broken ankles and getting back in the air

Any advice for me? I broke my ankle (in two places, a spiral fracture, five screws, the works) I've had a cast for 6 weeks and it's supposedly coming off Tuesday. The jump was number 70. Doctor says to wait a month afterwards to resume jumping and my other 'normal' activities. Anyhow, a friend of mine said my first jump back will be terrifying. I believe it, I broke it on a stand up landing. It was odd. I'm going to be scared to put my feet down and I may resort to the good old butt- slide that I'd gotten so good at. What can I do to protect my ankles? Any advice? God, I miss it. And I miss the Z-hills crowd. At least it's our hot and icky season still.

Get one of those Ace Bandage type ankle braces. On top of the Ace, put a stabilizing ankle brace(I use the soft kind, with two stabilizing straps that wrap around the ankle, under the foot, then up on the opposite side). Pull it tight. It will help to stabilize your weak ankle, plus give you more confidence.

I had the same thing happen a couple years ago. It was jump number 220 or so. I normally jumped a Sabre 150, loaded around 1.35 to 1. My rig was getting a reserve re-pack, and the DZO asked me to 'test jump' a brand new student rig. It had a Manta 282 in it. I loaded that canopy around .75 to 1. Calm wind day. Perfect stand up landing, but my left foot was turned inward a little bit. I didn't realize I broke my ankle until I had the canopy gathered up and started my trek back to the hangar.

I caught hell over that one for quite a while. I had a cast on for 5 weeks, then gave myself another 5 weeks before I started jumping again. I resumed my jogging about a week after the cast came off - so I'm sure that helped. Prior to the break, I ran 8 miles a day. After the cast came off, I was lucky to get 2 miles before it started hurting - at a slower pace. I worked my way back up to 8 miles a day before I resumed jumping. After the cast comes off, do lots of walking with no brace on your ankle. If you run, be sure to use at least an Ace type brace at first, and run only on flat, level surfaces. If it hurts when you run on it, you're not ready to jump again yet.

Just don't make the mistake of not allowing the healing to complete. I got back on two broken feet after three months in a wheel chair and regret walking before they had healed sufficiently. I now have bone fragments that didn't fully heal and are now loose or floating around in my ankles. It hurts like a mudder. Take your time and I promise that Skydive City won't close before your ankles are ready.

Before you buy.

I broke my leg March of this year(spiral fracture, clean through, damaged about all the soft tissue you can in the ankle). Obviously you understand the physical aspects of such a injury (it hurts, drugs help). The first thing I thought when I learnt it was broken was 'I'm grounded for SOOOO long!' and all I could think about was when I would be back in the air. I still went to the DZ every weekend. Even though it was difficult to watch all my friends jumping I think it really helped to stay around the sport and the people.

The physical aspect of getting back is an easy call, if you trust your body. Don't push it. You're going to be really anxious to jump, but if your not 100% sure that you're ready, wait. You can strap your ankle/leg with all the contraptions available, and in a 'perfect' landing situation you may be fine. Unfortunately, as you've learnt, we can't count on those. I read a good article about this very thing while I was trapped in my cast and the advice it gave was, 'if you can run, you can skydive'. I found this to be a great standard. It kept me on the ground until I was physically able to jump again, even though my mind was ready 20 minutes after I broke my leg. It took 3 months before that next jump. And yes, this self test of being able to run did put off my plans to go up by about 3 weeks.

I totally understand your worry that you will be wrought with tension once you're setting up for landing. I thought the same thing. I wasn't. I made a point of picking a reasonable wind day to get back up, and thinking through my landing in detail before I stepped on the plane. I think that all the mental preparation that I did for that part of the jump was key. I felt ready and comfortable when I was coming in and you have enough jumps that you should too. I also had no doubt that my leg could handle it. I think this was crucial.

Be patient (uugghhh) and I do strongly recommend going to your DZ as often as you can. It'll really help to keep you involved mentally, if not physically. I hope this helps a little bit.

Blue 11111 Princess Squiffy

Before you buy.

Well I shattered my left ankle and right tibia and fibula a year and a half ago. Have had many complications and my last surgery to put plate and 9 screws back in was 6 months ago. I am barely able to walk yet but have made 4 jumps in the past 6 months. 3 of them being in Quincy this year. Best advice is jump with a coach to get current again. Practice practice practice emergency procedures on the ground. Jump a bigger chute than you were for a bit with a good wind.Hell I got a rig I will let you barrow if youwant. It is 260 sqr feet F111. Tracy

Hi, I shattered my tib/fib two years ago from smashing into a wall. I had 10 screws and a rod placed into my fib and two screws and rod placed into my tib. I went back up after 12 weeks of not jumping *6 in cast and 6 in rehab*. I made seven jumps after this injury and on my last jump, the door opened, and I looked down and said, 'Im done', came back with the plane and sold my rig that day and never went back up. Its been two years, and Im still not sure if I want to go back, after 140 jumps. I still love the sport, and think about it constantly, but the fear of breaking another ankle really gets to me. I hope that helps somewhat.

if she needs the confidence to ride down with the plane and sell her rig..it was absolutely inspiring.

Sometime, way back when men were men, sheep were nervous and student canopies were round (shut up or I'll hit you with my walker!), I broke my ankle landing on a rock. Nice clean break, got a plate and a few screws. After 6 weeks, when I got rid of the cast, I asked the doc how long before I could jump again. He told me my ankle had been strong enough straight after the op. Like everything else, everyone's different.

Been there, done that...didn't like it so MY first jump back at the time was a water jump.

I crushed my heel avoiding an obstacle back in '93 (surgery, out for 5 months), and just last year severed a lateral ligament in my ankle snowboarding (surgery, out for 3 months).

I think the advice about being able to run (farther than across the room) is very good, and is the same that my orthopedist gave me. Your ankles are important, don't get in a hurry - you're gonna skydive the rest of your life right? Then a couple of months here or there is not that important.

When you feel ready (and your doctor thinks your ready) I would suggest some good supportive high top shoes and an AirCast brand splint ($50) for your ankle at least for awhile while jumping.

Your problem is not your bones anymore, the dr. took care of that - its the supporting tissue and muscles around your ankle that have spent the last 6 weeks wilting away not to mention the trauma they endured to begin with. My experience is that depending on your PT it will probably take about a year for you to get the supporting tissue and muscles back to 99% of their original strength.

The other thing is landing on your butt as a plan of attack. Maybe its just me, but I think this is a bad idea. If your feet aren't good enough to land on, then you need more time. By planning on landing on your butt I think you increase your odds (reduce your margin for error) of a spinal injury if you have a bad landing (last second canopy avoidance, whatever).. But that's just me...

I hope you ankle heals quickly and soundly and remember...Your ankles are important, don't get in a hurry - you're gonna skydive the rest of your life right?

bsbd, tsw

PS: And go out to the drop zone.... when I was out for 5 months I manifested, helped do annuals on the planes, packed, built fences, etc, go be a part of your family...

Before you buy.

I cracked my Tibia at the ankle. Spent 6 weeks in a cast and did my first jump 4 after the cast was removed. I normally jump a 195, I rented a student rig with a 230 for the first jump. All went very well. The second jump was on my own canopy and the wind had come up. The landing went fine but I had to run after my canopy. Actually I had to hop after it. So I decided to lay off for another couple of weeks. Plus I added an ankle brace. It's one of the lace-up kind with plastic stabilizers that go on each side of the ankle.

All is well now.

Do the Physical Therapy.

Cheers

Tom

Before you buy.