bigrig

Thanks! Whatever was laying around they used.

roremc

Holy shit! I just read the bit about you hitting the tree at 40 MPH! Crazy you made it out in one piece!

I hope the recovery comes quick for you!

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So many runs so little time.

blackda9

Wow that sucks. I broke my tibia and shattered my fibula in about the same spot you did and dislocated my ankle last in june of 09, and now have 9 screws and a plate too. So I kinda feel your pain. Did you dislocate your ankle at all? Or tear any tendons or ligaments? And it will feel better eventually. Sucks the hard wear broke. Anyway have good healing. Oh and vitamin D can help your body absorb calcium better. Hope your recovery starts going better and faster.

bigrig

Thanks. I think now that the infection is gone things are going well. I was *extremely* lucky that my injuries weren't worse. Shittiest way to learn a hard lesson about always staying in control.

Well, it wasn't a dislocation. The foot was pushed about 2 inches up into the tibia/fibula and the bone fragments were severely displaced. I was really lucky that i didn't get too much soft tissue damage. unfortunately, after walking on it for 6 weeks with it broken, i think i did some bad soft tissue damage to the joint. oh well!

I've been taking Calcium supplements that also contain Vitamin D, but I also need to get out in the sun more to combat my massive paleness.

again -- thank you all for the awesome support. this forum rules.

bigrig

I had my external fixator removed yesterday morning. I opted out of surgery and did it in the office -- mainly so I could take a sweet video.

YouTube - How To Remove An External Fixator Like A Boss

I'm able to walk around now -- as tolerable. I'm hoping to be back on my board by Spring.

visibleinks

Thanks for sharing your story and keeping a blog. This is a great source of inspiration for anyone that deals with any serious sports injury. Keep your chin up and just keep doing your PT - you'll be strapped back on a board - it's just a matter of when you are 100% ready. Obviously it's better to wait until you are fully healed to risk any futher damage but I bet it's maddening to be so patient.

And a big thumbs down to posters saying stuff like "just stay in control" or "let the board take the impact". Snowboarding is about pushing yourself and your ability and wouldn't be fun without that. I know personally I love glades and have had a few run ins with trees but luckily no injuries.

I worked at a mountain last year and saw many injuries - some serious. People do die skiiing and snowboarding - more often that you'd think. Sometimes it's a tree, another person, snowmobile etc. I've seen blood splattered all over the snow. I've seen a helmet cracked in two pieces by a kid landing on his head. I've seen a guy vomitting all over himself due to a concussion/head injury. More often than not these are experienced skiiers and riders just like everyone else - but again - sometimes shit just happens.

HoboMaster

Your right, shit does happen and in split second scenario's you often can't make the best choice. However as an avid tree boarder, I completely disagree with not letting your board take the impact. I tree-board 70% of the time when I snowboard, and I have avoided taking really any injuries by ALWAYS throwing the board out in front of me and letting it take the impact. Chances are the board is not even gonna get damaged at all, but it will take your impact instead.

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PowderHound and TreeNinja

SAddiction

Ouch! Hope the recovery is coming along well.

Zygie

I'm a beginner and all these horror stories scare the shit out of me !
I'll have to be super careful and try not to f@#k myself in the ass and end up in a cast. I guess it's easier said than done but all I can do is get some more protective equipment. Beginners SUCK ass !!

crsv619

yikes. took a quick skim of your blog and those are some pretty grotesque pictures.
way to keep a positive attitude.
hope you can make it back on the slopes soon.