Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

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Last post: Oct 31, 2009 3:39 PM by SAndress

SAndress

3 posts since
Oct 31, 2009

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Oct 31, 2009 1:51 PM

Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

Hey guys, I'm new to this board!

I'm 18 y/o and am trying to get into AFROTC next year (soph. year in college) if I can pass the medical evaluation with my injury.

Injury info:

June 2008- fractured ankle, bone chips blocking joint. Surgery was done to remove bone chips. OS said it was one of the worst injuries he's seen.

Feb. 2009- lots of pain along tendons/ligaments on outside of ankle. Surgery was done to tighten the ligaments.

May 2009- ruptured 4 extensor tendons. Lost upward movement of my toes. Surgery as done to fix the tendons. OS has never in his career seen an injury like this, and he, my PT, and I couldn't find much info at all online. It's apparently a pretty rare thing.

So, my OS says I'm crazy to try for ROTC and doubts I will get in, but I'm still going to try. I realize there is a very real possibility that I may reinjure my ankle but I'm willing to tak that risk.

So now my question is- has anyone had an injury like this?

Also, I want to start running to slowly work myself up to the 1.5+ miles I'd be doing next fall. I was told I could start in December lightly jogging on the treadmill. That's fine for now but eventually I'd like to start running outside as well.

Any suggestions on how to gradually work up to running 1.5+ mi. safely?

spicegeek

2,408 posts since
Jan 14, 2007

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1. Oct 31, 2009 2:10 PM

in response to: SAndress

Re: Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

I can`t help with the specifics of your injury but for a slow build up in milage take a look at the couch to 5K plan - click on training on the top of this page - you can take that idea and adjust ot to get to 1.5 miles - but it you do it for time 20 mins probabrly won`t be miuc more than 1.5 if you are jogging slowly.

Were you a runner prior to your injury ?

NYC Marathon Nov 1 2009 - 4:03:13 ( 9:17 mm )

NYC Half Marathon Aug 16 2009 - 1:55:38 ( 8:49 mm )

1 mile - 7:07 10K - 52:58 ( 8:32 mm)

4 mile - 31:35 ( 7:53 mm) 8K - 42:28 ( 8:32 mm)

15K - 1:22:02 ( 8:49 mm)

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aj01

54 posts since
Jul 8, 2008

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2. Oct 31, 2009 2:21 PM

in response to: SAndress

Re: Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

I was thinking something similar to Spice. Just cut the C25K in half. That will give you a very gradual start. I'm no doctor by any means but it seems odd that you had ligaments tightened and then ruptured the tendons 2 months later. Are the ligaments the same ones connected to the tendons? Excessive tension over a period of time can cause a tendon to rupture especially if it's already week from the previous injury and surgery. I won't advise you on what to do but if it was me, I would try very small amounts of lower leg excercises and stretches to gradually build up before ever considering running. When I felt confident that I was ready, I'd wait another month then ease into running very slowly. Please be patient. You don't need another surgery.

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SAndress

3 posts since
Oct 31, 2009

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3. Oct 31, 2009 2:32 PM

in response to: spicegeek

Re: Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

Thanks- I saw the Couch to 5k plan and it looks like something I could def. do.

I was not a runner prior to this injury. I did basketball for a few years and then gave that up to continue my riding. Up until the injury I was in decent shape and was riding 4 days a week.

AJ01- My OS believes that when he tightened the ligaments, he may have tightened them too tightly causeing friction on the teondons and resulting in them rupturing. He said he specifically checked for that when he was tightening the ligaments, and believed that there was ample amout of room. Crap happens, apparently there was a misjudgement in that aspect. But he's a very respected surgeon and I fully trust him.

I've been in PT for 4 months. My exercises consist of calf raises, the bike, walking up and down inclines, and walking on the tredmill. I do the tredmill on an incline when I go to the gym and do that for 2 miles. I'm in college right now and I'm easily walking 4+ miles to/from class (~2 mi. each way). So on any given day I'm walking between 4-6 miles. I have been told by my OS that he doesn't advise running at all, mainly due to the risk for joint damage, but I'm headstrong and tend to do what I want. Both my PT's have said I can start lightly jogging in December.

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spicegeek

2,408 posts since
Jan 14, 2007

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4. Oct 31, 2009 3:24 PM

in response to: SAndress

Re: Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

If you don`t mind me asking why are you so determined to run - I can understand someone who was always a runner having a hard time accepting they shouldn`t run - but to be so headstrong over a sport you have never done is a little harder to process given your sugeons are advising you against it.

Why do your doctors feel that running 4 miles is more risky to you that say a brisk walk ? I think you should understand the exact nature of the risks and injury and ensure you are doing the right stretching and resistance training to minimise that risk

NYC Marathon Nov 1 2009 - 4:03:13 ( 9:17 mm )

NYC Half Marathon Aug 16 2009 - 1:55:38 ( 8:49 mm )

1 mile - 7:07 10K - 52:58 ( 8:32 mm)

4 mile - 31:35 ( 7:53 mm) 8K - 42:28 ( 8:32 mm)

15K - 1:22:02 ( 8:49 mm)

Find the Half Marathon Team on FACEBOOK

Report Abuse

SAndress

3 posts since
Oct 31, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

5. Oct 31, 2009 3:42 PM

in response to: spicegeek

Re: Frx. ankle, loose ligaments, ruptured extensor tendons. Want to start running!

Spice-

I'm so determined to run because I am trying to get into the ROTC program next fall. I was supposed to do it this year and then I was injured so I was not ready to do the physical training aspects of it.

My OS is not so much worried about reinjuring the tendons (although I'm sure thats a possibility)- he's more worried about the long term outlook on the joint itself. With this injury I don't even know if I would pass the medical evaluation- but I've been talking to the Capt. with the AFROTC and there is a shot for me so I'm hopeful. If I try and reinjure myself, or try and don't pass the medical eval, then I know it wasn't meant to be and I'll give up. But the risk, IMO, is worth it if I can make it in.

As for running vs. brisk walk- running is more high impact than walking and therefore more impact on the joint. And I don't have a choice re: walking like I do with running- I have to be able to walk to class and in some cases I have to be able to walk quickly (3/4 mi. in 7 mins) if I'm going to make it to class on time.