and everything took 4 times longer than normal, which was frustrating. It didn't help that the YO and all the other liveries made everything twice as hard for me, my horse was in the field furthest away all winter, the water situation was a real pain as i had to walk up to the other end of the field, back down to mine again with the hose and back to the barn to connect and turn it on (so an already difficult job was made much harder for me, but easier for everyone else!). Luckily, i have now left that awful place as the 'friend' who offered to do my horse for me threw that in my face recently (bearing in mind i did end up paying someone, so she did it for 4 weeks whilst she wasn't working, i bought her flowers as a thank you and also took her to a spa day...along with doing her horses in the summer and also after my injury. I was also down there with either my partner, mum or dad on crutches doing her 2 weeks post op as i hate having to need help. I have learnt that next time i will just pay someone to save it being thrown in my face 18 months later for no reason!)

I am a fast walker, so being unable to walk at my normal speed was frustrating. I was back on board 3 months post op, hacking and building everything up with short rides and in my dressage saddle. Mounting and dismounting was painful to start with (my left leg), but it didn't take long for things to improve, although i am still cautious when dismounting and also sometimes if i have aggravated it, mounting but i think that will always be the case.

I haven't jumped yet, but i have started doing light seat work etc now to start building my core and stability up. That is painful, and the day after i am in agony but i am hoping that will also improve the more i do. Physio is very important as well as trying to use it.

I do have pretty much full flexibility back, although inwards flexion is only 80% back to where it was, so i have to try and keep my toes pointed more when riding. Me and my partner went to Orlando in September, and i was worried but i did wear compression socks for the flight and took aspirin and was fine. The walking wasn't too bad, i think by day 4 i was starting to struggle and slowing down, but after a rest day i was good to go again.

It sounds weird, but i can't walk around the house without shoes on now. So i always wear either memory foam slippers or sketchers flip flops and trainers etc are very important to help with support and cushioning.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply! Just going to keep going with the painful physio … !
 
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