I badly sprained my ankle and am out of service for atleast 2 weeks, if not more.

I can barely walk, let alone climb, bike, or slackline which are my usual ways of having fun and unwinding after a long day.

So, i've taken to reading the forums here. Learning some new juggling tricks. Working out my left leg by hopping. Catching up on Lost. And enjoying beer at the southern sun.

So my question is what do you all do when you're injured?

--Tim

• Hop, limp, and try to walk 10 miles a day on uneven cobblestone, and brick streets in Argentina for 10 days, and squeeze some in some climbing, class 4 river rafting(they claimed it was 3, but I know it was 4!), and zip-lining with a steep hilly approach, and a forgotten ankle brace.

• Hike with crutches

• Jet Ski at the highest speeds possible on the choppy sea

• Beg my doctor to give me an early okay to go back to work, and be on my feet limping about.

• Be in denial that I am injured, and mostly treat myself

• Rent a golf cart on Catalina Island when I can't make it up the steeper hills on crutches

• Read books that put me to sleep

• Hang out with my non-climbing friends that are in need of my attention; as they felt neglected in the pre-injury climbing season.

• Cry, and moan in pain, and discover all the different brands of hand held, and stationary foot/ankle massagers

I severely hurt my ankle (fracture and level 3 sprain) during a fall on the Titan 3.5 months ago. I was able to climb in my walking boot in the gym at almost as hard of a level as before. Them when I got out of the boot, life sucked. I got no more sympathy from the ladies. and couldn't do jack. I can climb again some now, but am wary of leading as it hurts and pops a lot and I don't want to take whippers onto it (as I am prone to falling). So I moved to Alaska for the summer, It at least got my away from good cragging until I heal up. But aside from that, I mostly just cried about it a lot, actually I still do, just no one wants to listen. If its a bad sprain expect a good 3 months away from any serious activities. I get out hiking, but it is super sore afterward, and I am just starting to climb a little more.
So in short, just keep watching lost. Then move to Heros. you might also watch all of Arrested development.
I was able to road bike, but don't use clipless pedals so you can center your foot more and not be pushing with your toe. good luck.

More suggestions here:

http://www.mountainproject.com/v/injuries_and_accidents/goin>>>>>

Good luck!

Sit out as long as possible...I rushed back to the rocks and ended up getting surgery a year later. If you think you're better, sit out another 2 weeks.

After my little accident(broken collarbone, spatula, 3 ribs, punctured lung, and many pulled muscles)I spent 3 months sitting on the couch unable to do anything but watch tv. It was all I could do to stand up and walk around the house a bit. I even had to sleep sitting up 'cuz it was too painful to lie down. Drove Tami crazy 'cuz I was always hungry.

Rest, more than you want. Then take at least another week off. Read a huge book. Les Miserables or The Count of Monte Cristo or another enormous good read.

I had major abdominal surgery and 6 weeks later I was climbing Devil's tower. 3 years later I was back under the knife having 18 incisional hernias repaired. Not fun.

Tough it out and rest man, and don't be stupid like me. It is hard to sit still.

Learn to play a musical instrument.

I just broke my ankle into a dozen pieces three weeks ago today and won't be able to do much for months. So far I've been reading, watching TV and taking opiates and valium. Getting back to work has been tough, as even simple little things tire you out tremendously, but any athlete worth their salt ends up with an injurious setback at some point(this would be my fourth in the last six years...). As I've started to feel better I've been working out every other part of my body that I can, and plan on implementing a "real" training routine asap. I've always lifted a lot of weights and climbed as much as possible to train, but getting scientific with it is the only way to really push to the next level. As soon as a I can I'll be in the gym on the autobelay climbing one footed and getting laughed at. I don't know man, it sucks, but use it as an opportunity to work on any deficiencies you feel you have in other parts of your body. For a sprain, try hydrotherapy, three minutes in hot water, thirty seconds in cold, alternate for 20 minutes and end on cold. This will dramatically increase healing time. Drinking plantain and comfrey leaf tea can help too. Good luck, and just know there are a lot of other people in the same boat, or worse ones.

Play strategy games:
Settlers of Catan
Risk (2210AD or Castle Risk)
Agricola
Unfortunately these will require partners for hours on end, much like climbing.

Watch old TV shows on hulu. MacGyver, Quantum Leap, Star Trek, etc.

Read. I like Michael Connelly and David Baldacci for cheap airport fiction. For stuff you have to think about I like Jack London and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I guess I've just revealed how big a dork I really am!

I really appreciate hearing from all of you! I sure am going stir crazy so I think i'll try a lot of these suggestions.

I really like the suggestion of strategy games. I may take Settlers to the pub and find people to play with me! I think I'll also start a yoga class and developing an exercise program that doesn't involve my foot. Maybe also learn guitar after 3 years of owning one!

If any of you other cripples are in Boulder and want to sympathize over a beer, let me know!

I broke my L1 vertebrae and sheared the cartilage between the heel and the tibia/fibia. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital. I've got some titanium pins and rods from my T12 to the L2 fused together, and got some new cartilage inserted into my ankle. I'm looking at 6 months to 1 year before I can do any climbing. I can't even exercise at all due to the spine rules of No bending, twisting, rotating, and lifting more than 10 lbs.

So here's what I've been up to:
- Studied for the Professional Engineering Exam and took the test in April.
- Currently studying for the Structural Engineering I Exam to take in October.
- Loads of guitar.
- Nintendo Wii (Easier games with less twisting).
- Check out skateparks with my friend and I skate vicariously through him.
- Watched a buttload of movies.
- Picnics with the wife.

Can't complain since I came so close to becoming paralyzed so I'm staying positive about my recovery and can't wait to get back out on the rocks.

When I sprained my ankle bouldering I just kinda drank a lot.

Don't lose your gains.

HANGBOARD.

If anything you can get stronger in the power dept. Read McLeods climbing blogs:

http://www.onlineclimbingcoach.blogspot.com/

THere is actually crossover in the lower extremities. Meaning- if you keep working your good leg, through neuro connections in the spine, your bad leg will get stronger/maintain strength.

Do whatever you can one legged (rowing, biking, squats, lunges, etc). Go to journal.crossfit.com and read Training with Injuries part 1 and 2.

http://www.oskarblues.com/

Fly fish...

Post on MP... I was injured at work yesterday, and now I can not turn my head to the right (past about 12:30-1 O'clock), without (probably nerve) pain. I can barely even look up for short spots of time. This sucks, my neck hurts like hell, the pills they gave me don't touch the pain, only the headaches. To boot the entire rest of my body, arms, legs, etc. are in perfect working order. I wanted to go do the Petite this w/e, BUT I CAN'T EVEN CLIMB! Super lame. I'm thinking that it is time to finally get a good handle on playing lead guitar. Maybe sit around and learn some new knots, because I can't really go too far. Just for fun, try driving, and every time you need to look right, don't move your head, but your torso. I apologize for venting, but I really hate being hurt, I cant work, or play. Things could be worse I suppose, and I am grateful for that.

I had a sprained ankle once and that was horrible. But now I have an infected finger cut from trad climbing last weekend. Its super swollen puss everywhere and worst of all keeping me from climbing. I went to the doc and all and got the meds going now.

You can only drink so much! I need to climb!

I have badly sprained my ankle exactly a month and 3 days ago. I could do nothing but sit home on the couch for the first two weeks, now I can walk, but real climbing still is kind of out of question. While it is really bad, I think the thing to do is to say "it is what it is" accept the injury and deal with it. In my case, I started hangboarding, and swimming (mostly with one leg) as soon as I can. I also started totally working through my netflix list :)

I think it would be great to work on something in this period, like reading about a topic that you always wanted to read about, catch on literature that you were not able to read, start learning a language etc. (I was kind of unlucky in this regard. I sprained my ankle right after I defended my dissertation, meaning I was already doing nothing but sitting and reading and writing for months. Thus, I did not want to do any of that anymore).

I also made bunch of jewelry that I meant to do for awhile. So if you are into any kind of crafts etc. it can be a good time to delve into that too.

Lastly, you can reconnect with non-climbing friends (that I tend to neglect mostly when I am climbing regularly) - if you have any :))

Ride a bike (road not mountain for pretty obvious reasons if you have an ankle injury) and or swim. You can ride even before you can walk normally, you just won't beable to stand and sprint, you actually put less pressure on your ankle when you sit and spin than when walking. Swimming is also great as long as you don't have shoulder issues. The motion of kicking flexing your ankle back and forth is good for it, just don't go at it too hard. Swimming will also help to keep you strong in the upper body while you recover. Riding a bunch will help you to recover quicker once you start climbing again as in a boost in your cardio system.