This is a very personal account of the last 6 months and my time spent recovering from injury. It features a few dark moments before the positive outcomes so please bare with it…
This winter has been pretty tough with very limited amounts of kayaking. Back in September I dislocated my ankle wake boarding breaking both my Tibia and Fibular. As a result I was in hospital for 5 nights requiring extensive surgery to fix my ankle back together.
When you have a major injury, whilst it’s extremely painful, you do not think of the pain. As soon as it happened straight away I knew I was going to be off the water for a long time, and that feeling is a lot worse than any pain, and don’t get me wrong the pain is massive!
In hospital you are dosed up on pain killers and put in a ward with other sick and injured patients. You are left waiting for when you will go in to surgery with little knowledge whether it will be a few hours or a few days.
Being in Hospital for a long period of time is something that I do not wish on anyone. Hospitals are very lonely places. Whilst the nurses do a very good job of looking after you, you cant help but feel forgotten about. Other patients calling out in need of help and the beeping of machines is the hospitals soundtrack.
After I had my surgery (over 5 hours, and 9 screws and a plate later) I was eventually released home where I was reliant on my house mates to look after me, cooking me food and wheeling me around.
The healing process is long and the pace of life is slowed right down whilst you can’t do much. During this time you have a lot of time to think about what is important in life, friends, family, being happy, and being healthy. Life is really put into perspective and you realise how important doing what you love is! Being surrounded by the people you love who can help to keep you positive is also so important.
For me I learnt just how important kayaking is in my life and it is something that I cannot do with out. Not being able to do the thing you love makes you very motivated as a person and you will do anything possible so that you can do it again.
After I was taken out of cast it was on to physiotherapy and rehab. As my ankle had been seized still for so long it was a case of relearning to walk and getting my ankle joint to move again. Physio is a very long and slow process but the small improvements you make from week to week and the need to get in a kayak again is plenty enough motivation to keep on pushing.
Going to the gym everyday became a necessity to get better. Early mornings before university classes, in the evenings when I should be relaxing at home, as often as I could I would be in the gym doing my physiotherapy exercises. The exercises started off basic and progressed and progressed as I continued to get stronger. For the first month or so even just walking on the treadmill was hard enough.
Thankfully I have been able to get back in a kayak on several occasions and go kayaking even if walking to the put on was pretty sketchy.
Over 6 months since my accident has now past with many many hours spent on rehab. I am now getting towards the final stages of rehab and this week I have had my last operation to have all of the screws and plates removed. It is now a case of waiting for my wounds to heal and getting back into the gym to finish building strength in my legs so that I do not injure myself again.
Whilst I don’t recommend to anyone having a major accident this has probably been the biggest learning experience of my life and I will come out at the end a better person, fitter and stronger, with a clear outlook on what is important in life. Being able to pick yourself up after an accident and continue onwards definitely teaches you a lot of life lessons!
Injury is common within sport and it is something that we must all learn to deal with. If a friend becomes injured it is important not to forget about them and to support them along the way so that they can stay positive and recover as quickly as possible. Even the smallest amount of support is greatly appreciated!
I would like to thank my amazing family and friends over the last 6 months for your support and keeping me positive, and especially my housemates for looking after me when I very much needed it. I love you all and I wouldn’t be at the stage I am now without you!
Time to heal up, get back on the water, and keep on boating!
Peace
George
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I completely agree with you. Many years ago I sustained a compound fracture to my tib and fib had a plate, 2 pins and eleven screws fitted. 3 months in plaster and many months getting anywhere near normal. More recently I had a grade 4 rupture of my ac joint (snapped 3 ligaments in my shoulder) I was off the water for nearly two years and I am now working on regaining my skills. I thought it would be like riding a bike ie you never forget, I was wrong! I might point out the older you get the longer the recovery 🙁 all the best mate. I hope you fully recover.
Nicely written. Wishing George a speedy return to doing what he loves.
This put my ligament sprain and “4 weeks – no sport” in to perspective.
Good to read about someone who has nearly come out the other side of what I am going through now. In a boot now but still none weight bearing. http://lakesboaters.co.uk/2014/01/30/injury-update/
My advice would be listen to the Physio and don’t rush things, trust me coz I made that mistake with my leg and my shoulder, set me back a couple of months! I just wanted to get back out on the water.
George if you continue to experience pain after a year or so, consider having your metalwork removed. I had lots of problems and I harassed them for 12 months to take out the plate etc. They kept putting me off but eventually gave in two years after they fitted them and what a difference! The pain pretty much went away over night! Definitely was the right decision for me.