Latest posts for the topic "Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops..."

Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 09:41:09 GMT

Hi,

I'm in Andorra for the week, and yesterday had a particularly nasty crash in which I accidentally went off a 3/4m cliff at quite some speed, landing on the flat piste below. My left ski hit the ground first and twisted my leg before unbinding.

I initially thought I had broken my leg (not unlikely given the circumstances), but after a minute I was able to stand on it without too much discomfort. We skiid to the bottom and went back up the lift. I felt too shaky and weak to ski much, so I made it cautiously down to the bottom, where I sat in a cafe waiting for my skiing partner.

I haven't seen a doctor as EHIC doesn't work in Andorra, and I also doubt my HSBC insurance will cover me for a skiing injury.

My question is this- assuming I have torn my ACL, will I be okay to wait for 1 week before getting back home and having it looked at there?

I am in mild discomfort and moving is very difficult.

p.s. the snow here is terrible.

Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 09:52:20 GMT

clong wrote:EHIC doesn't work in Andorra

I hadn't realised that - worth noting!

clong wrote:I also doubt my HSBC insurance will cover me for a skiing injury.

Well the first thing you should do is check that...

clong wrote:I am in mild discomfort and moving is very difficult.

...and the second thing you should do is see a doctor, even if it eats into your beer money... 8)

Seriously, do get it looked at by a professional - hopefully (fingers crossed for you) it's just a strain but if you have damaged yourself then you need to know.

Look after yourself; you'll have plenty more ski trips.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:16:13 GMT

My bank covers me for holidays but i always take out ski insurance....just incase!

I do hope your leg is going to be ok, but like admin said look after yourself there are lots more holidays :)

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:31:24 GMT

According to the HSBC web site you should be covered for skiing ...I know my RBS annual one does and if you have affected the acl the best bet is to get a decent knee support ...it worked for me

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:33:15 GMT

Thanks for the replies people.

Where would I get a knee support? What kind of shops sell these?

There's a really nice spa place just up the road, I might go and soak in the jacuzzi for a while...

I tried to go to the doctors but they're not in this town till tomorrow afternoon and my skiing buddy has the car today.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:35:39 GMT

A Google search says that some HSBC accounts include 21 days of winter sports insurance. I'd give them a ring before you visit the hospital.

My other half was treated in Andorra's main hospital. They won't touch you without payment upfront or confirmation of insurance.

The medical staff were wonderful. All other staff were a nightmare. Rude and unhelpful. Stand your ground with them.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:37:51 GMT

I hope your leg is ok... but what on earth are you doing ski-ing without having checked first if you had proper insurance?

It would cost many thousands (perhaps into six figures) if you'd needed to be airlifted off the mountain.

Your partner needs to check whether they're covered too - especially if the snow cover is bad, making accidents more likely.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:40:36 GMT

I wholeheartedly agree with Skifun.

Ski insurance is not an option; it's essential.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:57:09 GMT

Yes it looks like HSBC covers me for 21 days of skiing in a 12 month period.

Sweet- just rang the bank and they are fine to cover me with GBP50 excess. The doctor isn't here till tomorrow afternoon though unfortunately :(

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 16:45:56 GMT

My husband did this in Megeve, March last year. Got a support from chemist, went to dinner that night and saw the doctor next morning. It had really ballooned up by morning and doc took xray and examined and said that it looked like ACL but would need MRI scan when we went home(luckily was last day of holiday), as too swollen to tell. Had blood thinning injections for flight and pills to get swelling down. Cost was couple of hundred claimed back on insurance. NHS can be a wait for MRI as well.
Flew with easyjet, when checking in, say you want front seat to keep leg out, but do not say you are immobile as they can't put slow moving passengers at front in case of blocking the way in emergencys. They were really good.
My hubby's ligament was completely severed, so had op last year.
This was his own choice, if you build up the muscle well it will support the knee and op is not essential, however if you have a lifestyle that is not couch potato and want to be active it should really be done, as it will be weak.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 16:55:14 GMT

Hubby has just come in, he says it must be ice, not heat, do nothing until seeing a doctor and keep it elevated. If you have got away with a tear,it means there is a good chance of healing, any movement could increase chance of complete severing, (hubby carried on skiing after he did it!).

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:03:34 GMT

Glad to hear you're covered.

If you do need surgery and it's possible to have it done in Andorra, it might be best to have the op there where they're used to carrying it out.

I have 2 friends who had the same injury in separate accidents (not on the same holiday or country). One of them was operated on, under insurance, in Switzerland, immediately. She recovered quickly and was back to normal soon.

The other one had immediate treatment in France but came back to the UK and waited more than six months for the NHS to treat her. This was some time ago, before the cuts to the NHS really started biting. She couldn't drive during that time and had minimal physio on the NHS - she hasn't ski-ed since (but I think that was more through fear than need).

If you have private medical cover in the UK though, then you'd be able to get quicker treatment here though.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:07:36 GMT

Thanks for the advice, it's good to hear from people who have experienced this. I managed to get some ice from the hotel staff and have been keeping it elevated.

The swelling really isn't that bad, just the pain down the right side of the left knee that is bad when moving.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:12:45 GMT

I have friends instructing out there for the season. They have just arrived and are golfing on the pistes at the moment.

Where were you ski-ing? I'm sure they'd be interested in swapping the golf clubs for skis.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:15:11 GMT

first aid rest Ice compression either knee brace or conforming bandage and elevation ideally above heart. Best place to be sitting in a bar with your leg resting on a stool.rubbish way to finish your hol but plenty more holidays and you only have one body :thumbup: . See doc as soon as you can

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 17:19:24 GMT

We skied at Arcalis- the only resort which had any runs open. Even then it was only two reds, two blues.

As I write this my leg is up on a bar stool! I think "above heart" is practically impossible when not lying down!?

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 21:45:32 GMT

Hi Clong, sorry to hear you have hurt yourself :cry:

OK, first off I am not a doctor, nor medically trained, so take this however you wish, I will not be offended :lol:

Last season whilst skiing in Wengen, one of our party managed to tear his ACL. He did see a doctor, who bandaged him up tightly after giving him some ice treatment, gave him some crutches and sent him back to the Hotel with the instructions to keep it raised and to be as still as he could. Basically he was told to spend the rest of the holiday reading and not walking (read that as hobbling) around. He was simply instructed to see someone when he got home for further treatment. They did make some arrangements for the flight (in terms of where he was to be seated), but nothing special.

From the above example, I would suggest that as long as you are sensible, it should not be too much of an issue for you to hold on till you get home. But do consider your return trip. If you are flying, will you be able to sit in a standard seat? Not sure if the airline will allow someone who has impaired movement to sit by the emergency exit, so you may need to arrange somewhere else on the plane with leg room.

As I say, I am not an expert, so someone may come along with different and better advice.

In the meantime, I hope it does not hurt too badly, and I hope it does not turn out to be too serious.

All the best. FQ.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:56:10 GMT

Argh this siesta thing is a joke, docs isn't open for ages!

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 14:22:22 GMT

clong wrote:Thanks for the replies people.

Where would I get a knee support? What kind of shops sell these?

There's a really nice spa place just up the road, I might go and soak in the jacuzzi for a while...

I tried to go to the doctors but they're not in this town till tomorrow afternoon and my skiing buddy has the car today.

Most ski shops will sell Knee supports

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 16:47:16 GMT

Okay, so I visited the docs who had a look and told me the ACL was okay (if a little stretched) but it was the Medial Collateral Ligament, He stuck on some colourful strips, gave me a prescription for anti-inflamatory pills, and sent me on my way. Had to shell out 104 EUR for the priveledge, but probably worth it!

I've emailed insurance to see if they'll get me a knee support too.

The doctor seemed to be of the opinion that it'd be repaired in a matter of days, and when I asked whether I'd be okay to ski in January he just laughed it off and said of course.

I'm still slightly hesitant to assume he's right, I guess I'll give it another week or so before deciding whether to cancel my January trip to Tignes.

Thanks so much for all the messages, it was nice support when I was pretty bummed out!

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:26:10 GMT

:D Glad to hear it does not sound too serious Clong.

Best send your letter off to Santa with the new skis at the top of the list.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:28:17 GMT

clong wrote:The doctor seemed to be of the opinion that it'd be repaired in a matter of days

Excellent news.

My wife tore her MCL (on a poxy dry slope...) but with decent physio was skiing 6 weeks later. See how you go and if you're still in pain in a week then see your GP and/or a physio - sounds like you're OK though.

Result. :thumbup:

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 17:33:36 GMT

Glad to hear it is not acl. As you had not ballooned up or been in agony, it was looking hopeful.

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 19:15:36 GMT

Far Queue- I already have the new skis, bindings and boots! This was the "tester week"!

Hopefully I actually get to use them. We'll see how it heals up!

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 20:16:37 GMT

I hope it is not your ACL but if it is there does not seem to be great urgency in getting it repaired. My wife tore hers in Selva (Italy) in Feb this year and eventually had the operation to repair it in April. We are booked for Andorra on 19 Dec but are devastated about the lack of snow. The web says 'closed for snowsports'. What were you skiing on?!!. Are they managing to make any significant amount of snow?
Seamus

Re:Injury advice when in Andorra! Oops...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:19:48 GMT

Grandvalira can be a treacherous bitch, even when there's enough nice powder. The Pas sector is on a specially windy terrain, which makes unexpected ice something you can't actually always look out for, and I've had a couple of scares on what initially seemed to be snow mounds that actually turned out to be big, smooth piles of ice after the wind had blown all the powder on top, leaving a deceively round, white surface. Miss the warning sticks -which will not always be in place- and you can end up with a fractured collarbone such as myself. So even in ideal snow conditions and wearing the appropriate protection it's always worth to go the extra mile and take the medical insurance.

Now, in case you actually injure yourself my recommendation would be to go to the next lift and ask for a transport, or go either to Pas, Grau or Soldeu's base medical facilities. People around there usually are helpful and pretty competent, and will stitch you up pretty nicely. HOWEVER:

Public transportation in Andorra tends to be quite shitty, and you should take that into account when recurring to medical facilities. If your injury isn't really incapacitating (and a fractured collarbone is not in my opinion, since you can pretty much hold it off as much as a handful of hours and you get a proper transportation to the base station) you should really take into account that it'll get you up to 4 hours to get to a medical facility and get patched up. Plan where you are and where you want to get, and take into account that meteorological conditions and timetables are a key factor to get back home without having to resort to taxis, which are hella expensive. In a completely sepparate incident, I got a shoulder tendon bruised pretty badly, and after asking for an evacuation I ended up on Grau Roig's base station at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. By the time I was released, all the buses were out of business and I had to go back down to Andorra la Vella (that's where I live), so I asked a friend of mine to come pick me up with her car. Chance had it that the weather started getting bad to the worse, so I had to endure a couple kilometer walk to Soldeu where the road got cut off, in an increasingly bad weather and with an arm aching like a bitch.

So my main recommendation in case of an injury would be, assess your situation, plan where you want to go, get transport accordingly and THEN go get looked up. Of course that wouldn't count for an incapacitating injury such as a displaced bone, broken limb, concussion or severe fracture, something really threatening should get looked at ASAP by a professional, but always keep in mind where you need to end up your day or else you'll find yourself in the middle of bumfuck anywhere in the middle of some seriously bad weather.