Injury

[Pats211]

So..early spring 2008 I thought it was a good idea to follow the kids through a terrain park. moments later as both skis released, I did my best tuck and roll and was rethinking my decision before I came to a stop. Both calfs hurt and well, being a lifetime skiier and runner my diagnosis was slight rest and get back out there. Summer 2008 was filled with calf pain....two weeks rest, run and more calf pain. Four weeks rest, run again, seems ok for a while, oh no, more calf pain. I think you get the picture. The MRI from last week was also a nice picture. A nice picture of a tear in my calf muscle. So, in order for it to get better I need to do nothing!!! Literally Nothing. No skiing, no running, no stairmaster, or eliptical. My new snowshoes will be idle. Nothing, what is a guy to do!!!! I cant stand it!

Yes there is a question here. What can I do. I can already feel the holiday pounds eying me. Can I bike at the gym? I need to at least get something cardio related going. Anyone have any experience on what I can do for the next 6 weeks? Can I cheat and go skiing and just take it easy (never done that before). Isnt is suppose to snow friday? this is killing me.:skierpetrified::mad:

[PwdrHound]

You could learn to sit ski....

You should definitely be able to get some cardio in using just the upper body...low-weight, high reps....

[boardman]

Probably best to avoid any leg work. There's always core training.

[RR]

Excuse me!

Get another opinion from the best sports medicine orthopedist you can get to.

When your PT is well under weigh, you probably will swim laps. The pool will be your friendly torture chamber and you will be your own torturer.

It is amazing how that will perk you up.

If this is your first major injury, you have hugely favorable odds of coming out of the process both stronger and faster. The odds get better if you insist on the best treatment and rehab and go at it with an intelligent will to succeed.

As a six time post surgical athlete, I speak from experience.

Demand the best care, do what you have to do and be strong!

[Affix Snow]

Lift alot of Upper Body....

[LPNH]

Pats211, I had a similar situation a few years ago where I hobbled from a tear and could not do any leg / footwork for a full 5 months. Staying off it was the only thing that helped me. Right now I am battling severe plantar fasciitis over the last 9 months and it is not getting any better. I have tried numerous heel inserts and finally have found one pair that gives me relief while wearing the shoe but as soon as the shoe is off it feels like someone is driving a nail through my heel ---Also stretching the foot has only given me quick temporary relief. Have any of you folks out there had this problem and have you had any treatments that have worked ? magnets, steroids, dry needle, accupuncture, anything else ????????

[Luddite]

Patience amigo. My wife had this, and several friends from tennis as well. In each case (we're talking like 5 people) they started back too soon, as it will feel "better" long before it really is, and in each case they re-injured. Just give it some time, you'll be ready when the ski days are longer and warmer and more base is there.

[RR]

Patience amigo. My wife had this, and several friends from tennis as well. In each case (we're talking like 5 people) they started back too soon, as it will feel "better" long before it really is, and in each case they re-injured. Just give it some time, you'll be ready when the ski days are longer and warmer and more base is there.Echo that.

Need inspiration..how about the Hermanator?!?

However it has to be done, you can do it Pats211!

[ptex1.1]

Well I know what I would do, masterbate furiously. Of course, maybe eat goo while sitting on my couch watching triathlons on the Vs. channel?


~~~~~~~~~~~~vibes~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Bannick]

Roids!

[davidhowland14]

both of your skis released in mid air? get new bindings...

I've had calf issues (I'm dealing with two of them right now, actually) Nothing actually torn, mind you, but strained, etc. Biking puts strain on it. anything with your legs will strain the calf muscles. Unfortunately, dude, you're out of it legwise. swimming would be your best bet.

[jumpturn]

Get a hang board, train up so you can do lots of pull ups, and become a rock climber. Atrophied legs will reduce weight so you getup harder routes!

[RR]

Get a hang board, train up so you can do lots of pull ups, and become a rock climber. Atrophied legs will reduce weight so you getup harder routes!
LOL!
..good thing I was able to get my coffee down :eek:

Pats211, whatever you do, make a plan with reasonable and incremental goals. Moving one by one through the goals makes it better. Remember, overdoing it can bring on a halt to progress and even cause set-backs.

Getting a second opinion can be really good for your resolve too...even if it confirms the initial diagnosis and prognosis

[Pats211]

All very good suggestions (well, except for the couch eating suggesting).

I did get my bindings rechecked. They are new (1 yr old). I think I landed awkwardly and really shouldnt have been messing around in the terrain park anyway. its not me.

The main theme I have ben hearing from my docs and all of you is that it will never get better if i dont stay off of it....completely.

RR-good comment not to overdo it since I have no patience. I just want to get out there. If I had patience in the summer I would be skiing now. But I would give it a few weeks, get back to running and kept re-tearing it.

If I am lucky I will get in some late season turns.

all these storms coming through is salt in my wounds!!!!!

[Pats211]

So.....second opinion is in. Met with a great doc in wakefield and it was determined that this did not happen from skiing. A long explanation was given to me as to why this is the case, and it made sense. Not being medically inclined I will need to simplify it. But it was mechanically explained to me why this did not occur as a result of my fall. Basically it is a running injury caused by a slight pronation in my right foot. The severe 'pop' I felt running occurred in very close proximity to my ski fall. Which is why I thought I did it skiing. Alot of scar tissue has built up since I kept running, letting it heal a bit, running some more, letting it heal and so on. So treatments are underway. Ultrasound, Electric stimulation etc.... and baby step exercises. Maybe some late winter, early spring turns. Earlier if I am lucky.

[jdew]

Right now I am battling severe plantar fasciitis over the last 9 months and it is not getting any better. I have tried numerous heel inserts and finally have found one pair that gives me relief while wearing the shoe but as soon as the shoe is off it feels like someone is driving a nail through my heel ---Also stretching the foot has only given me quick temporary relief. Have any of you folks out there had this problem and have you had any treatments that have worked ? magnets, steroids, dry needle, accupuncture, anything else ????????
I had it and hope I never have to suffer through it again. I went to a sports medicine doctor and was fitted with custom orthotics. The combination of custom orthotics, reduced milage, icing the bottom of your foot after every run, and stretching before and after every exercise activity finally did the trick. This is a particularly frustrating condition in that you have to cut back your milage and be very patient. It takes a long time to develop the condition and takes a long time to get over it. Proper stretching is critical. I have one of these (http://www.protherapysupplies.com/prod_images_blowup/4505.jpg) for the stretching and swear by it.

Good luck.

[djming]

Can you swim? (not in the literal sense, I'm sure you're quite able to:))
If that's on the "allowed activity" list and you have access to a pool, then it's an incredible way to keep cardio and still build some muscle. Or, try a flotation vest and do some water running.
There's a reason so many elite runners use these for injury prevention and recovery.
An opinion word on custom orthotics - I got some due to bio issues. But, I found that while they were great for wearing throughout the day, they actually caused other issues if worn while running. So I've stopped wearing them for running and it's worked for me over the last 1-2 years. Something to think about.

Good luck with it!!!

[M@]

This has me thinking of getting my calves checked - I've had pain in them pretty much constantly for the past 4 years. I went to a therapist to get a free eval and was told I had "weak calves" and shown some calf exersizes. Have never been told to lay off for a long time and heal it.

Advice for upper body workout = http://hundredpushups.com/

M@

[djming]

I went to a therapist to get a free eval and was told I had "weak calves" and shown some calf exersizes.
M@

Here's a good calf exercise - go and boot up (insert favorite ravine run here) a few times weekly;)
Now that'll work your calves (not sure how it ties in with the rest part but then again, rest is overrated...)

[PWDR8S]

So, have you been keeping up on your 16oz curls? And off your duff?
As for water training... I hear that water wings work well!

Sux about the scarring... Doc say anything that might reduce it?

[The Lisa]

Sorry to hear about your injury but good to hear you got a second opinion and are being treated.
I always sing the praises of Active Release Technique (ART) to anyone who will listen. I went to a practitioner in NYC for a persistent sprained ankle and he worked on it for about 6 sessions. It has been much better ever since (3 years and counting). The treatment focuses on breaking up scar tissue and stimulating blood supply to the damaged area. He used to really go to town twisting and digging the fingers in there and it felt great.

He treats a lot of runners and triathletes for everything from plantar fasciitis to shoulder problems.

Maybe look for a practitioner in your area - http://www.activerelease.com/

In the meantime, keep up the http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif and the http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-027.gif

[TheCrazyGreek]

do some streching and some low speed cardio at the gym

[Pats211]

Ran 5 miles yesterday....no pain!! Skiied last Friday(took it easy) No pain!! still need some incline work to make sure the calf can handle a long steep climb. so all I have to say is......yaa hoooo!!!!!