Injury

Hello,

I've been practicing irish dance for 7 years and I had to stop dancing for over 5 months because I have a fissure in the cartilage of the talus of the right ankle.

I first had an important oedema and I narrowly escaped the bone necrosis. My chances of returning to my classes are thin because it is not possible to repair cartilage and short-term consequences are premature osteoarthritis.

I desperate at the thought of having to give up and I would like to know if other dancers who have had the same injury were able to resume their training even moderately, without much aggravate the problem.

Thanks in advance,

Geny.

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Permalink Reply by Aisling on January 3, 2012 at 5:34pm

i have premature osteoarthritis especially in my knees... i'm stubborn and i wont' give up dancing... the ankle however, is probably a different case... i am not sure but your best bet would to talk to a really good physiotherapist who works with athletes and dancers and go from there.

best of luck

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Permalink Reply by Gentiane Gide on January 3, 2012 at 7:45pm

Thank you very much for your answer Aisling !

I have a very good physiotherapist who works with athletes and a very good sports doctor but they are both worried about me because my practice of irish dance is quite intensive. I am 38 years old now and I am stubborn too !!! Did your doctor or physio advise you to give up ?

Geny.

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Permalink Reply by Aisling on January 4, 2012 at 4:27pm

he did not advise me to give up... he gave me loads of strengthening exercises to do to help support my knees and told me to stop running on concrete and if i want to run to build stamina to use the gym or a track at school or an elliptical machine something like that. i also take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for my joints and make sure to get enough calcium and vit d for my bones. :D would do like Stacey said, listen to the drs and let them give you exercises and strength training things to help you and go slowly back to dancing :)

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Permalink Reply by Gentiane Gide on January 4, 2012 at 5:16pm

I also have chondroitin supplements for the cartilage and the doctor gave me permission to start exercises like stretching and Pilates because it is soft for joints as there is no jumps and no trebles ;) and I start next week !

I know I'll have to go slowly back to dancing, it is the best I can do. If the doctor tells me to wait a year I'll wait but thanks to you and Stacy I have a hope !

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Permalink Reply by Stacey Jayne on January 3, 2012 at 9:39pm

I had back problems all though my childhood, which kept me from starting dance young. After that thankfully worked out for the best.

Almost two years ago I fell off a ladder at work and knew something was wrong but I didn't go to a doctor until a few weeks later because I had a musical I was in the middle of. I went to a medic clinic and was told I was fine but after seeing my doctor who made me see a physiotherapist I learned I had a dislocated knee cap and major tearing in the arch of my foot. Physio was tough and it took me almost a full year to get back to normal. When I started ID I was afraid I was going to aggravate it but I haven't.

I guess bottom line is if you see a good physiotherapist who specalizes in sport and dance (s)he should be able to help, but only if you do what they say and don't cheat - meaning no dancing early.

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Permalink Reply by Gentiane Gide on January 4, 2012 at 4:31pm

Thank you so much Stacy, thanks to your experience I feel hopeful again ! The sports doctor told me to stop dancing at first for 3 months but as my ankle was still painful the doctor said I had to stop 2 other months. I see him again on the 23rd of january and I pray to hear that I can go back to training mid- february because I want to take my grades 7 and 8 in may. It is a quite short time to be ready but I still believe ! I worked on my steps out in my head until now because I know I musn't cheat if I want to dance again but I can't help being worried because my injury is only due to irish dance.

Many thanks again,

Geny.