I broke my ankle

[Veritee]

I thought I had better explain why I have not been participating in this forum recently.

On the 5 April I was thrown off my horse and badly broke my ankle As it was a very bad break I had to have a 'fixator' on my leg rather than a cast. A Fixator is a metal frame with wires and bars which actually go through the ankle and into the fractured bone.

Because of complications ( Mainly infection) I was in hospital until May and then had to go back again for several weeks

Therefore I have been unable to use the internet and even now I am home I am still feeling quite unwell ( I absolutely hate wearing the fixator, my body just seems to reject it and every minute is a nightmare)so while I try to read messages I have just not felt like contributing.

Sorry about this
All the best to you all
Veritee

[angelonhorseback]

I saw on your post you broke your ankle last year from a horse fall. I did the same Fri April 23 04 I go to get a plate and pins tomorrow. Mine isn't near as bad as yours sound. Hope you are better by now. I get really down when I can't get to the barn. I've been told no weight for 8 weeks !!!!!!!! When they say keep your leg up. How long do they mean?? I can get to the barn on the lawn mower. HA ha Works any way. But if I have to keep my leg up for 8 weeks that may not work. I do a lot of coaching and I will really miss that. Hope you give me some feed back. Most of all I hope you tell me your all better and riding again.

[Veritee]

Hi Angelonhorseback

What a lovely screen name!

What horses have you got? It sounds like you are into this in a bigger way than I was as you have a ‘’barn’ and I assume unlike me you have staff, friends or a relative who can look after your horses while your leg is mending?

I was very sorry to hear of your broken ankle, if I can offer you and support from someone who has been there - please let me know.

Thank you for your wish that I am now better and back riding but I have to say this is not the case.

I did too much damage for that. However as for your ankle, I am sure you have not done what I did and after a few months you will be back in the barn.

I can say this because over 20 years ago I broke the other ankle and like you had to keep off it for 8 weeks and then it was weak for another few months but after that I hardly noticed it apart from an ache in wet weather. I would advise you to do what they say and keep right off it for the time you are told to as if you do not it may mean you do not get fully well. I do know how hard that will be if you have horses and that is what makes you feel alive. I loved my riding and horses too.

I am afraid I have to say I am not riding again and because for some time I was practically bedridden

(it was an effort until I had the frame off my leg to do more that get from the bed to the toilet, I used a laptop from my bed to go online)

So I could not look after my horses and ponies so they all went, including my daughters pony who I bred and loved.
I am not sure I could bear at 51 to start all over again!

But in fact I have been made permanently disabled by this. I now can only walk on crutches, for short distances, can hardly walk at all on rough ground which rules out turning out and getting back horses from fields and getting in the hay etc, so I doubt I will ever keep horses again.

However my consultant is considering another couple of operations this year to fuse my ankle to my leg which may give me more mobility.

The problem is I totally destroyed my leg from the knee down shattered the bones into pieces, plus all the blood vessels ligaments, joint etc and actually feel I might have been better off if it had been amputated, which was one option.

Please do not feel I am suggesting though, this will be the same for you.
I was just telling you about it as it was nice someone asked and you may understand as someone who rides daily how shattering this has all been for my life, to have to get rid of all my horses some that I had had for many years.

Anyway this does mean I have more time for this website which has become a big focus for me now.

I always wanted to put more time into it but could not because of the demands of a job and keeping horses as well.

So everything has a good side

All the best to you

Veritee