What a turn of events we have now! I fell while hiking in Idaho last week. It was a pretty bad fall right onto my rib cage. We were camping in the Sawtooth mountains. It was a hiking trip, one which we delayed a bit so my plantar fasciitis could settle down. It did settle down thankfully! On the second day of hiking, we were going to see this high alpine lake. It would be my longest hike to date post op - 12 miles. My only other longest hike was 8+ miles, so this was going to take a push - but I felt ready for it! I was hiking so strong and fast on the uphill. My knee was behaving the best it ever had on a hike! The day was warm and bright blue skies. overall, just feeling pretty dang good! We saw the lake (any many other lakes) and it was just spectacular! I even went for a swim because I was pretty overheated. I was on my way back to the trailhead, approaching a creek crossing which was a makeshift log bridge (basically just fallen trees). I don't know what happened next, did I slip, trip?, but my operative leg did not make it on to the log. Instead I fell full force onto my ribs onto a very sharp broken off branch on the log. I felt like I was impaled and lost all breath, then fell butt first into the creek.
Eventually I scooted myself out of the water with excruciating pain. No one was around, my husband ran up to a further peak before turning around to meet me. I thought he would at least find me on the trail and push the SOS button on his inReach device. However, after 10 minutes I was able to stand up on my own, cross the bridge, and start inching my way back down the trail. I just said keep moving, keep moving. So I did. I hiked 5 miles out in pain. Once the trail was flatter, I could actually walk very fast, but had to be careful not to trip. Any big steps up, I needed some butt pushing assistance as I couldn't use any bit of my core muscles. I just wanted to get out and rest as soon as possible. Back at camp, I decided to take Tylenol, wait it out. We weren't near any hospital. I continued to hike 2 more days before we ended our trip on the planned date. We went to the ER on the night we returned home from camping 4 nights later. CT scan was done to check for any organ issues. THANKFULLY, I did not injure any of my organs! I do however have 2 cracked ribs (8th, 9th) and mild bibasilar atelectasis which is partially collapsed lower lung/lower air sac. My treatment is to take it easy, control the pain, practice breathing techniques 10x every hour. Last time I really hurt my ribs (but did not fully break) I said I felt better by week 8. Off any pain medication by week 3. Wrist rehab - I can still do the dynamic loading moves on my TFCC hand, just not the other side. Also no side planks of course! I cannot do all the stretches due to lying on my back. Knee rehab - I can still do calf raises with body weight, walk (although I'm not feeling it right now), and leg extension machine which I have in the basement. I will figure out what other things I can do once the pain is more manageable. Now that things have slowed down considerably (I am still unable to drive or go to work, one week in), I am focusing on rest, breathing, reflecting, meditating, positive attitude, etc. I was far more devastated with the plantar fasciitis than with broken ribs. Maybe because I am so grateful that it wasn't much worse!
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I've officially completed 7 WEEKS of running so far!!! Today is the start of week 8. Heavy lifting days are still modified. I am only able to get one heavy lifting day in (instead of 3) and the other days are light weights or biking/hiking. This is just until the knee can handle the dosage of loads better. All the muscles fibers and tissues are really worked with the new running addition. Like I couldn't push heavy if I had to.
My physiotherapist planned a running program for me that was 8 weeks long. If I had stayed home, avoided all hiking, passed up on camping trips, I would probably be on schedule! But I am not, I'm several weeks off schedule already, because I chose to go camping, I chose to go hiking instead and see new places. Do I wish I was on schedule? Sure, but I'm also not going to stay home just to rehab. It is what it is, this is life, you have to be flexible. Hiking has to count for something! In fact my physio said to live like a normal person and don't worry about rehab while camping. I don't think he realized I camped so often however! I've started to develop the early signs of plantar fasciitis! I was going through my notes and I actually started to get it around week 15 when I was walking under 3 miles on my walks. I'm going to add in lots of calf complex stretches and ice. Overall, not getting great sleep. I wake up feeling very stiff and old most of the time. Phew I hope I get some more stamina soon! |
AuthorA 45 year old active female who tore her ACL in January 2017 (at the age of 40). Reconstructive surgery in February 2017 with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. Archives
November 2022
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