After injuries ...

Caroline_ie

Hi All - I got my arm cast taken off yesterday, 7 weeks and 3 days after breaking my wrist during a very icy boards spin

I had a test mini cycle yesterrday around my estate on the fixie. Apart from being very cautious and a bit scared, I think I still remember how to cycle


I was reading a few websites earlier on the ' after recovery of a wrist fracture:

• Most patients will be able to resume light activities, such as swimming or exercising the lower body in the gym, within a month or two after the cast is taken off or after within a month or two after surgery.

• Most patients can resume vigorous physical activities, such as skiing or football, between three and six months after the injury. Almost all patients will have some stiffness in the wrist, which will generally lessen in the month or two after the cast is taken off or after surgery. Improvement will continue for at least two years.
• Recovery should be expected to take at least a year. Some pain with vigorous activities may be expected for about that long.

The doc sdaid I didn't need any physio because of budget cut I was young.

I know some of you have had that injury before ( barrabus? ) - How soon were you guys able to have a proper spin after the cast came off?

Cheers

Gavin

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi All - I got my arm cast taken off yesterday, 7 weeks and 3 days after breaking my wrist during a very icy boards spin

Wayhey !

blorg

Glad to hear you are improving Caroline. Different injury but I broke my elbow and was back on the bike around 2-3 months later IIRC. Would it be worth trying to cushion the bars more, e.g. with gel padding under the tape and some cushy gloves? Maybe even try to reduce the drop so you have a more upright position and less pressure on your hands? Or invest in a recumbent

tunney

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi All - I got my arm cast taken off yesterday, 7 weeks and 3 days after breaking my wrist during a very icy boards spin

I had a test mini cycle yesterrday around my estate on the fixie. Apart from being very cautious and a bit scared, I think I still remember how to cycle


I was reading a few websites earlier on the ' after recovery of a wrist fracture:

The doc sdaid I didn't need any physio because of budget cut I was young.

I know some of you have had that injury before ( barrabus? ) - How soon were you guys able to have a proper spin after the cast came off?

Cheers

Glad to hear you back at it.

Did you turbo when injured?

Caroline_ie

blorg wrote: »

Would it be worth trying to cushion the bars more, e.g. with gel padding under the tape and some cushy gloves?

I got some nice bullhorns bars for my fixie that at really confortable, they are flat on the front, with padded gel. I will probably train on the fixie for a while ... but I won't try the 'blorg' on sally gap with it

Caroline_ie

tunney wrote: »

Did you turbo when injured?

I did a little bit, a couple of time a week for 40 minutes ... was quite crap .. I just wasn't very motivated. I did a lot of walking :eek:

blorg

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I got some nice bullhorns bars for my fixie that at really confortable, they are flat on the front, with padded gel. I will probably train on the fixie for a while ... but I won't try the 'blorg' on sally gap with it

Thicker tyres at lower pressure also have a major cushioning effect, maybe stick as wide as you can on the front? Presuming you have the standard 26s on the Bowery now though I am not sure how much bigger it will go.

barrabus

I reckon you can be back on the bike for long spins in a few weeks or less. It will be sore but the more you use it the stronger it will get.

Make sure your hand is strong enough to use the brake..... if it is bring some ibuprofen and you'll be grand.. once you dont have to use your hand to protect yourself from a fall or something horrible.

rughdh

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I was reading a few websites earlier on the ' after recovery of a wrist fracture: The doc sdaid I didn't need any physio because of budget cut I was young.

I was offered physio a few years ago because there were plenty of shillin's in the health budget I am old. If it's any use, they told me to bend the wrist backwards a few minutes every day, until it could bend as far as the other one.

RobFowl

If you can afford to see a chartered physio it would help ! Hospitals don't tend to refer you because it's too much hassle :rolleyes:
Generaly you need to concentrate of regaining as close to a full range of movement as you can along with gradually building up the strenght and muscle tone/bulk.
In terms of getting back on the bike go for short spins to start with (broke my elbow a few years ago and first spin back had to stop holding on with that hand after 30 mins ). get used to generally riding again i.e. balance turning braking and try short out of the saddle sections. take it slowly and don't get frustrated.
If you're into suppliments and all that chondroitin/glucosamine and omega 3 oils may help.
Good luck

estariol

plenty of calcium and protein, tons of cottage if you can take it. Found I was still sore and resting the arm every 20 mins or so when I started back after fracture, was still twinging up to 6 months later! so would take it easy and rest it during long rides.

ps. cottage cheese is also a miracle cure for shin splints!

Chips Lovell

I broke a finger in 2007 and it kept me off the bike for around six or seven weeks too. When the cast came off, I still had pins in it, but was allowed cycle (but was warned about the consequences of crashing). Even after the pins came out, what got to me most was the vibration. Fortunately, the pain subsided quickly enough once I got the pins out.

Ryder

The main issue will be that of weak supporting muscles after having a cast on. This will have implications for your ability to support your weight on drops and downhill and potentially exposing your fracture. If you cant get proper physio just make sure to do loads of passive and active moving of the muscles. Good luck.

RobFowl

estariol wrote: »

cottage cheese is also a miracle cure for shin splints!

Is that as a food or applied to the affected area

fenris

Seeing a chartered physio is really good advice - along with doing what they tell you even if it sound silly or "not enough"!

Many orthopods, particularly the older ones have a bit of a thing about physios, in that they do not see why you would need one after their perfect work.

Apart from that try not to do the other side while protecting the sore wrist, not that this would ever happen of course!

henboy

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Hi All - I got my arm cast taken off yesterday, 7 weeks and 3 days after breaking my wrist during a very icy boards spin

I had a test mini cycle yesterrday around my estate on the fixie. Apart from being very cautious and a bit scared, I think I still remember how to cycle


I was reading a few websites earlier on the ' after recovery of a wrist fracture: The doc sdaid I didn't need any physio because of budget cut I was young.

I know some of you have had that injury before ( barrabus? ) - How soon were you guys able to have a proper spin after the cast came off?

Cheers

Hi Caroline good to hear your back on the mend. I use a product called Nature's Kiss. It's a herbal rub, I find it good for the old limbs.

Quigs Snr

Good to see you on the mend. Ok, I have done my wrist in the past. Bring your bars up a bit so you are more inclined to put your weight on your butt than your wrists. Keep the elbows loose when you ride, don't have your arms locked and rigid, if you hit a pothole when you are not paying attention the wrist could break again.

Work it up with short spins, some physio if required, failing that get a little gel squeezer or something like that so you can very lightly work out the muscles in that area during the day and gradually build a little strength back into that area. Or any other similar exercise which suits. If you favour using one brake over another, make sure you swap the cables so that brake works from your good hand.

Whatever you do, don't rush it. But do get back on that bike...

Tonto, I didn't realise a finger break could be so bad till I did it myself in 07. Did a race on Saturday and a 150km ride (including an ascent of Mt Leinster from the Corabut gap) the next day. 1km into the 150km ride I noticed that my speed sensor was banging off the spokes so stupidly went to pull it out whilst moving, at the same time I hit a drain cover and it caused my hands to go into the spokes. Ripped my gloves, broke a finger and fractured another and slashed my fingers to bits, deep cuts everywhere (bladed spokes on Kysrium SL's). I finished out the ride. 149km of hell and it got worse as it went on. I didn't realise how much you pull with your hands going up a steep climb but figured if I survived Mt Leinster I would be grand. Of course I hadn't figured on not being able to pull my brakes on the way down due to the damage to the hand and ended up going wide and coming off on 2 bends. Got back to New Ross that evening half an hour down on my clubmates with a right hand the size of a tennis racket. I have done bigger distances / durations but that one counts as the longest ride of my live. On a bike that is.

cgf

You should go get an opinion from a Chartered Physio, if even a once off visit to get an exercise programme to build back up the wrist ROM & strength.

I have weekly 30min sessions with Physio for an ACL recon. and, while not cheap (50euro for 30 mins), and most certainly not painless, I consider it money very well spent.

The main activities at the moment are exercises to get the range of motion back to normal and massaging of scar tissue. Another week or two and I'll be off with an exercise program which will hopefully have me back on a road bike before the end of Feb - flat road only - inclines, not to mention hills, are further down the road.

Had the op 4 weeks ago and was back on a static gym bike last weekend for a highly impressive 5km in 30 mins Actually less painful to cycle the gym bike than walk which was a pleasant surprise.

Chris Peak

henboy wrote: »

Hi Caroline good to hear your back on the mend. I use a product called Nature's Kiss. It's a herbal rub, I find it good for the old limbs.

I use the oil version of this on some of my clients. Not sure who good it would be for broken bones.
It contains St. Johns Wort, which can reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. Which maybe / is worth mentioning to some clients. (In a round about sort of way).

henboy

Chris Peak wrote: »

I use the oil version of this on some of my clients. Not sure who good it would be for broken bones.
It contains St. Johns Wort, which can reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. Which maybe / is worth mentioning to some clients. (In a round about sort of way).

Woop's:rolleyes:

Caroline_ie

Thank you all for the tips.

I forgot to mention I got a Powerball to help me with getting better.

NSD Powerball is a 4th generation hand gyroscope which has been so perfectly engineered and balanced, it can spin to over 15,000rpm - all powered simply by your arm and wrist.

Totally non-impact at low speeds and medically recommended, NSD Powerball is a masterful creator of soothing, theraputic resistance with which to rehabilitate RSI & Carpal Tunnel conditions or strengthen broken bones.

It's brilliant!

BUACHAILL

Hi Caroline

Good to see your back on the mend !!!

EH

Hi Caroline
I broke my ankle and wrist last year and was off my bike for 5 months. (Ironically I always wanted a titanium framed bike and now I have a titanium plate in my wrist and ankle!:))
I'd definitely recommend you see and physio. My understanding is that the sooner you start physio after the cast comes off the more beneficial it will be. The physio's have measuring devices that will compare your recovering wrist's movement compared to the norm and also the strength so you will know what needs to be done (or simply compare the degree's of bend with your good and bad wrist)
I found the physio's in St Vincents great if you can get an appointment there, its the main centre for orthopedics in Dublin so there used to dealing with broken bones.
Best of luck with the recovery
EH

LDB

Do you think wearing a wrist support while on the bike might help until it gets its strength back?

something like this http://www.supportsusa.com/arm/bauerfeind/wrist/manutrain.htm

Caroline_ie

LDB wrote: »

Do you think wearing a wrist support while on the bike might help until it gets its strength back?

I am wearing a wrist band when I sleep and cycle ( the 2 most important things in the world ) - I haven't tried to cycle without it yet ( then again, I am just back on the bike ... this morning :pac: )

TinyExplosions

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I am wearing a wrist band when I sleep and cycle ( the 2 of the 3 most important things in the world ) - I haven't tried to cycle without it yet ( then again, I am just back on the bike ... this morning :pac: )

Fixed that for ya... you forget eating

LDB

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Fixed that for ya... you forget eating

there is also a 4th I can think of ...:P

TinyExplosions

LDB wrote: »

there is also a 4th I can think of ...:P

Work doesn't count!

mr potato head

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Thank you all for the tips.

I forgot to mention I got a Powerball to help me with getting better.

It's brilliant!

Yea used one after i broke my wrist, along with a stress ball so you can get the strength to work brakes!
Spent my time in work whirring the powerball or squeezing the stress ball with one hand and working a computer with the other... i'm sure that month was not so productive

I did two sessions on physio, first was an assessment and a few exercises and the second was just to check how things were going. Worth it, but mine was covered by insurance so it depends on € in you pocket

Was back on a road bike properly after 2 or 3 weeks, (not counting the short test cycles to see how things felt) and on a downhill bike after four.

I used strapping tape over elasticated bandage as a support for about 6/7 weeks, slowly reduced the amount used as my wrist got stronger
It did feel stiff and sore after some of the cycles for the first while which was really frustrating

kincsem

Good to hear you have the plaster off and are on the road to recovery.

I haven't broken any bones, but had a left shoulder tendon problem on 2003, and the same in the right in 2006. Both took about eighteen months to fix completely. Well, everyone else has a war wound story. :rolleyes:

My mother went back to knitting to get her hand and wrist moving after a wrist break. So if you want to start on the boards retro wool long-sleeve jerseys .....

I'll get my coat.

Gavin

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Work doesn't count!

If you call it work, I don't think you're doing it right !

TinyExplosions

Gavin wrote: »

If you call it work, I don't think you're doing it right !

No, it just means you're getting paid to do it

kelznz

Hi All

I've just fractured my wrist boarding and have a temporary plaster cast. Does anyone know where to get a fiberglass cast fitted as no one seems to have heard of them in Ireland?!! Any help appreciated, this thing weighs a ton!

Caroline_ie

kelznz wrote: »

Hi All

I've just fractured my wrist boarding and have a temporary plaster cast. Does anyone know where to get a fiberglass cast fitted as no one seems to have heard of them in Ireland?!! Any help appreciated, this thing weighs a ton!

After I broke my wrist in November, I had a Temporary plaster cast as well that weighed a ton, but when I returned to the hospital after a week they changed it and gave me a fibreglass cast. That was at St Michael hospital in DunLoaghaire. I am pretty sure, if it's a temporary cast that you have at the moment, you will be given a fibre glass cast. I mean Ireland is not 'that' bad, come on!

kelznz

Caroline_ie wrote: »

After I broke my wrist in November, I had a Temporary plaster cast as well that weighed a ton, but when I returned to the hospital after a week they changed it and gave me a fibreglass cast. That was at St Michael hospital in DunLoaghaire. I am pretty sure, if it's a temporary cast that you have at the moment, you will be given a fibre glass cast. I mean Ireland is not 'that' bad, come on!

Hi Caroline

Thanks! was just that I rang a couple hospitals/clinics and they didn't seem to have a clue what I was on about! Did you get referred or just go to ER?

Caroline_ie

kelznz wrote: »

Hi Caroline

Thanks! was just that I rang a couple hospitals/clinics and they didn't seem to have a clue what I was on about! Did you get referred or just go to ER?

I was in ER when they gave me the temp plaster cast and was referred to the outpatient a week later where they removed the plaster, repositioned my hand in a more 'healing/unconfortable' position for my wrist and gave me a fibre glass cast instead. I very much doubt they will leave that plaster cast on you when you go back.

kelznz

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I was in ER when they gave me the temp plaster cast and was referred to the outpatient a week later where they removed the plaster, repositioned my hand in a more 'healing/unconfortable' position for my wrist and gave me a fibre glass cast instead. I very much doubt they will leave that plaster cast on you when you go back.

I got the plaster cast on in Austria a week ago so wasn't sure what step to take next. Sure i can probably go straight to ER and ask...thanks for the help.

Caroline_ie

kelznz wrote: »

I got the plaster cast on in Austria a week ago so wasn't sure what step to take next. Sure i can probably go straight to ER and ask...thanks for the help.

I feck ... you're better off going to ER yes, so you get a proper follow up. Be prepared to wait though

I hope you get better ... a broken wrist isn't fun.

RobFowl

kelznz wrote: »

I got the plaster cast on in Austria a week ago so wasn't sure what step to take next. Sure i can probably go straight to ER and ask...thanks for the help.

You can phone the fracture clinic at the main dublin hospitals and they will usually fit you into the next clinic.
Going to AE is very hit and miss unfortunately.

Caroline_ie

Since this thread has been 'resurected' I may as well give you an update. 2 weeks today since my cast came off. I have gone on a few spins and commuted exclusively on my bike since. I am able to cycle about 1h to 1h30 before it gets really sore. I am still terrified of any slippery surfaces but I still get out in the rain to get that confidence back asap. So far I have only cycled the fixie .. I am hoping ( weather permitting ) to join the next boards spin next week. Life is better on 2 wheels!

NeilMcEoigheann

you are using a wrist support like maybe used in skateboarding right? that would give more support even just a bandage...
at least your not like my cousin broke both his wrists and had bars coming out of his arm and back into his hand for bout a year, fun fun fun