Apparently I need surgery.
I saw two other orthopedists who think I should have surgery and have a metal plate screwed in to straighten my fibula. After that, I’ll be in a cast for three months. Hooray.
Without the surgery, they say that the bone might not be aligned properly at my ankle, which could lead to arthritis later. Even worse, once the swelling goes down, the bone might actually poke through my skin, which of course would be very, very bad.
Bah.
I shouldn’t even have been playing in that volleyball game. We’d already finished (and lost) both of our league games for the day, but I felt unsatisfied, was already bummed out from earlier events that day, and played a third game for fun. Strangely, nobody seems to know exactly how the accident happened (though everybody remembers the sound of the crack), but the best I can figure is that when I landed, I must have slipped on the grass, and my legs managed to go under the net, where the other guy landed on them.
Ironically I didn’t want to play in that part of the field because of the slippery grass, but the other part of the field had some holes and was considered more dangerous.
Also ironic is that my vacation was going pretty well up until that day, and then everything came crashing down, figuratively and literally.
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Sorry to hear that, man.
— Kevin @ November 2, 2006, 2:36 am (PT)
yeah, that sucks. i think they should ban volleyball
— ben @ November 7, 2006, 12:12 pm (PT)
ok – I read the whole thing!
— karen @ November 13, 2006, 10:51 am (PT)
I can’t get onto the meebo.com site at work – it’s blocked by our “filter” or whatever it is. Bummer.
— karen @ November 14, 2006, 8:55 am (PT)
James, sorry about the leg. I wish you a full, speedy recovery.
— Sameer @ November 17, 2006, 2:42 am (PT)
Tough luck James. Although this sounds like a freak accident, it does take some experience with falling while playing sports, before you get the sense of how to fall without hurting yourself. I hope you don’t write off volleyball or all other physical activity.
I would however, advise you to rehab like mad, and wait until you are full and ready before coming back.
Then wait 3 more weeks.
Speaking from experience, coming back from an injury too early really increases the likelihood of another injury. You begin favoring one side over the other, and end up straining, twisting or otherwise injuring something else.
That being said, I’m looking forward to a slow, but steady comeback!
— Ash @ November 17, 2006, 6:34 pm (PT)