UPDATE: Fractured humerus (Gutted after off)

[Leodis]

Well I had a slow motion off yesterday, broke my upper humerus clean and took a chunk out of my shoulder bone as well. Looks like a plate will be put in within the next couple of weeks but looking at 3-6 months off the bike. What makes it worse not only that we go to Keswick for a week holiday in a fortnight but I was in training for the C2C in a day, I'd lost over a stone and felt strong on the bike so now its looking out of the window

Anyone else had a break similar, if so what was the recovery time?

 

[Drago]

Yes. Had 2 ops, a load of titanium, and 6 years on it still troubles me. Might be a 3rd op in the offing for me humeorous.

On the plus side, I was riding again within 3 weeks of each operation.

 

[simon the viking]

Ouch...... sorry to hear this

 

[young Ed]

arrrrr! GWS
just don't try too much to soon as it is well to easy to make it worse, i wonder how i know that?
Cheers Ed

 

[Leodis]

Thanks guys, I did ask the doc and he said 3-6 months and 12 months for full recovery, seems C2C in june is off the cards

 

[young Ed]

Thanks guys, I did ask the doc and he said 3-6 months and 12 months for full recovery, seems C2C in june is off the cards

june is still a good 7 or 8 months away so you might be able to? although it is likely you will have lost a lot of fitness during recovery and not rebuilt that before june
Cheers Ed

 

[Leodis]

Thanks Ed, I think it will be a push but gotta keep my fingers crossed.

 

[fossyant]

Time for a turbo

 

[Dayvo]

Sorry to hear of your injury, Leodis.

Hope you heal well and quickly.

As young Ed says, June is still quite a long way off, so fingers crossed... And as fossy says, you can use a turbo.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Sorry to hear about the crash, @Leodis . As others said, perhaps a turbo trainer is a way to keep your legs fit while the shoulder and arm heal? Anyway, best of luck with that.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

GWS....

think about a turbo trainer. I don't think June is unrealistic and could you not always postpone it a month or so if needed or spread it across 2 days instead?

 

[mcshroom]

Hi, The humerus is a nasty injury. I broke mine clean in two on the 2nd July (that's it nailed in my avatar)

For me I had the nail inserted 2 days after the break (strange thing is once the nail was in, I didn't need a cast).

At the end of July I had just about no movement in my arm outwards from the body, limited forwards/backwards and a fixed 50 degree kink.

Got back to work after 5 weeks (which was probably at least week too early - working is significantly more tiring than pottering around at home, so even though I thought I was ok to go back, the first week almost wiped me out and I only have a desk job), and back on the turbo (one handed using a step ladder) the week before.

In the end I was passed fit to cycle again on the 23rd September, so about 12 weeks. The arm is strong enough and flexible enough to do almost everything I could do before, but it is still not fully healed, and I've been advised to stay off the mountain bike for a while yet

You will lose fitness (mine's slowly been coming back over the last few weeks, but hill climbing and resistance against headwinds is still way below what it was in June), but it is possible if everything goes well that your C2C could be on next year.

The biggest bits of advice I will give are to make sure you get physio and lots of it. Mine was NHS, and came in ridiculously short consultations, but if you are prepared to put the work in doing the exercizes they set then this can work. Also as soon as you can, do as much as you can with the arm. In my case I knew if I was overdoing it if the arm felt swollen.

I'll point out that I am not a doctor, and have not seen your injury. Mine was a very clean break and I didn't have any chunks knocked out, which will have helped. I've read reports where it has taken far longer, especially if the arm is braced instead of surgically bolted back together. Don't try to rush back (despite how tempting it becomes). Listen to the medics and I hope you recover soon.

Oh, and at least you've managed to time your break for the cold wet season, I've just had to sit out an almost perfect cycling summer

 

[Mo1959]

Well I had a slow motion off yesterday, broke my upper humerus clean and took a chunk out of my shoulder bone as well. Looks like a plate will be put in within the next couple of weeks but looking at 3-6 months off the bike. What makes it worse not only that we go to Keswick for a week holiday in a fortnight but I was in training for the C2C in a day, I'd lost over a stone and felt strong on the bike so now its looking out of the window

Anyone else had a break similar, if so what was the recovery time?

Not the same break, but a bad clavicle break that needed plated. Pretty much took 3 months before I felt strong/safe enough to cycle. Surgeon also said 3 months and still to be careful after that as it can be up to a year until bone is totally solid again.

Turbo or exercise bike should be ok as soon as you feel comfortable though to keep the fitness up.

Hope it heals quickly for you.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Sorry to hear that!
I hope you make a speedy recovery but take it easy and have it heal properly.
I had elbow surgery and did something rather stupid involving a lawnmower, before it was healed properly.
It still bothers me, 5 years later, although not enough to stop me riding but I have to change position or my elbow locks up.

 

[cyberknight]

Bugger .
rule 5

GWS