 Poster: A snowHead
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So after years of cautios skiing, scoping lines and checking my DIN the inevitable thing happened, yes i broke my ankle on New Years Eve.
Enjoying the first of the snowfall over Christmas at Fieberbrunn Austria and managed to ski into a rock. (Reckmoos Area)
my Left ski disengaged with my boot instantly as it skied into / over said rock (didnt know it had come off until i had realised id taken a fall).
I think this put me into a bit of a left hand turn resulting in right ski hitting another rock side on and also disengaging with boot.
 broken ankle by Plymtree Adventure Club, on Flickr
The above is a best guess but makes sense as the Austrian doctors thought i was boarding looking at the x-ray as its apparently a common snow boarding injury?!.
Any ways the Austrian docs have said i need a cast for 6 weeks! yay , im bored already.
So the question is have any of you lot had similar? in my eyes it doesnt look to bad!
(Adding injury to insult id booked Feb, March and April off work this year to go skiing!!!!!! aHHHHHHH FML!)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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find out if the fracture has a common name (for example, my wife broke here ankle, and it was a fracture of type "Weber B" - there's A and C as well... ) or a general severity type; this may help you understand likely prognosis, severity etc.
Also check with UK docs on cast time - different countries have different protocols, and it's your leg!
I'm no doctor, but I doubt you'll be skiing again this year - you may want to ask when you'll be back to load bearing/physio, and after that, any 'impact' sport like running.
your age and history will have a reasonable part to play too....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@hamilton, he's 31  . best of luck @PROJECT_MANAGER
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Its a compression fracture of the distal tibial ehandlun (google translate of docs notes)
I am a fit & healthy 31 yr old, the Austrian docs said i could be skiing in 6 weeks gently, so there is plenty of hope.
Unfortunately the UK fracture clinic appointment isn't until Monday 14th Jan,
(Clearly doc's advice will be the go to, i was mainly looking to see if anyone had done anything similar and their experiences)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Markymark29, No, thats my bad typing, The boot detached from the Ski!.
as written 'my Left ski disengaged with my boot instantly'
but probably should have just written the binding released.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Funnily enough broke mine at the same age, although compounded with fractures to the Tibia and Fibula at the same time. Not a skiing injury.
The length of time in plaster was key (10 weeks in my case) which determines how quickly you can get your mobility back. The sooner you start physio the better and once I was up and about I had to make adjustments to compensate for reduced ankle flex when skiing. Hopefully you'll be on the mend sooner than 6 weeks and as long as you're pain free the boot should provide with enough support once you get it on. You might have to have your inners reshaped if you build scar tissue round the injury.
My other top tip would be to maintain your flexibility and keep exercising however you can. You will naturally overcompensate for your injury which puts everything else out of shape too. 1 legged rowing on the machine or cycling on a static bike, lots of stretching, Pilates and anything else you can do sitting down.
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@PROJECT_MANAGER, 7.5 weeks after a fib fracture, I sympathise. In Austria, they basically put you on a 6 week treatment plan which goes something like this:
Week 0 – X-ray, plaster cast on
Week 1 – new plaster cast required due to reduction in swelling, X-ray
Week 2 – X-ray, cast check, change if necessary
Week 4 – change to plastic cast (lighter), X-ray
Week 6 – remove cast, X-ray
Week 12 – X-ray
The fact that stuff was done to the cast before X-rays were taken made me think that they were just following a standard procedure. I've never been injured like this in the UK, so not sure what they'll do differently. Definitely make sure you go in between 4 days and a week after the first cast, as if you're anything like me the reduction in swelling will make it really loose and a bit useless.
I got back on skis last Tuesday. It hurt and I couldn't ski as well as normal, but it was possible. Impact sports will take longer. I can't drive yet, because I can't press down with that leg.
Sitting around will probably drive you nuts. Get people to come and visit if you can.
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And what @panaga52 says about flexibility is spot on. I've only managed to get my first appointment tomorrow as everyone was closed over Christmas. Be prepared to have lost flex and have pain in other parts of your leg due to lack of mobility. I found some easy exercises on YouTube while I was waiting for physio, but it's taken a week before I could stretch my calf and quad properly.
They wouldn't let me out of the cast any earlier because they were concerned about it opening up again as I didn't have surgery either. That may be different for you, but don't necessarily expect it to be.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@PROJECT_MANAGER, you might want to obscure your full name and date of birth from the images... having said that, well done on managing to break an ankle in a ski boot! There's a reason that this is a typical snowboard injury, and that's because their boots don't provide a lot of ankle support. Were you using hire boots, or your own? If your own, get them checked for size and fit, and if not, get your own from a knowledgeable fitter before you go again.
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Actually I ride race snowboard boots, which are very similar to ski boots in construction. I broke my ankle a few years ago. That was an auger-in on breakable crust. I actually blew the boot apart.
Anyway, there are multiple ways to "break an ankle". What I learned:- NHS physio seems to be about getting old people out of bed; I paid for my own rather than work with that.
- NHS waits are of two types: those clinically required, and those you can fix with money. I always check the reason for any wait, and pay where needed.
- I worked hard on my ankle because I wanted to get back to snow quickly. Although clearly the healing process will take time, you still have a lot of influence on the outcome.
- I have zero ongoing effects of my own break (which was different from the OP's).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@ousekjarr, doesnt really matter to me, i have nothing to hide, facebook displays most peoples names and DBs. but thanks for the heads up.
My boots fit perfectly, there complete with a custom liner) have a loverly race fit in them. ie when i walk around my toes are just on the front and when i get in the ski position (knees over ankles) my toes come off the front of the boot.
The piste security guys did say the same as you as i went back the next day to say thanks and drop off some gifts., We then went through it all and my kit and came to the conclusion it couldnt have been helped. ie its a compression injury not a twisting injury.
@Scarlet, Yes will be doing my best to keep mobile. did a nice walk in my crutches yesterday, sore hands now though hahaah
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@PROJECT_MANAGER, Hard work, isn't it?! I had to climb two storeys of an old building for a meeting before I was weight bearing. It was certainly good exercise!
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@Scarlet, well done, getting back on skis within 7 weeks of a fib fracture!
Good luck with ongoing recovery.
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You know it makes sense.
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@PeakyB, thanks, you can read all about it if you want, but I don’t have an x-ray pic to compare.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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+1 for keeping strength and fitness up in the injured leg, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the break healing. And then as soon as the plaster is off do as much physio as you can, without waiting for the NHS physio appointment, which in my view is generally far too little far too late.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@BlueSky, yes i think your right. I will most likely be in Aosta before the plaster is taken off any ways so will be looking at private physio in or near Aosta. One would safely assume that they will have seen more injury like this and know the best course of action.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@PROJECT_MANAGER, a friend broke her ankle a few years ago (stepped in s rabbit hole). The x-ray looked similar to yours and it was 8 weeks before we had a ski trip booked.
She was out of plaster but in pain walking on it before we went but could cycle and a test at chillfactore showed skiing was possible so we went. Skiing was fine but the issue was getting her foot in and out of her boots. They had to be warm and that meant on return, a hairdryer was used before attempting to remove them.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@adithorp, OK, sounds promising, thanks for the intel.
Me thinks February might be a sightseeing month of Italy, and March a warm up for April ready to come home.
I have to laugh at the situation as your talking to someone that doesnt go to the doctors let alone the A&E.
I ride in a Scarpa Sprirt 4 boot which luckily the tongue go's right forward in and when the buckles fully undone arent to much of an issue but heed your advice as warming them makes perfect sense.
Thanks
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@PROJECT_MANAGER, To get in my boots, I found that I needed to open them as wide as possible and put my foot in as far as I could (about halfway). Then I put my fingers behind my heel and pushed gently and it was fine. Warming boots isn't really an option if you're starting from the back of a car.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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A couple of years ago I did the Weber B fracture mentioned a pice when one ski went into a snowdrift and the other ski didn’t and carried on and I twisted in my boot. Done 3rd week in March and played competitive ice hockey again on Father’s Day weekend. Skied again the following Xmas with no problems.
I didn’t have a cast but instead a vacuum boot that was filled with beads from the Swiss hospital so I could take it off and do mobility stuff (non weight bearing) from a couple of weeks post. I began private physio as soon as I was off crutches and did the excercises regularly but I did keep up other exercise even while in the boot eg Swiss ball stuff and I could go on the turbo trainer once I was down to 1 crutch if I was careful with low resistance.
Advantage of mine was it was very much at the end of the ski season so i didn’t miss anything. You might struggle with Feb and March.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@cn174, the pain will probably subside around 9-10 weeks, then you have all summer to get your mobility back, including the side to side flex you need for skiing. Hiking is good once you can walk properly – wear decent boots with ankle support and go out on footpaths rather than roads as the uneven ground helps build the muscles back up and will move it in different directions without too much impact or risk.
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I broke my ankle in July last year (not sure of exact details, but a clean uncomplicated break, apparently) plus a small tear to my Achilles. The latter still gives me some discomfort. I was in a knee-high cast for 5/6 weeks, then a fetching Robocop-style boot for another few weeks, more for confidence-building towards the end, than a real need. I had 2 or 3 hospital based physio sessions in September, then just worked on mobility and strengthening the muscles, at home. The amount of muscle-wastage, when the cast came off, was quite shocking, as I had one very skinny leg, and one normal. I skied in mid-January, with some first morning trepidation, but it was fine.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Montana My skinny leg freaks me out. I'm really squeamish as well, so I'm not a fan of the scars either!
I have a question about your boot - how often did you wear it? All the time or just for walking around in? My hospital advice was 'wear it if you like' which isn't the most amazing advice ever! I generally don't wear it other than to go outside, but try to do a bit of walking each day in the house. Other than that just been doing exercises to get movement back, which I htink is going ok.
The posts on this thread have been very useful - mainly to sort out my own physio.
Tomorrow I should hopefully be getting referred to a place up in the Lakes run by the firefighters charity. They do rehab for all kinds of things for anyone who works for the fs, including non-ops people like me - everyone I know who has ever been there says it is amazing, so fingers crossed.
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@cn174, initially, I wore the boot most of the day, indoors and out, as it gave me confidence once the plaster was off, and I had to get used to putting weight on the injured ankle, after so long of not doing so. However, I did take it off when sitting down at home, and also gradually increased how much walking I did around the house, without the boot. By late September, when I was pretty much out of it, I did wear it when I flew to Spain, as there was so much walking in the airports. Didn’t wear it once there though. Good luck with your physio
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh no, I'm surprised people have managed to break their ankles skiing, sometimes unexpected things happen! I broke my ankle/fibula ice skating last year (also a freak accident tbh) and it resulted in me missing the entire ski season. I wasn't walking without crutches for about 8 weeks and I was still wearing the boot for a week after that, then it was still tough going for a while. My main problem for months after that was a severe lack of dorsiflexion though. It turned out I also busted a couple ligaments which I think had quite a part to play! Happy to say that at this point although I don't quite have full dorsiflex movement, I have enough, and it's continuing to slowly improve - my specialist told me that joint injuries can still be healing/improving for a year or more after the injury. Plus I'm totally pain free.  Looking forward to skiing this winter finally!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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So ........ heres the low down on a recovery from a right distal tibial fracture:
Non weight bearing cast below the knee for 4 weeks. (All of January)
air walk boot until 6th may.
comprising 2 weeks using 2 crutches to walk. then a further 2 using 1 crutch and then just walking around in the boot.
I lost around 2 degrees of ankle flex that i should get back within 3 months (According to the phisio)
I did do lots of exercise from Mid Feb onwards including knee boarding on my surfboard, Lots or walking and swimming (slowly) etc.
My ankle now doesnt hurt and didnt require surgery, but will take a bit of time to get the muscle back,
I dare say i could ski at the minute just! but really wouldn't want to.
Also agree that breaking an Ankle skiing is unusual, and mine was damned unlucky. :
Bindings set at 8, Always released when i needed them too in the past, (Maybe once every 20 days of skiing MAX)
Skiing off piste on a very thin base, (ALARM BELLS) with around 1ft of fresh snow. So taking it steady skiing meadows in Fieberbrunn.
About the 3rd or 4th turn i clipped a rock and my ski came L ski came off, Ahh im thinking, better stop, Do a hocky stop on my R ski straight into a hidden rock that was also at the same angle as my ski and bang, The binding did release but the injury occured way before any twisting or falling motion! the UK doctors thought i had jumped out of a window when reviewing the CT scan!
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FAQ
I did my ankle in Avoriaz - went over a little hill down to Les Croset, someone was on the floor, I swerved round them and tripped. I'm not really sure what happened next, but my left ski did not come off and everything got twisted inside my boot. When I'd stopped I tried to stand up to put my other ski back on, and that didn't work so well! 
