another injury

Like many Americans i had Friday off of work. My buddies family launched their Malibu early in the morning and we all took turns wakeboarding. The water/weather were in perfect condition,and it was awesome being payed to play on the water. On my second run i had a bad fall on a scarecrow. I had landed several earlier in the run. But this one had a horrific ending.

I didn't have enough height to get my body totally over my wakeboard. I fell over the tail edge of the board. Without dragging it out any longer i broke both bones in my lower right leg. the larger of the two poked out my shin.

Within 2 hours i was in surgery getting a titanium rod thread down the middle of my bones with 4 screws holding it in place.

here i am 2 days later, finally got the files needed to tether my phone to my laptop. If it was just the compound fracture i'd be at my house right now. But because i had this open wound in the california delta (Vics) ive been placed on this rough routine of antibiotics. the CDC guy compares the water where i fell to sewage. The good news after 24 hours there is no sign of infection, but they are still very worried. and it looks like ill be taking antibiotics through my veins at home for the next three weeks.

This is my 3rd surgery due to wakeboarding.

raley - blown ACL, torn MCL, meniscus shred
backroll (first run following season) back there cleaning meniscus.
Scarecrow - compound fracture to the other leg.

My ambulance ride went from Union point to Pleasanton Valley care.

Thanks for stopping by guys.

Sorry for your accident, get well soon and a hope for a complete recovery.

Sorry Dan. That really sucks man.

Sorry to hear that Dan, I'm on the injured list with you with some torn ligaments in my ankle 2 months ago. On the bright side, the both of us might be able to salvage the late season in september/october.
Keep yourself as busy as you can! Boat driving is a great way to stay in wakeboarding while you're injured. And when you're feeling a bit better and you start to get that itch, I've been surfing on my butt haha.

That definately sucks but it could have been worse. I will take that fracture over another ACL anyday.

Hope the recovery is quick. Goodluck.

Hi Dan,

Hope you feel better soon! I'm heading to the Sports Dr. this afternoon. I have a "blown up" knee and will probably need an MRI. I have a feeling that its a torn MCL and meniscus. I've had ankle surgery as well 2 years ago due to multiple sprains wakeboarding and snowboarding.

Just don't give up!

RICE!


I was sitting on the boat yesterday. With my knee elevated and iced while watching everyone ride. We had 5 riders in the boat. All had knee surgery or had broken legs, or ankle surgery due to either wakeboarding or snowboarding.

i guess it just comes with the territory, seems like it'd be hard to find someone who's been riding advanced for several years without a serious injury. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?

on a side note: i was teaching my buddy how to do a backroll, and as collateral i'd try a new invert. Landed on my board on my first attempt at a toeside backroll. heh, still cant wait to try it again.

Sorry to hear, hope you heal strong, injuries suck!

Dan, I feel your pain!

I had a compound Tib/Fib from a scarecrow in 2004. I had the strong antibiotics too...I remember one of the nurses saying "The doctor must be really worried about you" after swapping the IV bag.

I also got the titanium IM nail. I got to hobble around on crutches for 12 weeks but was back on the water in just under 5 months.

take care of yourself and get better soon!

Gene - Tap the brakes Buddy! Have you ever snapped your tibia in half? A blown ACL is not even in the same pain category of a broken bone.

I feel for you Dan. I've had a tib/fib fracture and it sucks. Good luck to you and your recovery!

I am not talking about pain. I am talking about recovery. and long term useability.

Sucks to hear about your injury, Hope you heal up fast and no infections.

looks like ill be going home today, just as soon as they put this pic line in my chest so i can do IV antibiotics in my room. Thanks for your support guys.

The tib/fib thing sucks. I did the same thing in 03 playing hockey. Got the rod and three screws. On top of it got pneumonia and spent the week in the ICU. Take care of it, not a fun injury, takes a while to heal. Still feel mine when I run.