How many sports-related injuries do you have?

tomatoey

I know there are official stats for this, but I just want to take a little poll of MFPers - want a rough sense of how much hurt is normal. I'll start, with some suggested headers.

Age: 39
Gender: F

Injuries
# of Acute injuries: 2, tendon-related (overuse)
# of Chronic injuries: 5, tendon-related (overuse)
Related conditions: osteoarthritis, flat feet, bad biomechanics, hypermobility

Training history
Ballet as a child and teen, then only sporadic exercise until mid-30s. At mid-30s, circuits with plymetrics, running. Sudden increase in volume and intensity of activity as an overweight person. Did some weights, later.

Rehab
Decent enough management of one chronic issue to be able to use that body part; working on the rest

Current activity
Usually, am working around multiple injuries/pain. Low-impact cardio (varied; depends on issue of the moment), bodyweight resistance, some machines, bands. Just immediately right now at this second, I am in an acute moment so am not doing much, will probably try to do matwork soon.

Machka9

Currently? None.

Or are you talking throughout our lives?

tomatoey

Machka9 wrote: »

Currently? None.

Or are you talking throughout our lives?

I guess through your lives, sorry! (If you've healed, that's wonderful! I am getting to the point where I feel like people don't ever actually get completely better)

edit: Most definitely yes, though your lives. I do want to hear about people getting better.

hunniebunn

Age: 26
Gender: F

Injuries
# of Acute injuries: 1, 2 broken toes
# of Chronic injuries: 3, tendon damage in both ankles, neck pain/tenderness r/t hockey injury/concussion,
Related conditions: Crohn's Disease accompanied with auto immune attacks on my joints (swelling, pain++)

Training history
Competitive hockey for 12 years, competitive box lacrosse for 2, skiing, track & field. Began Muay Thai 2 years ago, began intensive weight training, in the gym 5 days a week and sometimes 2 times a day.

Rehab
Physiotherapy & acupuncture with my Sports Therapist, helping me with whatever ailment or aggravation I have

Current activity
Usually I am able to work through discomfort. Being a fighter it is something we need to train through in order to help us succeed through a difficult match. Helps with the psychological game as much as physical. For the last 2 weeks I have been unable to do any physical activity as I am currently dealing with an auto-immune attack, caused multiple joints in my toes, fingers, knees and ankles to swell and hurt to use. Icing and using epsom salt baths in the meantime.

azulvioleta6

Also 39 and female--I have tons of them, mostly from dance and from the one year that I was allowed to play American football.

I suppose that the worst is the torn ACL in my left knee. It's a dance injury--I was doing a crazy Mexican thing called the Duranguense and SNAP! I never had surgery, just lots of PT. It's mostly fine, but it occasionally gives me problems.

I've broken every finger at least once, lots of toes, collarbone and who knows how many other things. I broke my thumb and left hand last fall playing volleyball with people half my age. Lots of ligament damage too--it's taking forever to heal completely. I am much too competitive and apparently never learn.

jorinya

Did Irish dancing when I was a lot younger, before Riverdance was even thought of and damages my Achilles tendon. Couldn't wear high heels at all! Pain was too much. It still flares up now and again. Oh was told by doctor I could never walk without it been strapped. I'm walking, running and working out without a strap!!

Machka9

I'll preface this by saying, I'm a long distance cyclist and have been for years ....

Most recently ... I had a rather spectacular crash descending a steep hill at the 100 km point of a 200 km randonnee (long distance cycling event) in 2007 on Vancouver Island. Concussion, badly bruised from the hips down, sprained right wrist, and a fairly significant shoulder separation (left shoulder). I was helped off the road, got myself together and finished the ride. I figured if I didn't look at any of my injuries, I'd be fine.

Two days later I attempted a 400 km randonnee, but only made it about 250 km before I was just in too much pain to continue. I was also having trouble controlling the bicycle with my left arm.

Still didn't know about the separated shoulder then ... all I knew was that my left arm was loose. I could do things with it, I'd never been able to do before. But at the same time I had very limited range of movement in other directions.

A week or two later I went to the Dr ... MRI diagnosing the separation ... physio for a while.

8 years later, the shoulder still pops out a little bit every so often. But it doesn't really hold me up much.


2002 I "tore" (micro tears) both Achilles tendons. But they rarely bother me anymore.


Occasionally I'll get some IT band pain, but stretching usually helps that.


Most of my injuries haven't been sports related. Most of my injuries have been silly klutz stuff ... like tearing my rotator cuff while getting dressed one morning. Who knew that snug pullovers could be so dangerous!

Merkavar

Age 28
Male

No permanent injuries I am aware of
Never broken a bone.
Possible fracture from a fight, that's a sort of sport.

Played soccer, nippers as a little kid
Did archery on and off for years
Currently orange belt at kick boxxing felt a little disorientated after being punched a few times.


So essentially no injuries. I think I was the cause not the recipient of injuries.

jorinya

Merkavar wrote: »

Age 28
Male

No permanent injuries I am aware of
Never broken a bone.
Possible fracture from a fight, that's a sort of sport.

Played soccer, nippers as a little kid
Did archery on and off for years
Currently orange belt at kick boxxing felt a little disorientated after being punched a few times.


So essentially no injuries. I think I was the cause not the recipient of injuries.

A fracture is a broken bone. Sorry, i've been a first aider since I was 11 and that one still gets me how people don't know there is no difference between the two.
Here's proof:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-fractures/basics/art-20056641
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/bones-and-muscles/broken-bones-and-fractures.aspx

Merkavar

jorinya wrote: »

Merkavar wrote: »

Age 28
Male

No permanent injuries I am aware of
Never broken a bone.
Possible fracture from a fight, that's a sort of sport.

Played soccer, nippers as a little kid
Did archery on and off for years
Currently orange belt at kick boxxing felt a little disorientated after being punched a few times.


So essentially no injuries. I think I was the cause not the recipient of injuries.

A fracture is a broken bone. Sorry, i've been a first aider since I was 11 and that one still gets me how people don't know there is no difference between the two.
Here's proof:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-fractures/basics/art-20056641
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/bones-and-muscles/broken-bones-and-fractures.aspx

Yeah yeah mr know it all

I have always distinguished between fractures and breaks. And so does everyone I know as far as I am aware.

A break being more serious, like a broken arm that requires a caste compared to a less serious fracture that you just take it easy for a bit.

Like a hairline or partial fracture.

yesimpson

Age 25
Female
Swimming/running/kettlebells & dumbbell routines since I was 17/18.

No serious injuries ever (touch wood). I had a tight hip flexor issue which to be fair was jointly caused by lots of running juxtaposed with a fairly sedentary job with a long car commute. PT, stretching and foam rolling sorted that. I also have a niggling knee issue from a ligament sprain when I was 17, which exercise can either exacerbate or help, depending on how sensible and proactive I am.

I think I have escaped any long term or acute issues for a number of reasons:

1) I am vigilant about learning proper form, building up slowly, and taking rest days. My dad is very athletic so he is a font of wisdom on this front.
2) I am able, both financially and logistically, to visit a good PT when any little niggles arise which prevents them from being longer term problems.
3) I have youth and good fortune on my side.
4) I don't play technically tricky or full contact sports.

Sweet_Heresy

25
Female
Martial arts since I was like, 10. Ran a little track in high school. Currently train BJJ, muay thai, and lift.

Most of my acute injuries came from BJJ though--hyperextended my elbow cause I wouldn't tap to an armbar in a tournament, even though I knew I was caught. Couldn't bend my arm for a week.

Broke my nose in a fight.

Jammed my toe so hard in class that I fractured a bone in my foot. Kept training like a dumbass and didn't see a doctor til a week n a half later.

Nagging left wrist injury. Got it caught in my partner's gi, got swept and landed on it weird. A year later it's still kind of weak at times and cracks/pops when I twist it. Doctor says its "not broken."

NoIdea101NoIdea

27 years old. Not many, have done my back in from horse riding when I was a teen.

I am currently recovering from a fractured arm I managed to acquire snowboarding....the sling is off and to all intensive purposes it is healed, but it still aches if I lift too heavy. Pretty much my one and only sports injury (and I'm quite proud of it)

47Jacqueline

Age: Old enough not to post it
Gender: F

Injuries
# of Acute injuries: 3, 2 broken bones and a torn rotator cuff
# of Chronic injuries: 0
Related conditions: None

Training history
Swimming throughout childhood/teens. A variety of physical activity throughout adulthood: leading bike trips, weight training, running, Jazzercise, Zumba, Body Pump, Shred, Power Strength, Aqua fitness.

Rehab
Past successful physical therapy

Current activity
Road and commuting bicyclist, Aquatic fitness instructor, Aqua Zumba instructor, participant in numerous group fitness classes - primarily strength-oriented, dance student (ballet)

stevencloser

25, M.
Pulled something once while deadlifting.
Went over a month without going to gym and visiting doctors to check what's wrong, nothing found, pain stayed.
The doctor specialized in sport injuries said I could go to gym again. Literally after deadlifting the next time all problems were gone.

That's the only thing that ever happened to me sports related. That and breaking my thumb during soccer in school.

irsyadnh

Age: 24
Gender:M

Injuries
Broken Clavicule (Bike Accident)

Training history
Soccer(since 7 years old, now just casual play), Taekwondo (3 years during high school), off-road cycling (1.5 years), Gym Training

Rehab
Surgery and physiotherapy

Current activity
Spending 10 hr/week at gym burning excess weight to pay back 6 month without doing any hard exercise. During shoulder exercise, though it was discomfort moment, I just keep going since I need lot of work around left clavicle muscle.

softblondechick

Age: 50
Female

Competitive giant slalom as a teen, just missed the cutoff for winter Olympic games. Used to race in world cup.

1. Several knee surgeries.
2. Can barely walk now, in severe pain, right knee shot, no cartlidge.
3. Arthritis in knees.

I have had rehabilitation, shots, there is a point where there is nothing else but pain management.

I wonder how I will be doing when I am 75, if my knees are so bad now.

I stick to low impact activities, yoga, elliptical. No running or dance.

usmcmp

Mine aren't "sports" related.

Age: 30
Gender: F

Injuries
Torn MCL
Torn meniscus
Broken ankle
Broken pelvis (inferior pubic ramus)
Torn pectoralis minor

Training history
Dance from age 5 to age 18. Joined the Marine Corps and did lots of running.

Rehab
I was in physical therapy and it didn't help much. My personal trainer helped more than any physical therapist ever did.

Current activity
I lift 5-6 days per week. Sometimes I do cardio, usually sprints.

Bshmerlie

Female - age 49
Tennis and track and field in high school
Weight lifting and running in college

Majorly sprained both ankles in high school several times. They occasionally still give me trouble.

Right shoulder injury in college while weight lifting still bothers me to this day.

Broke a toe in my late twenties.

Herniated a disc in my lower back almost two months ago. Although it feels better now I'm still being careful with it.

I'm currently walking on tread mill at 3.5mph and doing strong lifts.

mburgess458

Currently dealing with plantar fasciitis. It has been about 6 months and it seems to finally be gone. No more morning pain, only a little tenderness now and then after a 6 mile run. Being diligent about using my custom orthotics and always wearing shoes (even indoors) did the trick.

ninerbuff

One main one: left hamstring.
3rd degree strain when I sprinted after a handoff and it popped. That was in 2003. I reinjured the same hamstring again playing football while trying to stop suddenly in 2012.
It'll never be the same and I'm just more cautious with it when I sprint now.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

mbaker566

tendonitis: if it has a tendon, I've over used it
sprained my shoulder slipping out of a move on silks and unexpectedly landed my bodyweight on my left shoulder. got bored with the physical therapy and it not working well.

underlying conditions
myalgia, and a bodily desire to inflame

activity: run 5-6 days a week (1+ mile)
walk every day 1+ mile
aerial yoga/hammock conditioning 3/wk

Sarasmaintaining

36 year old female and none for me, because I never played sports

tomatoey

thanks for responding, everyone. it's encouraging to see people doing their best despite obstacles. Some of you have been through some serious trials.

lborsato1

sports related....
Cracked cheekbone - hit in face with ball playing softball (ice and waited for bruises to disappear)
Torn ACL Left knee - torn playing fastball (reconstructive surgery)
Torn Calf muscle - torn while running (rested / rehabbed at home)
Torn ACL Right Knee - Torn playing fastball (reconstructive surgery)
Achilles Tendonitis - overuse injury from running (sports therapist fixed it - no issues since)
Elbow Tendonitis - overuse injury from throwing (ongoing - not fixed, but not too bad of an issue)

VyseN

Age: 27
Gender: Male

Injuries:
- While training for a half marathon, I got a mild case of runner's knee. 6 weeks without workout + physiotherapy before I could resume my training.
- Sprained my ankle on the ice during a winter hike. Close to twist-fracture, but my doctor said I was super lucky.
- Started lifting weights without knowing anything about correct methods. Ended up with a shoulder injury, and if I lift anything in a certain way now, I pinch a nerve and then there's nothing to do but wait the seconds before I pass out. Not much to do about it other than staying away from bad lifting.

Lexicpt

Just a sprained knee and sprained ankle from playing volleyball in high school.

htimpaired

Age: 35
Gender: female

Injuries: sciatica from glute muscle tightening on the nerve-PT helped.
Achilles tendonitis-PT again.
Runners knee-PT AGAIN
Presently dealing with calves that are permanently tight/constricted for the majority of the past month. Going to PT, taking muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories, epsom salt baths, heat, ice, compression, you name it. I am waiting for my doctors office to call me back as I type this, because I can't tolerate the lack of results I'm getting from all the interventions I'm trying.

Activites-swimming in middle/high school, consistent 5-6 days at the gym since age 18 doing weights, step, spinning, kickboxing, and most recently kettlebells and running.

Let me just state that I have no tolerance for the low-impact activities that I am stuck doing while my mystery calf ailments wrecks havock.

headwind2015

Age: 30
Gender: Male

Injuries:
Popped two tendons from the bones on my left hand rock climbing (overuse). Rehabbing this injury took the better part of two years to get back to full strength. Initially, I couldn't do anything with my left hand. Even things as mundane as opening the fridge was painful.

Partial tear in my left shoulder. I've done PT for this injury but it has never gotten back to 100%

Current activities: rock climbing, tennis, running, cycling and swimming.

Athijade

Age: 33
Gender: Female

Injuries:
Severely dislocated my left knee while playing soccer after getting slide tackled into the inside of my knee.
Broke both bones in my left wrist in gymnastics when I fell from the high bar.

Treatments:
None except for some very basic and short PT for my wrist after the cast came off. If I had been any older, I would have needed pins and screws in my wrist.

Current issues:
I continue to have on and off knee pain and it may have also messed up my hip and back (according to my current PT). My knee snaps and pops all the time. Sometimes it will pop backwards in the joint which is the most painful thing I have experienced.

My wrist also likes to lock up, though that has gotten pretty rare. It does it most often after something like pushups.

Current activity:
Biking, hiking, pilates, and yoga mostly. Plus whatever my current PT has me doing. Low impact is a high priority though.

shadowfax_c11

Age 45

Age 16-Right hip impact injury fro falling from a horse- was not addressed until was 40.
Age 18-Right ankle-Severe sprain when my horse threw me and stepped on it. Still swells and flares up from time to time.
Age 19 Right should temporarily dislocated when a horse threw me and I held onto the reins. Put it back in myself.
Age 19 TMJ loosened when a young horse threw his head and hit me in the face with the top of his head, putting my upper teeth through my lower lip.Jaw still pops now and then.
Age 20 Thrown by a young stallion, landed on both knees on a hard surface. Resulting joint degeneration and arthritis. Also had a mild concussion.
Age 24 Right shoulder torn rotator cuff. Took a year to heal. Shoulder has since dislocated a number of times and requires regular chiropractic adjustment.
Age 27 thrown by a horse. Severe lower back injury when I landed on a horse trailer hitch.
Age 28 Thrown by the same horse, muscle tear in the left thigh muscle and mild concussion. I still don't remember the incident and have developed some short term memory problems. Leg took a couple of years to get to full strength.
Age 30 lower back strain when I was dumb enough to carry A 100 pound sack of feed under a fence rail.
Age 35 kicked in the back by a horse causing further spine and hip misalignment
Age 40 Torn medial meniscus during a martial arts class
Age 43 Broken right pinky toe during a martial arts seminar
Age 44 Right knee meniscus sprain while doing a hanmi handachi technique that I should know better than to do. This put a definite end to my doing any more knee work in aikido.

I also regularly get my feet stepped on by horses, sometimes get kicked sat on leaned on and otherwise mauled by them requiring regular services of a chiropractor and massage therapist in order to keep my joints lined up properly and out of pain.


Some of this stuff has slowed me down some over the years. I have chronic pain in my knees, hips and right shoulder. This coming Saturday I will take my black belt in aikido. I also still ride and work with horses and have a job that requires a lot of physical effort.