Bulgaria Ski discussion board

how long does it take to get over a sk injury? my wife and i were in boro three weeks ago and she had a fall,right leg sustained torn ligs and hairline fracture to the knee,leg put in plaster! told by doctor in boro would need to be in plaster for 21days and then gentle exercise,physio,well she went to the fracture clinic on friday they removed the plaster and put another one on and said another couple of weeks!well my wife is at her whits end,she hasnt had an xray since returnng here,should we pay private for another x ray? as she doesn't want to keep the plaster on any longer than is really ness,we were due to go on holiday to gran canaria on the 18 April,but with a cast on this wont be poss,ideally a knee support would mean we could travel21days up on tuesday,what can we do?hasnt put her off skiing tho

mostly plaster is kept on for a minimum of six weeks, though the knee/leg could be immobilised without plaster if the orthopod was in agreement. She'll need to have a frank and thorough conversation with the docs about the implications early plaster removal but it's very difficult to say without knowing any more detail of the injury.

you shouldn't need to fork out for a new xray (didn't the bulgarian medic provide you with the one you had done there?) the information given by the first doctor will provide the fracture clinic with enough to make further clinical decisions!

you will need a fit to fly letter from your doc though if the plaster is removed (I think?!)

the clinic have the x ray from bulgria,the orthopod wasnt very forthcoming when i told him what the surgeon advised,told him that we had abig family holiday booked he just said that we could holiday any time! well we do understand how important ones health is,but at the same time,if there was a possibilty for us to stll go then we want to explore the options,he gave know options and we felt like he just didnt want to be bothered as it was a very busy friday afternoon at the hospital. would it be worth our while getting a second opinion tomorrow if poss at private hospital? would we need an gp referral?or could we self refer? Loraine

by the time the 18th April comes about does this mean the plaster will have been in place for 4 weeks? I should think a doctor would be reluctant to remove the plaster and provide a 'fit to fly' declaration with that time. as well as the fracture there is also the damaged ligament to consider, immobilising with a knee brace would be sufficient for the strained ligaments but you also have the fracture and the complications of not getting the physiotherapy and follow up necessary to enable complete recovery. you might also have great difficulty with insurance should any complications arise on your holiday.

from here (not knowing the full extent of the injuries) I would suggest visiting your g.p. to discuss what has happened (they will have received all the information from the hospital) and what you hope to do. but be prepared that the advice may not be what you want to hear.

I think I'd have to just say be very careful, holidays are important but not that important.

Hi There

I broke my ankle in a skiing accident in Val D'Isere two years ago and came home complete with plaster to the knee. I went straight to my own hospitals A&E Dept to have it re-examined and they re-set the plaster cast there and then. Managed to persuade them not to put in pins! Anyway, I was in plaster for a total of 8 weeks and then had to undergo 12 months of rigorous physio before my ankle could perform properly. This was all on the good old NHS, so you shouldnt have to fork out unnecessary fees to have your knee checked out properly. Another thing - My GP would not allow me to undertake any exercise (apart from that prescribed by the hospital) and certianly no energetic holidays for a further 9 months. This allowed my ankle to become strong again and it is only now that I am really fit for skiing. Please take my advice and DO NOT under any circumstance test your knee until it is properly mended. Something in HASTE , REPENT at leisure springs to mind!! I still suffer with my ankle - particularly in cold conditions and would not do anything detrimental to it following the time I spent immobilised, which was the worst ever. Good luck and a speedy recovery.