Knee Stories

SimPistol · Since 13 Jan 2011 52 Posts Gold Beach/Pistol River

Well....I did it. I blew my knee up yesterday. I've been fairly lucky in my lifetime of extreme sports to only have collected bumps, bruises, and a few broken extremities (only one that resulted in surgery and missed sessions) - but my knees, until now, had remained surprisingly well kept.

The Pistol River mouth has closed off creating a nice, big, warm water lagoon. Plenty of flat water real estate with no tidal influence makes for a pretty nice set-up considering there is usually zero people riding here. The wind was blowing solid 6/7m and I was splitting time between my directional in the waves and my twin-tip in the lagoon - best session in weeks! We don't usually get too much flat water action down here so I was making the best of it, hucking airs, spinning, and possibly getting a little complacent considering how powered up I was. I boosted an aerial transition in shallow water with the intention of keeping it fairly low and smooth, but somehow I ended up lofting the jump much higher than intended. Unfortunately I continued to fly the kite as if I hadn't jumped that high, so I ended up diving the kite as if I was landing when I was still at the peak of my jump. Stupid shit. I experienced that Wile E. Coyote moment as if I had just walked of a cliff and suddenly realized I was going to fall really hard. In deeper water I would've just laid out and let my body take the hit, but I was coming down in inches of water so I tried to keep my feet under me. Bam, twist, tweak, pop....fuck! I'm glad I married a physical therapist.

I'm assuming this is a common experience amongst the kite community. So while I'm sitting here with my leg hoisted up on some pillows thinking about how my season might be over, I'd sure love to read your knee injury success stories. I suppose horror stories are okay too, but I'm more interested in the "I-thought-my-kiting-career-was-over-but-then-it-wasn't-as-bad-as-I-thought-and-now-I'm-ripping-again" type stories.

Whadda ya got?

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

So sorry to hear Sad

is it an ACL?

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Bummer. At least you married well.

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 485 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

do u have a job where u don't need a knee? if u cant work it may be more difficult to return to kiting.

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Sorry to hear about yours or anyone's kiting injury. About 8 years ago I also was trying stupid spinning and looping shit, I over-rotated the landing and racked my right knee. I gave up the tricks and just stick to riding waves now. I ended up with a torn MCL which the doc said no surgery and just give it time. It healed to the point where I could kite on it again after several months, but range of motion took years to recover the last of it. Good luck and give it time.

Sad

Aeolus · Mon Aug 19, 13 7:13 pm

Man down.. Sad

Time to work on the south coast video clip and bodacious soundtrack Smile

It was going so well:

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot

kt · Since 16 Mar 2005 763 Posts Portland, Or Opinionated

I tore my MCL on June 29th. On the couch for almost 10 days with ice and some left over Vicadin from my wife's C-section. I was doing a strapless jump, not to high, just some small ones and came down to far forward. My left knee just buckled to the inside and I heard a pop and felt instant pain and heat. I took up strapless because I thought it was safer, go figure. I am curious about the wax on the board. If I had a pad instead, would my foot has just slipped off the front harmlessly? I find getting around the board with wax just a little too tacky and wonder if I should put on a pad instead.

I just finished my last round of physical therapy on Friday and have about 95% range of motion back in. I am back to workouts, swimming and bike rides but, going to give it another week or so before hitting the water again. When I do, it's going to be just mowing the lawn for a few weeks. I have a trip in October to Baja that I want to make sure I am 100% for so, going to take it slow.

What I have been amazed with is how much I have accomplished since I have not been sailing. Chores around the house, desk is clean, basement organized, extra freelance job for some cash. I even sold some books to Powell's that I had around the house for years and was trying to do but, just never could get down there and wait in line.

I know it's boring as hell but, get a good couple of books and don't push it too fast yet. You will be back on the water soon enough.

kt

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 615 Posts Addicted

blew my knee up windsurfing years ago. Landed a jump with only one foot in a strap, the other went looking for the bottom and the knee on the board just caved inward. Ugly, painful, swollen but colorful. Should have surgery according to the doc's but chose to try it without first. Did massive ice, stretching and rehab and after about 3 tough months it was better. Still no surgery and and back to riding as hard as before(not that well, but no worse than before:-) but it took a year and a lot of work and patience.
Stay on it (actually off it) and you will be back as well

pain stops, chicks dig scars, glory...lasts forever.

SimPistol · Since 13 Jan 2011 52 Posts Gold Beach/Pistol River

Sweet. Thanks for the responses! You are good people. My wife (DPT) assessed the situation and has proclaimed my ACL and Meniscus intact. It's the MCL for sure, which is actually good news considering that the MCL does not require surgery to heal. I have a feeling that riding toeside will be a bitch when I get back to it. The backside twisting motion really loads up that part of the knee for regular footers. Looking at the bright side - I might actually get some work done now.

Aeolus, you must have snapped that picture as I was coming in from the ocean. Shortly after that I switched to the twin tip and broke myself. Thanks for the burrito.

Enjoy the rest of your season, folks! Get it!

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Nice shots!

MCL not too bad, when i blew mine out, yes Sasquatch, looking for a secluded spot to take a shit and rocketed down an icy gully straight into a tree well, the knee made a heinous popping noise like snapping a chicken leg, ended up with the back of my head resting on my ski boot (five years of yoga and never could get close to that move).

Was reduced to jazz singer status, limping badly for 6 months. My physical therapy, included gentle kiting on a skimboard, skating around the parking lot with a trainer and crying myself to sleep. You have to be careful not to be too aggressive, too quick, because if you twist it the same way, you are at risk of re-injury or worse damaging harder to fix components.

In a few months, you will wake up with a pounding hang-over, aching back, sore neck, feel like death but you will realize the knee doesn't hurt anymore...

Feel better & heal up!

SimPistol · Since 13 Jan 2011 52 Posts Gold Beach/Pistol River

Thanks Gman. I'll be ready to hit the Cape with you next time you roll through.

Until then:

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Had ACL replaced twice (same knee) ... Its a real pain in the ass for 6-9 months but then feels just fine.

Meniscus / cartilage is the bigger issue, until the whole re-growing thing happens you are slowly eating away at it every time you take a hard impact. Its why I rarely (never?) bust out my boots any more and unhooked tricks I stick to the ones I know.

Also pray you don't have shoulder issues, as everyone I know (including myself) that starts to have those deals with a lifetime of pain and mobility problems. You will never sleep the same again.

Sorry to be a downer, I do like busting floaty jumps still. I think they were always my favorite anyway Smile

knuckledragger · Since 01 Aug 2010 14 Posts

MCL is no worry at all. You'll be kiting fine by Oct, maybe in brace but they heal well. Just remember quad strength, hamstring flexibility because when the meniscus goes it's a whole different ball game.

consumer · Since 28 Nov 2010 406 Posts banned Obsessed

So is Gman the only one who has managed to hurt himself whilst trying to drop a deuce? I've fallen into the toilet once, that wasn't pleasant...