Am I Done?

shnalln · Apr 13, 2004

Last weekend I had to ditch the bike while airborne, and landed way wrong :eek: . I broke my Tibia and dislocated my ankle :ugg: . They reset the ankle and screwed the Tibia back together with a plate. My concern is making a return to riding. Since my ankle dislocated, will it be too easy for it to dislocate again :think: ? My wife wants the bikes gone, but to be perfectly honest, the bikes are all that I have that keeps me sain. I was riding on a supercross style track, and I am considering riding strictly motocross and hairscrambles and forget about trying to master the air...too old anyhow....

Has anyone had this happen or know of anyone who has? If so, how does your/their ankle holding up? If I do continue to ride, ankle braces are definately going to be added to the gear that I wear! Thanks

Anssi · Apr 13, 2004

I don't think you are done riding. Get the brace or learn to tape your ankle and wear Tech 8s and I think you'll be right as rain. You can pretty much tape your ankle into a solid block, you don´t need a lot of movement there to ride. It's not like it's your wrist, for god's sakes.

va_yzrider · Apr 13, 2004

I agree. I have dislocated my shoulder about 8 times, my hip once, and my right wrist about once daily. I have pain in all these areas pretty much all the time, but I deal with it. The funny thing is that the only time they don't hurt is when I'm riding (guess I'm focusing on more important things at the time). I think with really good boots and some tape or a brace you should be good to go. You should at least give it a shot. And for god's sake, don't give in to the "better half" and risk losing your sanity!

shnalln · Apr 13, 2004

Right...I wear the AStars Vector boot now, which are the best boots that I have ever worn...the doctors could not believe that my ankle even broke wearing those boots. Guess nothing is fullproof! Well, I see the Doc tomarrow, maybe I'll feel more confident then...find out how long I'll be out too, still don't know, guessing around 6 to 8 weeks for a good healing...

jboomer · Apr 13, 2004

I broke my tibia back in 2002. Called it a "tibial plafond fracture". Basically the bone split at the very end of the tibia where it meets with the foot at the ankle, it split straight up the tibia about 6 inches or so and then broke off. I was told I would walk with a cane and would never run again. Fortunately the bone never "displaced" so I avoided surgery. I was in a long leg cast for about 8 weeks, a knee high cast for about 5 weeks, a walking boot w/ cane for about 3 weeks. I can run now ( and could once I took off the walking boot). It's still gets a little stiff sometimes and I don't have full range of motion anymore (only limited to about 75-80%), but other than those things it's fine. My wife wanted me to quit riding too and I almost did. But, like you this is what I do. It nearly ended my career, yet I'm willing to take that chance again. I can't imagine not being able to ride my motorcycles, just as I can't imagine not being able to fly my jet. My motorcycles are tied for second as the most important things in my life (my wife is #1 and my career is also #2). I know I have limitations now and I respect them. I still race (very infrequently though) but it's no longer important to me to do the biggest jump on the track. I'm not an aspiring pro and probably never will be, and I'm not ashamed to sandbag the C class either! You just need to see where your priorities lie and make a decision from there. Good luck!

PS I WAS wearing Tech 8's! Sometimes there just isn't anything that could've been done.

dirt bike dave · Apr 13, 2004

Well said, jboomer.

There is lots of good info in the above posts. In my experience, Doctors will often give you the worst case scenario, so your recovery may well be better than you expect.

Definitely take time to heal, then give riding a try again. Even if you have permanent damage and can't ride at the same speed you used to, you might still have just as much fun as ever.

shnalln · Apr 14, 2004

My tibia broke approximately three finger widths above the joint and was a clean break, so there was plenty there for them to put a plate on and screw it back together. The Doc. told me that it went back together really well, so the tibia is really not my biggest concern. Having my ankle dislocated on the other hand, makes me worry about it dislocating again though. Sounds like you and I have quite a bit in common Jboomer. My priorities are the same, but instead of flying jets, I work on them (Avionics), and would be completely devastated if I had to choose another career.
Well, I'll let time take it's course and get healed. Riding styles and priorities while doing so will definately change when I start riding again. Sounds like my injury is minor compared to Jboomers, and if you can do it, so can I!!!! :thumb:

Thanks for your input guys, I appreciate it. :)

shnalln · Apr 16, 2004

Well, went and seen the doc the other day...I was freaking out about how my ankle looked :eek: ! They made about an 8 inch incision on the outside of my right ankle for the plate on the tibia, and made an "L" shaped incision on the inside so they could open the area up, move some things around that where out of place and added two screws. Got half of the staples removed on both sides and got a fancy new shoe...I guess it's gonna be about 8 weeks, 12 at the most, before I can be on my feet all day to go back to work.

I think to be on the safe side, I will not ride again this year. The doc said that it would take probably 6-12 months for ALL of the swelling to go down. So maybe next year I'll throw my leg over that beast...that should be plenty of time to heal up...

ltrad · Apr 16, 2004

Glad every thing worked out for you. One of my friends broke both of his ankles and feet into pieces. Then last year he broke his leg pretty bad. the doc said that it's the worse break he has ever seen. He was going to give up riding but thought that he couldn't live without his bike. So he is still and riding and just looks at what he's doing a little differnt. I also work in avation i'm a A&P and working on helicopters. :)

Treejumper · Apr 17, 2004

I broke both lower bones and the ball off one of them. No screws or plates for me and back to semi normal in 10 weeks. It still swells abit after riding and sore each morning wether i ride or not. So i ride! :) I crashed similiar to you, bailed in mid air. I just noticed today that you can see where i creased the leather in the boot (T-30) just above the sole when i landed wrong. I just stay off the tracks other to play and spend my time on the ground in the woods where its safer.

shnalln · Apr 18, 2004

Yea, that's what I'm thinking, the local track here has a pretty mellow but fun motocross track, and a big harscramble track. I think I'll stick to those and stay off the supercross style tracks. Jumping is definately not my forte anyhow. I'm 30 now so I think I have the right to step it down some.
My theory on the whole thing lies in the stock suspension on my bike. Something that I talked about this winter while rebuilding. I guess it's my own fault for pushing the envelope and taking the suspension for granted...
The "661 Racebrace Pro" ankle braces look like they may give some good extra support. Does anyone use them?

Treejumper · Apr 18, 2004

Ask your trainer at PT for one. Mine gave me one to wear when i did extremely physical stuff (like riding or hiking in the woods) where i would be on unlevel surfaces. I was to wear this for the first few months after the cast was off. Then he told me to loose it for awhile so the tendons could stretch and get used. I was cool hearing them pop as you used them. I got one that was out of plastic and formed something like a "U". It wouldnt fit in my motocross boots so he got me one that looks exactly like the 661 racebrace pro but has both laces and velcro for tightening. Its been a year and a half since i broke mine. If i dont wear it and ride more than afew hours my ankle is sore. Not bad if only out for afew laps or easy trail ride.

TwistNShout · Apr 20, 2004

I broke my tibia and was able to ride approximately six months later with the usual swelling afterwards.

Definitely don't give up riding if you are truly passionate about dirtbikes, because if you do you will give up part of yourself......and you know dat ain't right.

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

shnalln · Apr 20, 2004

Hey, that's an excellent idea treejumper :clue: ! I'll be sure to get a good brace from them, I'm sure that brace is better than any you probably buy anywhere else. Cheeper too :laugh: !
I am definately very passionate about dirtbikes! Even when I look at my ankle, I don't want to give 'em up....I'm sick :laugh: !
Thanks for wishes and all TwistNShout :thumb:

yz250-effer · Apr 24, 2004

I would not consider you "done" . . .

I would go with plan A. I broke my femur / opposite knee cap and also severed the acl and patellar on the broken femur side all in one fell swoop ( long story ) when I was 35 and that was 5 years ago. It took about a year before I could ride again, and it was more work than fun for the first 4-6 rides, but it was worth it.

shnalln · Apr 25, 2004

Yea, I'm gonna give it till next year to get back on. My wife even asked me today "Your gonna get back on that thing, aren't ya?"..."Yup"...So, gonna save up some money this year and get my suspension rebuilt, and hop back on next year.
Having aftermarket parts in my leg kinda makes me nervus though, what the hell would happen if :think: ...Arrgghh, If everthing was safe, It wouldn't be any fun right? :debil:

yz250-effer · Apr 30, 2004

shlalln,

Aftermarket parts are better, aren't they? Look at it this way, do you live to exist, or exist to live ? As long as you don't push you boundaries too far, you can always experience maximum fun without maximum risk. ( IMHO ) Good luck with a complete recovery. ;)

shnalln · May 25, 2004

I haven't been able to open the forums in a long time, I don't know what's up with that... :bang: ?
Anyhow, the break is not nearly as bad as originaly thought. I forced the Doc to sit down and talk to me. I broke my fibula, dislocated the fibula from the ankle socket, and the knobby thing on the inside of the ankle (medelia ???) that is part of the tibia broke off. All in all, I got the plate on the fibula, and a total of 10 screws, and 44 staples. Doc said that none of the aftermarket parts will weaken anything, so I should be good to go next year. Start PT today 3 times a week for 4 weeks.
In my own defense, I haven't ridden in about 10 years, and I've made some mistakes. Mistakes that I think new riders should take into consideration. This one being boots...I got to looking at my A* Vector boots, and the ankle support really stinks. It's a supper comfortable boot, but the sideways and forward and rear support is just not there...I don't care what A* says about them on their site...I originally wanted the new SIDI boots with all the support...but then again I can't help but think that maybe my knee would have paid the price...with what happened, maybe there's nothing that could have prevented an injury??? It is kinda hard not to get hurt falling 10-12' @ 20-30 MPH... :think:
It's all good though... :aj:

New motto: Big air = Big breaks :yikes:

shnalln · May 25, 2004

yz250-effer said:
shlalln,

As long as you don't push you boundaries too far, you can always experience maximum fun without maximum risk.

Yea, I rode all day and was going hang it up...next time I'll listen to my instincts too...

orlowskij · May 25, 2004

I'm in a similar situation here. Broke my radius and scaffoid in my wrist about 3 weeks ago, and got surgery a week after that. I go see the doctor tommorow to get stiches out and see what he thinks about the recovery. Anyone here have any experience with this type of injury?

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