Time to recover from a broken wrist?

[Chrisz]

Bust my left wrist on Thursday (got into a dispute over road space with a van and lost) - cast on at the moment but I'm already bored of not being able to ride the bike - how long should it take to recover?

I've got a distal radial fracture.

I'm hoping to remain an invalid for no more than a week - hopefully I'll be able to bodge the cast so I can at least ride the hoods. Does this sound realistic to anyone who's suffered similar?

No way can I be off the bike for much longer than a couple of weeks!

 

[Chrisc]

Cast for 6 weeks. Light activities two months after cast removal, wrist will be weak as will your grip. Strenuous activity between 3 and 6 months after the injury. Be careful with it.

 

[Chrisz]

Cast for 6 weeks. Light activities two months after cast removal

Looks like me and the Doctor are going to be having a bit of a row - that almost the entire summer FFS!!

I'll figure something out - there's no way on God's green earth I'm staying off the bike for 6 weeks - never mind 3 months

 

[Mark_Robson]

I broke my collar bone two months ago and I decided that it wasn't going to ruin my life either. So I rested it for three weeks while it was immobilised but as soon as I was given a normal sling I started using my arm it as if it was ok.
Two months on and I have been forced to rest my arm as much as possible, I can't cycle anymore or I risk permanent nerve damage and a much longer recuperation period and all because I thought that I was made of sterner stuff and I wasn't going to let a fractured clavicle get in the way of my life.
Take my advice and listen to the doctor and don't try to rush your recovery.

 

[Banjo]

Sorry to hear about your broken wrist. My son has just had his cast off from something similar. Problem is if you hit a bump riding on the hoods too soon its going to break again real easy.

Cant you sling a bergen on and keep the legs and lungs active with a bit of hill walking for a month or so?

 

[Rob3rt]

Wear a wrist brace, as in a proper one, that they sometimes fit for fractures etc (the brown things with velcro straps, not something bought from a sports shop) instead of an actual cast when you start cycling again maybe. Will get you on the bike sooner, but be careful.

You could always take up running or something to keep your base fitness, you'll inevitably lose some bike fitness, but as a consolation at least you will keep your general fitness which will aid in the speed at which you will recover your bike specific fitness.

 

[ChrisKH]

Looks like me and the Doctor are going to be having a bit of a row - that almost the entire summer FFS!!

I'll figure something out - there's no way on God's green earth I'm staying off the bike for 6 weeks - never mind 3 months

It's tempting to want to do things early, especially for a wrist but I wouldn't recommend it. I broke my hand (not even wrist) about April and had to wait until August to use it in anger again. Mrs KH currently has a broken ankle that is 80% mended and is going up the wall not being able to do things, but you can't rush it. Unless you want to risk some permanent or long term damage. If it's a small break or fracture you may be able to speed the recovery a bit with intensive physiotherapy but generally these things take.........time.

Sorry to sound like your Dad.

 

[Rob3rt]

It's tempting to want to do things early, especially for a wrist but I wouldn't recommend it. I broke my hand (not even wrist) about April and had to wait until August to use it in anger again. Mrs KH currently has a broken ankle that is 80% mended and is going up the wall not being able to do things, but you can't rush it. Unless you want to risk some permanent or long term damage. If it's a small break or fracture you may be able to speed the recovery a bit with intensive physiotherapy but generally these things take.........time.

Sorry to sound like your Dad.

I'd definatelly keep that in mind, I fractured my ankle as a teenager, it was about 10 days before I went to A&E because I thought it was just a twisted ankle and didnt want to waste their time. Once the cast was off, I was out with my friends running around etc. To this day, that ankle over pronates to a substantial degree worse than my left ankle, this was recently made evident to me during a gait assesment while buying running shoes. It effects my running, and I get pains in my shins when I walk fast for long periods (possibly related, possibly not).

Take it easy, but that doesnt necessarly mean dont do it at all, calculated risk. Minimise stress by re-inforcing the joint if you must ride.

 

[Chrisc]

It's a bugger but if you re-break it you may end up with metalwork in there, a year of rehab and a permanently weak wrist. Softly softly catchee monkey.
All depends on the nature of the injury, only your doc can advise you properly.

 

[Chrisz]

Cheers for the (sage) advice guys - gradually starting to accept that I'll be off the bike for some time now

Went in yesterday for a full plaster + x-rays, I'm now waiting for a phonecal from the surgeon - he wants me in on Thursday to pin it

Feeling very sorry for myself right now and a fair bit pi55ed off too!

 

[iLB]

turbo? or a tandem!

get well soon chris

 

[Chrisz]

turbo? or a tandem!

get well soon chris

Too much of a grumpy bar steward for a tandem

Turbo would be cracking - I could set it up on the decking and thrash away to my heart's content Unfortunately my winter/turbo bike is in bits in the shed waiting for new BB bearings and cables all round

Ta for the sympathy though - I'm starting to accept that it's gonna be a pain in the ar3e getting my wrist sorted. Recovery's going to be 'fun' as I know I'll be trying to ride at least 5mph faster than my legs/lungs will be able to manage for a while! Hopefully it'll only (ha!) set me back a couple of months.

 

[Chrisc]

Hope it all goes well on Thursday. Take it easy!

 

[dnrc]

Mate, I have first hand experience of this. I broke my wrist a few years back, admittedly i did shatter it (it was really out of shape and needed pinning) so it was really bad.

But from memory that needed 10 weeks off work in total. I was in a cast for 6, then had a wrist support for ages after that. Had to do physio for months. I didn't play sports for months afterwards.

You will be shocked at how weak and wasted it will be when you finally get rid of the cast and brace.

It probably took 9 months till it was properly good again but it's never going to be properly right again. My right arm is now 1.5cm shorter than my left because of the break.

I know this probably isn't what you're wanting to hear but seriously, be very careful with it and do give it time to heal.

 

[PK99]

Bust my left wrist on Thursday (got into a dispute over road space with a van and lost) - cast on at the moment but I'm already bored of not being able to ride the bike - how long should it take to recover?

if you are claiming against the driver, follow to the letter any medial advice given. Failure to do that may compromise your claim