Just broke an ankle, and the man burns in one month!

[stylophonia]

My ladyfriend broke her ankle last week and is wondering if attempting to go to the Burn is just too dumb to consider.

Specifically, she fractured the ankle and also partially sprained it. She's in a cast for about 2 more weeks, then being changed to a boot. Her doctor wants her to try walking on the boot as she feels comfortable, but walking around on playa dust seems ill-advised. She's probably not in a condition to bike around, either. At this point it seems like she has to cancel.

Have any of you done the Burn while recovering from a broken ankle? In a cast or in a boot? How did it go? If you did and survived, what could have made it better?

Thanks for any ideas!

[misfit]

crushed my foot last year pre-event on playa. 3 broken bones, the only thing holding my foot together was my shoe. my team sat me in a chair and brought me cold drinks for 2 weeks.

[tamarakay]

You would need a chariot thing like lonesomebri has so you could haul her around. Like a pedi cab.

If she was already in the boot and practiced it would be better, but it sounds pretty rough now.

[ygmir]

if your doc will write a "disabled" note (not sure the form it needs to be in), she might be able to get a DMV exemption and be able to scoot around on a golf cart or some such. I'd check with DMV about that.

[Elorrum]

The show passes by wherever you are sitting.

[Drawingablank]

I think the answer depends on her. If she really wants to be there she will deal with it. If she has doubts, then it may not be a good idea.

Last year I broke my ankle 4 hours after I arrived. For the next 12 days I had to spend most of my time in camp aside from a couple art car rides, one greeter shift, and the 1.5 block trip to the portos was absolute agony - but I sucked it up and still had a great burn.

I know two people that did their full burn with a full leg cast. It is really more about adjusting ones attitude, preparation, and expectations.

To make it better:

1. Camp near the portos.

2. Bring a way you can transport her as mentioned above.

[AntiM]

I have tendonitis in my foot, and am off my feet for an undetermined number of weeks; I switch between magic socks, an ankle brace, and a boot. I have a kneelie scooter for going short distances, and a four wheeled bike my husband pedals for adventuring (had that for years, I can't bike). Stupid foot pain may curtail my burn, but it surely will not cancel it.

But then, I once attended two days after radiation, the brachytherapy kind which leaves open wounds. Low key, but better than staying behind. I was tired, stoned from the pain killers, and napped a lot, but I burned.

If I had to piss in a bucket and lay on a cot the entire time, I would. Which I did a couple days last year, probably food poisoning from another camp.

A campmate attended with his arm in a cast. All good. Itchy though.

So it falls entirely to her. If she is not in a camp where she is comfortable, if she will feel too left out doing a low key burn, then she should not go. Even if she does, have an exit plan if it all gets to be too much. Are you willing to be her support?

[trilobyte]

FYI, the deadline for a disabled permit was the end of July - so that's no longer really an option. Check with [email protected] to see if they might be able to make an exception for a last-minute injury (if nothing else, it's worth asking).

To answer your question with a question, isn't that a question your ladyfriend should be asking? In your original post you don't mention anything to the effect of "and she's determined to go!" If she already is determined and excited and wants to try and find a way to make it work and have a great burn... she can totally do it.

That will mean she sees a whole lot less of the event than she would if she had full mobility, and in order to avoid straining the injury and possibly making things worse in the long run (badly healed ankles are less fun than they sound)... you and your campmates will probably have to do a lot of extra work. Not just the carrying stuff and setting stuff up, but experiencing the event at her pace and getting radically resourceful to come up with something like a pedicab or bike trailer chariot or something - even just bringing as much of the burn to her as they can. If you guys are determined, you can totally do it and it will be awesome.

On the flip side, if she's not feeling it or is unsure... it's completely understandable and there's no shame in canceling. Perhaps you guys could make some fun of it, have her send you postcards and you send them to her... go on photo safaris and then see if you can find the 'camp envy' webcam at the event and try and hold up a sign for her.

Good luck, and regardless of what you guys do, I hope she's feeling better soon and has a speedy recovery!

[FIGJAM]

Radio Flyer and a foam pad.

[LowePro]

Don't force her to go if she's unsure. That's a sure recipe for both of you to have a bad time. But if her and your personalities are more suitable to "roughing it" or playing thru the pain, it could be OK. You've got 3-4 weeks, which can make a big difference in an injury. Take critical care of her now, follow all the ice and phys therapy recommendations, get lots of fluids and rest, elevate, and don't smoke or drink too much. She may be feeling much better by Aug 25. You could try a short trip with an escape plan in case she's not feeling well.
When I had a broken ankle (not on playa, just in regular life) I was stuck in a stupid moon-boot, biking was actually easier than walking, but I had to practice my dismount quite a bit! Keep tabs on her and get good advice from the Doc. Bring some ice packs, splint, and pain relivers b/c the heat and extreme conditions could re-aggravate the injury and make it swell up again.

Or sell your ticket now and cut your losses. There are plenty of takers.

[Chowski]

So sorry that happened I'll buy your ticket.

[maladroit]

This would be a great excuse to pick up one of those ready to install e-bike hub motor kits, and make an e-bike or e-trike! She'll be stylin.

[Molotov]

Regarding the e-trike motor kits: They are fairly easy to install but the Lithium-Ion batteries have been back ordered, and you might not have it in hand before you leave-so it would be a wasted purchase. You might settle for a lead based battery at a cost of reduced range (but costs less, too!) Check with the dealer on battery status before ordering, and get a money back guarantee on the whole motor kit if the battery does not arrive on time.

[FIGJAM]

Cheap power chairs on CL!!!

[some seeing eye]

One year my friend had that and Big Dale at the mobility camp at the time, Hot Wheelz, lent her something like a Captain Pike motorized wheel chair for the evening that could hold 2 or 3. But there is more demand than ever for the excellent Mobility Camp services and I would not count on that being available.

But I always love to send people to an interview with him on Burncast #47 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bur ... 14532?mt=2

As you know people are hungry for tickets, so participating another year instead is an option.

Hope it heals well!

[theCryptofishist]

I don't know about "cheap", Figjam, the cheapest I saw was $150, no charger. Then the ran up to 1000...

If you go this way, things to know: chargers can be bought on ebay, my lastest one ran 80. )Google the owner's manual and make sure that you get one that wont screw up the chair itself.) You will have to get it to the burn somehow. They way a couple of hundred pounds. If you're towing something that's great. Getting it in a car? Talk to Rat Lady, she may allow only temporarily disabled to borrow a chair, I don't know.

[stylophonia]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I'll ping DMV to see what they have to say.

[Zubeneschamali]

2013, compound fracture big toe the week before the event. 2015, fractured ankle on Jun 26th. Yes, it slows me down a bit. Bike riding is going to be a bitch. But F it, if I was at home I'd just be a miserable ass hat anyways.

Pain management and the art of zen. Bring plenty of options. A medical scooter - you prop a knee on the board and push with good foot. Crutches, the boot, compression socks, ankle brace. Lots of ice. Pharmaceuticals as prescribed by a board certified doctor. Music, reading material. You can go procure pedi rides, MV tours, visits with neighbors.

How about one of those tow behinds they use for kids? They have a double one that's pretty nice sized and will carry adult weight. I think its a Burley brand. I have no affiliation with them but I did cannibalize one to make a towable bar.