Medical Help

[MWROBERTSON]

Well everyone,

As stoked as I am about kneeboarding at the moment, I'm sad to say I tore part of my calf muscle the other evening. I saw my Sector 9 skate board in the garage and decied to take it out for some turns. I know, I know, it's been awhile and I should have been more careful.

After a few runs up and down my flat street, I wanted to get more speed. I pushed off harder and harder and then all of a sudden, it felt like someone wailed on my calf muscle with a baseball bat. I stood there for a minute, then the pain came. I hobbled home and announced to my wife that our evening walk was off.

I went to the doctor and he said it's a common injury and called it "tennis leg". X-Rays were taken because it was quite swollen and the muscle was tighter than a baseball. It appears that a small hematoma had developed. He says I will be out of commission for about 4-6weeks. UUUGGGGH!

The south swells are starting to fill in, I can't surf and I have to walk around with a limp until it heals.

Anyone ever have a similar injury and what did you do for recovery? Any suggestions would be helpfull.

Get some waves for me Mark.

[Jimbo]

Mark - happened to me playing soccer - something that is foolish for a man my age, athletic ability and pear shaped figure! Received the ball, turned to toast my 8 year old son and BAM!! Felt like a knife in my calf -actually at first I thought it was my Achilles. Really the only thing I could do for it was stay off it as much as possible. Wore and ACE bandage during the day for support but that was about it. As I recall it was about a month off.....Good Luck

[Man O' War]

Get well fast, Mark!

Good heads up for all the over-40's. The injuries are coming, just a matter of which sport you want them to be in.

[ScottMac]

..

[DrStrange]

The Doctor is in: ICE is your buddy for awhile. Stay off that sucker as much as possible for awhile--you probably already on crutch or cane? Ice it every time you have to use it and also at least a couple times a day. 20 minutes on and an hour off and repeat. The more the better for at least a few days.

Send someone to local health food store and get proteolytic enzymes. Repair by Enzymedica is the best. Wobenzyme maybe second. Take on empty stomach several times a day; at least 3 times, 4 better. This will rapidly help take down the swelling and clear out the fluid that has leaked into the tissues and that is the thing that most slows healing--the extravasated (spelling?) blood.

Vitamin C and MSM also are great for any sort of tissue repair. 2-3 grams of MSM and a couple grams of buffered C at each meal provide precursors of collegen (basically what you are mostly made of).

That'll be $0.01 (I charge less than Lucy. She's a fake anyway)

[surfdad50]

hi Mark, sorry to hear of your skateboarding accident. I too skated way past my prime and suffered for it. I cannot give you any medical tips but rest. Hope you have a speedy recovery. I will keep a good thought for your recovery.........andrew.......

[DarcyM]

Hey Mark -

sorry to hear about your injury, but good news is you're still young and you'll probably heal in no time!

This same injury happened to my dad. I was in High School so he was probably in his late 40's early 50's (I think). Anyway, we were playing some basketball on the hard top at school and he injured his calf pretty badly. Initially the doctor's said he might always walk with a limp. But he was working at OCC at the time and he got in with the coaches there. He actually got into the best shape he'd been in years and was running laps at the track after several months of PT, training, weights and coaching.

So hang in there. You know summer doldrums are right around the corner, and you want to be ready for the big souths of August!


dm

[MWROBERTSON]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your wishes on the recovery. It's nice to know others have been in the same situation as I. I'm sure I'll come back strong. Dr. Strange, excellent tips! The check is in the mail or if we surf together sometime, I owe you a few waves.

[Jimputz]

Hey Mark,

Dam!! Sorry to hear about your injury. I feel for you buddy..............I couldn't even imagine having all that downtime.
Dr Strange gave some great advice...............ice is definitely your friend.
You're not missing too much at the local beaches. The current 190 degree SW is kind of steep with lots of current and rips.
I just ran downstairs and gave my skateboard to one of the local kids. Good riddens!
Hope your recovery goes well.
Take care,
Jim Morales

[KAVA]

hmmm i have an old DTS board i keep it mainly for use as a dolly to move stuff like furniture or fridges. after your injury mark there is no way i will ever be riding a skate again. get well!

[skansand]

i like skating and surfing ...but not skating with a surfboard ....bad dings,...
jimputs....you didnt like 54 today???...i had a great time...(i was getting in for the second time while you were catching mushy in)...it glassed off right after too.....sorry guys....big barrels and fun faces.....and you shouldve seen wedge!!!!...speaking of
...

[Mike Fernandez]

Mark, heal fast, eat bananas, and dump that Sector Nine crap for a real long board, the Mentaweees await!!!

[matt cunningham]

Mark,

Having been a long time tennis player Ive had that injury four five times....it does heal...Ice.ice..ice...six weeks, but as I remember I was usually back in the water within three...be careful with walking.

I've been out since December 21st with osteoarthritis of the hip and thena total hip replacement on the fifth of April. The things with injuries...they do get better...

I'm almost six weeks in and I rode my road bike for the first time yesterday and swam 2,000 yards Friday and this morning...

Hiked with my kids three days ago and it was the first time hiking in four years with no pain..It was all worth it...

I will be in the water soon and I feel like a kid I'm so excited...I'm fit and fesh and have a great attitude...So you will be back also

Hope to see you and your bro this summer
Billy said Tavarua was a gas..

Matt Cunningham (What's this about the Mentawis?)

[analbirth]

This is exactly the reason i dont do any other form of sport/exercise etc. anymore.
Keeps u out of the surf tooooooo long, & there is always a u should have been out there swell while your down for the count. And always a " friend "
to take u through it wave by perfect wave. Sorry if i'm depressing u but I've
been there a few times. Go see a good oesteopath and do as the good Doc recomends. Good luck AB

[surfhorn]

I gave up skating a looooong time ago (skateboarding=concrete reality). My wife and I used to be skater daters...surf up and down the coastlline andhit skate parks. But too many broken ankles.

Broke my ankle a week before a 3 week trip into Baja. I spent the time dragging my right fin behind me totally useless.

today all my physical activities are geared at being prepared to kneeboard. DAily streches and light free weights amied at my core and to keep arm/shoulder muscles stretched and ready to rock if the swell hits big.

Just give your calf time. Fortunately, it is late Spring and you have plenty of time to get ready for late Summer and the Fall. Good diet, plenty of liquids and stretching and you'll be fit in no time.

Much Luck, Mark.