Rehab/physical therapy and steriods

[DiscoZ]

Ok, so I got into a car accident and broke my ankle in two places. They operated on it and I will hopefully have the cast off in 4.5 more weeks after which I will have a boot on for awhile. While all of this is happenning, my right leg muscles will have atropohied to nothing.

When they took the splint off last week to put the cast on, my right calf was 2/3rd the size of my left one with literally no muscle tone left. Now I am noticing my right quads/hams shrinking too. Before this, I had pretty muscular legs with great definition.

So, my question: I know that some cases of physical therapy/rehab for stuff like this prescribe steriods. I want to know who this has happenned to and what they prescribed? Also, what effects/after-effects?

Thanks in advance.

[Nid]

I'm guessing they'd only prescribe 'roids for the otherwise infirm. Not healthy young males.

[KickAHippie]

I just got my cast off after a month and my calf muscle was pretty much shriveled to nothing. All they did for me was give me an air splint and told me that walking on it, if comfortable, was the best way to get it back up. My doctor told me that if I could not walk on it then to get in a pool or warm bath and move it around in there. The calf muscle is coming back fairly quickly. My biggest problem is the tendons. They get sore easily and have a hard time moving the foot. I don't know how much of this will ring true with you though considering how much more extensive your break sounds. Either way good luck with your recovery.

[DiscoZ]

Thanks for the responses... looks like they will probably not prescribe 'roids for me either. I had soem screws and a plte (I think) put into my leg.

I am tempted to juice (never done it before) but then, the tendons will probably be sore like you very easily and I will just create too much load on the leg... gah!

[TaeBo_Master]

Is your leg still immobilized? If so, there would be no point in doing steroids anyway. Steroids aren't magic muscle makers. Basically they increase the amount of testosterone in the body, which allows for faster muscle growth. But you still have to work the muscles in order to stimulate growth.

[the Dabbler]

Don't take roids, especially if you are recovering from an injury and have imbalances in strength btwn right and left.
Your tendons are probably weaker from the atrophy. The roids will make your muscles bigger and stronger but your tendons will remain the same, maybe even get stiff and brittle. You'll be likely to re-injure your ankle b/c of this.
Just do your rehab and train the weak leg really hard for a long time until it is as strong or stronger than the good leg.
work on slow negatives

[DiscoZ]

Thanks... I am not going to do 'roids in any case. I was just curious. It will be a while, but I will get that damn leg up to speed!

[the Dabbler]

good
I'm recovering from ankle surgery too. Running colapse, of all things. Mine was not as bad as yours, but they did have to cut out a good chunk of cartilage.

Im using the rehab time to do more upper body weight lifting. Doing ALOT of balance work on the bad leg. Things like standing one leg on a piece of foam or a pillow while playing catch w/ a football and/or medicine ball. Standing on one leg while tossing something heavy from hand to hand. Standing on the bad leg while doing slow kicks.
Stuff like that, it's working too.

Good Luck w/ your recovery.

[Carbon]

I doubt your muslce has that much atrophy. Don't worry about it, your body will compensate and if you just work out they will even out.

Of course work out after your ankle is healed.

[TaeBo_Master]

Of course work out after your ankle is healed.

Good advice.

Work out for the rest of your life

Better advice.