Broken Bones
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
May 27, 2010 12:28pm CST
Have you ever had a broken bone? If you have what bone was it and did it change the way that you do things for the rest of your life? If not, just consider yourself to be very lucky.
For me, I broke my ankle when I was eight years old. It was broken through the growth plate and I had to have two pins in it to make sure that it would heal properly. After I was released from the orthopedist several months later, I was told if I ever broke that ankle again there would be a good chance that I would never be able to walk again. So, I've not really ran since that time and I am always as careful as I can possibly be.
Additionally, when I was 19 years old I broke my left arm (this really stank because I am left-handed and it happened a week before the first semester of my sophomore year of college started.) This wasn't quite as bad as my ankle because I didn't have to make any lifestyle changes due to having had a broken bone. I did discover during this time that I could still write better with my left arm in a cast than I could with my right arm not in a cast.
4 people like this
16 responses
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
29 May 10
Hi Doran,
I experienced having a broken bone four years ago. I fall from the stairs and my little finger in my right foot was broken. It was so painful and was casted for two weeks. It was hard because After a month i flew to US for work. It was winter time then and i suffered a lot...the cold weather triggers some inner pains.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
You are definitely right in saying that winter like weather does trigger a lot of pain in the joints and bones, especially those that have had prior injury.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
7 Jun 10
You are right, as time goes on, the pain comes to a more manageable level.
1 person likes this
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 Jun 10
it was really a terrible experience for me. now, that summer is over here in the philippines and we are already experiencing rainy days...i know the cold weather will again trigger the pain in my broken bone. but it's manageable now.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 May 10
No, and please don't jinx me. :D I'm a klutz as it is...
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
1 Jun 10
this is where you give me a bogus address, right? :D
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
I certainly hope that you haven't been jinxed by this discussion. If you do happen to break a bone in the near future, forward all related medical bills to me. LOL.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
28 May 10
I'm fortunate enough to say that I've never had a broken bone (knock on wood). My husband on the other hand hasn't been as fortunate and has had his share of broken bones through the years (most of which happened before we met). His latest one happened just last month though. He broke as well as smashed his big toe. Although he can walk and continue to work in the field that he is in, he'll probably never be able to run again. Not that he was a runner or anything, but if he ever had to run, chances are he won't be able to because of this injury.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
I am now planning on trying to run, but there is a part of me that is scared of it because of the prior injury to my ankle. I hope that it will all work out, but I won't know until I try.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
13 Jun 10
hi dora,
i have had my share of twisted ankle while figure skating before but it has healed out well. took me around two weeks before i was able to walk like ordinary again. but that was years! 
now i get the fear of wearing the shoes. happy to say no broken bones.
broken bones would definitely change one's life. an athletic person would surely slow down if he gets it or wont be able to do what he usually does.
have a nice day.
ann
now i get the fear of wearing the shoes. happy to say no broken bones.
broken bones would definitely change one's life. an athletic person would surely slow down if he gets it or wont be able to do what he usually does.
have a nice day.
ann
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Jun 10
Seeing as how our family was a very athletic family, when I broke my ankle, it didn't stop my athletic career, it changed it. I think if I'd never broken my ankle I would have never discovered my passion for swimming.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
28 May 10
Hi doran, i faced a road accident in 1985, my left hip bone was shatterd in to pieces, i had to wear a plaster cast from neck to toe for months, it made be handicapped, i can't squat even now.. but i can move, drive and am active..
Welcome always.
Cheers.
Prof
Cheers.
Prof
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
That doesn't sound like it was a comfortable situation when it happened. However, I am glad to hear that you are still able to lead an active life.
@karen1969 (1779)
•
9 Jun 10
I never broke anything major when I was doing gymnastics, although I was close to breaking my hand once. I also broke a small bone in my foot, but I could still train with it.
But after I finished doing gymnastics, I have broken my little toe several times. I think it might be 5 or 6 times now. I walk round the house barefoot all the time and keep catching it on things! The worst time was when I broke it and disclocated it at the same time, as it was sticking out at an angle and very painful. I had to wait at Casualty (ER) for ages before they could put it back in place!!!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Jun 10
I've only broken a toe once in my life, but I can assure you that it was a very painful experience.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
27 May 10
OUCH to you! First your ankle and then your arm? That had to hurt alot I bet. I almost broke my ankle but had a severe sprain, and it still gives me problems sometimes if I accidentally slip or walk wrong.
The only thing I ever broke was my pinkie finger playing Volleyball. It is still crooked, but I never did go to the hospital, just put a Baskin Robbins little pink spoon on it, wrapped it up, and went back to play Volleyball, lol! Oh the good old days when I was nice and young. I came close though many times to breaking my leg, arms, etc., I just lucked out I guess and ended up with sprains instead. I was pretty active when I was younger.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
You are very lucky that you ended up with sprains instead of broken bones. However, I have heard that a bad sprain can take just as long (if not longer) to heal than an actual broken bone.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 May 10
hi dorannmwin oh yes I broke my lefts shoulder in a bad fall on concrete sidewalk beside my favorite restaurant on my way to eat out. the orthopedic surgeon said you smashed your shoulder. first x ray he thought he could set it but the second one showed there was nothing to set but crushed bone fragments.I was 80 and they had to put in a shoulder joint replacement of metal and plastic, and let me tell you it does not work as well as ones own shoulder joint. I had extensive therapy but I still only got a little movement in my left arm back so I was once ambidexterous and used my left arm and hand for every thing but writing. people said oh how lucky it was not your right arm. wrong oh so wrong. I cannot reach high shelves, I cannot fasten my bra, I cannot carry heavy objects, I cannot even use my left arm to climb stairs,. I have to lift it with my right hand so getting on a city bus presents some problems. it has completely changed my life. If I fall again and h it that shoulder it would probably mean more surgery to replace the joint.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
I couldn't begin to imagine having to go through my life with a prosthetic joint. I'm sorry to hear that it gives you so many different difficulties, but I'm happy to hear that it didn't completely get you down.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
27 May 10
in '97 on the way back from a vegas bowling tournement,id forgotten to take off my bowling shoes and jumped out of the car by the pumps where the oily pavement is and went down
my hubby said he heard the bone in my leg break. he helped me up and i thought it was just an ankle twist. hobbled to the store part anyway to get snack, use restroom, etc. by the time we got home though, i couldnt move. so, its not true that its not broken if you can move it!
no it didnt change my life but i did find out you can drive with the other foot and your leg stretched out in a cast.lol. @dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
My dad learned to be able to drive like that as well when he broke his heel. However, I wouldn't be able to drive right now if I were to break either of my legs because the only cars that we own are all standard shift and you have to have both legs to drive them.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
27 May 10
Why have you been breaking bones, I lead a rough and tumble childhood, being around horses and other large animals, I've been thrown off, stompped on, kicked and banged around and never broke a bone. Maybe I just had strong bones or was lucky. but now I do take extra care of this old body.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
Actually both times that I've had a broken bone were really freak accidents. The ankle was crushed when a filing cabinet fell on it in my third grade classroom. My arm, I slid off the tailgate of our truck in the yard while we were working. Neither was something that you would ever think could happen.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
27 May 10
I broke my left shoulder before. I was forcing myself to do a backflip on my own and i landed side ways. I didn't have to change anything though but i was wearing a cast wrapped around my neck through my armpit connected to a neck support. I looked more injured than i really am. Lol. :)
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
I know the cast that you are talking about, they don't look like they would be comfortable at all. The main thing that I've always questioned about this kind of cast is how someone is able to sleep with one of them.
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
27 May 10
Don't know that I can count that high. Might need some help. LOL
First broken bone was my left thumb. Was riding this thing in the snow that looked like a motorcycle on a ski, flipped it over and broke my thumb. They put it in a cast for 6 weeks and I was good as new. Of course I was only in the 5th grade so it was cool to have a cast.
Then 2 1/2 years ago I broke both bones in my lower right arm, the upper bones in both arms, and both bones in my right leg. My left leg was so broken up that they had to amputate it above the knee. And I had several broken ribs. The long and short of it was I was crossing the steet to get my mail and a kid came speeding down our road. He hit me doing about 60 mph. I woke up 5 days later in the hospital with pin and plates in both arms and a slip plate in my right leg. Other than a slight limp from walking with the prosthetic and the scars everywhere I am no different that I was before.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
Ouch, I am so very sorry to hear about the accident that you were involved in a couple years ago. I couldn't even begin to imagine to have to deal with something like that. I'm glad to hear that with the exception of the physical reminders that you really are not different today than you were before the accident.
@Crisfannum1 (314)
• Indonesia
28 May 10
I had a broken bone on my left arm. I had never operate it and chose the alternative way on fixing it. By pulling my arm and massaging in ortopedian. Don't ask about the pain, because it's unbearable without any anesthesy. But still, my arm won't be back to normal, as I can't lift heavy stuff with my leftie. Luckily I have a strong right arm....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
You are quite lucky that your other arm is strong. Luckily when I broke my arm it did heal completely so that it hasn't impacted my life. I couldn't imagine having decreased ability in my dominant side.
@iseethesea (6)
• Canada
27 May 10
I've never had a broken bone (that i recall), but I've had lots of sprains/dislocations...I guess I'm lucky.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
27 May 10
i once broke a bone in my left foot. it was just after my hubby and i started dating. i was running down the stairs to help him as his arms were full but i missed the last three steps. fortunately it was the summer and it wasnt casted so i was off work for 6 weeks.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
You are lucky that you didn't have to have it casted. There is nothing worse than having to have a cast during the summer months. I broke my arm near the end of the summer, but it was still very hot outside and having that cast on my arm was almost unbearable.
@StephanieAnnC (4274)
• United States
27 May 10
Wow. I haven't broken a bone at all and I'm nineteen years old. But I have a lot of time to go, so who knows? My boyfriend on the other hand has broken his legs I don't know how many times.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
1 Jun 10
You are very lucky that you've never had a broken bone. It is awful to be stuck in a cast and not able to do things in the way that you are used to doing.
