Mon
11
Jan
2010
My Ankle
Ok so after pretty much a dream year for me where I got to fulfill a lifetime dream of mine ever since i began windsurfing to compete with the best windsurfers in the world on the PWA world tour in Pozo and Sylt and also got to travel to a heap of places like South Africa, Reunion Island, Denmark. the end to this year has perhaps been one of the toughest periods i have ever had to go through both mentally and physically
My injury occurred at one of the last contests of the year in tiree in Scotland, at the time i felt it was bad but nothing too serious although in severe pain.So once i got back i got it checked out by the doctors and got x-rays etc..at the time the news was positive there seemed to be no break or no cracks in my ankle, and the diagnosis was that i tore ligaments in my ankle and i would be out for 6-8 weeks.They gave me an air boot some painkillers and told me to wear it for 3 weeks and to attend physiotherapy, and after 3 weeks to gradually get some movement back into it.
After a few weeks physio therapy including laser therapy ultrasound electronic things and exercises there was little or no improvement so i was back to the hospital for an MRI scan on my ankle and foot to check to see if there was any damage originally not picked up by the x-ray, unfortunately it was bad news as i had expected as i was in constant pain for about 5 weeks with it already and knew something wasn't right. I decided if it was going to be worse than originally expected that i should get it seen to by the best people possible so i got a referral to one of the top foot and ankle specialists in santry sports clinic, on first look at my MRI scan he knew there was quite alot of damage done around the ankle joint and sent my straight down to get an cat scan done on it.The results from that were not promising either, the best way to describe it would be as if you cracked the top of an egg shell is what the bone leading down into my ankle, i cant remember the exact name but the bone coming down from your leg, however this was not the worst of my problems from the cat scan it should that i had damaged my cartilage in my ankle really really badly. I was booked in immediately for surgery that Monday.But because of the severe pain i was in was admitted to St James hospital in Dublin were my consultant Mr Mc Kenna also works in,probably the worst pain was when they moved me from the trolley to the bed as the managed to twist my ankle (probably slightly moved it) but i was in agony, being my first night in the hospital i hadn't been chartered for any medication by the Doctor and by this stage it was like 11 o clock at night on a Friday so there wasn't many doctor's on call. So i was left in pain for a while needless to say that night i didn't sleep much at all, the next day i was sent down to the operating theater for an arthroscope of the ankle joint to get a full picture of the the damage done. An arthroscope is basically were they put a camera inside your ankle and then they can see the joint on a TV in the operating theater. Not used the the general anesthetic and all the morphine they gave me i was a gonner for the next day, i remember talking to my dad for 5 minutes but apparently he was there for 5 hours by my bedside.
Due to the amount of damaged cartilage it would not be a simple bolt me up and send me home the next time round which i was sort of hopping for,wondering what best to do so i would make the best recovery i was in luck as the inaugural ankle and foot society was taken place when my surgeon took picture from the arthroscope to get some more opinions from Ireland's top ankle and foot doctors, After a couple of meetings and a few dozen opinions from different doctors throughout Ireland. An illizorv frame was seemed to be the best option to fix me up....so i was transferred to Talleght and Meath hospitals orthopedic ward where I had another arthroscope done on my ankle with two More surgeons and also my surgeon present. It was originally hopped that they would be able to pull the two apart and let scar tissue cartilage from, giving me more movement in my ankle but due to the severity it wouldn't have worked as i had done so much damage. So i was left with one option which was to fuse my ankle together using an illizorv external fixator
This method is used as to get the bone to grow there must be a good blood supply to the area, in a cast this does not happen as your leg is fixed and you cannot put your weight on it..with this the idea is too put weight through it to get the blood flow through it and get the bone to grow and fuse. It looks about the sorest thing you've seen in your life and it is quite sore but not half as much as what i was in before when in a cast. The function of the wires which go through my bone my leg my muscles is to support the ankle joint and remove pressure so you can put your weight through it... I must say it is an incredible incredible piece of medicine,id love to see a video of the putting it on as each wire has a tension of over 160 kg and the measurement's have to be to the millimeter for it to function correctly.
When i woke up from surgery i thought it had all gone wrong, i was it total shock i couldn't feel anything o both sides from my waist down on either legs as they had given me an epidural the the numbing injection used for pregnant women. It was all Rosy until about 10 or elven that evening when i got the feeling back in my legs and the pain just hit me...i had no morphine drip to my surprise and was chew my way threw more painkillers than they could throw at me cause they had removed a good bit of cracked bone also during the surgery.Plus the fact my foot and ankle was suspended in mid air in the frame which hurted like hell. Again i don't think i slept more than an hour...finally i got two morphine injections which killed the severe pain.so just as i felt comfortable the hustle and bustle of nurses doctor's breakfast everything physios you name it all landed at my bedside making me do stuff when all i want was to get a bit of sleep. Anyway after almost 3 weeks in hospitals all together waiting around in pain i just wanted to go home and relax, so finally i got the all clear from the docs and just as i was getting the all clear from the physios to go home the nurse made me stay to make sure i could clean the pinsites 100% myself. When i got home i was wrecked from being in hospital for s long so i just slept for two or 3 days.
Almost 3 weeks on from my surgery i am able to walk around sort of without crutches and am starting to try balance on my sore leg. I'm back in for a check up on the 13th to see if its all going to plan, and was just in with the physios this week who were amazed at my progress in such a shot amount of time.So ill find out for definite next week how long i will need to have it on for but originally it was supposed to be 3 months and then a cast for another month to let the bone mature and set.Lets hope all things go well and ill be back doing what i love the most out on the water.
39 Comments
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#1
Hang in their buddy. All the best from us in Thailand. Looking forward to see you soon!
Keep up the good work bro! -
#2
Crikey, that's grim. Hope you get back on a board soon, best wishes.
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#3
Hi Mikey!
Happy new year... I just surprised not to see many more mews about you in your blog... I understand now...I wish you a good recovery!
Thomas -
#4
Didn't realise it was that bad mate. hope your ankle gets better soon and you can get back on the water
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#5
Hope you recover soon, that would be a bugger to get in the footstraps
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#6
Ouch... thought mine was a bad break.
You will be back on the water in no time...hang on in there. -
#7
Wow. Mikey you have been through the wars. At least you are on the mend now. You will be fit for the summer. Just stay positive.
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#8
Hi Mikey !
Fingers crossed to You !
My friend had same kind of ankle crash and I see You have very good job done buy the doctors. I have been down buy knee problems several times for half a year, but i ges thies kind of induries keep You more focused and eaven more in love with windsurf !
I hope You will be back in water soon !
And do the correct physioterapy...it`s the key to get strong again. -
#9
Well you gone done it in style there buddy. Hang on in and keep picturing those little doozers building your ankle back up and you'll be out again in no time.
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#10
men!!!! sorry to see this!!!!! i hope you heal soon and you can be with us in GC again this summer!!! take care! and best wishes!
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#11
Mikey, good luck with the recovery.
It would be great if you could do a post or a comment explaining in detail how you injured it. I'm sure you got your foot stuck in the footstrap, but doing what?
Thanks. -
#12
look on the bright side bud it could have
been yer cock and the past few months ye have had
off you seem to be hanging out with alot of
hot chicks ,and chicks love playing nurses ,,wink wink ,,
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#13
Metal Mickey!!!
Theres been f*@K all wind or waves anyway mate, you've missed nothin!!
Hopefully we'll get to have a session in NW by summer time!
Keep the good work up, listen to your Dr's and BE CAREFUL!!
Timo -
#14
heal fast and well Mikey
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#15
A tuff station Mikey, take your time and make sure you let it get right - had an arthroscope myself, not nice - like the morphine though..... you have time on your side so don't rush it.
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#16
Oh yeah remember..... PAIN IS TEMPORARY, GLORY IS FOREVER!
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#17
HOly Bejaseus. Speedy recovery Mikey.
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#18
Mikey,
you sure did a good job on it! Beats the holes and screws I've got in my knee!
Chin up, you will get better and I'm sure you'll be back ripping as hard as ever by the autumn! Good luck! -
#19
Shit!!! looks painful!!! all the vibe from Chile. Once you recover, we hope to have you sailing some of our cool spots!!
Saludos,
Nico -
#20
Savage looking foot there buddy!! Get well soon, you'll be ripping up 2 foot onshore Dolly in no time :)
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#21
Keep the chin up Mikey and you'll be through this in no time. Best of luck with the recovery!!!!
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#22
do like timo says and listen to your doctor - not as he did.. !! no wind or waves in kerry for the last 6 weeks so not missing it here either.. good luck getting better - read Lance Armstrong book for inspiration of full recoveries.. :)
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#23
Gnarly story! ...all da best for 2010, and wishes of speedy recovery!!
Aloha! -
#24
Mike,
hope you heal up OK. Feel for you. Been off the water with a bum ankle since US Nationals in July, but my injury is downright mild and benevolent compared to what you've been through. All the best - hope things go well for you.
Cheers,
-Andreas -
#25
Hey I had a Bostrom Procedure on the right ankle about seven weeks ago after diagnosis of chronic ankle instability. Rehab coming laong nicely and hope to be back on the water with more stability in mid-Feb. Take care!
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#26
I ve never seen anything like this! But hey,don't stress too much, you ll be like new this summer. Greetings from all of us, all the best, bro.
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#27
Hi Mikey, good to hear the medics have gone to work to fix you up, it's so cold at the moment that your not missing anything here in northern europe, time off the water can actually be very positive for your sailing and fingers crossed you'll be back fully fit and raring to go, before you know it...
all the best
Andy -
#28
XAXOOOOO, NO LO SABIA,
ESPERO TU RECUPERACION
LO MAS PRONTO POSIBLE
Y VERTE EN EL AGUA
PARA HACER LO MEJOR QUE
TU SABES HACER
WINDSURF
UN ABRAZOOOOOOO
ELE -
#29
Be strong, mate. Sore experience like that often happens to good riders.
I know u ll be back soon on the waves to rip hard.
Stay positive and listen to the Dr.
Jimmy... in a french way
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#30
Hay Mikey keep the faith it's all part of the big man's plan so take your time coming back .... sure you can kick some more ass in the summer .
JK -
#31
All the best for a speedy rcovery and resumption of your climb through thr ranks of world windsurfing!
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#32
this most be a worst case scenario for a sportsman, and as I live also for my sports i can easily understand how you are suffering. terrible.
what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! -
#33
Fek that looks bad, unlucky man. Thinking back over the last few decades there's been a few notable serious pro injuries where they've made full recovery and continued to rule the world- Dunkerbeck, Baker, Polakow to name a few have all had large chuncks of the year off due to injury. You'll be back. Until then, no doubt you're being productive with video editing etc. Go large, Guy
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#34
All the best to you and a speedy recovery. There is is a book out there where a Baptist minister suffers near death in a small car/big truck accident, and is placed in a illizorv external fixator. Extreme example of the application but very effective and successful
Those sweet days on the water will be even more so. Do everything possible now to stoke the eventuality ! Speedy recovery ! -
#35
Hi Mikey - sorry to hear you're out of action. Been there too, and know what you're going through. It'll all come good.
Ben. -
#36
Mate, know how you must be feeling but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Listen to all the advice from others, docs and physio's and you'll be back stronger in many ways.
Don't be in a rush, give it loads of time and try to re-focus on other aspects of life and being a pro sailor. Swifty did a Apple Mac engineering course when he did his ankle for example.
My thoughts are with you and look forward to seeing you back stronger then ever. You've got loads of years yet to do all you want to and don't think you need to rush!
Look into doing some judging in the spring...
Best wishes -
#37
Didn't realise it was so bad, but hope it all works out and we'll see you on the water again soon.
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#38
Hello Mikey,
Monira, Mona and me send you a Happy new year from Reunion, first wich: a good recovery and healt.
I'am so sorry about your ankle, i hope the best for you in 2010.
The worst is behind you.
CU on the water
Pierre -
#39
Crazy stuff - it's a good job you stayed off it in Tiree, eh?!
Stay motivated and Hydrocodone is your friend. Big healing vibes from across the pond
Tan 
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