About the injury itself:

Recovery timeline:

• August 26th - date of the incident. Also, date of surgery. I came out of surgery with 9 screws and a plate.
  
  About the incident: After I hit the ground, I felt almost immediately that my ankle was badly injured. It wasn't a severe pain, it was dull ache and a sense of concussion I guess. I looked at my foot and saw it was pointing in the wrong direction. Instead of straight ahead, it was pointing 15-20 degrees to the left, while my leg was pointed straight ahead.
  
  The tandem instructor asked if I could stand up. I said I could not. One skydiver identified himself as a paramedic. He elevated my ankle and took off my shoe and sock. At that point, I could see that the ankle was deformed. On a scale of 0 to 10, zero being no pain, 10 being the worst pain of one's life, I was experiencing about 5. It stabilized at a 5/6 during the entire time prior to surgery. I didn't get any drugs till the surgery.
  
  About the surgery: I was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The ER surgeons called for the orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon discussed the injury and details about the surgery. Specifically, anesthesia. I wanted general. He said a general anesthetic would have more side effects and was riskier than an epidural. So I went with the epidural.
  
  But first, the ankle had to be relocated. For this, the doctor first took a small needle and injected a spot at the front of my ankle with lidocaine. Several minutes later, he came back with a big needle, like 2 inches long. He pushed that deep into the joint area and emptied the big syringe full of lidocaine. It didn't particularly sting as the area had already been partially anesthetized. He left to do paper work. This allowed the lidocaine to fully permeate and numb the joint.
  
  Several minutes later, he came back and relocated the joint. A sense of pressure, some pain, and I felt it pop back in. It took maybe ten seconds, from grasping the foot, to rotating it in the joint to verify it was completely in. It felt a bit better after the joint was relocated. It was not particularly painful. Much less unpleasant than I'd anticipated.
  
  Everyone from the paramedics to the doctors to the nurses were interested in pain management. They asked me several times, "On a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no pain, 10 being the worst pain of your life, what are you feeling now?" The pain from the injury stabilized around 5-6. During the relocation, it went up to a seven for a moment.
  
  Surgery was no problem for me. Happy drugs plus an epidural and I absolutely did not feel a thing below my waist. The worst pain was when the epidural wore off, and they had not hooked up the morphine pump yet. It got up to a 7-8 at that point. I let a nurse know I was uncomfortable. They quickly hooked up the pump. Then I started pressing the morphine delivery button and soon brought the pain level down again.
  
  I spent the night in the hospital. I checked out around 2-3 PM the next day. All told about 28 hours in the hospital. I had a single room, telephone and a TV. Not too shabby. The drive back to Maryland was okay.
  
  
• August 29th - Incident plus 3 days - first visit with post-op orthopedic surgeon. Nothing fancy, just a quick face to face. I gave the doctor what information I had about my situation. X-rays were taken.
  
  
• September 7th - Incident plus 12 days - The splint is taken off. The splint was semi-solid. There was a lot of batting and ace-type bandages that kept the ankle stable. The staples holding the incisions together were removed at this point as well. A hard cast was put on. A blue fiberglass-type cast.
  
  
• October 5th - Incident plus 40 days / 1 month 9 days / approx 6 weeks - More X-rays taken. The large breaks had fused. But the small pieces had not yet fused. The cast is left on.
  
  
• October 19th - Incident plus 54 days / 1 month 23 days / approx 8 weeks - Another round of X-rays. The cast is removed, and I am fitted with a Bledsoe Brace. I am still not allowed to put any weight on the ankle. There seems to be one small area with a 2 mm gap that remains to be bridged. It's taking its time.
  
  
• October 22nd - Incident plus 59 days / 1 month 28 days / approx 8 weeks - An image of my ankle 5 days out of the cast (somewhat graphic). Note the atrophy of the right calf. The white stuff is talcum powder.
  
  
• October 25th - Incident plus 60 days / 1 month 29 days / approx 9 weeks - I start physical therapy. This consists of stretching exercises and foot massaging and manipulation to remove some of the swelling/edema. I start going to physical therapy twice a week. I still cannot put any weight on the ankle.
  
  
• November 9th - Incident plus 75 days / 2 months 14 days / approx 11 weeks - The bones in the ankle have all healed. There was just a hint of a superficial gap remaining, but it wouldn't prevent my putting load on the ankle. The incisions are making progress. They're generally closed, but there is some exudate still coming out of them. I keep bandaids on them. There are 3 incisions - two 4" to 6" long incisions, one on both sides of the ankle; and a 2 inch incision on the front of the ankle. As I noted before I'm cleared to loadbear.
  
  That evening, I could immediately stand with no problems. I could use both crutches to walk, as long as I didn't put more than half my body weight on the ankle. But I could not walk. I could not put my full weight on the ankle. That brought very sharp pain. Being able to stand was real nice. For example, brushing my teeth is much easier without having to balance on one foot.
  
  
• November 16th - Incident plus 82 days / 2 months 21 days / approx 12 weeks - A whole week had passed with virtually no change in the ankle. But today, I discovered I could take a few steps without crutches. The next day, I walked 150 yards without crutches, 150 yards with both crutches, and 300 yards with one crutch. The next day, I couldn't take 5 steps. I clearly overdid it.
  
  
• November 22nd - Incident plus 88 days / 2 months 27 days / approx 13 weeks - More incremental progress. I can balance on my foot for about 2 seconds. A very big improvement. Walking is spotty however. Most people can walk indefinitely. I can walk perhaps 100-150 yards. After that, the ankle is too painful to continue walking. I need about 24 hours rest to recharge the ankle. Additionally, by this time, all the scabs have come off the incisions. The incisions are long red scars. I had been putting bandaids coated with Neosporin on the incisions. A rash had started to develop. A few days after removing all dressings from the incisions, the rash begins to subside.
  
  
• November 23rd - Incident plus 89 days / 2 months 28 days / approx 13 weeks - Thanksgiving. I do a lot of walking, single crutch walking, standing, stair climbing. The wine anesthetizes the ankle, and I overdo it. The next day, I can't take a step. So I rest the ankle.
  
  
• November 27th - Incident plus 93 days / 3 months 1 day / approx 13 weeks - I drive for the first time. The next day, I pick up my car from storage. Then on Wednesday I drive to work and PT for the first time.
  
  
• December 1st - Incident plus 97 days / 3 months 5 days / approx 14 weeks - An image of the left and right ankles next to each other. I'm still in the Bledsoe brace, so the calf isn't getting much of a workout yet. You can see the scar at the front of the ankle in that picture. Here is a picture of the the left scar (somewhat graphic). Here is a picture of the the right scar (again, somewhat graphic).
  
  
• December 3rd - Incident plus 99 days / 3 months 7 days / approx 14 weeks - The first virtually pain-free walking day. I was able to stand and lumber about (with the brace and without crutches) with no pain, for 99 percent of the day. The next day was a little less smooth.
  
  
• December 4th - Incident plus 100 days / 3 months 8 days / approx 14 weeks - Pain level was generally zero yesterday, today it's at a 1, on a scale of 0 to 10. Unremarkable except for being the 100 day mark.
  
  
• December 7th - Incident plus 103 days / 3 months 11 days / approx 15 weeks - The big black brace - the Bledsoe Boot - is removed. I'm cleared to be able to walk without it. I'm given a smaller white brace that fits within a shoe and prevents side-to-side motion of the ankle. Walking without the Bledsoe boot is slow and painful. Walking with the Bledsoe brace and a left crutch, I can move essentially pain-free for hundreds and hundreds of yards.
  
  
• December 11th - Incident plus 107 days / 3 months 15 days / approx 16 weeks - I start back to work full time. Walking is still slow and somewhat painful. But it is becoming smoother. I'm watching my gait. I've only been really walking for four days. I've only been walking any significant distance without the brace for only four days. The foot, ankle, calf and leg will require some time to beef up again. If I walk slowly, there's almost no pain. At work, I don't use the crutch all day, except walking in and out to the parking lot. I see some size coming back to the calf.
  
  
• December 15th - Incident plus 111 days / 3 months 19 days / approx 16 weeks - Friday - Views of the ankle swelling after a full day at work (and a full week at work). This incidentally was the first day I didn't wear the mini-brace. The mini-brace provides some compression over the ankle. Here's a view of the left side. Here's a view of the right side.
  
  
• December 19th - Incident plus 115 days / 3 months 23 days / approx 16 weeks - Returned the wheelchair today. And today was the first day without a crutch. I may use the crutch in the future as necessary. But today was a milestone.
  
  
• December 20th - Incident plus 116 days / 3 months 24 days / approx 16 weeks - Used the crutch again today. It's good for walking long distances and for getting around quickly. At work and home I don't use it.
  
  
• January 2nd, 2007 - Incident plus 129 days - 4 months 7 days / approx 18 weeks - The first day that the swelling in the ankle didn't happen after spending a whole day on my feet. Ankle right side is nearly unswollen, left side is a lot less swollen.
  
  
• January 5th - Incident plus 132 days - 4 months, 10 days / approx 19 weeks - Haven't used crutches or a brace for about a week. Walking with a slight limp in dress shoes. Can walk virtually normally in running shoes. Gait is not normal yet. I'd say ankle functionality is about 70%. So the answer to "When will I consistently be able to walk without crutches or braces" is "about 19 weeks".
  
  
• January 18th - Incident plus 145 days - 4 months, 23 days / approx 21 weeks - Doctor's appointment. Doctor says the bones are fully healed and that I don't need to continue seeing him. A milestone.
  
  The week prior - the 18th is a Thursday - starting with Monday - the ankle had been acting up and I'd been limping more than usual. It was worst on January 18. The next day, January 19th, Friday, the ankle suddenly improves by several degrees to the best it's been since the incident. And my stride improves significantly. If I concentrate I can walk just about without a limp in dress shoes. In running shoes, I can walk just about normally and ache free.
  
  
• February 15th - Incident plus 173 days - 5 months, 20 days / approx 25 weeks - Last day of twice a week physical therapy. The next week I transition to once a week. I plan to do once a week for like a month. Then transition to once every 2 weeks. Then once a month till the year is up. I'd like to keep some trained eye on the joint and tell me if there is some gait problem or some such. Walking continues to improve gradually. Swelling continues to go down gradually. In fact, the veins are prominent on my foot now, like before the incident. Still can't run. The back of the ankle is still a bit swollen and sore. It's hard to extend my foot out straight.
  
  
• February 24th - Incident plus 182 days - 5 months, 29 days / approx 26 weeks - Six month anniversary of the incident. Swelling primarily is apparent at the back of the ankle. It's not a lot, but it doesn't look like the other side from the back. Virtually no swelling anywhere else - front or side. A little bit of swelling is apparent on the front of the ankle. I'd say the ankle is about 80% functionality. Doctor thinks I should be able to get back to 90% functionality. He thinks I should be able to run. We'll see. If no running, I'll have to look into other aerobic exercises.
  
  An indicator of progress: I walked out of the front door one morning and realized my ankle wasn't aching, but rather my left knee was. Something weird doing on with my left knee. Likely some muscular imbalance thing. If I push my knee to the left when I'm extending my leg, it doesn't hurt at all. If I don't, I can't extend my leg fully due to knee pain.
  
  I recently bought some New Balance 621's (shoes). Fabulous. Had to try on two pairs before I found one that worked though. I can walk totally normally in these things. Knee pain is less too.
  
  
• March 22nd - Incident plus 208 days - 6 months, 24 days - approx 30 weeks - I'm discharged from physical therapy. Another milestone. The ankle is doing well. Still kinda stiff. Still can't run on it. But gradual improvement continues. It's gotten a lot of flexibility back. I'd say it's around 80-85%. I can go down stairs better. The achilles tendon is becoming more visible. The swelling around it is dropping. There isn't much swelling nowadays. If I drink alcohol, the ankle does swell up. I guess from the vasodilation effect, which prevents the foot from pumping out as effectively. Otherwise, minimal swelling at the end of the day.
  
  
• April 8th - Incident plus 225 days - 7 months 13 days - approx 32 weeks - I walk 3.5 miles, which takes about an hour and 4 minutes. That's an 18 minute mile. I do this on the track. The walk was uneventful. The next day however, my ankle is really complaining. It feels like it felt shortly after I got out of the small ankle brace. It takes 10 days to return to normal. I need to slightly overload it. Obviously, 3.5 miles is a bit much yet.
  
  
• April 25th - Incident plus 242 days - 7 months 30 days - approx 35 weeks - I decide to walk in the mall. 1.5 miles. I do this two days in a row. Front of the ankle gets a bit sore. Feels like a muscle pain more than a bone issue. I get a cold the next week. I look forward to doing this 2-3 times a week as soon as I get rid of the cold.
  
  
• May 19th - Incident plus 266 days - 8 months 23 days - 38 weeks - I start doing calf raises with both legs together, instead of doing each leg separately. The right leg has strengthened up enough to keep up with the left leg.
  
  
• June 16th - Incident plus 294 days - 9 months, 21 days - approx 42 weeks - I discover the elliptical machine. It's a lot like running. I can't distance run yet - I did run about a hundred yards through a rain storm recently, but it's not comfortable yet. But the elliptical machine - most excellent. It gets my heart rate up, feels a lot like running, but no knee or ankle issues.
  
  
• June 30th - Incident plus 308 days - 10 months, 4 days - 44 weeks - My calf raise weight once again equals my leg press weight. There's some minor pain in the ankle on full extension, but it's no big deal. A milestone IMHO.
  
  Swelling in the ankle is absolutely minimal. The only time there's any appreciable swelling is if I've been drinking a lot. The right ankle is bigger than the left one, the interior part especially. That's more bone. I can't feel the screws on the interior part. They are quite prominent on the outside of the ankle. No pain though. More interesting than anything else.
  
  
• August 19th - Incident plus 358 days - 11 months, 24 days - approx 51 weeks - I run for the first time since the incident. I go 3/4's of a mile. Uneventful. I stop out of an abundance of caution. Gait is good, virtually no blowback from the ankle or knees during the run or during the week.
  
  
• August 26th, 2007 - Incident plus 365 days - 1 year - 52 weeks - I choose the mark the 1 year anniversary with a 1 mile run. I manage to do the run, but it was difficult. I wear two neoprene braces, one on each knee. Left knee is fine. But the right knee gets hammered. When I first started the run, my right shin, ankle, and knee all were aching. My gait was bad. I was favoring the right leg. I perservered, and got the run in. But all the next week, my right knee is aching. Interestingly though, the ankle has absolutely no problems during that time. The kneecap and outside of the knee are quite sore. I'm guessing it will be two-three weeks before the knee can be stressed again. I guess I'm going to look into the elliptical machine again. But, a one mile run was a good way to mark the one year anniversary.
  
  
• November 25, 2007 - Incident plus 456 days / 1 year, 2 months, 30 days / 65 weeks: Thanksgiving was uneventful. The ankle in the past few weeks has been somewhat chatty. Occasionally a bit sore, popping more. No big deal, but something that caught my attention. Last year at this time I was just starting to be able to walk without a crutch, but in my Bledsoe boot. Today, my gait is perfectly normal. I would like to get into running again, but my knees get quite sore entirely too easily. Calf size looks to be identical now. I've been going to the gym and doing calf raises with some regularity.
  
  
• January 25, 2008 - Incident plus 517 days / 1 year, 4 months, 30 days/ 74 weeks: I attend the DC Auto Show. Auto shows are one of my favorite yearly events. Last year at this time, I was still just getting used to walking without assistive devices and had to miss the show. This year, I was able to use the metro, walk, do stairs with absolutely no problem. The ankle and knees have improved by a few degrees in the past several weeks. I'd say the ankle is at 93-95%. I'm delighted.
  
  
• July 4, 2008 - Incident plus 678 days / 1 year, 10 months, 8 days / 97 weeks - Ankle's range of motion is about 85% of the other ankle, but it's functionlity is about 95%. I don't have to think about coddling it at all. I can step off curbs right on it, I can run down stairs with no problems. I do need to wear different shoes during the week to avoid any soreness. I vary between business casual shoes and Nike 621's. Over the past 6 months, there have been episodes of chattiness. There was even one episode about 2-3 months ago where I actually limped intermittently for a few hours one day, and for a few minutes another day due to ankle discomfort. But it hasn't happened since. I'd attribute this to "remodeling", as the excess bone is slowly removed and the bone is reshaped by the body to its final form. I'm trying to find some link between weather changes and the ankle, but I have not been able to establish a definitive predictive relationship.
  
  I've been going to the gym and doing the "Crossramp Trainer", kind of a hybrid elliptical device, for the past 6 months. It's definitely strengthened my thighs and calves and improved my aerobic conditioning. The crossramp is the machine that most closely simulates the running aerobic load, yet has minimal knee impact. I am interested in running again, but my knees are a weak point. My knees are doing better, especially over the past few months, but I need to take off some weight before running again.
  
  
• August 26, 2008: 2 years. The ankle is doing pretty well. I don't think about it when I'm walking at all. I can step off stairs right onto it. I was walking normally when I still could not run down those concrete stairs with the really long step surfaces that are popular in some outdoor areas with gentle inclines. Now, I can. The range of motion is still limited. I can pull both my feet back and equal distance, but I can't point my right foot 180 degrees straight, like I can my left foot. The right foot can extend to about a 140 to 150 degrees. No big deal. Also, right ankle remains bigger than left ankle. I do get occasional chatter out of the ankle, I assume it's 'remodeling'. My knees did take a pounding too, which is a significant reason why I haven't gotten back into running. I look forward to getting back to some running in the future.
  
  
• November 27, 2008: 3 years, 3 months, 1 day: The ankle is doing pretty well. I don't think about it when walking. Mostly. When stepping off curbs and such, I can now step onto it with little problem, but due to its lack of range of motion, similar to the range of the other one, I do think about that. Only earlier this year was I able to go down stairs normally. That was a significant improvement. If anything, I feel more pain out of my other ankle. Also, the knee above the injured ankle is currently in tough shape. That knee seems more easily damaged from kneeling. I've gotten new shoes which historically helped the knee, but this time, nothing. Also, coinciding with my new shoes were finding a new position for leg presses in the gym. But coinciding with the above are more intense knee pain. The knee was causing problems for some weeks previously. Range of motion for the ankle is nearly that of the other ankle. The other ankle can point straight - 180 degrees. The damaged ankle can now point about 160 degrees.
• More to come....