“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”
-Hippocrates
“Injuries are our best teachers.”
-Anonymous
I fractured my ankle eleven days ago and had surgery to repair it a week ago. In those eleven days I have been doing a lot of thinking about two things. First, how long is it really going to take to recover from the break/surgery and two, how long will it be before I can go back to hiking. I have been told that after it really starts healing, I will have to undergo a period of physical therapy. How weak will my ankle be? Should I pre condition myself by building up the lost muscle on my stationary bike before I begin hiking again?
I know that these are questions for my doctor and physical therapist, but since I have a laptop and access to the internet, of course I’m googling what I can to find answers. Maybe that isn’t such a good thing…
These next two months (at least) will be the longest that I have not exercised in my adult life. I have always been active and have been sick and injured before, but not to this extent. It has been only a week since the surgery and it is already driving me crazy!!
I know, I know. Stop whining. Stop moaning. So what am I doing to keep busy to ward off the inevitable stir craziness? Well, I’ve purchased several books on topics ranging from the USMC to hiking. I’ve also decided that I need to increase my knowledge of Spanish. Although I can understand a great deal when it is spoken, my ability to speak it is pretty much non existent. Rosetta Stone here I come! What else? Let’s see. I’ll be planning for two of the classes that I will be teaching in the fall and also planning fall hikes (I’m very optimistic!)
I believe that I will also become intimately involved with Netflix and Amazon Prime.
My goal here is to keep myself motivated and moving forward. As active as I am, and have been, this has been hard on me and it has only been a week!
I will continue to stay positive and motivated!
Happy Hiking!!!
The Zen Hiker 
Sorry to hear- my advice would be not to rush to get back to anything before it has healed-the chance of re-injury is too great. I broke my elbow 6 years ago- it was a very long process to heal- and not easy- and the internet can give general answers- but everyone heals differently. I worked hard at PT- 3 times a week with the therapist and constantly at home. Did they put pins and a plate in? I had 6 screws and a plate. Best of luck, staying positive and motivated is a great attitude.
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Thanks for the kind words and the advice! I agree 100%! I don’t want to rush back into anything to quickly. I’m just going crazy and it’s only been a week since the surgery! They did put pins and a plate in and I go back to the ortho next Tuesday so they can see how things are going. I am assuming at that point I will have a better idea as to what PT is going to look like.
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I had a cast for 3 weeks so was too unhappy and uncomfortable to be going crazy…once it came off I was motivated to heal and focused on working to that end! Now’s the time to binge watch all those shows you never had time to watch!
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I’m sorry to hear your injury. Injuring the ankle for a hiker is like me losing the voice to sing. When my husband was young on a basketball team. he broke the index finger. He didn’t want to miss the season. He didn’t have a surgery. Guess what? When the season was over, the first knuckle of the finger was deformed.
He had a tooth extracted last week and couldn’t chew, that week was like forever.
I think you could feel when you’re ready to hike again. When you’re in good health, you heal faster than people who don’t go for a walk.
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Yes! My doctor already said that I would feel ready to hike long before I should. Since I am a little older (53), I am going to strictly adhere to what the doctor and the PT folks say. I can’t imagine not being able to hike!
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I laugh about what the doctor said. It’s so true. I think the skin heals faster than the tissues that we don’t see. You’re still young. I was in a writing class for retirees. One lady climbed Mt. Everette after 60 with her husband. She climbed many time when younger.
The PT routine would build you up. ❤
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Healing actually continues for two years after you are cleared for activity. I have had several injuries that seemed to happen just as I was getting to my stride. Or not. Do whatever you can to stay active, otherwise it is harder to get moving, in my experience. Glad you are following doctor’s orders.
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Good morning! Thanks for your reply. You are 100% correct. I spent all winter and spring getting ready not only for this backpacking excursion, but for hiking the entire summer and it was all gone in a matter of 5 seconds. At my age I figure that I will really need to listen to my doctor and the PT so I don’t mess up the healing process. I want to get back out on the trail, even if it is for 1/2 mile. That will come in time! Thanks again!
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