Football Ankle Injury - How do I end my injury nightmare?

[Azzzza]

I broke my left fibula, ankle, chipped my tibia and strained my ankle ligaments when playing football in mid-September 2010 after being on the receiving end of a horror tackle. After 14 weeks, I was finally out of pot and began walking again after 2 operations (one to insert plate on left fibula, one to take out the largest screw in the plate). I had physiotherapy every week at the hospital until January, when I fell ill with pneumonia, of which took me 4 weeks to recover from. In early February I started physiotherapy again and after 4 more weeks, the physiotherapist was happy for me to play competitive football again. I did not return straight away though, I took another month to train hard at the gym, build up my fitness and to concentrate on my technical footballing ability. Finally, just before the end of March, I returned to football training, but opted against playing competitive matches until the following season (this season). I attended football training twice per week for the best part of April, May and June, going uninjured in the process (not taking into consideration the odd knock). I began to put the mental element of my injury behind me and was able to be confident again when tackling, both giving and receiving, which is important for a left back.

However, since preseason began in July, I have had an injury nightmare, consisting of 9 different injuries and a chest infection. The 8 different injuries were shin splints on right leg (these occurred on 3 different occasions, with me resting for 1 week the first time, 10 days the second time and 2 weeks the third time), a severely stubbed/bruised left big toe, left hamstring strain, right ankle sprain, left ankle ligament minor strain, dead leg and a right groin strain. Every injury occurred as a result of playing football, apart from the left ankle ligament minor strain which was bizarrely sustained on the cross trainer at the gym as a result of simple pressing down on my ankle (I didn’t twist it or anything). Another annoying thing about getting these injuries is that I have put on at least a stone in weight over the last 2 months due to lack of physical activity.

With the new local season been just 3 weeks old, I face the dilemma of an injury nightmare. What really worries me is that apart from the shin splints, each injury is different. When recovering from each injury, I have waited until the pain has disappeared before returning to the gym and then playing Sunday football (I also play on a Saturday, but due to my lack of fitness levels and constant injuries I have temporarily opted to play Sunday football only). I really don’t know what to do anymore. Should I take a break from football and focus on getting my excess weight off through cardio at the gym? Should I wait until my most recent injury of a groin strain goes away and then try to play again? I’d like to have more physiotherapy, but as I am a student I do not have the funds.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

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[physiobob]

Should I take a break from football and focus on getting my excess weight off through cardio at the gym?

You've answered it in one. Not only did you suffer a good ankle injury which might put most out of football all together you need to consider that you have a year or more of general deconditioning. You are also a year older. This takes a long time to get the weight off, the diet back on track, the body used to running in football boots and on hard turf etc etc. Sounds like a lot of your issues are relates to to much to soon. Rest in itself is never a solution to groin pain, shin splints etc. The physio you work with should sit down and work out with you a training regimen to get you moving on a progressive overload pathway back to fitness. Otherwise you'll keep chasing your tail.