Depressing...

[terpkristin]

...to me.
It's 100% official now, I've acknowledged I'll never play soccer (or run or anything like that again). Just bagged up the last 4 years' worth of my playing and reffing gear to go to Goodwill. :(

/tk

[Qwikshot]

*hugs*:(

[Icy]

oh :(
What happened to you?

[terpkristin]

I had my ankle fused (with some other procedures) on 25 June 2004. http://gimpygal.blogspot.com/2005/04/triple-arthrodesis.html

More or less, I was told after ankle surgery #2 I should never play again. Didn't get the opportunity to try before ankle surgery #3, but then I was told after #3 that, because of the method of the reconstruction, I would be more or less back to normal and able to play again. Unfortunately, #3 didn't hold so #4 was the fusion etc, 100% guaranteeing I'll never be able to run or jump again. Any sport or activity requiring either of those skills is now over for me.

I kept some of the stuff (baggy shorts for when I'm on the bike and training--I HATE lycra on its own unless I'm racing), but most of it is just extra stuff (shinguards, a pair of cleats, some jerseys, lots of pairs of socks, etc etc) that I'll never use again, and somebody else may be able to use.

/tk

[sabotai]

I'll never be able to run or jump again. Any sport or activity requiring either of those skills is now over for me.

Damn, that really sucks. I don't know what I'd do if I had to give up playing tennis.

[Subby]

Hang in there...

[rafael]

We always need soccer coaches. Please do not quit the sport.

[MIJB#19]

Damn. The thought of never being able to run or jump is terrifying and I can see it if you're depressed. An ankle injury that sidelined me for (only) three weeks was already tough to get through, I can't even imagine the mental pain to be told to never be able to do that.

I hope you can pick up something fun to do that doesn't require having a flexible ankle.

[terpkristin]

We always need soccer coaches. Please do not quit the sport.
That is indeed in the plan once I land a job and move to a more "permanent" location. I want to coach a team starting in the U8 girls range and keep with them as long as I can. Soccer was such a formative sport for me (I started playing when I was 5), and the 7 year old range is where I started to really learn (in retrospect) what it was to be a part of a team and how the game really is played from a team perspective. I think it was probably one of the best activities I could have taken up, learning teamwork and leadership and gaining a lot of friends (and traveling a lot, much to my parents' dismay) that have stayed through even now...

/tk

[Desnudo]

Reading through your blog on the injury, all this stemmed from what was originally just an ankle sprain?

[terpkristin]

A very bad ankle sprain (usually when you sprain your ankle you stretch out the ligaments. A "bad" ankle sprain is considered one where you partially tear the ligaments. A "very bad" one is where you completely snap the ligaments. Usually people injure--stretch or partiall tear--1 or 2 ligaments. I completely tore 3).

/tk

[BrianD]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I had a bad ankle sprain in high school. I tore a couple of ligaments and chipped some of the cartilage in my ankle. I had a few scopes and the ankle got better, but it was never good again. I had to give up just about every sport outside of volleyball. Within the last year or two, age caught up to me and the rest of my body started falling apart (knees, back, etc.). It totally sucks to give up a life of sports when it was always so much a part of life. You will find something less physically stressful that you can throw yourself into. Coaching is probably a great idea. You get to stay in the life without much of the pain.

[RPI-Fan]

This is making me appreciate my current U19 season (maybemy last ever outdoor competitive team) that much more.

I've given up reffing because there was a jackass coach who, after having dealt with him, made me decide that if he could behave that way without consequences I had no desire to be a ref.

I'd like to get into coaching in some capacity; what is the best way to get started?

[Desnudo]

A very bad ankle sprain (usually when you sprain your ankle you stretch out the ligaments. A "bad" ankle sprain is considered one where you partially tear the ligaments. A "very bad" one is where you completely snap the ligaments. Usually people injure--stretch or partiall tear--1 or 2 ligaments. I completely tore 3).

/tk

I didn't realize that spraining an ankle involved ligament straining or tearing. I always figured it was something like a muscle strain. Sorry to hear about your difficulties. Hopefully you'll find some new hobbies to focus your energy towards.

[Qwikshot]

Just wait until the doctor knocks on your door:

"We can rebuild you, make you faster, stronger..."

[queue Million Dollar Woman music]

[st.cronin]

I can sympathize. I spend hours a week at the batting cages hitting balls, but can't play organized ball because I can't throw. And last winter I had a horrible knee injury skiing ... it still hurts to walk on hard surfaces.

I think you should consider taking up sports text sims.