Open Wound

[fossyant]

I'd wait. Had two ops where the wound was left open. Wait until it's closed. With modern dressings it should heal pretty quickly. I had to wait 5 weeks for one wound to close as it had a minor infection, and was in a position you couldn't cover it. I was cycling within 2 weeks of a shoulder decompression.

 

[vickster]

I was cycling within 2 weeks of a shoulder decompression.

Arthroscopic presumably though with steristrips and waterproof dressing if anything like mine no way I'll be cycling within 2 weeks, but that's nothing to do with the incisions

 

[fossyant]

Arthroscopic presumably though with steristrips and waterproof dressing if anything like mine no way I'll be cycling within 2 weeks, but that's nothing to do with the incisions

No steristrips, just the waterproof dressing.

 

[vickster]

No steristrips, just the waterproof dressing.

Interesting just shows to go that surgeons differ. I can remove mine and the dressings on Wednesday. The important needlework is inside

 

[sidevalve]

Doc says don't ride for a bit - maybe being a bit over cautious maybe not. Worst case off bike for a few weeks then all is back to normal - ignore advice, worst case major infection and possible blood poisoning result major illness and off bike for months. Seems a bit of a no-brainer to me everything else is a bit irrelevant.

 

[Kajjal]

Doc says don't ride for a bit - maybe being a bit over cautious maybe not. Worst case off bike for a few weeks then all is back to normal - ignore advice, worst case major infection and possible blood poisoning result major illness and off bike for months. Seems a bit of a no-brainer to me everything else is a bit irrelevant.

This would be my advice. Any surgery carries a risk due to infection, risking infecting a clean healing wound just to ride a bike a few days / weeks early is not a sensible idea. If it gets infected or has other complications not cycling will be the least of your worries.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

How do you 'bust open' an open wound?

Easily

 

[ayceejay]

What was the thing that was lanced (old fashioned me). If it was a boil AND the cause of the boil was external then sweat would be part of that equation and more sweat will definitely make to worse/

 

[mjr]

If the OP follows the directions, he'll be back on his bike in 2 weeks. That doesn't seem very onerous.

2 weeks where one's autonomous transport range is cut to between a quarter and a third of what it was seems like a big deal to me. It's bloody annoying if minor medical procedures result in a significant minority being advised in effect to pay for loads of taxis or hire a car for weeks on end (only an option if they hold a current driving licence in the first place)!

 

[jefmcg]

2 weeks where one's autonomous transport range is cut to between a quarter and a third of what it was seems like a big deal to me. It's bloody annoying if minor medical procedures result in a significant minority being advised in effect to pay for loads of taxis or hire a car for weeks on end (only an option if they hold a current driving licence in the first place)!

Seems a little unfair to quote me to make this point, but trim off this

This seems OK. If the problem is sweat, then don't exert yourself. If you work at about the same pace as brisk walking, you shouldn't have sweat running down your back.

I was crediting the OP with a little intelligence. If I was told not to ride my bike because sweat would be bad, I would either assume that I could ride gently as transport or ask a followup question if I was not sure. As the OP didn't do this, I assumed all his rides are workouts, and wasn't interested in riding without sweating.

When I broke my wrist (not on the bike), I asked the specialist if I could ride. He said "You could, but I wouldn't want to think what might happen if you came off." That gave me all the information to make a decision, that for me was TFL and walking, as I couldn't drive with it either.

 

[mjr]

Seems a little unfair to quote me to make this point, but trim off this

I didn't trim it off. You're quoting an earlier post of yours there, with a point that I agree with but you didn't make in the later post.

When I broke my wrist (not on the bike), I asked the specialist if I could ride. He said "You could, but I wouldn't want to think what might happen if you came off." That gave me all the information to make a decision, that for me was TFL and walking, as I couldn't drive with it either.

TFL? Most of us (including Hull, I think) don't have any government mechanism like that even attempting to provide integrated transport, so loss of cycling can be far more onerous. Also, I'd regard broken bones as more serious and necessarily more disruptive than a small wound.

 

[jefmcg]

I didn't trim it off.

You're right,sorry I said (nearly) the same thing in two posts.

Also, I'd regard broken bones as more serious and necessarily more disruptive than a small wound.

It was about getting sufficient information to decide for myself. Which the OP also had, from his posting.

That being said, I broke my clavicle last year, which never healed. When I had the followup and it was clear it was not going to heal without surgery, the NHS doctor's eyes widened in horror at the thought of me cycling. A private doctor told me to go for it, that I can't break the same clavicle twice. He also told me not have surgery, which he was also right about.

 

[vickster]

Does the OP have a car?

 

[mjr]

Does the OP have a car?

Even if so, I still think it's a pretty poor show if medics are actually advising people to drive instead of cycling after minor procedures.

 

[vickster]

But there is a reason for it. I don't know how minor a packed open infected wound is and how great the risk of repeat infection is. I'm assuming the OP's nurse or surgeon actually does, especially as he has been through this before and it took 2.5 months to heal. Sounds more than a zit

If he has a car, he is not stranded regardless of the perceived lack of green considerations (which for me are always secondary to my health and wellbeing). Ymmv

I'm on a busy bus, with 4 bikes and a car I can't use for 2 months