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John Webb

mdskier
Skier
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
5,779
Location
Nevada City CA
May have been 1 inch above ankle. Don't remember. On that day Kwood should have closed all upper runs. The run before my injury I saw
a local 30ish racer gal fly off an icy Cornice Chair run ahead of me. She was unresponsive and in the woods. I Got hold of ski patrol and found out
later she was medievaced by helicopter. The break was partial and completely healed quickly. Just glad I didn't meet her fate. It was my 4 day
that year on skis so I missed the whole year. The unrelated problem was a burn delaying the cast for a month.
I was on soft Volkl Snowranger powder skis with dull edges - a big no no on firm icy snow.

Be very careful to keep any weight off your broken bone until the doctor says otherwise..
 

John Webb

mdskier
Skier
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
5,779
Location
Nevada City CA
This December at Mammoth I skied Cornice off the top with Tony C on very firm snow with thin chalk layer with dull edged rock skis and had a flashback
to this accident as I was almost sliding out of control. Really freaked out. Next day I filed edges for 30 minutes in the parking lot with a good Swedish
ski file. Difference was night and day -I couldn't believe it. Was dragged again to Cornice run reluctantly and the skis gripped like all get-out. Run was actually
fun and I did it 4 more times!
 

Marker

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Oct 16, 2017
Posts
2,350
Location
Kennett Square, PA & Killington, VT
@John Webb I've had my 4 week follow up visit with my orthopedist and got good news. Healing well and ahead of schedule with some calcification of the bone growth. He says a stationary bike is okay to add at this point, but no elliptical as it is difficult to keep your heel planted flat on the pedals and not rise too much on your toes. Other than that, I've been able to maintain most of my regular workouts. At least I had 17 days in the season before the accident, but I was hoping for 30+ with my first season pass! On another positive note, Killington is going to credit me 40 % of my season pass, which I'll apply to next year's.
 

mdf

entering the Big Couloir
Skier
Team Gathermeister
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
7,213
Location
Boston Suburbs
My ACL reconstruction held up very well durinig the recent Utah Gathering. I skied 8 very full days plus a half 9-th day (groomers, bumps, trees, some powder), usually first to last chair except for a leisurely, social lunch. I was on my Atomic Automatic 109 most of the time.

My surgeon wanted me to wait nine months after the surgery to ski, and would have preferred a full year. I cheated by a couple weeks for 2 warm up days in the East, but I think Utah was a full 9 months.

I had no knee problems on the Atomics, and very little trouble at all. (A skin hot spot started to develop on day three but I adjusted my buckles a bit and it went away.)

I also bought a used pair of Stockli Laser AX and found that when the tip hooked up aggressively (which after all, is what is supposed to happen) I could feel the torque in my knee. I'm going to hope that a couple more months will get knee to a point where it can handle them.

The thing that did make my knee hurt was carrying all my stuff through the airport. If I had remembered that the rental car return and the Jetblue counter were so far apart, I would have rented a cart.
 

John Webb

mdskier
Skier
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
5,779
Location
Nevada City CA
The thing that did make my knee hurt was carrying all my stuff through the airport. If I had remembered that the rental car return and the Jetblue counter were so far apart, I would have rented a cart.
I can relate to this ! I traveled a lot for work from east coast to west coast . I'd be damned whether I passed up these trips
to do own ski trips or took the skis on the work trips.

On many of these work trips (mostly Seattle or San Diego) I'd schlep 3 or four large work equipment cases AND the usual pile of ski stuff.
Impossible without cart rental. The work stuff, of course, was excess baggage so I'd bill work for it. LOL 70 lb weight limit helped back then.
The old boss knew and was helpful - In fact I meet him in Tahoe next week to ski !
 

François Pugh

Skiing the powder
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Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
7,611
Location
Great White North (Eastern side currently)
My season started injury free, and stayed that way until my local hill at which I patrol closed. No injuries the previous season either.

Yesterday, I took my antique SGs out to play again (2nd time this year). Apparently, I've been spending too much time on my 13 m skis; I found myself unintentionally turning on the inside ski. So I took an extra warm up run on a blue. I got way too far inside and fell over. It was a humourous fall. Ended up off the trail waist deep in snow, all equipment still attached. Clicked out of the bindings, and tried to pick up my ski. Right arm not working. Try it left handed, left thumb not cooperating. Figure left thumb sprained, and right shoulder re-injured, maybe separated again, maybe dislocated and popped back in. Finally got my gear back on and headed downhill, but feeling compromised, unable to perform at peak, and decided to save the high speed fun for a later date. I guess I must be getting old. Ditched the SGs and switched to the SCs for some chair lift shadow carved slalom. Ditched the poles two runs later; arm hurt. DID have a double whiskey to go along with my pint at day's end.

Got checked out this AM.

Good news: shoulder held up; no separation, no dislocation at time of x-ray. Thumb only sprained.
Bad news: broken humerous.
 
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Marker

Making fresh tracks
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Joined
Oct 16, 2017
Posts
2,350
Location
Kennett Square, PA & Killington, VT
FP, I'm two months out from my accident and the ankle is feeling much better. Hang in there!

I hope I'll ski again before the end of Killington's season, but that's just wishful thinking...
 

François Pugh

Skiing the powder
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Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Posts
7,611
Location
Great White North (Eastern side currently)
[rant mode] It is beginning to seem like MDs have very little utility. You need one to order x-rays here. And I'll admit they do save a few seconds pointing out the fractures on those x-rays, but beyond that? Maybe writing a script for pain meds? Emerge Dr. Wouldn't do that for me. Despite having a fractured humerus. Just sent me home with a short arm sling. No worries, I had an appointment with the specialist.....
The specialist told me I couldn't drive! Having broken my wrist four times and busted up my shoulder more times, I have over two years cumulative experience driving left handed. The first time I busted my shoulder I was driving a tree-in the tree, last couple of times a 5 speed. This time an automatic. I can drive better than most folk, even with a wounded flipper. Doc was totally unreasonable. Are all MDs born with a God complex, or is it drilled into them in med school?

Surely the specialist would realize the importance of a good nights sleep and prescribe some decent meds? Uhm no. Doc asked what I wanted, and I gave him three suggestions from my past experience that would work for me: oxycodone, oxycontin and percocet (no doubt the same or very similar drug). No he can't prescribe that drug; too many addicts -not my problem! After I told him Codeine had no effect on me he prescribed 1 to 2 mg per 4 hours of Hydromorphone.

Let me explain the difference between hydromorphone and percocets.

With percocets, you take two 1/2 an hour before bed, go to bed without pain and wake up 8 hours later well rested. Or you take one, 1/2 an hour before bed, wake up three or four hours later, pee, drink some water with a second pill and then wake up 4 hours later well rested. However you have deal with some side effects: you feel happy, have vivid dreams and wake up with dry mouth, maybe now and then a little tinitus.

With hydromorphone, you have a choice too. You can take up to 4 mg every 4 hours , and there will be no effect at all. You will be in too much pain to get to sleep until you are dead tired. Or you can follow that first dose with six mg four hours later (instead of taking another useless four). 6 mg will decrease your level of pain, and you will sleep, but you will also be dizzy, nauseous and very groggy. It will slow you down more the next morning and make you sicker than the 8 oz of whisky (two hot Toddys) you took before you had the 'script.

It is no wonder there is a flourishing black market for oxys. [/rant mode]

As for me, the bone seems to have knit well, and as of today, I've taken myself off the meds.
 

Marker

Making fresh tracks
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Oct 16, 2017
Posts
2,350
Location
Kennett Square, PA & Killington, VT
I didn't need serious pain meds for my ankle at the beginning, but can't say I got a good night's sleep for at least a month. Not sure I'd even want to risk opiods with all the issues some folks have with them.
 

Marker

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Oct 16, 2017
Posts
2,350
Location
Kennett Square, PA & Killington, VT
Well, the doctor says everything is healing very well with my ankle fracture, but that end-of-season skiing is still out of the question. So I've essentially been cleared to be able and go do yard work. :(

I went to the gym and tried the exercises I've had to drop for the last few month, and was pleasantly surprised. I've been hitting the gym regularly since the injury (helped burn off my frustration), while avoiding any direct pressure on the right fibula, so haven't lost too much strength and cardio in general.
 

Karen_skier2.0

AKA - RX2SKI
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Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
659
Location
Johnstown, CO
Well, its time for the left hip to get tweaked. Had MRA (arthrogram; ever have a large gauge needle through your lower abdomen into your hip socket?) yesterday and the good news is the report doesn't show any damage to the labrum and capsule but shows I have FAI (CAM) which means the femoral neck is too wide for the socket (same as was on the right hip) and is impinging causing issues. I meet with OS next week to formulate a game plan but if you don't fix it, it will continue to damage socket. Need to balance ski season and bike season. Recovery is usually 3-4 months. In the meantime, this is the reason god gave us advil and bourbon. :beercheer:

Why do they do an MRA instead of a MRI? I just had MRI and they discovered torn labrums in both hips plus subchondral cysts. Next step is an ultrasound-guided injection.
 

Ron

Seeking the next best ski
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Joined
Nov 8, 2015
Posts
9,282
Location
Steamboat Springs, Co
Why do they do an MRA instead of a MRI? I just had MRI and they discovered torn labrums in both hips plus subchondral cysts. Next step is an ultrasound-guided injection.

well, that was from 2016! I went to a dr who didnt know how to properly repair FAI (femoral acetabulum Impingement). I have since had 3 hip surgeries, the original on my left, then the right and then in 2018, I had the left hip repaired again which was quite extensive since the dr had to fix the first surgery then repair all the subsequent damage. when dr's who are not properly skilled and trained for FAI surgery, the likelihood of failure is quite high.

Are you seeing Dr White? good hip dr.

FAI is a totally different surgery but your torn labrum and cyst (sounds like you are bone-on-bone) can be a result of FAI. (I had tears in all 3 cases and a cyst on the left as a result of the first surgery) Not to complicate things but I would ask if the OS has any experience with FAI, who they trained under for FAI and their experience in diagnosing FAI and are they POSITIVE this is not a result of FIA. Dr. Phillipon at Steadman-Phillipon clinic is the worlds leader in this. In any case, I wish you the best of outcomes but please ensure any OS touching your hips is qualified! Been there, done that.

Labral tears are not uncommon, most folks walking around in their 50's have them but they may not cause pain or limit ROM. the injection is the "gold standard" test, fortunately, they are not painful and should take no more than 5-10 minutes.(it does feel weird) If its the hip, you will have 90%-100% pain relieve within minutes. Unfortunately, that pain-free existence only lasts a few hours. The Cortisone should provide relief depending on the severity of the injury, it can last 6 months or a few weeks. Phillipon will only do one round in most cases, after that, you run the risk of causing more damage and the cortisone itself can cause deterioration.
 
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