[Sea Sand Surf]

Working on an article about surf injuries.  What was your worst?
 
Not looking for the "how it happened."  Just the facts.  My worst was 32 stiitches in the thigh.  Out of water for 2 months.
 
No names will be used.  Curious though... What happened to you and how long were you sidelined?
 
Thanks for sharing.
 
www.seasandsurf.com   

[Crackie Onassis]

Stitches (one long one plus glue) to the eye after taking my longboard rail to the eye on a small day.

[Dorado]

whiplash , broken nose  , torn cartiledge in knee , not sure which one was worst

[SeaCliff]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but here's one for ya...8 stitches in my head kept me out of the water an hour and a half. I took a fin to the the head on a good day, went to the doctor, got stitched up, bought a swimmers cap on my way home from the doctor - pulled it on over the bandage and paddled right back out. 




Closer to what you're looking for, but nothing compared to the stories I'm sure you're about to hear: Badly sprained ankle taking off on a wave St. Paddy's day morning 3 years ago. When it happened I swore it was broken, the snap sound was so loud. Out of the water for several weeks, should have completely rested it for 4 months like I was told, but I foolishly kept pushing it instead of letting it heal. Other than that, I've been extraordinarily lucky - just assorted bumps, bruises, cuts and stitches...and the occasional cranky shoulder or wrist.


Now on to some real stories.....this should be good.


 

[boyeee]

bruised ego... happens quite a bit...

[Kdropin]

a couple years ago around thanksgiviing i was pretty deep in a barrel and looked up to see how deep i actually was  and caught the outer rail of my board on the face of the wave. board got sucked around and drilled me in the face. all i saw was a flash of light and then nothing. i think i was knocked out for a split second or two. was able to find my board and kinda just drifted in all groggy and what not. my friend was sitting in the truck on the beach and saw it all happen. he said i was super deep and out of sight but saw me get smoked and not come up right away almost came out after me..

[seb]

got stiched up a couple of times...pretty usual.

[Mark E]

I took a rail to the head. Lights went out for a second. Eight stitches kept me out for a week.


I don't think I can read NYCWO's bollock bursting injury again if he posts it.

[ya_bloody_wanka]

broken ankle- out of water for 3 months and on going problems with ankle/tendons
broke it again but did not realize for a week thinking it was sprained, only stayed out of the water for a couple weeks by the time i found out
5 staples in head-kept surfing with it
8 stitches in shin-kept surfing with it
concussion-stayed out of water for a week

[boyeee]

the injury I didnt even know I had:

was surfing D-Street in Encinitas, CA a few years ago on a chest to head high day... pulled into a barrel, it started to close out so i kicked through it and my board smacked me in the upper lip and underside of my nose... a little bit of a bloody nose and a slightly swollen lip i stayed in the water for another hour or so...

about a week later out of no where i wake up and that whole area is severely swollen, I go to my doctor and he tells me i had a slight staph infection and that I probably got a cut in the inside of my mouth or nose from that accident and water must have gotten in there... anyway he gave me an antibiotic and the swelling went down pretty fast.  kind of scary.  i actually called seacliff to make sure the antibiotic was what I should be taking...



frrok got a nice hatchet wound from his fin to the top of his head when the two of us were visiting san diego and surfing blacks like 5 years ago?.... it was about 3" long by about 1/8 to 3/16" deep - petty gnarly... could have used a few staples... but we wanted to keep surfing that week so we called the good doc faye and she walked me through super gluing his head back together (as we drank pacifico's of course)... he was back in the water in less than 24 hours and there is barely a scar!!

[BeeHunter]

point of a Swallow tail to the head 4 staples out for 3 weeks.

Rail to the bicep. Torn bicep. been out for two weeks. still out now 

[NJ Longboarder]

broken foot in PR.  tried to walk it off for a few days before I got it checked out.  not good.  out of the water for 6 months(ish)

[fulltilt720]

5-6 Stitches to chin during TS Danny.

[IggyP]

16 staples in the shin.  Deep gash severed a few nerves.  Numb from mid shin through the top of my foot probably for the rest of my life.  Yet, it doesn't hinder mobility.  I was ready to go in after a month and half.  A combination of a trip to Italy and lack of swell kept me out another month and a half.  Out of the water 3 months.

[surfnli]

i'm curious--how did the broken feet/ankles happen?