Week 1: 100 mph Sled Ride = Broken Leg

On Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve, I experienced a sledding accident at Mt. Charleston. The hill I decided to shoot down was steep and when I reached the bottom of the hill, I hit a ditch. My left leg was jammed into the side of the ditch, I heard a snap, my leg became numb, but what shocked me the most was the position my leg was in. I did my best to straighten it out and laid their in the snow. My family put me on the sled and carefully brought me down the mountain and waited about an hour before help came. I was rushed to Summerlin hospital and their, the doctor placed a nice splint to hold everything in place.

A few days later, I saw the doctor and he recommended that I keep the splint on and to keep the leg elevated. Apparently, he liked what he saw and the leg was too swollen for a cast, so I rested on a couch for another week and waited to see him again a week later.

Yesterday, I had surgery on my leg. It had been 12 days since the accident. They installed a plate and screws which secured the fractured area on the lower part of the tibia (that's the lower arrow). The higher break, on the fibula, was not touched. The doctor said that this bone was non weight bearing and would heel just fine on its own.

So as of today, how does the leg feel. I definitely could feel a difference. The leg feels more secure. I can move my toes and my knees, which drove me crazy the first week. The new splint is very heavey. The pain I feel is not from the broken bone, but perhaps the installed plate and the incisions, which at this point, feels like an insect bite compared to the fracture pain. The pain at this point, on a scale of one to 10, about a 5.

Okay, so what did I learn from all of this? Obviously, an event like this is a sign from up above right? Well, I'm taking it as a sign to slow down, enjoy life and to think about how much responsibility surrounds me. Slow down and think and think before you make a move. Good thing I only injured my leg, and not my spine or hip, that would've been worse. I'll take the leg for now, it'll be with me for the next 3 - 6 months. I get it.

Thanks to everyone for your support and patience. I'll get through this. So keep that fan main coming and continue to do your best.

Your Patient,
Randolf