Torn Patella Tendon

So... I took a trip to SPACE Physiotherapy this morning to find out what the damage to my knee was - it wasn't exactly the news that I'd hoped for...

After listening to my description of the injury and how it had happened, Ross checked me over and informed me that I'd torn my Patellar Tendon and I was looking at 6-8 weeks recovery time. I was pretty gutted to hear the news but while I was coming to terms with the diagnosis, Ross had the needles out and was starting with the acupuncture!

After releasing the spasm under my knee, he started working on my quad. I was told that due to the tendon injury, my quad had tightened and was pulling on the injured tendon; causing the tightness in my knee. So, the idea was to loosen the tension to relieve the pressure and the pain on the injured tendon - makes sense!

It was agony, but right now feels much better. I've been told to stretch it and also do some exercises to help strengthen the knee. I'm told that I can do some 'easy' hill walking if I want (need!) to, but might find it hard coming down, as right now I'm kind of struggling with the stairs! Might have to get the poles out!

Ankle therapy continues

Over the past couple of weeks I have been attempting some self-physio on my badly sprained ankle and so far it is going well and I seem to be making a swift recovery. To increase mobility I have been submerging my injured foot in a basin of hot (as hot as I can tolerate!) water for 10 minutes. Whilst submerged, I have been performing a series of stretches and gradually increasing the range of mobility. I have also progressed to rolling a tennis ball under the sole of my foot and moving it in a circular motion. After 10 minutes of treatment in the cold water, I then repeat the same stretches/exercises in a basin of cold (freezing cold!) water for 10 minutes. Finally, I repeat the exercises for a final time but this time without being submerged in water.

I have found this treatment to be highly effective and I have been doing it every evening religiously as it really helps to relieve the stiffness and tightness in my ankle joint. I have been able to resume some light cycling and even a few minutes on the cross-trainer without too much pain. I've not yet attempted any long walks, jogging or any climbing - but hopefully this will come very soon. Again, I am taking things slowly and not trying to rush back too much but winter won't be here for much longer!

Injury update - Hip flexor and knee extensor tears

After hearing a 'pop' on Saturday morning during the first real 'test' for my leg, I was keen to find out what I had damaged this time. After examining my leg thoroughly, Ross said that I had torn my hip flexor from the sprinting on Saturday. He said that the muscle was most likely damaged/weakened during the initial injury and it was only a matter of time before it suffered a similar fate, so it was good that we had identified the problem by stress testing my thigh. He also found that my knee extensor was torn also.

I was given more stretches, told to take it easy for the rest of the week and to continue with the recovery programme. I'm totally devastated with this latest injury setback. Realistically, I can't see me climbing again this year and I think it's best to focus on a return in January 2011 - this time I'm not going to rush back until my leg is fully healed and well rested. All very frustrating!

Thigh injury - 3 x grade II tears

Since injuring my right thigh on Monday, I have been treating it religiously with ice and plenty of regular Ibuprofen - it is still very painful.

This afternoon I visited SPACE for a full damage report on my injury. I was assessed by Ross Mayberry and he soon found the extent of my injuries after a rather painful assessment! He told me that the primary injury was to my sartorious but I had also badly injured my tensor fasciae latae and my psoas major muscles. He explained that all three muscles were damaged by the way I had kicked the ball: across my body with my right foot. He said that the injuries were quite bad and he estimated that each muscle had sustained a grade II strain (tear) so I was looking at 6-8 weeks recovery time at least.
My heart sank - that meant that I would be out for the first part of the winter season at least and it would probably be nearer December before I could attempt any winter climbs this year. Ross told me to continue to rest and he gave me some stretches to try and get some movement back in my leg, which was now very tight and stiff indeed.
All I can do is follow the good advice and try to get back as soon as possible... gutted!

Leg Fail

So... today I thought it would be a good idea to play 5-a-side football at lunch; how very wrong I was...

I took a shot at goal and immediately felt a burning pain in several places in my right thigh; I knew it was a bad one straight away. I'm struggling to weight it and walk on it and I've been icing it every hour this afternoon and this evening. It's quite painful so I've been hitting the pills quite hard.

I have an appointment at the physio on Wednesday so I'll get the full damage report then but it's not looking too good right now...