Sport Injury-mood Has Crashed

[Ice_Fire]

So I sprained my ankle at the weekend. This is the second mountain biking injury I've sustained this summer season. The broken wrist I got through by doing walking and jogging instead. But my ankle? I can't do anything at all and it's driving me nuts!

It's not a bad sprain and I know I'll be back on the bike and stuff soon, probably by next week. But I have noticed that my mood has plummeted dramatically. I've gone from being optimistic about my life and future to thinking 'what's the point?' I find it difficult to believe that the massive change is to do with not exercising alone, but it's the only thing that has changed.

What can I do whilst I heal up to stop me getting horrendously depressed? I am concerned that cycling is the only thing keeping me going, which is fine because I love it, but what do I do when I can't for any reason? I can't have it as the only thing that stops me wanting to curl up in a ball and die...

 

[digger]

What other things did you enjoy before cycling? Music? Or have you got any reading you could be doing before Uni starts? I hate being 'grounded' (in the restricted sense not the psychobabble sense!) by injury or illness. It really affects my mood. Try to stay focused on it being temporary though.

 

[Ice_Fire]

My guitar is in Edinburgh so that's out. Yes you're right, it is only temporary, distressing none the less.

I'm burying myself in reading at the moment, but it is just a distraction, whereas doing something active actually lifts my mood. I'll just have to sit it out I guess.

 

[Chava]

While I've taken terrible care of myself over the years I'm still pretty athletic and need to bike or go for a long walk almost every single day. But I'm having joint instability issues lately, and my knees are crap, though on the mend. I notice a dive in my mood if I can't get out and move, too. I don't have a solution for you because I more recently recognized how extremely important this is for myself. So, just know that it probably makes a load of sense for those of us whose bodies need, and are used to, lots of movement....I can relate to this.

It's really hard to do much while you let your ankle heal, but if you can move in safe ways a bit, even just get your arms doing some air-biking or something. When my knees were worst, I did lots of safe Pilates things where I wasn't putting weight on the joints, but burning up some leg energy, like knee dips and leg extensions...and lots of stretching helped too, because I also start tightening up. I think that slowing of blood flow when I stop moving too long really screws with my head and creates an endorphin crash I cannot handle.

And yeah, music or whatever helps distract you a little bit while you give your ankle time to heal. It will get better soon. Did you check with a doctor or do you wrap it up good?

 

[digger]

Is there any upper body stuff you can do? Weights maybe? I know it's not the same as being outside on the bike, and wouldn't give you the same adrenalin kick thing probably as speeding about on a bike would, but might lift things a bit?

 

[Chava]

Crunches?

 

[Ice_Fire]

Thanks guys. There are things I can do I guess, I shall try making up an indoor circuit of exercises to do and see if that helps.

I went to the local cottage hospital and got told it's a grade 2 sprain, not that I know what that means! I had a little spin around the block and it hurt less than walking! However, the joint was very stiff afterwards so I can't really just think 'stuff it' and go out anyway, which I was tempted to do!

 

[desiderata310]

swimming. Seriously, It takes a bit of work to get there but I've found that swimming laps can actually be awesome. You'll have to be careful pushing off the side.
I feel your pain. I'm a cyclist as well (yes both MTB and roadie) and I have had both a partial tear of my achilies and a tendonitis which put me down for months- no cycling, no nothing. It was infuriating.

Try swimming with a swim buoy. It's that funny looking thing you see swimmers stick between their thighs (The fatter hump goes towards your rear) It lifts up your legs so you can concentrate on your stroke and not worry about kicking. I managed to do months of swimming without using my legs in this manner.

If your ankle will allow it try pool running as well. You feel kinda goofy but man, that is a serious work out.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Swimming! Oh you're a life-saver; why didn't I think of that?!

The floats stuff; lol that reminded me of when I learnt to swim with a 'woggle/pool noodle' stuck between my legs! But yeah, it would take the strain off my legs.

Sorry you were out of the saddle for months, that must have horrible. Cool to meet another cyclist on here. I mainly mtb, the only time I'm on the road is commuting!

 

[desiderata310]

I LOVE MTB but I need a whole new drive train and new brakes (disc brakes) on my bike before I can go back out there on some of the trails we have around here so I've been sticking to road for the last few months.
Don't want to get too far off topic but I ride a Trek hard tail MTB. You?

I was out of the saddle the last time for 4 months. It was miserable! Hopefully you will heal much quicker and get back on the trails. *sigh* I need to go riding again soon. My commute is far too short.ha!

 

[Ice_Fire]

My steed is a Specialized hardtail, only had it a few months. It's the first bike I've ever had with disk brakes and wow what a difference!

Goodness, four months must have felt like forever!