<p>Last night, my daughter turned her ankle on the wet grass at school and is limping badly. She is in the middle of cleaning up her 1 minute prepared dance that she needs for a few schools, and is off to unifieds in less than 2 weeks. Hopefully, she will heal very quickly, but if it takes longer, what do we do? Has anybody been the situation where they couldn't move well at auditions? I have been worrying about keeping the "north" end of the body healthy and never thought that I would have to worry about the other end!</p>
<p>Two weeks is a long time to heal especially with aggressive therapy. Good luck.</p>
<p>Ice, ice, ice! Twenty minutes at a time. (I am not a doctor - don’t sue me - haha . . . just personal experience.)</p>
<p>Bummer, 4inoregon!</p>
<p>I can totally relate. First – do you have a good ortho you can get her into ASAP??? You need information about what she can, and cannot do, safely. Let me tell you d’s story from last year:</p>
<p>She was working on a piece for her spring choreography concert when she rolled her ankle with a definite “pop”. This was ONE WEEK before Unifieds in NYC and her Pace audition. Took her to our fantastic ankle doc (a retired professional dancer…LOVE that woman) who put her in a “boot” to protect the ankle fully. Ice, ibuprofen, tissues for the tears of frustration. She was cleared to dance CAREFULLY at her auditions, with a heavy lace-up brace.</p>
<p>THE DAY BEFORE we flew to NYC, she ended up getting the stomach flu from H***, but off we went w/the anti-emetics, and a request for a wheelchair for the airports. </p>
<p>At the auditions, she wore the boot and a shoe w/the same height heel on the other foot (she was bummed not to get to wear her amazing audition heels…but we found a nice emergency pair…). During the dance audition, she wore the brace, and the person teaching the class told her to do what she could safely. They can tell, from when a kid walks (or limps!) into the room, if they are a dancer or not – it’s in the way they carry themselves (my d has been “busted” just walking along the street in NY as a dancer, and invited to classes…). Also, auditors know that dancers do get hurt…is there some dance history on her resume?</p>
<p>My memories of that weekend include walking through midtown looking for food to take back to my vegetarian to feed her, but not aggravate the stomach bug, walking (slowly) with her through the Manhattan Mall (it was icy!!) as she worked to ease the stiffness from the flight/not being able to move, watching her stretch carefully in the hotel, the absolute COMA she fell into the second day after her Unified work.</p>
<p>And the result? She was accepted to Pace in Commercial Dance, she received a callback to University of Oklahoma. Those were the only 2 she did that weekend (thankfully, she had spread things out with as many on-campus auditions as possible, so this disaster didn’t fall on an audition-heavy weekend). </p>
<p>So…yes – been there. Outcome? My d looked at me after that weekend and said, “Now I know I can do ANYTHING.” (And positive audition results for her.) Get to the doc…they can really tell you what’s safe for your daughter – it’s not worth permanent damage to do an audition…but the doctor can tell you the best way for her to move safely.</p>
<p>Best healing thoughts to her!!!</p>
<p>Our ortho in Portland is Dr. Brad Butler - ortho and also sports med. Really like him. You probably have someone but since I am in Oregon thought I would pass this along. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your D in recovering well and soon! Our D had had a couple of dance injuries and illness at inopportune times and it’s so stressful. (as if not enough stress with auditions in general!)</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. Mommafrog-not too much dance on daughter’s resume. She is relying on “potential” and her enthusiastic attitude. She may have to do even more “selling” now. Will definitely head to ortho on Monday if she is not healing rapidly after rest and icing this weekend. Oregon mom-thanks for the name of your ortho. We are kaiser patients, but I would pay directly since kaiser never gets us in quickly. I’m hoping all is well in a few days and I’m stressing for nothing!</p>
<p>I would also consider going to a good orthopedic physical therapist (one that is a specialist in sports injuries). They can help with rehab, taping, modalities, exercises, general recovery considerations and graded return to activity.</p>