Injuries and Attitudes

[Elin]

So as some of you know, I moved from NJ to UT in August to go to school and ski. I'm on winter break now and moved to Alta to work and live here til January 8th. I had been stoked to do this for the past two years and am having a BLAST living what has been my dream. However, I had a little accident on Christmas day and after the MRI and multiple appointments it was determined that I tore my MCL and bruised the joint. The doctor said 4-6 weeks until I can ski, and I have to wear this big burly brace that allows for pretty much zero movement. The pain is pretty much a non-issue, but mentally I am just sooo bummed out. I know it could be way worse and am thankful that I have had 30+ great days so far, and have Feb-April, but even still I can't seem to shake the super bummed out feeling. At the worst moments I think about how skiing has become such a huge part of my life and that it was just snatched from me for over a month. The first part of that thought is something I am so thankful for, but the second part really plays with me. Any insight on dealing with the down time created by injuries? Also, anyone else tear only their MCL? How long was it til you were skiing?



On another note... doesn't seem like I've missed much so far. I watched the Collins singles line stretch to the pass office yesterday from my window as I was sitting in bed. Yikes!

[twodogs]

Dislocated shoulder last day of Jan. last year.

Three.5 weeks out.

Buy a porno and watch plenty of ski movies.

[altagirl]

MCLs are tough to compare because there are different degrees of how much it was torn.

My sister's dog charged into the side of my knee on Christmas Day and it stiffened up and hurt to walk. Ortho said it was a minor Grade 1 MCL tear (I wouldn't have even gone to the doc, but with my knee history I figured it was best for him to check it out). He said to take it easy for a week or two or until it feels normal again. So that wasn't bad at all - it felt normal walking again on Thursday so I went and did a few runs skiing, Friday it felt better and we skied all morning, and today the snow was pretty crappy so both my knees weren't psyched with skiing... but I think they're fine.

I had a more serious MCL tear about a year and a half ago (biking), and that took about 3 weeks before walking felt normal again.

All you can do is ice and elevate. I also take Glucosamine, fish oil, SAM-e and bromelain supplements, which at least can't hurt, and I think it helps some.

As for not being bummed out about it? That's the tough part. If you can do any rehab, I tend to go a little crazy with what I can do to stay busy. Living up at the resort certainly doesn't make it any easier...

Hope you heal up fast!

[stump832]

Xbox helps.

So does booze.

In all seriousness - just use the time to focus on something else you really enjoy. There are worse things than having more than 1 passion. Also, AG's advice is good - make time to hit the gym, keep yourself active as much as possible. Thats pretty much all I've got. The six weeks will go by faster than you think.

[altachic]

I tore my MCL completely along with my ACL a couple years ago. I had to wear that stupid straight leg brace for 3 weeks. Yes, it sucked, but I can think of bigger things that suck than that.

It's not snowing and it doesn't look like it'll snow for a week at least. Take up a new hobby or something. I started knitting when I blew my knee out, it was actually a pretty cool thing to pass the time while a movie was on.

I agree that living in Alta does not make it easy, but you are young and this is just a small moment of time, chin up!

[Elin]

Thanks guys! When it comes down to it, having it (skiing) in my face 24/7 makes it frustrating but for me there's no place else I'd rather be. So gimping around and not skiing is pretty shitty but the people and the place and the vibe make it better, because they are all so important to me. Thanks for all the input! I really appreciate it and can't wait to ski again. For now I'm just killin the front desk at the pdog, which is pretty fun too. I'm crocheting tooooonnnnsssss of hats, and being thankful that my season isn't over for good

[mc_roon]

i hurt my eye and am out for 6-8 weeks - exact same boat as you - back in early feb. It sucks donkey balls just to sit around and do nothing (i cant see straight) Drink, smoke, do anything to pass the time

[sandytheskier]

I hurt my mcl in highschool and worked hard to strengthen it back and stay off of it. I then hurt my knee a couple of years ago at alta. I thought everything was gone... but my mcl was as strong as ever and I think it even saved my acl from a complete tear. Rehabilitation is key.

[mntlion]

Xbox man, it is more adictive then crack,

hang in MCL's heal, I've still working on getting better, 6 weeks for full recovery sounds good after 3 months and 1/2 done if I'm lucky {monthy python voice}

[tarkman1]

I had a Grade III MCL tear and a complete PCL tear last year. I was back skiing in 10 weeks to the day with the Maggots at the Mammoth Mini. The PCL is gone, but the knee stability is good without it. I am skiing with a brace.

1) Get the swelling down. Elevate and ice,
2) Work whatever exercises they give you for therapy. Don't slack on them. Getting the swelling down is important to continue to work the range of motion. Range of motion is key for getting to the exercise bike.

Glucosamine? I took it. I figured that it could only help.

Having a positive attitude will help you get through recovery faster because you'll work harder.

[Jer]

Resist the urge to sit around and eat food. IMO this is the worst part on getting injured. Remember - every day you rot in your Saigon hotel room you get weaker. Every day Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.

Read Moby Dick. Carve a totem pole. Once the gaperhoards die down and it starts snowing again avoid looking out any windows.

[Wandrin*]

I had extensive knee damage last March with two surgeries and a long rehab. Tonight at the Summit at Snoqualmie will be my fourth day skiing since then (two days ago being a groomer day at Alta - I would have been in that long line you were looking at on Collins). I, too, have to wear a brace for at least this season.

Keep in mind you have had a great season so far and that you will be skiing again. Then do what you can. I have been biking and walking a lot. Now I am adding groomer runs. Anything I can do to build my right leg back up to where it was is a good thing.

Hang in there, and go convince Trainer to give you another beer!

[huckasoreass]

After growing up back east and going to college, I couldn't wait to move west. I packed up, headed to Colorado and moved into Summit County where I knew no one, and on my third day I broke my collarbone. I know where you're coming from.

I've done my MCLs several times. My advice is stay off of it until you know it's good to go. Get on it too early, and you could constantly aggravate it for the rest of the year. Let it get strong, and you'll be fully good to go. Until then, just beware of stubbing your toe. That's the worst.

[Steepdeepnlong]

Depressed moods are pretty common after an injury. Find other things that carry some meaning for you. Talk to a counselor or somebody if you can or need to.

[BushwackerinPA]

So this explain why i havent seen you out there at all...

You livin in a awesome place with some of the chillest people around. you will heal up soon enough and be rippin alta again in no time.

[wardog]

Elin, I'm sorry for your injury -- good luck. When I had to stop climbing for a while, I started playing bass and that has become my backup soul-saver and it really helps a lot. Find something else that you can do to keep your spirit alive while you're recovering.

[Mofro261]

(cue the tom petty)

Elin, I feel for you and can offer this advice: anti-depressants. But seriously, a similar thing happened to me and I've been battlinng the attitude as well. Tore my ACL 2 weeks ago and have been up in the mountains at Alpental since christmas, during which we've had some great snow and it's been really hard being on the sideline. On top of that I developed vertigo(I guess as a remnant of a virus) and couldn't drink alcohol but felt like I was constantly hungover. I've pretty much been a pill to be around for my family as I sat around feeling sorry for myself. I have made a conscious effort to stop being an ass and dwelling on the negatives.

Follow the advice of others in this thread- rehab, find an outlet for the boredom, and focus on returning to the hill in 4 weeks strong and ready to rip it up again. I know it sucks, but 4 weeks will go by quickly.

[uncle crud]

As a victim of multiple knee injuries and 4 surgeries I can say I empathize. Here's what I used to get through my last ACL tear/recon...

-video games
-new music
-MTB and skiing movies
-movie rentals
-funny books
-talking to friends who don't rub in how much skiing I'm missing

but most importantly for serious ski-related stokage...

Training the legs to make them stronger and less susceptible to injury. There are so many different ways to train that training can almost become a full replacement to skiing ("almost" meaning that you accept that you won't be skiing for a while, of course).

[altagirl]

Training the legs to make them stronger and less susceptible to injury. There are so many different ways to train that training can almost become a full replacement to skiing ("almost" meaning that you accept that you won't be skiing for a while, of course).

That's really it. Put all the energy that you would have put into skiing (and more) into rehab. Maybe you're really limited on what you can do for rehab right now, but you can probably still do a bunch of upper body and core work. Do balance work on your other leg. Yoga, meditation, something - no matter how bad off you are you can do breath work and visualization, which is something incredibly helpful that most people overlook.

That's what really gets me over it mentally - deciding to look at it like I have the opportunity to work on core strength and balance and visualization and such and I can come back stronger and better than I was. Then you don't have to pretend skiing doesn't exist - you're just working on getting better at it in a different way. I know it probably seems like a stretch, but it'll make you more positive and psyched to do your rehab.

[Elin]

Thanks guys! Awesome advice and insight. I really, really, appreciate it. Hopefully I'll see some of you in a few more weeks (at Alta )

[wstdeep]

I've got a little experience at this, Broken back, torn meniscus, bruised lungs, and a host of other little irritations over the years.

Work on everything that does not hurt and won't hurt you bad knee. Studies have shown that working an opposite limb will actually help maintain tone and. retain muscle in the damaged limb vs doing nothing.

It sucks but at least it's not ending your skiing for good. Do what you can and look forward to the day you'll get back on the slopes, don't push too hard too early.

[Buzzworthy]

I can empathize. Looks like I am out for a bit with a high ankle sprain and just got off a week of crutches.

And I have a new snowboard I got for Xmas I wan't to ride too.