[Blog] How a Kitesurfing Accident Changed My Life

[Fabian]

Timeline

• 191 - 197 Days after the accident
• 089 - 095 Days after the surgery
• 006 - 010 Days of EOP

Overall situation

• The entire week was accompanied by pain. I experienced pain in the bones, muscles, and joints. The immobilization of the leg for several months resulted in all the joints, tendons, and muscles becoming shortened, calcified, or weakened.
• The intensive work on the entire leg/foot structure has also led to increased swelling.
• Even though the pain level ranged from 0 to 6 out of 10, I managed it with painkillers. Due to the onset of CRPS, resting the leg is no longer an option.
• The pain level was 0-5 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• Throughout the entire week of extended outpatient physiotherapy, I underwent again a combination of manual therapy to regain mobility, massages, and various gym exercises to strengthen my left leg.
• On the sixth day of EOP, I walked for the first time after the surgery, using both feet and supported by a special harness that helped distribute my body weight.
  
  
  
  
• By the end of the week I was able to walk few steps without support
  
  
  
  Pictures
  
  
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  To improve blood flow and reduce swelling, I started using a compression sock.
  
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  For the first time since the accident, I walked more than 10,000 steps.
  
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[Fabian]

Timeline

• 198 - 204 Days after the accident
• 096 - 102 Days after the surgery
• 006 - 010 Days of EOP (Pause)

Overall situation

• I underwent several evaluation exams that week. Nuclear medicine tests were conducted to check for osteoporosis, which might be contributing to my healing issues. The neurologist evaluated the progression of my CRPS and whether it had caused nerve damage in my leg. Finally, the orthopedist reassessed my leg and reviewed the healing process.
• Long story short: Fortunately, my nerves are not damaged yet, and while I’m no longer 18, my bone density is still within the normal range. The healing process is still ongoing, and the fracture hasn’t fully healed or fused yet.
• As recommended by the doctor, I stopped using the Aircast boot and crutches following the progress in my condition.
• The pain level was 0-5 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• After two weeks of EOP I was able to walk most distances with one crutch and short distance without crutches.
• The EOP was put on hold due to the hospital’s scheduled evaluation procedures.

Pictures

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Compression socks are truly a game changer. I started wearing them 24/7, which has significantly reduced the swelling.

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[Fabian]

Timeline

• 205 - 211 Days after the accident
• 103 - 109 Days after the surgery
• 006 - 010 Days of EOP (Pause)

Overall situation

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• I didn’t know before the accident that our ankles and feet are composed of 26 bones connected by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as a network of blood vessels, nerves, skin, and soft tissue. This intricate structure makes the foot one of the most complex parts of the human body.
  In my case every single muscle, tendon, and ligament has been stiff (Take care of your feet!)

• The continuous training caused pain in nearly all ligaments. Due to five months of immobilization, the Achilles tendon became extremely tight and started to swell.
  
  
• I haven’t mentioned this before, but since my bones are healing slower than expected, I started taking the following supplements (please consult your doctor to determine which supplements are suitable for your individual case): daily 600 mg of calcium with 400 IU of Vitamin D3, daily 15 g of collagen powder mixed with orange juice, daily 200μg Vitamin K2 , daily Vitamin-C 500mg, daily Omega 3 2000mg and 20,000 IU of Vitamin D once a week.
  
  
• The pain level was 0-5 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• The EOP was put on hold due to the holidays
• I visited the gym every day to do my basic exercises, similar to those I practiced in the EOP.

Pictures / Videos

It still looks a bit robotic but I managed to walk 2 km/h with full body weight on the foot

[Fabian]

Timeline

• 212 - 218 Days after the accident
• 110 - 116 Days after the surgery
• 011 - 013 Days of EOP

Overall situation

• Healing is a strange process; one day everything feels better, and the next, it’s as if the injury is fresh again.
• I managed to walk 2.5 km without support, such as crutches or the boot, for the first time since the accident in June. It caused pain, especially in the ligaments. Since pain has been my constant companion since the accident, it’s now always a question of *where* it hurts, not *whether*. When the pain subsides in one area, it tends to appear in another.
  
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• The pain level was 0-6 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• At extended outpatient physiotherapy, I continued a combination of manual therapy to regain mobility, massages, and various gym exercises to strengthen my entire left leg.

Pictures / Videos

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[Fabian]

Timeline

• 219 - 225 Days after the accident
• 117 - 123 Days after the surgery
• 014 - 018 Days of EOP
• 001 - 003 Days of PEMF therapy

Overall situation

• Since I began exploring every possible method to aid the healing of my leg, I decided to try the Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy. This treatment uses electromagnetic fields to stimulate cellular activity, enhance blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote osteoblast activity, all of which contribute to improved bone healing. By accelerating bone repair and shortening recovery time, PEMF therapy is commonly used for conditions such as fractures, osteoporosis, and non-union injuries. It is non-invasive and generally considered safe, though ongoing research continues to further validate its efficacy.
  
  
  
  
• The PEMF treatment was carried out by an orthopaedic surgeon who is also a specialist in osteoporosis and pain management. He offered to conduct a diagnostic assessment. As part of this, four X-rays were taken: the right foot in two planes, as well as standing images of the right foot and the left foot for comparison. The results revealed a significant loss of bone density in the right foot, which, according to his assessment, is 99.9% likely caused by CRPS. This condition needs to be treated immediately with high-dose vitamin C and medications to enhance bone metabolism. In general, the treatment of the fracture and the CRPS will continue as before, with daily, continuous full weight-bearing on the foot and the EOP.
  
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• Compared to the previous week, I increased my daily steps again. Throughout the week, I aimed to walk 10,000 to 15,000 steps each day. While my walking improved significantly, it also caused some discomfort.
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• The pain level was 0-6 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• At extended outpatient physiotherapy, I continued a combination of manual therapy to regain mobility, massages, and various gym exercises to strengthen my entire left leg.

Pictures

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Left: normal bone density; Right: Bone density has probably been influenced by CRPS or is caused by inactivity

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[Fabian]

Timeline

• 226 - 232 Days after the accident
• 124 - 130 Days after the surgery
• 019 - 020 Days of EOP
• 004 - 005 Days of PEMF therapy

Overall situation

• I had my next leg check-up at the hospital this week, which revealed that the bone loss has at least been halted. In the following video, you can see the CT scan of the foot. All the black shadows and holes indicate areas where the bone has significantly lost material. It is not entirely clear whether this was caused by the lack of weight-bearing or possibly by CRPS.
  
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  However, the treatment seems to be working, which is why the program will continue. The focus remains on bearing weight as much as possible and improving the foot's mobility.
  
  
• The pain level was 0-3 out of 10.

Extended outpatient physiotherapy (EOP)

• This week, I finished my EOP, which helped me get back on my feet over the past five weeks. Even though I had many issues with my foot, I tried my best every day to improve my abilities and regain as much functionality as possible. Sometimes, it was hard to notice significant improvements, which is why I was very happy that the rehab center had a walking analysis system. This system could show even small improvements in weight-bearing, walking style, as well as stride length and foot rotation, which enabled targeted training.
  
  
  
  

Physiotherapy

• Session 19 - Different exercises to regain ankle movability.

Pictures / Videos

[Fabian]

Timeline

• 233 - 239 Days after the accident
• 131 - 137 Days after the surgery
• 019 - 020 Days of EOP (finished)
• 004 - 005 Days of PEMF therapy (finished)

Overall situation

• This week, I started taking Alendronate-70mg as recommended by my osteologist and orthopedist. Alendronate has a few serious side effects, but in my case, it is the fastest and best option to help my body increase bone mass, especially in my foot. If you are recommended to take Alendronate, be cautious and visit a dentist before starting the therapy. One of its most significant side effects is the potential to cause necrotic bone in the jaw. Therefore, all planned dental treatments should be completed before beginning the therapy.
  
  
  
  
• I continued my training at the gym to regain the strength in my right leg as quickly as possible. In total, I spent approximately 2-3 hours at the gym every day.
• The pain level was 0-2 out of 10.

Physiotherapy

• Session 20 - Warm up on the cross trainer, followed by various exercises to strengthen the foot muscles.

Pictures / Videos

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