Skating Again?

[kredmore 2]

I broke my fib/tib just above the angle about 6 weeks ago playing no-check hockey. I was trying to catch an opponent, then tried going to one knee to block a pass, ending up on my butt sliding feet first into the boards. Crushed the tib, 2 plates, 16 screws. I have 50% weigth bearing on the leg, walking with a cane and removable brace right now, with 100% planned for this Friday's visit to the doctor.

Obviously I still have some time before skating again, but wanted to inquire if anybody else had gone through anything like this before and the timeframe before skating and playing hockey. The doctor can certainly answer questions about walking/running, and I will ask the doctor about skating again, but would like to hear if there any similar experiences out there and the timeframe for skating if applicable.

Thanks, Keith

[DamnLocust 0]

A friend broke his fibula on a simialr play when he went feet first into the boards. He was back playing within a few months, but never played as hard on that foot, i.e. cutting and stopping. Another friend who broke his legs as a kid still isn't confident in using that leg to cut or stop.

I don't know how much of it is a physical thing, but both of them have admitted that it's more a mental thing than anything else. When you do return to the ice, be sure that you're mentally prepared to use the once broken leg in the same way that you previously used it. If physical therapy is offered, be sure to take it and let them know your intentions so that they can strengthen the leg adequately and you will be confident in using it. Best of luck.

[ju87 0]

Nice, a broken leg thread.

I broke my fibula around the end of July, comminuted fracture w/no displacement so surgery and hardware were not required. Was in a cast & crutches for 8-ish weeks and a brace + crutches for about 4 weeks or so.

I started skating once a week about 3 weeks ago but it still feels a bit sore. The leg is definitely weaker and I don't use it hard, partly mental and partly because I can feel some soreness and don't want to hurt it again.

I don't have any great advice for you because I'm still recovering myself. During my last visit to my orthopedist in the middle of October, the x-rays still showed that the fracture had not completely fused yet and his recommendation was no exercise except maybe swimming until I no longer felt any pain while walking, standing on my tiptoes on the broken leg only or hopping on that same foot. Other than that, wait 2 more months until the next x-ray.

I probably shouldn't be skating already since it still feels a tiny bit sore, but I feel that the soreness is at a minimal level and that means that the leg is almost finally healed enough (my own stupid reasoning).

I was told at the beginning that the healing process would take about 6 weeks so I expected to be playing again in 8 weeks. It is now almost 4 months later and I'm still not 100%. What I am trying to say is that everyone heals at a different rate and it can be quite unpredictable. You have to monitor the recovery and be 'patient' (my Dr.'s favorite saying). To make a long story short, there will come a point in your recovery where you will feel that the leg is 'ready' to get back on the ice, but don't feel impatient or frustrated if you don't recover as fast as you think you should.

[ktang 34]

The same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. I was back on the ice after 5 weeks - good physical therapy - but the hardware affected my ankle's flexibility and mobility. I had the hardware removed after the season, and was back on the ice again 4 weeks after that - good physical therapy again.

I had no alcohol or soft drinks during the mending and rehab, had lots of milk and calcium supplements, did all the rehab exercises and sessions properly, and got my rest.

I did a couple of months of Frappier Acceleration (skating treadmill) training. The trainer knew right away that I had something wrong with my right leg, based on my stride. He had seen other players with the same injury making the same compensating moves. We worked it out.

It still aches after some games or hard exercise.

Good luck with the recovery.

[kredmore 2]

Thanks so much for all the info.....

1) The mental side is the part I'm concerned about....still having fun without the worry. I guess just be patient and see what happens. Worse case is skate with my kids.

2) The stories are so different. My understanding is that the bones need to heal before stressing (including skating), so months, not weeks.

Ktang - back on the ice in 5 weeks from a broken tibia that needed plates/screws? There was no chance the bones healed in that timeframe...maybe you had stronger plates or only broke your fibula?

[ktang 34]

After the surgery the surgeon said that it would be 4 months before I could get back on the ice.

My bones knitted faster than expected, and the plates and screws positioned the pieces together well in the breaks. I was feeling good after getting the staples out and after the first few rehab sessions (every 2nd day), so I took a chance and went to a public skate.

When I got back onto the ice I was only skating around half-speed because of the residual swelling, and my calf had really atrophied, but it helped me rebuild the strength in my leg. I used skating as part of my rehab.

2 months after surgery I was able to start playing games again.

[djosbun 0]

Right after 9/11 (yes, that 9/11) I sustained a tib/fib fracture right above my ankle as well. Mine was quite severe (happened during a fight with a guy 90 lbs heavier than me (and i'm 180lbs). I had 2 plates and 15 screws in my leg.

I lost complete feeling in my lower leg and my whole foot for 1.5 years because of the nerve damage. When the doctor reset my leg, they moved the 2 main nerves in my leg too close to the bone, and the nerves short-circuited. Five years later and I still have numb spots in my foot and ankle and live with constant tingling and pain.

Two months after the initial break (and surgery), I sustained a crack in my tibia during physical therapy because the plates were so stiff that the bone had no 'give' during weight training. Spent another 4 weeks in a cast (after the initial LONG cast period). About 2 months later, during an x-ray examination of the leg, they noticed that the casing of the bone was separating from the rest of the bone. The casing was moving towards the screw tips. This meant I had to cease ALL physical activity pertaining to my legs- no weight training, no jogging, no quickly moving up steps. I had to wait one year from the initial surgery (which is how long it takes for the bone to completely heal after the screws were inserted). At my one year anniversary, they removed all the screws and plates and was allowed to start staking about 3 weeks after that.

Through all this, I dealt with 2 orthopedic surgeouns, and one of them was Dr. Timothy Kremcheck, who is the team doctor for the Cincinnati Reds.

Hopefully you WILL NOT have to deal with what I went through, because my leg is permanently damaged. I had my 3rd leg surgery last March to remove scar tissue that was 'strangling' one of the nerves in my lower leg.

My main negative was the nerve damage caused by the initial surgery. They knew something was wrong about 24 hours after the surgery because I woke up screaming (and i'm over 30 years old) because it felt like my leg was on fire. I'm assuming you didn't go through this, so after your rehab (to build back up the muscle you'll lose from being non-weight bearing) you should be fine.

[kredmore 2]

Thanks again for the info.....it's good to hear other's stories.

I was cleared today for full weight bearing, and can start skating. All is healing well. Full force, such as hockey, running, jumping, etc. is expected in another 6 weeks (or 3 months from original injury).

[ju87 0]

Right after 9/11 (yes, that 9/11) I sustained a tib/fib fracture right above my ankle as well. Mine was quite severe (happened during a fight with a guy 90 lbs heavier than me (and i'm 180lbs). I had 2 plates and 15 screws in my leg.

I lost complete feeling in my lower leg and my whole foot for 1.5 years because of the nerve damage. When the doctor reset my leg, they moved the 2 main nerves in my leg too close to the bone, and the nerves short-circuited. Five years later and I still have numb spots in my foot and ankle and live with constant tingling and pain.

Two months after the initial break (and surgery), I sustained a crack in my tibia during physical therapy because the plates were so stiff that the bone had no 'give' during weight training. Spent another 4 weeks in a cast (after the initial LONG cast period). About 2 months later, during an x-ray examination of the leg, they noticed that the casing of the bone was separating from the rest of the bone. The casing was moving towards the screw tips. This meant I had to cease ALL physical activity pertaining to my legs- no weight training, no jogging, no quickly moving up steps. I had to wait one year from the initial surgery (which is how long it takes for the bone to completely heal after the screws were inserted). At my one year anniversary, they removed all the screws and plates and was allowed to start staking about 3 weeks after that.

Through all this, I dealt with 2 orthopedic surgeouns, and one of them was Dr. Timothy Kremcheck, who is the team doctor for the Cincinnati Reds.

Hopefully you WILL NOT have to deal with what I went through, because my leg is permanently damaged. I had my 3rd leg surgery last March to remove scar tissue that was 'strangling' one of the nerves in my lower leg.

My main negative was the nerve damage caused by the initial surgery. They knew something was wrong about 24 hours after the surgery because I woke up screaming (and i'm over 30 years old) because it felt like my leg was on fire. I'm assuming you didn't go through this, so after your rehab (to build back up the muscle you'll lose from being non-weight bearing) you should be fine.

Wow...that sounds like quite a horror story.

[kredmore 2]

ok...so I'm skating again now, but my synergys 1500c are really hurting my ankle bones on both sides of my left foot. Not surprising, as I have plates on both sides of the ankle (may come out in a year, but only if they bother me). So basically, my left ankle is wider now with the skate too small. I have been public skating using the rental ski-type skates. This is fine for now, but will be getting back into regular adult B league play in Jan. 2007.

I stopped at my LHS, and the owner (very nice, reasonable guy, pretty knowledgeable), says that he has never had this situation before and because there is some time before I play hockey again, wants to ask some folks (reps, etc.) to see what others would do in this situation - basically see what the pros would do. Re-moulding might work, but he didn't think that would give enough room. Another skate is a possibility - going through the fitting process, but then what happens with my right ankle as it's a smaller size?

I wanted to ask here on what folks thought - any ideas?

[ktang 34]

I got some poly-vinlyl padding and cut 2 doughnuts, with the holes being for the ankle knobs. I cut some strips to go along the sides of the plates.

I would tape the doughnuts on first, then the strips.

The first few skates I could feel some of the screws rubbing against the inside of the skin, but after those first few skates the feeling went away.

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

Hey I broke my FEMUR bone in a game. It was terrible I was out for 3 months but heres the bad shit lol:

- I was One of the fastest skaters in the league- still not back to speed after a year and a 2 months

- Was the leading scorer of my team and 3 in the league.

- Very physical and now kinda fallen down a little in that part.

- lost my soft hands some how and it kills me to see that i cant control the puck like i used to.

- Got the most playing time on the team- get the least now.

SO i broke the Femur bone which is your biggest bone in your body and afet a year and 2 months still not back yet- you guys got off lucky

Oh I also have an 8 inch plate and 16 screws in my left leg from the hit.

I was in full stride and a kid stuck out his led CRACK fall to the ice in dead pain.

If you want to know the entire story PM me

[mojo122 535]

I was fortunate that when I broke my ankle (fibula) that I had good alignment and needed a cast only. My cast was on for 5-weeks and I was able to skate a week after that came off. As for running, I had to wait almost 9 months for that since that’s roughly what the timeframe is for the bone to fully heal.