AnkleS Injury. 25' Free Fall.

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Moehass

Boulder climber
Laguna Beach
Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 3, 2015 - 06:11pm PT
It's all about Karma.

5'9" 150lb 34yo male. Been crazy active all my life, and NEVER been injured. I take VERY good care of myself and try to always play it smart. So this is life-changing. I have solid, basic insurance, but I'm not rich to get the care I feel I need. Your support needed.

3 days ago. Barefoot free climbing at the beach as usual. A familiar hold gets loose. GripBeGone. Down I went a 25ft high (7+meters) cliff and landed heels first on hard ground. I still think I was lucky considering how high I fell.

Immediate outcome: refreshingly dizzying shock; whiplash, later resulting in sore neck and traps; both heels generously bruised (fat pad contusion, Dr said no calcaneus damage); AAAAND, drum roll, chipped left talus, which is not bad enough to warrant surgery, but to me this indicates a LOT of soft tissue damage on both sides. If the impact was hard enough to chip bone, then it probably did a lot of funny things to all those tiny ligaments, muscles and their attachments. I'm also very concerned about posttraumatic arthritis, or compromised mobility later on. Plan is to slow down after the age of 50 and return to dance and ultrarunning. Until then I need to get in as much sprinting and speedclimbing as possible.

I went to ER that evening, and after few hours I walked out of there with a fiber glass splint on, which the nurse wetted (that's what she really did), squeezed in a towel to dry, then molded manually to my leg. It seemed so makeshift-ish and improvisational that I'm now concerned about it's positioning and allignment. Yesterday, when I got to see the "specialist" I brought it up to him, he brushed it off and just said let's order you a boot, which won't arrive until next week. So for at least another week, and for a total of 9 days I will be OCDing about how my tissue is not healing in the optimal position.

Something im thinking about only now, is A) whethet there is a way to determine EXACTLY what soft tissue was damaged, and the best way help it heal swiftly AND optimally. Even if it can't be pinpointed , I'm sure it can be rehabbed to pre injury functionality--how?!!

And B) if you or someone you know experienced anything similar to the injuries described above, and what they did to recuperate, and any tricks, anecdotes or lessons they'very learned from their experience.

I searched the forum to determine if I needed to start a new thread, the closest I found is thishttp://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=333086 so if you have any links, on or off the forum, or books or videos that would help please share.

Thank you!
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Oct 3, 2015 - 06:21pm PT
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

what he said

it's gonna rain tomorrow.
Moehass

Boulder climber
Laguna Beach
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2015 - 06:31pm PT
I thought I outgrew this, but it kind of sucks when you're in a wheel chair for the first time, asking for help, and you get mocked for being vulnerable. Even online. Thank you!
Modesto Mutant

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
Oct 3, 2015 - 06:36pm PT
From what you've described I agree you are extremely lucky that the extent of your injuries is not more severe. My long distance guess is with 6-8 weeks of rest/ice and keep your feet elevated you'll be able to return to start working yourself back. I'd also recommend doing some work in a pool after the swelling has subsided. All in all, you're going to be fine so stop obsessing. The body has an incredible ability to recover from trauma.
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Oct 3, 2015 - 06:40pm PT
Oh dude!
Ouch! And yes you are very lucky. This will take a bit of time to put into understandable
Form.

The 1st is my back ground and a bit on my own ground fallzzzz.
The Zs for sake of highlight ; I have hit the ground too much. Mostly I bounced up right away with injuries of varying degree.
Of relevance to you I exploded my right heel in '94. It was a shattered mess. The prognosis
Was bleak and just walking with out a noticeable limp was doubt full. The ground that I f'n hit was flat studded with ankle breakers and it had been very hot that day. I was on a stupid not 25 foot high problem. The day's heat had past and a sheen of condensation was evident as I climbed higher into the damp, my feet left the edges and I campused down at least three moves, then slipped and augured in. I did not get to bounce just crumbled into a heap,
It was as is yours a life changing fall. It took 4years. I had a good friend who also had a shattered foot heal and ankle. He was ten years younger than me and started with the same doctors,

For you and your feet, it may be ok but get a second opinion, and a full set of films ,X-ray and MRI.


I see where you are and recommend that you google crushing injury orthopedic specialists.
I have been rebuilt at only one hospital, but arrived at the recommendation from the Lakers team doc, he said if you want to walk again, dance and run you will need to stop climbing.
He sent me to the Hospital for special surgery in Ny city, an old doctor who will consult for a few hundred bucks, He has been making cripples walk for 50 years, He may have some Nazi roots, and his name can cause nightmares: Dr Walthar Bohne! Call The Hospital ask if Dr W Bohne is still available, as of 2/13 he was still getting calls from other docs who wanted to talk to him about my old case. He is that well recognized in the field.

Try not to gain weight and start to reduce you intake.
The short deal is not what you want to hear take three years to get it back ?
It will hurt for . . . . well, now I see that Jim Brennan says that he can tell the weather,. So that sounds like you feel it forever.

My injuries were severe and I did not choose a fusion and was expected to. The result was that I can go all day one day at a time.
20 miles a day tops. The next two days I can be so lame that I use a crutch.

The long deal is you seem to have been lucky but get a good look by a well recommended specialist sell the valuable tempting gear now. It will not make a dent in the bills, it may help you deal.

So that is a basic overview : take it year by year
in 6 months you'll want to Boulder. . . When you do,
Use a rope!
And a very tight rope at the start of everything.

Sorry dude time to grow up.
I never ran again
Never surfed the damn ankle dislocates when/if I swim.
Good luck
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Oct 3, 2015 - 06:42pm PT
Send me yer X-rays. Failing that I'd say a novena is in order.
ruppell

climber
Oct 3, 2015 - 07:10pm PT
I've been there. It'll heal. In the meantime get used to netflix. Binge watching Breaking Bad helped a lot. Read through this and it'll give you an idea of what I went through with a broken heel.

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1600170/Calcaneus-fracture-advice
Todd Eastman

climber
Bellingham, WA
Oct 3, 2015 - 07:12pm PT
... seem kind of nervous for a dude pulling choss 25 feet off the deck...
High Fructose Corn Spirit

Gym climber
Oct 3, 2015 - 07:22pm PT
Ditto.

Maybe a cue to reevaluate basic values.
couchmaster

climber
Oct 3, 2015 - 07:43pm PT

Most of us have been there done that. Back when I was younger than you, before crash pads even, was barefoot bouldering (shoes cost a lot) and taking 15-20" falls onto dirt. Same route, was so close to topping out that I didn't want to give up. Last time slammed into the earth so hard, both my (bare) feet and my testicles took a hit. It sounds funny now, but I can assure you, with no one even close by to hear my whining and still hadn't hit the topout, it was not funny then. Limped back to the car. Didn't have any money so just layed around and took it easy. Eventually, many months later, could start up (slowly) again.

The upshot of that was that about 4 years back, saw some kids with a crash pad, and I asked if I could try falling onto it. Was barely able to take a "practice" intentional fall from 4 feet up. (measuring from the feet) What I figured out is that although I routinely climb significantly higher than that unroped, I do not expect to fall, and it doesn't bother me. Falling onto a mat from 4 feet up I learned that it is difficult to let go and take the hit.

You'll eventually do fine. Listen to the experts and give yourself time to rehab is the moral of the story. Good luck!
El Chueco

Ice climber
Altadena, CA
Oct 3, 2015 - 08:30pm PT
I'm about a year out from a slightly displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture. Surgery was an option, but not recommended due to complications and the possibility of not being able to line up the bones that much better anyway. Significant pain in the ankle for six months, but then it gradually just became a sore stiffness and is now only present on long hauls or long days on my feet. The Dr. was initially pretty doom n gloom about the long term - early onset arthritis, later fusion, no running etc. We'll see. Good luck!
ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
Oct 3, 2015 - 10:35pm PT
Down I went . . .
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Oct 4, 2015 - 05:07am PT
I wouldn't stress out too much. As others have already said--you will heal.

I'm 69+, and fractured my heal bouldering when I was 23. The other ankle is loaded with shrapnel from Vietnam. Since that time I've broken both ankles multiple times, and 10 years ago, I shattered several bones over the arch,
on a long leader fall.

I just finished hiking 45 miles with a 70 pound pack in the Wind River Range.

Yes, I'm sore a lot but you will live.
anita514

Gym climber
Great White North
Oct 4, 2015 - 05:12am PT
I haven't broken anything in a long time but did go through some major surgery last year which knocked me off my feet for about a year, so I know how it feels to not be able to do anything, to not even be able to walk, etc. The mental aspect of inactivity is really tough, especially when you are used to being fairly active (in my case). It's easy to get sucked into self-pity and other very negative feelings.

There are others here who have been through worse who can chime in, too.

It's tough. You have to stay positive and focused. Luckily you will heal and it's not a life threatening injury.

ron gomez

Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
Oct 4, 2015 - 09:40am PT
Ankles are a weird joint(s), too many articulations, too many bones, ligaments and tendons. When they get injured it takes a LONG time to heal properly....and you NEED to let the structures heal, don't rush time, won't happen. Were you at CdMar? Not a lot of hard ground there, but if you indeed have a talus fx it needs to heal up, it's a critical articulation in the ankle and if not managed right can have long lasting effects like swelling, loss of range, damaged cartilage. If you get in a walking boot good! Go see an orthopod...plenty of good ones at Mission Hospital, near Laguna, get a good dx and after that, take the docs advice. Once you know what's exactly wrong if possible, keep your range of motion within pain tolerances. Do exercises that involve the foot, gastroc and antertior tib. More is not better at this stage. Look into isometric exercises if range of motion is limited or too painful. But do what the doc says. If managed right and you have limited damage to articular surfaces...in time you should be fine enough.
Questions, feel free to pm me via this site.
Best wishes to a healthy and full recovery
Peace

Blew my ankle to bits in the early 90's, took time but all is well since then...no limitations.
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Oct 4, 2015 - 10:02am PT
Sorry you got hurt and hope you heal quickly, but a few things jump out at me from your posts. One, having climbing at The Beach alot back in the day, I'm assuming that's where you got hurt. If so, most of the problems aren't quite that tall, none of them have a hard landing and almost no one climbs barefoot and, of those, no one I ever saw did it regularly. So, already you're story sounds kind of bunk.

Second, for someone routinely climbing barefoot on 20+ tall problems, your response to your injury seems to show a failure to appreciate the risks you appeared to accept on a daily basis.

Third, it sounds like you are receiving appropriate medical care. The problem seems to be you as a patient. You screwed up and got hurt. It sucks (and yes we've all been there) but live with it, own it. I understand the feeling of helplessness you feel, but there's little you can do but be patient. When you're ready to start therapy, that will determine how serious you are about getting better.

B I O T C H, nice find.
Moehass

Boulder climber
Laguna Beach
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 4, 2015 - 04:46pm PT
Modesto Mutant, "The body has an incredible ability to recover from trauma." Thank you.

Gnome Ofthe Diabase, I looked up this Bohne dude, that's the kind of medical professional I want on my team. I'll tell my Orthopedist about him and see what he says. Thanks for sharing.

Jim Brennan, I took a lot of pride in never having injured myself. So yeah, meaningless for the world, massive for me. Thanks for support.

ruppell, I read the thread you linked. Inspiring. Thank you.

Todd Eastman, High Fructose Corn Spirit, and Fat Dad, you're right. To climb, I've always used force to compensate for poor technique. This fall is the result of big gap between my strength and my poor skill. Lesson: scale down, and scale accordingly.
And Fat Dad, thank you for the tough love. I PMed you my cell#. I can show you accessible spots through Thousand Steps Beach, especially when tide is low, and the sand would be nicely pcaked and hard. Few are climbable, many are not, almost all are 20+ METERS high. Just let me know when you're in south county, I'll even buy you a nice peruvian lunch.

Anita514, if it effects performance it is life threatening. But I won't let that happen.

couchmaster, the lure is hard to fight: No shirt, no shoes, no rope, or any gear, just you, scant shorts and nature. Easy in, easy out. You can do it anywhere, anytime. No big deal, just feeling invincible with this hidden chest of secret powers. Got my a$$ handed to me good for this poetic bs. Thanks for sharing.

El Chueco, what I continue to learn is that big part of rehab, if not all of rehab, basically aims to break malformed adhesions of scar tissue. And then stimulating it to rebuild optimally. Which is a little harder to do with bones than soft tissue, but is equally possible. There are tools for this that sell for thousands of dollars and certifications that cost even more. With persistance, you/I can do this on our with a car key or the round corner of a cell phone or something. It is one of those things that take a lot of faith and decisive action, especially if you've never done it/been through it before, because from where I am (can't walk, can't shower or poop unassisted...etc) it's easy to get sucked into negative feelings, as anita514 said. As for me, I've upped my intake of antioxidants, garlic, turmeric and fish oil. I'm equipping myself with information and tools for as soon the inflammation subsides suffeciantly, Imma go in there and just own this war like i should. That's what's up!

Here are a couple of videos I found illuminating:
https://youtu.be/ZRi3Q9LXcIg[Click to View YouTube Video]
https://youtu.be/yqhmG5nz_Jw[Click to View YouTube Video]

ron gomez, I PMed you. Thank you for your support.

Dingus Milktoast, thank you for sharing. Can you elaborate on what makes a boot or cast fit right? In my case, probably just like you were, I'm concerned about the tiniest variations in positioning that could lead to improper scar tissue placement that could cause any sort of suboptimal functionality, so how can I, or anyone know if the off-the-shelf boot I'm anticipating next week will fit perfectly?

SteveA, everyone, thanks for the love, and stay close to earth :)

Cheers!

ron gomez

Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
Oct 4, 2015 - 04:52pm PT
Nothing yet, but will keep an eye out!
Peace
overwatch

climber
Oct 4, 2015 - 05:24pm PT
SteveA and Anita are tough as nails, I mean that. Admiration and respect to you both.

Nice positive post from Byotch...I mean that too. Thanks
Moehass

Boulder climber
Laguna Beach
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 4, 2015 - 05:25pm PT
Helpful threads

Calcaneus Fracture Advice. Complete recovery report four years later. Many useful stories by other members http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1600170/Calcaneus-fracture-advice


Ankle injury question(dirtbag md), a sprain, continued ankle pain 9 months later http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=501278&msg=501278#msg501278


Rebuilt or replaced ankles? Is amputation an option http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=376261&msg=376445#msg376445


Crack climbing after ankle injury(and Laramie, WY questions)http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=341315&msg=341315#msg341315


Heel injury (OT) http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2133062&msg=2133062#msg2133062

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