Broke leg in car accident, when to cycle again?

[BEEFCAKEZ]

So i broke my right leg in a car accident about 6 weeks ago, and I will be able to start walking in about 5-6 weeks. Broke my femur and damaged my tibia so they had to extract some bone from my hip.

Done one cycle before, and I have lost some size overall since the accident. I know I should be healed fully before starting anything, but what do you think? When can I start cycling again?

Right leg lost basically all muscle so far since accident.

 

[buddhabuilder]

I would suggest you let the physical therapist know you are eager to get back into lifting weights so they can move you in that direction as quickly as possible. I would then suggest that you tweak your bulking diet and do lots of exercises that force your legs to work independently (i.e. single leg presses). IMO, once you have your hurt leg back to where it matches your other leg in strength and size, it would be safe to consider a cycle again.

 

[AAP]

In exactly 214 days.

 

[stevesmi]

when you re-gain your conditioning

if you have been lifting for years you will be shocked when you stop lifting how much strength you lose by stopping cold like that.

if you can use your upper body I would still work it out, had a buddy who blew out his right knee and just worked his upper body for 6 months, then once he was healthy worked hard on his lower body and before long was back to setting PR's on his lifts.. so don't be discouraged, but it will take a lot of hard work

on the bright side you will allow your soft tissues in your neck and back to relax for a little while something that many lifters desperately need

 

[BEEFCAKEZ]

How long did your buddy use to get back to doing PR's after he got healthy?

 

[small_boy]

In exactly 214 days.

Haha

Won't gh help with the bone growth?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using EliteFitness

 

[Blaster22]

I feel you bro. I lost two cycles due to a serious knee and ankle injury. Get healed quick. I just felt once my body had recovered (and doc said I was healed) I worked hard to get myself in decent shape and then got back on a cycle. My body really responded well once I was on again.

 

[Krazie Apparel]

Ya you need like atleast 6-12 months of retraining to build your base back up before you attempt and agresdive aas

 

[BEEFCAKEZ]

About single leg presses, should i work both legs? Won't my good leg always be stronger than my broken leg? Or will my broken leg eventually catch up when my good leg is plateuing on leg exercises?

 

[stevesmi]

How long did your buddy use to get back to doing PR's after he got healthy?

muscle memory is real man.. the guy has been lifting and working out since he was like 8. so he was able to come back fast.. like 6 months after he started working out again he was back to hitting PR's.

so it just depends on how much memory you've built up over the years and your genetics etc.

bone heals, just make sure it heals up well for you. muscles heal. tendons and ligaments don't heal so nice.

 

[BEEFCAKEZ]

I have been working out for the past 4 years. And I'm 23 years old. What exactly happened when he blew out his knee? Damage to ligaments and tendons? Or bone damage?

 

[AAP]

Dude relax. You are not defending the Olympia title this year. Why the rush? Bodybuilding is a very narcisstic and selfish hobby anyway. Take the time and spend with your family. Your friends. take up a new hobby. rediscover old ones. do something new. go someplace different. the weights will be there when you return. Your body will either be recovering or rebuilding. It can't do both. So don't interfere with the recovery by rushing things. you don't want to get to be 40 and have chronic leg pain because you didn't all the break to heal properly.

 

[Mason Kray]

Dude relax. You are not defending the Olympia title this year. Why the rush? Bodybuilding is a very narcisstic and selfish hobby anyway. Take the time and spend with your family. Your friends. take up a new hobby. rediscover old ones. do something new. go someplace different. the weights will be there when you return. Your body will either be recovering or rebuilding. It can't do both. So don't interfere with the recovery by rushing things. you don't want to get to be 40 and have chronic leg pain because you didn't all the break to heal properly.

Couldn't have said it any better myself! Bang on advice here.

 

[BEEFCAKEZ]

I realize that, but lifting keeps me sane and happy. I know I won't be able to train my right leg for a while, could I work my left leg in the meantime or will that cause some serious symmetry issues?

 

[RADAR]

I agree with AAP, you have time on your side so take it easy ,when you're ready muscle memory will have you back in shape in no time.

 

[AAP]

I realize that, but lifting keeps me sane and happy. I know I won't be able to train my right leg for a while, could I work my left leg in the meantime or will that cause some serious symmetry issues?

That won't do a damn thing but stroke your ego and make you feel like you are doing something.

I mean really, your legs are separate from each other right? They are still muscles and still respond to stimulus. Correct? If you only worked your left bicep and not your right would it become asymmetrical?

Relax and enjoy your life. You will be fine later.

 

[RADAR]

Besides at one time or another your ego is going to have you picking up plates to put on the machine, guess what happens next!

 

[bigjohn83]

Don't stress to much man. I had surgery on a ligament in my knee
(not as bad as yours but i have experience) make sure you FULLY heal. I did everything the doc said was super safe did the rehab and came back an muscle memory is a great thing. Less than 6 months after coming back I couldn't even tell one leg was stronger than the other. And I was hitting PRs just like Steve said

 

[RADAR]

Don't stress to much man. I had surgery on a ligament in my knee
(not as bad as yours but i have experience) make sure you FULLY heal. I did everything the doc said was super safe did the rehab and came back an muscle memory is a great thing. Less than 6 months after coming back I couldn't even tell one leg was stronger than the other. And I was hitting PRs just like Steve said

Exactally ,forget the gym, let rest and clean food do it's job.

The only rushing you should do is when the time comes to run for the toilet!

 

[BEEFCAKEZ]

Thanks for the help guys. Buy I am not going to forget the gym, I am already training with my physical therapist. I am just wondering if I should drop working out my leg.

 

[RADAR]

Thanks for the help guys. Buy I am not going to forget the gym, I am already training with my physical therapist. I am just wondering if I should drop working out my leg.

Do everything your therapist tells you to do.