Sympathy and advice needed in equal proportion!

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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On saturday yours truely the dim-wit of lincolnshire decided for fun to attempt a triple pike off the lorry ramp, resulting in the rest of the day being spent in A&E.
The end result being a diagnosis of two ruptured right ankle ligaments but thankfully no break. My ankle is now the size of a melon and is every colour of the rainbow. My left knee is skinned and black and blue and is also the size of a melon as that knee is damaged permantly anyway.
I am officially a total plank.
That was the shameless quest for sympathy part of the post...........

The serious part is how long before I can ride again? The doctor at A&E was muttering darkly about ligament damage being worse than breaking it and it could be months - MONTHS? Is he serious? Has anyone done something similar and how quickly were you back in the saddle?
 
I have broken my left ankle 3 times, and it is now pretty weak and twists easily. Had a fall last year and thought I had broken it again. Turned out to be ligament damage, and I was told months too. I think I held out for about 6weeks before I got back on board. I did strap it up well though, and it was still painful. I also always over compensate whenever I dismount, and as a result, right knee always hurts.
 
Sorry for laughing yesterday but I couldn't help myself!!!. It must be bloody sore, Doctors do tend to be pessimistic though so maybe it won't be as long as they think. Hope you heal quickly! T xx
 
Yep, ligament is worse than a break :(.

As for the length of time before riding, I would say at least 8 weeks but more likely to be 12-15. I think it being an ankle, it'll be worse than a knee for riding.

You have my sympathy, that's a sh*t injury to have :(:(
 
Does the fact I am "well hard" and more than a bit stupid cut down any of these times? I went back to work the day after my last knee operation?
I am feeling more depressed by the minute....
 
Try taking Arnica. Homeopathic or herbal as you prefer. (You might prefer to apply herbal arnica topically - it tastes foul!) It can speed soft tissue healing. If nothing else at least you'll feel like you're doing something!

(((Hugs!)))
 
My friend did her ligaments in her ankle playing netball and it was many many weeks before she was back riding and then it was only walking as she couldn't put her foot in the stirrup properly...sorry :(. She was strapped up in one of those air boots though so maybe yours isn't as bad. Just take it easy and I hope you feel better soon xx
 
Hey, look on the bright side. Now's the chance to become an expert at riding without stirrups.

Hovis, are you listening? You could have some fun here boy!
 
Poor you! :(

I had all the ligaments in one ankle ripped about 4 years ago... it took almost two weeks before I could put any of my shoes on because my foot/ankle was so swollen! I waited about 8 weeks before I started riding (may have done it earlier but was on holiday for the last 2 of those) but only light hacking, and with very long stirrups. I started lessons again after about 12 weeks, but taking it pretty easy, with a lot of breaks to let my leg stretch out again. It was probably about 6 months (!) before I'd say I was back to 99.9% of the functionality I had before all round. Even now, I find if I'm riding for longer than an hour or so my right ankle will start to ache, even if I do periods of stirrupless work to stretch out, and I still tend to ride long anyway because of it.
 
TBH (as a dr who has spent 1/2 her life working in a and e) that's a standard speil to stop you coming back when it still hurts in acouple of weeks (Hows that for honesty) ... When it doesn't hurt too much and you can get your boots on, have a go at riding... it's prob. gentle enough exercise on that joint. You certainly won't do it any serious damage, unless you fall off that is...

So if you're not going to fall off, get on when your boots aren't too tight.

Dr. Blitz:D
 
I damaged mine falling off last summer on the inside of the foot. I think I didnt ride for 5-6 weeks, mostly because I couldnt actually get on cos I couldnt put it in the stirrup and I couldnt push off it either (and Frank is only 14.2) when I could lever myself up I rode without stirrups for a while and gradually built up to getting it used to sitting in the stirrup. doing rising trot without twisting took another month though. Dont think I had actually properly torn the ligaments though but yup broken arm def caused me less jip!

*healing vibes*
 
Kitsune said:
Well in that case, no more feet! Cut them off! Begone with them! :D x
Click to expand...


Yep...cut them off and afix a small set of 4x4 wheels. Should be more stable for going up/down ramps and you will glide through winter mud no probs.:D


Seriously...no idea how long before you are riding......see if you can access some physio to show you some strengthening muscles. Most likely you will be back on board fairly quickly but your ankle may be a bit wibbly so perhaps you could get an ankle support for when you are riding or wear a pair of supportive long boots instead of joddy boots?

Hope you're feeling better soon:)
 
wait till the swelling goes down, get some exercises from the physio, do them religously/obsessively for a few weeks, strap it up well and get back on board.

I know how much ligament damage can set you back - my knee is totally fff..screwed and I know that when it's sore I whack a support stocking on and get going. Once the initial damage is healed/healing then it's a case of getting the strength and mobility back. It's a long hard slog, but seriously, the physio does know best! You have to be a bit OCD about your exercises!

I'm sure you know all this if your knee is bad too, but sometimes it helps to be reminded! Put your feet up, have a pimms and relax for now! (((hugs)))
 
As blitznbobs says you always get the worst picture painted for you usually to make sure you don't do anything silly and don't expect it to be resolved over night.

Us horsey people being a hard lot don't let a bit of pain stop us to much so I think you will be back in the saddle quicker than you think... I was going to suggest as poppymoo when you feel up to it put a support on your ankle this will help, make sure you use a mounting block and perhaps no rising trot for a bit.

In the mean time just think you can get out of all those stable chores you hate by saying you can't do them cos of your ankle
 
opps should have also said lots of sympathy for you, why is it that we always managed to hurt oursleves doing the daftest of thing it would be so much better if we could say oh yes did it coming off jumping a 5ft hedge...ahh well such is life.

I am currently sporting a little finger twice the size it should be and unable to bend it due to a horsefly....I hate those ****** things
 
I second the Arnica, physio and a lot of googling to find out what else can help speed healing. If you're not too much of a cynic (well, and even if you are) get yourself some Reiki, which will promote faster healing too.

Attack it from all sides :D

Edited to add sympathy sympathy sympathy, to provide a balance of both! It sounds V painful.
 
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Malibu_Stacy said:
Poor you! :(

I had all the ligaments in one ankle ripped about 4 years ago... it took almost two weeks before I could put any of my shoes on because my foot/ankle was so swollen! I waited about 8 weeks before I started riding (may have done it earlier but was on holiday for the last 2 of those) but only light hacking, and with very long stirrups. I started lessons again after about 12 weeks, but taking it pretty easy, with a lot of breaks to let my leg stretch out again. It was probably about 6 months (!) before I'd say I was back to 99.9% of the functionality I had before all round. Even now, I find if I'm riding for longer than an hour or so my right ankle will start to ache, even if I do periods of stirrupless work to stretch out, and I still tend to ride long anyway because of it.
Click to expand...

Ditto all the above.
I think it took me three months to get back to riding but I waited until I could hobble without my crutches, just in case the horse went lame and I had to walk home.
 
Firstly I would like to send you the biggest huggle in the world as I truly and honestly know just how you feel as I too am in the same predicament.

The hospital told me that it could take upto 6 weeks for my stupid foot to heal so fingers crossed that yours does not take any longer than this.

So keep your chin up matey :)

love and huggles

Bessieboo x x x
 
I tore the lateral ligament in my knee skiing. Whilst I don't think my injury was anywhere near as bad as yours I took loads of diclofenac to reduce the inflammation/pain, ice packs and started physio as soon as I was allowed. The physio got me fit to do an ODE four weeks later so long as I promised not ride again afterwards! I had to ride on that day in a full knee brace, not to be advised. I started riding properly at eight weeks.

I would advise is to get buy some good stirrups if you don't already have them. My knees also dislocate so are not strong, before I bought Sprenger stirrups I could only hack for one hour before it became difficult to walk afterwards, now I can hunt all day. I think that the suspension in them will really help your ankles and knees.
 
Oh poor you, as others have said, takes longer than a break. If this make you feel better on the muppet stakes, I was doing up a girth on a friend's mare when the daft bugger jumped and spun to look at something as I was pulling upwards and ripped the ligament off the bone in my thumb. Still got and rode though.

Several months later, it was getting more and more painful to hold the throttle on the bike open so I went to the doctors and ended up being told it was a sprain but they wanted to double check with an xray and then got told what I had managed to do. He was impressed that I got and rode - said I must have no concept of pain.

Long story short, I now have a Frankestein thumb as I had to have the large joint pinned and set as where the ligament was off it was rubbing the joint away as I am a freak and don't have the extra spare tendon in my wrists that they could have used to rejoin the ligament to the bone again.

Take things easy (says she who has fluid round her heart from over doing things on chemo) and rest up. I am sure if Hovis is like Farra, he will enjoy having a peaceful life. Poor Farra though is very popular to ride and I have no end of kids or their mums, and even one gran, wanting to ride her for me at the moment.
 
Oh poor you!! a few years ago my pig headed bolshy welsh d jumped off the top of the lorry ramp and took me with him, i didnt hurt myself as much as you have but did skin and dislocate both knee's, my right elbow and two fingers also got a battering! sending wishes for a speedy recovery!!!
 
ergh love....poor you =[ ligaments are such a bugger to heal i'm afraid =[ LOTS of physio and lots of painkillers. Also, dont try and get back to riding too soon, or you'll irreparably damage it im afraid. sorry xxx
 
Oh Hells Bells you certainly did it in style Hovis_and_SidsMum – try not to wear the high heels next time!

I damaged my ankle badly last year whilst at a well known horse show. I actually twisted my ankle down a hole/rutt heard a terrible click (thought I broke my ankle) and hit the deck heavily onto my shoulder and was rolling around in the grass in terrible terrible pain (whilst my ankle was multiplying in size) felt like a right tit!

I was then collected and whisked off to the Ambulance tent whereby they thought it was a suspended break or dislocation of the ankle (but I could move my toes!) and a visit to A&E was necessary. I was in horrendous pain and they refused to provide me with a bucket of cold water or ice pack for my very large swollen ankle; apparently they can’t provide you with ice to numb the pain if it’s a dislocation.

My friend drove me to the hospital whereby I spent most of the day at A&E waiting for an x-ray (with no ice pack whilst another patient waiting did!!!). The x-rays showed no signs of break (thank goodness) and resulted in a very very bad strain and sent me home with some crutches and to keep the leg elevated and mobile and ice pack and pain killers would be helpful!!!

I couldn’t even do my nags the next morning and so called up my Chiropractioner and made an appointment that very morning. My Chiro Dr couldn’t understand why they didn’t provide me with any cold compression/ice pack as the first few hours help to improve the healing process – just look at a footballer when he injuries his leg/ankle etc – out comes the ice pack.

I must say in the 30 mins appointment I had he managed to get things functioning better (in my ankle) and I even managed to put my elbow and shoulder out which he fixed. I walked out from the appointment still on crutches but was able to put more weight on and had more movement in that ankle. I improved every day and went back to work 4 days after the incident (ankle still being strapped up) and continued to have about half a dozen more chiro treatments which helped immensely. Gradually the swelling went down and the bruising got bigger and blacker!

I wore a sports type bandage on my ankle and managed to wear my Ariat paddock boots (unzipped) for extra support and I was back riding (only hacking at walk) within 3 weeks (with zipped up boots). I continued wearing the bandage for about 6-8 months when I felt that I needed the extra supported with wellies especially going into the winter with muddy fields and then the snow and ice.

I still have problems with this ankle as it seems to be the weakest one as I’m always rolling it!!! … stupid woman – I find these rutts/holes just come up and grab me!

Obviously everyones healing process if different but I would definitely book an appointment (or few) with a Chiro or Physiotherapist. I’m now looking into having some arch supports done to help this ankle etc …. some people like me need them at my age (I’m in my 40’s)!

I do hope you are not out of action for too long after your “Advertures with the Lorry Ramp”! Keep smiling and add more Gin next time! Do keep us posted with your diary.
 
Thanks all.
Its utterly embarrassing that my worst horse related injury was sustained carrying horse bedding down the lorry ramp! No horse in sight! Plus sensible foot wear!
I just caught my foot on one of the horizontal ridges and whoosh! Away went the feet!

Both sides of my ankle and all down my foot are delightful shades of black, blue and green and its the size of a honeydew melon. I can't get any shoe on other than my sexy blue tigger slippers and I'm so BORED already!

I am about to ring my long suffering and wonderful physio who may give me some advice amongst the bouts of laughing....
 
Just a thought can you get some ultrasound on it it help with the swelling etc. I had this after Fleur decided to send me on a flying lesson courtesy of her hind legs and ended up with what looked like a huge sausage on my pelvis.

I had physio and ultrasound which really helped reduce the time before I was back in the saddle again.
 
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