Broke my kneecap on Monday, think ill be ready to ski in November?

[Telecat]

I know. I know. Im a mess. Had a hernia this winter, which was flawlessly repaired in April, after a month of recovery was back to 100%

Now here I am, last week of june, at a swimming hole, slipped on a wet rock and landed right on my patella.
Broke clean in half, horizontally across the middle, displaced.

So. Having surgery on Tuesday and was told ill have to keep my knee immobilized for 6 to 8 weeks, then months of physical therapy. So looking at probably starting PT in mid august. Which gives 2-2.5 months of training.

Im also supposed to be joining ski patrol this winter. So ill need to be in great shape, the doctor was a little pessimistic, saying mid winter as a conservative estimate to be back to 100%, but potentially with a lot of determination I could be fit again sooner.

Seems like the limiting factor is how much muscle and stability I can gain after all the atrophy.

Looks like ill be close friends with some braces and kneepads this winter...



Let me just say. Never a surgery in my life until having 2 this year in the span of 3 months. Go figure. First broken bone too.

[fisheater]

Aren’t you in your thirties? Rub a little dirt in it, spit on for good measure, a shot of whiskey internally to make it sterile and you’ll be fine. Well, until you’re 50!
Good luck, you are young, strong, and should heal quickly.

[Telecat]

Hahaha, even worse.







25..

[Stephen]

I had the same injury a few decades ago.
Took a swim whitewater canoeing and bumped my knee — didn’t even register when it happened — guess I was more concerned about other things!
Had two screws put in my patella, which I had removed after the bone healed.
Make sure the incision is completely healed before you do anything dumb like go in a natural hot springs — that’s one of those “don’t ask me how I know” things…

I don’t remember recovery being too big a deal, but it was a long time ago, so who knows.
I do remember that getting full range of motion (flexibility) back in that knee took a LONG time — it’s still not the same as the other knee, but not a problem and I’m sort of amazed at the abuse that knee has taken and still functions with no problems.
I have been really impressed with the benefits of PT on several occasions.
I think if you are really committed to the PT, you may recover more quickly than the doctor thinks.
Everything will be healed by winter, it’s just the level of conditioning that you can achieve by then, and a lot of that is up to you.
A lot of people don’t fully commit to the PT. They get good enough to function, and drop off the program, without achieving full recovery.
Wish you the best on your recovery.

[lowangle al]

It sounds like you're having a bad year Chris, it happens. You should have almost three months to rehab it, hopefully that will get you started.

Hey, do patrollers get free passes?

[Telecat]

Yeah definitely a bad year lol. I typically have pretty good luck. Guess its about time that the bad luck came back for me.

Yeah it seems standard that patrollers get passes at their mountain, vail resorts gives patrollers a full Epic pass from what I've heard. Friend and family passes were a little less generous from what I heard. It miiiight be 50% off if I remember correctly.

Theres some other cool benefits like pro deals, and vail gives a few hundred bucks as a gear stipend

[fisheater]

Yes, but being a patroller is hard work! My buddy was on the patrol, my gig at the ski school was less time consuming and more flexible. We both got to train with talented and interesting people.
I’m really just saying, you earn that pass as on the patrol.

[joeatomictoad]

Im also supposed to be joining ski patrol this winter.

Patrolling always appealed to me. Helping people and getting compensated (lift passes, hourly wages, etc.) to ski?.. oh yeah! Maybe after retirement, or if I move back closer to the mountains beforehand. I envy your opportunity.

May want to give a heads up to the patroller-in-charge of the station beforehand. I know I would appreciate it. Good luck with recovery.

You planning to patrol on tele or alpine rig?

[Telecat]

I looking forward to the hard work and learning new things!

And ill be on a tele set up. I sold my alpine gear when I took up tele, never once looked back.

I may like doing alpine turns here and there because I want to, but I almost can't imagine having my heels locked down ever again