JUST SAY NO to sky zone!!
Just wanted to share my story, and give a HUGE thanks to all the stories on here about the IMN and all the tib-fib fractures.
My son, who is 6'2" and not even 15 yet, broke his TIB/fib on Nov 10 at sky zone in albany ny. He is an avid snowboarder getting 50-75 + days on the hill every year. He was planning on being a tipps instructor this year at our home mtn, Stratton...
Broke his Tib-fib just jumping on a trampoline. Came down HARD on sky zones " padded edges" and metal was exposed. Spiral fracture of the Tib. Got a bad case of compartment syndrome from the impact and had immediate emergency surgery just hours from accident at albany medical center, which we can't say enough good things about!
Doctors were able to check his growth plates during his faciotomy, and saw they were done growing. They highly advised at getting the IMN surgery, esp. since he is a big time snowboarder and he is 6'2 230 lbs... They described him as a tree and his break was in the trunk. Researching all the stories on here made it just a little bit easier at what would happen.
We're now 4 weeks from injury and surgery ( IMN was placed nov 13 ) Hospital stay was 4 nights. Discharged the day after imn surgery. 2 weeks of crutches and leg splint just over the knee spent most of the time in a recliner and inside house. Walking boot was 2 weeks ago with stitches removed at 2 week post op appt. walking boot & crutches and immediate physical therapy start of 2x a week. Up and down stairs in boot on week 3. School started back up week 3 from surgery, and gym everyday given the go ahead by therapist week 3
Yesterday, he started walking without the boot on! It's a slow walk, inside the house, but, it's out of the boot and he's cruising around the house. This is week 4! We have a goal of no walking boot by christmas. Thats 6 weeks from IMN surgery. His doctor says everyone is different, and the ones that work hard with therapy seem to get back to normal quicker.
Going to the gym an hour everyday was the turning point. Today, he kneeled on the floor looking for something under the christmas tree, and didn't realize what he was doing because there was no pain. I told him it may be months before he could kneel, and he just did it. He has the IMN through his tibia, with 2 screws on the top and 2 on the bottom. He takes tylenol in the am/pm, a 1 a day vitamin, calcium sup as well as glucosamine/msm
Thanks to this board, we were very prepared for what could get thrown at him during his journey. Got him a patella tendon brace for potential knee pain and read him everyones stories on their breaks and also possible future removals of rod. His Dr. is telling him if he works hard on muscle recovery, he will be back on his snowboard this winter no problem. Of coarse his young age has a lot to do with bouncing back quickly however working hard at getting the muscles back and working out daily makes getting back to normal easier. Without everyones stories and ideas on this board we would not have been informed on what to do or expect...Reading personal journeys at getting back has been a godsend, so thanks!!
So, don't count him out this winter...He will be working the mtn, not as an urchin boarding instructor as planned, but he will be scanning tickets and interacting with his friends and guests at the mtn. He is just happy to be able to do this as he thought he'd originally be inside all winter
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