[sama1ter]

So i had just learned bunnyhop 360's, and was riding around the local harbor. i was landing them consistantly, maybe 8 out of 10 times... i went to do it from a flat to a ramp, ended up landing off camber, and having my ankle take the hit after slipping off my pedal at an angle..
I went to ER after it happened seeing as my ankle was the size of a baseball at the point, and after 2 hours and a $2,300 bill(thanks to insurance) was informed that it was just a sprain, but still get it checked out by a bone doctor.

Well i go in the next day to see the doctor, he takes a couple xrays, and determines that hte Talus bone had a chip that had broken around and was floating in my ankle.
I was schedualed for a CT scan of my ankle, and the next day i was informed that it was not a chip, but instead of "cluster" of small bone fragments that are now floating around in my ankle.

I have surgery schedueled for tuesday, and should be walking with no brace in 6 weeks, but this is the killer: no running, aggressive sports, or hard impacts for the next year at the minimum, but most likely(and highly recommended) the rest of my life, seeing as the scar cartilidge wont be as flexable as the original, and now have a high chance of arthritis in that ankle by the time im 40.

So my BMX now has to be sold, and my SX trail...and i guess i'll have to go the Roadie path. I cant imagine giving up biking for the rest of my life, and think thats the most reasonable option.
I'm only 19, and i still cant believe that one 360 gone wrong could change my life so much


in related news:
anybody know where i should start looking for a Road Bike? I like the Specialized Tarmac Expert Double?
i'm 6'3, 195lbs.

 

[Zach Dank]

Don't believe everything you are told. You are buying into some serious bull$hit.
Me and my brother have both had major surgeries, where we were told we wouldn't be able to do $hit for the rest of our lives. Both of us are now killing it, at stuff we were never supposed to do again.
Doctors are full of $hit, to cover their as$es.

 

[ZHendo]

listen to zach, and the lesser zack(me) too. i've had friends that have destroyed themselves doing go knows what, and doctors are always telling them that their lives are basically over and they can't participate in anything fun for the rest of their lives. i know it's hard to ignore the doctors, but in the end it will probably be a good choice because you'll be able to be happier in the long run. sure, arthritis may come even earlier, but there is always a way to relieve that pain, even if for a very short amount of time, so you can go do what you want. regardless, don't just run out of the hospital and jump on a bike. give your ankle the recommended time to heal, maybe even a little more. make sure you stretch it and also do strengthening stuff. there are a few ankle exercises that a trainer or fitness person can tell you that will help. if your ankle feels weak or you're really worried about it, wear an ankle brace. hopefully you can heal up well. in the mean time though, a road bike would be nice because you can keep in shape. be warned though, i've tried road biking before and at first you'll really like it because it's insane how efficient the bikes are and how fast you can go, but it gets old quickly, or did for me. that said, a lot of people love it. btw, running sucks anyways, so you're not missing much there.

 

[Bicyclist]

Word, you can still ride.

That Tarmac is really nice, but the Roubaix series is more comfortable and taller in the front end. I say look at the Sram-equipped Roubaix or that Tarmac. Get a 61 at your height.

Availability might be an issue. If you want I can check some stuff out 'cause I'm in the market too. FYI my shop sells for low retail so you won't find a better deal if you're looking for a dealer.

 

[Evil4bc]

Don't believe everything you are told. You are buying into some serious bull$hit.
Me and my brother have both had major surgeries, where we were told we wouldn't be able to do $hit for the rest of our lives. Both of us are now killing it, at stuff we were never supposed to do again.
Doctors are full of $hit, to cover their as$es.

YUP ! WORD to that !

I shattered my heal bone and the 3 center bones in my foot a few years ago , had major problem walking right off the bat but rideing never hurt ?? So them the DOC tells me straight up that I'll be lucky if I able to walk in 5 years , that was 7 years ago and I'm rideing stronger today than I have in years .

Zach's 100% correct Doctors are full of Bullsh!t !!

 

[pZyteX]

Did you ask the doctors what's the worst thing that could happen if you do take a few hard impacts to your ankle. Doctors always like to play it way to safe when it comes to "extreme" sports.

 

[trust4130]

A talus injury is not you typical "major" injury. It could very well change your life completely. The joint is NEVER the same. How do I know? I destroyed mine five years ago, and still have hardware in there to this day. I know plenty of people who have destroyed themselves one way or another, but the talus injury usually takes the cake because of the after effect. Hell, the Grade 5 spleenectomy I had last year (complete with lifeflight ride) was a walk in the park compared to it. That said, I still ride (well, at least until two months ago with perhaps my worst accident where I shattered my kneecap into 5 pieces ...) So, yes you will ride. You might even be able to run again (I worked myself up to jogging on a rubberized track). But be prepared to for swelling, a bit of pain, and a lack of mobility. The talus injury was the sole reason I started riding bigger bikes instead of a twenty. Take the physical therapy seriously and get as much mobiltiy as you can, and you'll be back behind bars again.

 

[Zach Dank]

My brother had a couple inches of his radius and ulna sawed off in his arm. They replace it with some sort of fake bone, and titanium. He completely destroyed all of the ligaments. He was never supposed to lift heavy weight again, or participate in physical sports that use the arm.
He now curls 50 pound dumbells several times a week, and is training for his next fight.

I broke my fibula and tibia in half, while also tearing every ligament in my ankle in half. I was told to never skateboard or ride a bike again.
A six inch titanium plate, 9 screws, and 3 months of rehab later, i was killing it on both.

Thank the doctor for repairing your injuries, and tell him to stick his "never ride again" advice, up his as$.

 

[Blockhead]

Yo buddy, I feel your pain. I lost a kidney in a car accident, so I'm down to my last one. Riding bikes was @ the top of the Dr's nono list, but theres no way I was going out like that. If it means that much to you go down Swinging. One life, one love

 

[stinky6]

See a physical therapist as soon as possible and consider homeopathic/natural healing stuff. I broke my collar bone recently and took lots of vitamins and some other stuff that the Naturopathic doctor recommended and the Orthopedic Dr said I healed super fast; it can't hurt.

I'm sure you will be able to ride again; just take your time healing and ease back into it. Maybe you will have to wrap your ankle, big deal. Maybe you won't be able to go really big, who cares you can still have fun.

Didn't I do a run with you at Whistler a year or two ago?

 

[Axis]

Not all doctors are like this. I agree most that I have come into contact are but I have a good story.

I broke my left wrist, thumb socket, forearm and hand bones. I recieved screws in every area and a 10" plate in my arm. I live in Cleveland Ohio the home of the best Doctors in the country (Cleveland Clinic) perhaps even the world.

I was told by 4 specialists before the surgery that it was the worst combo of injuries they had ever seen. Eventually an Iraqi doctor stepped up and took responsibility to help me.

He told me the truth. I told him the truth about my desire to ride and what that really means... The guy really was honest and didn't just cover his ass. He said it's your decision and explained what would happen if I started jumping too soon. He actually gave me a timeline of when I could start taking hits or hard impacts and how to tell the difference between scar tissue breaking up pain and pain that means you are f'ing it up more.

He gave me 100% use of my thumb and hand back which was the main thing all of the doctors were skeptical of. I got almost all mobility back. I still phone him up and thank him now and again.

 

[ebrider510]

well, like others have said i don't know if i would go by the doctor's recommendation completely..get healed up and then start riding BMX again but just take it easy and be careful. im sure you dont have to just ride road the wrest of your life. i would think about it this way, it mite be more risky to ride after this injury and could do serious damage, but you only have one life to live..just take your time and see what happens. get well soon!

 

[mxsport41]

Dude the doc is full of it I broke thethickest part of your femur in half have a rod that goes into my hip a plate that run down my femur with four screws in it i was told i would never ride motorcycle or bikes 3 years later against doctors i still ride and i am fine broken bones are just part of it.

 

[kidwoo]

I did the same thing to both of my ankles.....one of them on one of zach's^ trails actually

Buy one of these.

http://www.dme-direct.com/speed-braces-exoform/

I've been through a bunch of ankle braces and this is by far the best I've found.

Put it on and you'll be walking as soon as the surgery swelling subsides.

 

[Cru Jones]

Like all the heads have said... if you can walk, you can ride. It's all about strength, and you'll build up the strength to ride.

 

[max123]

I broke my back recently. I went to one follow up appointment after having been to the ER a week before and the doc was telling me 6 months to a year before I could ride again. He told me to stop dj'ing and pretty much mtbing entirely. He said in 4-6 weeks you can do
"normal activities". I asked him(while very angry) what normal activities meant and it basically meant not having fun. light jogging, playing chess, going on the computer, walking, and swimming. Awesome. I saw another doctor after that who said no restrictions after 6-8 weeks depending on pain. (unless i have pain then then i shud rest more). Right now its 5 days away from 8 weeks ago and Im starting to ride dh tommorrow. Ive ridden my ht on street and been fine. A little pain but i healing up great. just my 2 cents

 

[Blockhead]

Its all in the mind. Tell yourself your fine and you will be.

 

[kidwoo]

(unless i have pain then then i shud rest more).

That's the key.

A little scar tissue breaking up and tendon pulling pain is something that's inevitable and you should know the difference between that and tearing something.

With a talus, the bone will be fine but the tendons will likely never be the same. Mine definitely aren't but they work fine for most of the things I want to do.

Your ankle will hurt a lot and sprain easily for about a year. Just know your limitations. And DO get an ankle brace.

 

[chuffer]

good christ, if everyone listened to the doctor when they were told "you'll never be able to do heavy lifting, impact sports, etc. again," then uhmerika would be full of a overweight out of shape of puzzies. oh, wait a minute...