Retired

[dawhunt]

Well,looks like I get to retire a little early this year.I was supposed to go out on Aug,1 of this year but I screwed up my ankle at bonniville the first weekend and have been off work ever since,went to the doctor today and I'm going in for surgery mon., on it
he says it will be almost 6 months before,I'll be back to work.OH NO I SAYS I"M RETIREING ON AUG 1,he says OH YES,YOUR RETIREING EARLY ,OOH DARN I SAID [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img].I told him I have to be mobile june 24,cus I'm going to Alaska fishing no matter what.He says we'll see,I told him if he wanted to see
he'll have to come to alaska he said I like your attitude.See ya mon.So looks like I'll be spending a lot of time in my boat with my foot up fishing for sturg. and salmon too in Aug. OOHH DARN !!!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img],so please wish me luck.See Ya on the river [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Bob [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I mean [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[Salmonator]

Congrats! Wow, breaking your ankle just so you can get in more fishing time [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[smilesforu]

Congrats Bob...wonder if I can drag out a injury for 30 yrs..hmm

[Snagly]

Congrats on your pending retirement, regardless of the reason. I'm something of an expert on rotten ankles, owning two, and I've surgery on each. If it's feasible, make certain you get your ankle "scoped" (an arthroscopy). This is much less intrusive: just two holes, so the resulting swelling is much less and the recovery time that much faster. If they have to open you up the old fashioned way, it's absolutely essential that your ankle be in a cast the minimum amount of time. Some doctors are very traditional about casts -- I had my left foot in one for 6 weeks after surgery. Others won't even put you in a cast unless it's very serious. So shop around for a sports-oriented doctor. Tell him you're going to go through aggressive rehab and you need his help.

Most of the time, the docs or physiotherapists will give you rubber inner tubes and/ or balance boards. The inner tube looks stupid, and you feel stupid on the balance board. You have to forget about feeling or looking dumb. Just do the exercises every day, then do some more! If the doc will let you, start walking soon after the surgery to keep the small muscles in your foott, ankle and lower leg from atrophying (and losing their micro-balancing coordination).

I had surgery on my right ankle on 15 November 2000. I was thinking about early April in Alaska and working towards the goal of being able to got 10 miles in snow (on snowshoes) and/ or in a river in a day. (Worst day turned out to be 8.5 miles on foot.) I worked as hard or harder than the doc was comfortable with, and I didn't get fit enough for the trails til mid to end March: 4 months.

So if you're going under the knife now, you've got 6 weeks before Alaska. I'd suggest you're not going to be ready for the cross country stuff. But you can still strengthen your leg so you can get in and out of drift boat without fear of re-injury.

Anyway, sorry to go on at such length. I'm sure you'll do fine, and good luck.

[Jennie@ifish]

Congrats and get well wishes, all in one!
Take your lovely wife on a long fishing trip! Does she get to go to Alaska too?
Jen

[OneLastCast]

You better make sure that cast floats.

From the sound of it you finally have a leg up on the rest of us.

OneLastCast

[dawhunt]

Thanks everyone,Jennie there's no way,I would go to Alaska fishing without my wife.she really likes to fish too.I could go alone if I was going with a couple friends but it wouldn't be right not to take her if I'm going alone.(MAYBE) [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]She really enjoys it so that makes it more fun for me too.That way I also get to go more too [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img].
see ya'll on the river,I'll be the one with his foot up and a FISH ON !!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]with a big smile.
Bob

[ 04-28-2001: Message edited by: dawhunt ]

[MetalHead]

Congrats Bob, I only have 12 more years then I can join you on the rolls of the unemployed. You take care of that ankle it got you out of work early but at your age you dont heal like you used too. I saw you mentioned going to Alaska without your wife, Ha! I know your wife and more than your ankle would be broken [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Hey when I had my knee surgery to repair a snapped ACL & MCL summer steelhead fishing was manditory therapy prescribed by my doctor, the cool water flowing around the knee reduced swelling and wading was benificial to strengthing the muscles in my upper and lower leg from the casts. See ya on the river lucky dog.