Broken elbow and where it left me

[rosereedy]

On May 4th, I just got on the ice to warm up for freestyle.  I had to dodge a small kid and caught an edge which sent me flying.  I landed full force and broke my left elbow in 3 places.  The olecranon broke off and in half and my ulna had a fracture as well.  After surgery and getting pins, wire, and a screw put in, I realized it was going to be a long process.  It was a VERY nasty break.  I am still not back on the ice.  I had another surgery because the pins were pushing out causing problems.  The surgeon went ahead and removed everything. My problem is that I am scared to go back.  This is my 2nd major injury in 3 years requiring surgery just from skating alone (first one was a torn hip labrum and ligament).  I can't afford another surgery and my husband already said one more and he's pulling me from the sport.  Can't say I blame him.  I was planning on retiring in a couple of years anyway but maybe it's time now.  Having the fear will only hinder progress which can cause more injuries.  I am not sure if I should try a few freestyle sessions to SEE if that fear will be there or if I am having irrational thoughts.  I love the sport but I am also loving not being injured.  What would you do?

[Bill_S]

I'm positive that protective padding has helped me survive skating into my mid-60s. Based upon what's happening to you, I'd strongly urge you to pad up if you decide to skate more. I wear knee and elbow pads  under my clothing. My usual skating "uniform" is trousers and a sweatshirt, both of which hide the pads nicely.

[lutefisk]

I'm positive that protective padding has helped me survive skating into my mid-60s. Based upon what's happening to you, I'd strongly urge you to pad up if you decide to skate more. I wear knee and elbow pads  under my clothing. My usual skating "uniform" is trousers and a sweatshirt, both of which hide the pads nicely.

Bill:  what brand/style of elbow pads do you have?  I'm happy with my d3o knee pads but my elbow pads are cheap foam things that I bought at a sporting goods store (I think they are for soccer).  Those elbow pads are better than nothing but I doubt that they'd provide me with much protection in the case of a fall like that of the OP's.  I haven't seen any that have looked suitable.  I'll be 70 towards the end of this year and I hope to keep at it.

[Bill_S]

I'm using some pads (volleyball pads?) that I picked up in the sporting goods department of WalMart. I haven't been there in years to know if they are still carried.

Essentially it's a pad of white foam about 1/2 inch thick with an elastic fabric sewn into a loop around it. Those things have saved my elbows numerous times, but they are nothing fancy.

Here's a snap made a few years back....

[AgnesNitt]

Skating safe has some really good elbow pads.

[riley876]

Been using "187" brand pads, intended for roller derby and aggressive skating.   I have left the plastic caps on because I skate outside on asphalt now and then (think: cheese grater),  but if I was only ever ice skating, I'd pull the caps off for a lower profile look/feel.

https://www.amazon.com/187-Killer-Elbow-Pads/dp/B00TYYA47M

(BTW you can black out the graphics with a sharpie)

187 stuff is what the roller derby people all seem to gravitate towards eventually, and they really do give their padding a solid workout.

[dlbritton]

I use McDavid hex cell elbow pads for the flexibility (Dick's Sporting Goods). The padding is a little thin but still feels like it would provide a good bit of protection. I use Ace brand volleyball knee pads (Walmart) and Rollerblade brand skateboard/inline skate wrist guards. I also wear a Crasche head band.

I too have elbow pads and knee pads with plastic caps that I use when inline skating outdoors but feel it would be too restrictive on the ice.

Mind you none of this helped when I fell and twisted my ankle resulting in a broken fibula and multiple torn ligaments.

[beginner skater]

You could pad up, I've got the skate safe elbow pads which are great for my purposes which was to deaden the pain of impact on bone. Not sure if it would prevent breaking a bone. I also have wrist guards and knee pads, but have discarded my sacral pad for the time being as being a bit of a pain to get dressed.

Sounds like you must have landed very awkwardly. \i'm wondering if some martial arts training involving learning to fall would help. Also just wondering if you have any predisposition to broken bones?

I think only you know how much you get out of skating, and what kind of life you could build without it, what other interests you have, or might develop. And if you would be happy skating at a lower more careful level, altho of course accidents can always happen.

Maybe see how you feel after a session on the ice? Just have a pootle, without pressure?

[lutefisk]

Thanks to all who posted info about their elbow pads.  I think mine are also McDavid, like dl's.  I'm going to look into the skating safe pads and retention sleeves.

As for the OP's question, perhaps it would be helpful to have a coach with you to help with your decision if/when you return to the ice.

[beginner skater]

  I'm going to look into the skating safe pads and retention sleeves.

Unless you're teenage girl slim, I dont think that the retention sleeves will fit you. I recommend tubigrip 

[AgnesNitt]

I'm not a teenage girl and not slim, and the arm sleeves fit me fine.

The leg sleeves don't fit anyone over the age of 3.

[beginner skater]

I'm not a teenage girl and not slim, and the arm sleeves fit me fine.

Oh, well I have slim arms and find the retention sleeves just about ok, but wouldn't want my arms to be any bigger

[lutefisk]

The leg sleeves don't fit anyone over the age of 3.
[/quote]

Well, that settles that then!  Maybe I could wear them over my ankles!

[Query]

Don't let fear take away everything you find fun! What's the point of living if you don't live?

After breaking my leg, I learned to fall gently instead. Mostly, it's just learning to relax, and lots of practice to improve reflex speed. At my web page (see my signature), I have a treatise on falling gently.

But unless and until you have confidence that you are mostly fall-proof, padding is a good thing. Nothing wrong with dressing like a hockey or football player.

Also, don't think fall practice and padding make you completely injury proof, and use that as an excuse to try more dangerous things. (I did, but that's because I'm an idiot. You are too smart for that.) And I still wear gloves, plus long pants and long sleeves, to prevent abrasion.

The starts of uncrowded mid-week mid-day public sessions (sometimes I'm alone on the ice) are less dangerous than crowded freestyle sessions - but that may not fit your schedule.

[AgnesNitt]

The leg sleeves don't fit anyone over the age of 3.


Well, that settles that then!  Maybe I could wear them over my ankles!

or over your arns

[rosereedy]

Well here is the thing, I am/was working on doubles through double loop.  So big bulky pads on the elbow wouldn't work too well.  I might just bite the bullet and get some skating safe elbow pads.  I have the knee one and it has saved be BIG TIME before.  I still have a fear though....

[alan]

I'm a senior citizen who still ice skates. I always wear elbow, knee, and wrist pads. I also wear padded hockey shorts under my pants (I'm a recreational skater using figure skates). Most important, I wear a helmet too. Yes, I look crazy on the ice, but who cares? I want to keep on skating.

[nicklaszlo]

I think you should seek your doctor's advice on this.  Probably they have thought about your bone density?

If you recovered from the labrum injury you must be pretty tough.  I don't know how much they hurt but I've heard they are among the hardest injuries to heal.

Not exercising is more dangerous than figure skating. 

[RoaringSkates]

Once you're well again, if you decide not to return to skating, then know that that is a completely rational choice, and one that's okay to make. I know you love skating, but if it's time to move on from it for whatever reason, that's okay to do. It'd be great if you can find another activity that you can do that's also physical, that perhaps even would benefit from your skating experience, and which is less likely to cause falls for you, and focus on that.

And there are activities that would benefit from your past in figure skating, and which you can continue to do until you're quite elderly, which you can get good at if you want to, and which aren't as prone to injury as figure skating might be for you. Once you're well again, you might try out various activities and see if you can find one that you like, and which gives you some or all of what you get from skating. The one that springs to mind right off is ballroom dance. I know several skaters who have transitioned into ballroom.

If you want to continue skating, or even if you don't, you might work with a physical therapist on things like stability and falling more safely, and see if that helps. You could also consider doing ice dance (partnered with a coach) rather than singles, although that won't help if you fall while practicing on your own. For confidence and to prevent injury, you might wear roller derby style knee/wrist/elbow/helmet, even if that means you aren't doing all the moves you do now. But regardless, an option might be for your first sessions back on the ice to be done with a coach, rather than on your own, for the confidence boost.

If I were you, I'm not sure I'd continue in skating. You've had two significant injuries (the elbow being IMO catastrophic), you were going to stop in a couple of years, your husband advises you to stop. I'd probably stop in your position. Move on to something else.

Again, if you feel it's time to stop, then stop. Yes, it's a couple of years earlier than you'd thought. And you'll grieve and miss the sport. But focus on doing something else, to help ease the transition, and perhaps you'll fall in love with that thing as well, with time.

[ChristyRN]

I've broken my ankle, wrist, and sustained an ICU-worthy TBI/concussion with memory loss, yet I still skate. My family, friends, and coworkers all wish I didn't. I fell last month and hit my head again (got a nice big bump, but no symptoms) that just reinforced that skating is dangerous. Will I quit? NO! It's the only sport I've found that I stick with. It's a hard challenge, I can set goals, and I can compete. . .or not. It's also something that not many people I know do, so they are always impressed. You can't say that about running.

It's your decision, but just remember that there are risks in everything you do. I'd rather go from a skating injury than because I was sitting on my couch eating an entire bag of potato chips.

For reference, I'm 55, PB free and bronze moves.