wndrer73 0 #1 April 13, 2002 I'm recovering from breaking my bone the first week of March during a BAD landing... I had a surgery on it, and it's healing pretty good (last 4 weeks)... I have 2nd post-operative doctor appointment on Friday, at which time he said he'll make start putting some weight on my leg... Now.. here's the question:When to return back to skydiving? A few weeks ago I went to the DZ and one of the guys over there who had the same thing happen to him said that the way he found out was by balancing on his injured leg, then standing only on his toes for a few seconds. No pain = okay to jump again.Now, this guy is a lot more experienced, while I'm an AFF student.....So.. what about others who've had a broken bone (ankle) and then started skydiving again? How long/under what conditions did you go up again?"Welcome to the sky!" -- My video/photographer, after my second tandem jump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 April 13, 2002 Only you can decided when it's time to take back to the air.However, you might want to take into consideration that -maybe- not all of your landings will be nice soft tip-toe landings and that you -may- need to land off the airport while running.I realize that a lot of people make the decision to return as soon as they can walk and just figure they'll butt slide in all their landings on the grass. I don't think that's taking everything under consideration -- do you?quadehttp://futurecam.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #3 April 13, 2002 I'm kinda in the same boat, broke my tib/fib back in Feb. I get the cast off in about 120 more hours (but who's really keeping track?) And I'm planning on jumping in about 160 more hours Talk to you doctor, make sure it's healing well. If it's not, don't risk it You don't want to reinjur it and be out for the rest of the year. If he says it's healing well, make sure you feel ok with it. I've been putting weight on my leg for the last 3 weeks, a little bit at a time. For the past few days I've been walking without crutches when I can, and it hasn't really bothered me. One of the things you don't want to do it over-baby it, and when you land you take the whole force with your good leg.I've actually thought about jumping a big main for the first couple jumps to make sure, but I haven't decided yet, not sure I want to re-learn flying a bus on a bum leg, especially since it'll be 8 weeks since I've jumped.You said you're still on AFF? How many jumps have you made? Out of those jumps, how many landings have been bad? Do you have any hardware in your leg? If you're not confident you can land without seriously biffing, you might want to wait awhile longer. Drink lots of milk, do the physical therapy thing, and if you smoke, stop.If it makes you feel any better, it looks like Ozzy Osbourn broke his leg somehow (watching MTV now) - he doesn't seem a whole lot different on pain killers than off Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #4 April 13, 2002 QuoteI realize that a lot of people make the decision to return as soon as they can walk and just figure they'll butt slide in all their landings on the grass. I don't think that's taking everything under consideration -- do you?Very good point Quade. That's why my first couple jumps back are going to be hop n pops. If I can't land on the dz doing that, I probably shouldn't be jumping at all! I've thought about wearing a brace too, in case the landing is a little rough. That should give me a good idea if a rough off-dz landing is going to hurt me.Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wndrer73 0 #5 April 13, 2002 Just 7,200 more minutes and you get your cast off huh? Congratulations!On my last doctor visit (2 weeks ago, and about 3 weeks after the operation), he said the bone is healing very well. I have 1 screw inside, and it's not bothering me any. (It was my fibula btw)... The cast has been off since that appointment, and i have a shoe now, but i'm still on crutches and still not allowed to put any weight on it.BUT... there have been about 4-5 times now that I've lost my balance on the crutches, and had to stomp down on my feet pretty hard to prevent myself from falling. And I didn't feel a thing!And yes, this happened during AFF-2, at an off-DZ landing on uneven ground. I flared too early, fell down, and probably twisted my ankle causing the bone to break (I dont think the fall itself was too high).And AFF-1 landing was just slightly better. I still goofed up a little bit and slid in.. but at least nothing happened."Welcome to the sky!" -- My video/photographer, after my second tandem jump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #6 April 13, 2002 The advice I got and have heard others get when coming back from a lower body injury is don't jump if you can't run. If you can run, even just across the room, that means that the broken pieces can likely handle a little jarring.For my injury (back) that was almost a year. When my boss broke her ankle it was more like 6 weeks. It depends on the injury and your recovery rate how fast it would be for you. Don't push it - remember that one bad landing can easily put you out for even longer if you jump too soon.pull & flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wndrer73 0 #7 April 13, 2002 Thanks Lisa.. that's actually the same advice I've got from many people... I'm thinking the same thing - If I can run normally, I can land.I guess it's time to brush up on PLF's too! Any advice from PLFExpert on this? ;-)"Welcome to the sky!" -- My video/photographer, after my second tandem jump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #8 April 14, 2002 I had a couple small fractures in the Fib from hitting the lip sliding into the peas. X-rayed, and decided to not go with the cast.If you had suregery it is a different deal. But when you get your cast off, start using it. Pain is only a pain, you need to use it. As far as jumping, I agree with the above advice, when you can run, you can jump. You will have pain for a while, but that doesn't mean a lot, if it healed correctly, and you have given it a sufficient time to heal. If the doc took the cast, off, they are wimps about getting sued, so they don't take them off early, Then use it.I did mine 2 months ago, started jumping after 6 weeks, and just road an XR 400 70 miles throught the dessert on a narly poker run. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wndrer73 0 #9 April 14, 2002 Seems that's the most common advice i'm getting... "If you can run, you can jump (and land)." Thanks... Actually my doc said you can start jumping next week! I think he's a little TOO optimistic, but anyway, at the DZ (Byron, CA) they told me it doesn't matter what the doctor says... "it's when WE say you can jump" -- especially since I'm so new to the sport. Nice to know they're looking out for me, but I just want to get back in the air again!Oh well... I guess all this waiting/reading the safety forum here during that time is all for the best..."Welcome to the sky!" -- My video/photographer, after my second tandem jump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChromeBoy 0 #10 April 15, 2002 There is an old rule in rock climbing that I used for skydiving when I was injured. Wait two weeks after it stops hurting and is recovered, then go back. Took two months for me. Although it still hurts sometimes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdutch 0 #11 April 15, 2002 The best way to decide if your ready to jump again is to well? Jump again not from a plane from a chair. Also light winds usually mean running out your landings. when you feel comfortable running then your probably ready. I broke my femur two years ago and started jumping too soon and I still have problems from it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
