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Do you really need ankle ligaments to ski???

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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
So I just tore my calcaneofibular ligment (I think I spelled it right) in my ankle. The on that keeps my foot from rolling to the outside. But that wont happen in my boot. Think I should still ski on it? The doctor said if I can stand the pain, it wont get any worse due to compression of my foot on anything. I plan on skiing this year. Anyone have any experience with it and skiing or advice?
Dec 8 2009 2:01AM
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vincepru
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 17
just smoke up, and go ride. the pain wont be there. if the doctor said you can. i dont know why you would come on here and ask people without phd's
Dec 8 2009 2:39AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Doctor advised against it. But said it wont hurt that ligament more and the boot should hold the foot in place. I could cause damage to the other ligaments and stuff if it rolls outward again. But I have an air cast to help prevent that in walking around.
Dec 8 2009 2:41AM
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skeedle
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 628
dude
ankles are like knees, they get weak and are never as strong. i sprained and tore ligaments in my ankle and foot about a year an a half ago and sometimes my ankle still kills me.
i would seriously take like, the 6 weeks or so off it and then you still get most of the season (proivded you  live in North America) but with a better ankle! its not worth the risk.
Dec 8 2009 3:10AM
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anti_bunk
Posts: 2629 - Karma: 329
i would imagine they would be helpful those ankle ligaments.  if you can get a brace or wrap it try and support it as much as you can...
Dec 8 2009 3:15AM
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,203
if you let it heal now then you might have a better chance of skiing later in life..
Dec 8 2009 3:17AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Thats sound advice. +K
But its so hard since my season hasnt started and i havent been out yet. I just dont want to have my friends all go out and me sitting at home being mocked by the snow lol.
Dec 8 2009 3:23AM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
I had a similar thing happen to me. I tore my cfl and afl ligaments in my ankle. i havnt been able to get it in a boot yet.

It happened about 2 to 3 months ago. I was thinking about wrapping it inside of my boot but i dont know about that. I think im going to ski anyways and work on strengthening it in the gym during and after the season. That is if it doesnt hurt to bad trying to ski on it.
Dec 8 2009 3:28AM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
haha i tore my afl ligaments a week ago, doc said no skiing at all. You can detach it quite easily and said that you can do permeant damage to it. Im not going to risk it for at least another couple weeks
Dec 8 2009 4:51AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
I want a new doctor!
Dec 8 2009 5:06AM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
same here... I even got a second opinion.

How did you hurt yours?


Dec 8 2009 5:07AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Jumped up to block a shot in basketball and came down on a foot which turned my ankle over, heard a pop, felt a lot of pain. I sprained my other two ligaments and tore that one

How did you tear yours
Dec 8 2009 5:10AM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
I was drunk running for a cab at 3 am downtown haha. your story is much better
Dec 8 2009 7:35AM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
you're good to go man. I rolled mine hitting the pavement at 60 mph about 5 years ago. It happened in early december and I was skiing by january. I've since rolled it again but only hiking or something. As long as it's not swollen and you can fit it in your boot you should be good to go.

I wouldn't jump right back on it if it still hurts, just give it a little time until your walking pretty normal then get back to skiing. Mine has never even bothered me while in my ski boot or skiing, it is pretty locked in there you know.
Dec 8 2009 7:41AM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
did you just sprain your ankle or did you get a tear in the ligament?, cuz there is a difference. In a tear the fibers of the ligament actually detach from each other kind of like when you take a cable and pull it too tight in the movies and see fibers flying off. It is not able to solidly hold the foot at a whole and stop it in the near future from the incident from occurring again. It takes time for both the muscles and the ligament in the region to regain strength and stability and that is why it is suggested that any strenuous physical activity is avoided in the meantime for this to occur.
Dec 8 2009 8:01AM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
yeah it may have just been a nasty sprain, but I wouldn't doubt I tore something. I rolled it by falling off a moto on the highway. I only ever got an x-ray to check for breaks. I know it was tender for a few months and then in spring I rolled it again running on pavement and it was like the injury was brand new again. It still hurts to this day sometimes so I just assumed something was ripped in there, but it feels nice and strong nowadays and I haven't rolled it in about 3 years or so now.
Dec 8 2009 8:48AM
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njwa88
Posts: 465 - Karma: 15
I wouldn't push it dude. Even though the doctor said if you can stand the pain youre ok, I would just rest and let it heal because if you go ride and you fuck it up more, it might become chronic. and youll need some too lol
Dec 8 2009 8:49AM
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t-roy
Posts: 4041 - Karma: 52
either don't go at all and rest up to be healthy
OR
just go ride casually and stay out of the park. nothing extreme would be the safest bet.
Dec 8 2009 9:37AM
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zuzanna
Posts: 52 - Karma: 20
go to physio and ask them to teach you how to wrap it properly
that will help, i did that for my ankle too
Dec 8 2009 9:42AM
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derbski
Posts: 3173 - Karma: 62
Dude, you don't even need legs to ski.
Dec 8 2009 10:11AM
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snowisawesome
Posts: 447 - Karma: 76
I tore the same ligament in my ankle last january goat roping, haha I know.  Anyways it was at least a month and a half before I could handle skiing in my boot due to the pressure that the boot puts on that portion of the ankle.  Take your rehab seriously cause this helps alot.  Also if you drink remember that your ankle is still fucked cause I almost reinjured mine a couple times out drinking.  I also taped my ankle up pretty knar every time I went skiing just to keep it locked in tight.  You'll be able to ski but I wouldn't push it.  If you can't run without much pain I wouldn't recommend skiing.
Dec 8 2009 11:46AM
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antwone
Posts: 1352 - Karma: 157
if u dont have ligaments strap your boot to the limit so you dont have any ankle movement
Dec 8 2009 11:48AM
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dbricknasty
Posts: 387 - Karma: 9
you can tear you ligament in your ankle and not need surgery. i tore three last year. it sucked. but take the time off and get healthy. your ankle will never be the same again, but it will be worse off if you keep pounding it. take a couple weeks off, and then slowly get back into it. maybe some PT to aide the recovery would help too.
Dec 8 2009 12:26PM
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8ONE657
Posts: 3045 - Karma: 209
she's right tho. yeah it's gonna suck when your friends go out but dude it would suck so much more if you injure it to the point it can't heal and then you're fucked for life.
Dec 8 2009 12:34PM
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MAPLE_SYRUP
Posts: 1910 - Karma: 68

exactly. why risk riuning years of skiing when you could just miss a few months?

if there is massive pow than you might be able to go shred for a day i wouldn't ski more than once or twice every 2 weeks.

Dec 8 2009 12:37PM
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yojimbo
Posts: 3631 - Karma: 27
why don't you just let it heal then maybe you'll be able to ski near the middle-end of the season? thats what i'd do.
Dec 8 2009 12:52PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
yea they should have been able to tell in the x-rays whether or not any ligaments were torn. Thats where they found out that i had actually broken my ankle last year and had a bone chip floating around, I thought i had just tweaked it off of this drop but turns out it was broken and just kept on skiing on it hahha. Personally i am more afraid of a ligament injury then a broken bone cuz it can quite easily stay with you for life.
Dec 8 2009 12:52PM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
i'd make sure that boot was strapped extra tight, i've twisted my ankle in boots once or twice and it isn't the greatest feeling, especially if you have ligament problems. 
Dec 8 2009 1:00PM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
That just made me cringe. My foot is still pretty tender and i am planning on skiing at the end of december. I will probably take it easy on the hill, but that would hurt so bad.


Dec 8 2009 1:10PM
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PASKIINGSUCKS
Posts: 9097 - Karma: 777
I'm not sure, if the ligament tears off bone I think they can tell. If the ligament just rips in the middle I don't know that you can see that in an x-ray. Doc told me if it really bothered me to get an mri to check for ripping.
Dec 8 2009 1:14PM
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mike720b
Posts: 669 - Karma: 27
i tore 3 ligaments back in high school. if you feel ok standing on it and shit go for it.. i wouldnt try jumps or rails tho haha.. or anything too crazy.
Dec 8 2009 1:17PM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
Exactly what my doc told me, ihad severe swelling for about 3 weeks after it happened and i was going to get a mri and then the swelling went down and it felt better so he said never mind.


I never really asked him about skiing with it though. Although he did know i was a skier and didnt say anything about not doing it.
Dec 8 2009 1:52PM
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KennyC
Posts: 1922 - Karma: 46
ya you dont want this injury to become chronic.
Dec 8 2009 2:09PM
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dandougherty
Posts: 1002 - Karma: 2,619
i know it's not nearly the same but i had a super gnarly spranied ankle and skied on it a week later.  it just hurt if i spun super fast or twisted or dragged it weird somehow
Dec 8 2009 2:39PM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Everyone has conflicting opinions lol. Im going to talk to a different doctor and ask them what they suggest. I dont really ski jumps anymore mostly just rails. But I do like to hit them daily, just not as much.

On a side note that might sway me. I tore ligaments in my shoulder and my rotator cuff in my junior year of high school playing lacrosse and didnt get surgery so I could play my senior year. I am regretting that now (5 years later).
Dec 8 2009 3:24PM
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gyarados
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 399
skiing is not woth hurting anything in your knee, treust me its happened before u should just stay off it un til your doctor says u can go back to skiing
Dec 8 2009 4:57PM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
yeah sorry to get kinda graphic, but its the truth.  i'd take it real easy, i've never actually gotten my ankle looked at but i've sprained it and rolled it countless times and put myself on crutches here and there because of it and it still bothers me to ski, that and i have a terrible knee.  take it slow, don't ruin skiing for the rest of your life just to ride this season.
Dec 8 2009 5:13PM
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purpleskis
Posts: 38 - Karma: 14
yea I'd say give it a rest... I waited 8 weeks when I tore 3 ankle ligaments and just did my physio excercises really intensely, but when I was skiing and still now (3 months later) it really hurt on impact-landing jumps and stuff.
Dec 9 2009 4:29AM
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WILLFRO07
Posts: 392 - Karma: 15
This probably sounds lame, but i agree with everyone here.

I've had some minor knee injuries and taking a week or two off wasn't as bad as possibly actually tearing something. (i bruised my meniscus or something like that, and if i had even tweaked it a little more within a week or two it would have torn-cracked)

So I'd say just keep it wrapped and wear the air brace/cast thing and let it heal so you can have a healthy ankle for later in the season.
Dec 9 2009 10:15AM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Any of you guys who have tore their ligaments in their ankle have to have surgery?

On a second opinion, my doctor said I probably tore all three ligaments in my ankle and should get an MRI. He didn't mention surgery or anything, but if after the MRI shows I did, are they going to recommend it to me?
Dec 12 2009 4:31PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
If I were in your position, I would probably risk it, and ski too. My advice would be to immobilise your ankle as much as possible. Wear an ankle brace under thick socks, then crank your buckles and booster strap up tightly, so there is no lateral movement in your ankle. Even then, dont try anything major, just cruise around.
Dec 12 2009 4:36PM
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bootleg_BEN
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 44
Im pretty sure i tore all the ligaments in my foot. My doc said for sure two but he said that i had abnormally alot of swelling. He said if the swelling and pain didnt go away i was going to get a mri. But that went away so he said that it is healing properly so i didnt need an mri.

I doubt you will need surgery. Its been about 3 months since i hurt mine and there is virtually really no pain when i walk. It still hurts if it trys to roll, and i can sorta run. But i lost alot of flexibility in it and i still cant get it into a ski boot.
Dec 12 2009 4:37PM
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