Injury Recovery: Your Story

[A-NON-A]

UPDATE:THREAD JACK

I got on the bike and rode for about an hour around my neighborhood yesterday. ROM is good but the arm cant bear alot of weight and was achy afterward. Felt good just to pedal.

[randalnelson]

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Evan, do you still have the hardware in your wrist? Mine is similar and my surgeon is saying she wants it out because it might cause me irritation when I get back to riding.



This looks familiar, I wish I had gotten a picture of my compound fracture. Stories are alright, but pictures are worth 1000 words...




What did you break? I can't tell from the picture. How did the x-rays today turn out?

its my right collar bone
post updated

[un-kola]

Shattered right hip/femur in '91.Off work and bike for 2-1/2yrs.In '07 was sideswiped by a car at Bonelli Park.18 stitches in right arm and a hematoma in right hip.Off bike and work for 3 weeks.-Lloyd

[ODB]

Originally Posted by randalnelson

Had this hardware installed 05DEC08 Seven months later and I still havent gotten the ok to get back to riding. Next xray Monday 22JUN. Sure hope its all better. Its been perfect riding weather and I been missing it all.

22JUN had xray still broken may have to have bone graft in a couple of months if it doesnt start growing back together. Doc says its in a bad spot out on the end above my arm. Maybe if I am lucky I will get to ride again by 2010. This sucks bad.

I had a similar break and surgery a couple years ago. Distal collarbone fractures are a bitch to heal. I was out of the game for about four months. Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time getting better. Healing vibes to you.

Two weeks ago I rebroke the c-bone, but it snapped at the end of the plate toward my chest rather than the shoulder, so I'm thinking it should heal more quickly this time around. The old hardware was removed last Tuesday and replaced with a longer plate. Hoping to start physical therapy in another three weeks, but we'll have to wait and see.

The rest of my injury resume:
Broken femur skateboarding four and a half years ago -- mucho metal in my hip and a looooooong recovery
MTBing stuff: Dislocated shoulder, dislocated elbow 2x, fractured thumb, elbow stitches
Kid stuff: broken forearm 2x (including BOTH radius and ulna at same time), three concussions, countless knee sprains from skateboarding, etc. etc. etc. etc. ...

[volcomsteban]

No medical insurance= No recovery in sight.

[tbarnesarc]

Broken collar bone Friday the 13th of March 2009. 8 weeks off the bike. If it happens to someone in the future (but hopefully not) get a figure 8 brace so your muscles don't atrophy. The hardest part of getting back on the bike after that injury is the mental aspect for me. Needless to say Friday the 13ths will be no riding days for me.

[Ladd Jasper]

Originally Posted by volcomsteban

No medical insurance= No recovery in sight.

Word. Tore something or other in my shoulder last September and it's been hurting ever since. Unfortunately my insurance is almost useless for anything less than life-threatening injuries, so in pain I shall sit.

Too bad I didn't land on my mouth instead--my dental coverage kicks a$$!

[Magna_Graecia]

Adding to the good times, I've knocked myself out twice, cracked a rib, and partially severed the cord my left testicle hangs from (can't remember the name). Oh and had severe reactions to the dye used for my CT scans.

If you want more gory details of the crotch violence, search "When Thompson met Johnson" on the board for the ride report.

And worse than the pain was the month and a half of testicle humor I had to endure from my fellow (SCV) Dirtbags... (^_^);;;

[gooseaholic]

Trust me you dont want to land on your mouth. Im missing my front teeth. I have had them fixed several times but kept getting abscesses do to major mouth trauma more than once. They have all been removed ( 5 of them) now and its 12,000 k for implants. Bridges always break over time. Eating fruit such as apples, corn on the cob, sanwhiches, and basically any thing not cut up is a pain to eat. My first fall the dentist at the ER had to remove cement from my gums.

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by volcomsteban

No medical insurance= No recovery in sight.

Go spin on the RB!!!

[Branta]

Broke my scaphoid in two, broken for 6 years , was still able to ride with minor pain, finally found a doctor that didn't want to do a bone graft, doc screwed bone back together, screw left in wrist permanently, 5 weeks no riding, started riding mellow after 5 weeks and things are getting better. I ride with a small wrist brace and it definitly helps.

[jeff^d]

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Compound fracture of my left ulna & radius about 4" up from the wrist on April 5. Flew OTB on a fast descent during the Sagebrush Safari and superman'd into a berm. Surgeon said my bone acted as a kick stop in the dirt, she had to shave off 1/4" of the ulna where dirt was ground in, then screwed both bones together with stainless plates. Fortunately the bones snapped cleanly without splintering and I suffered only cuts and bruises in addition.

Still in a cast to just above my elbow, but go for new x-rays Tuesday 6/23. Radius is all healed up but I'm still waiting for the ulna to finish growing together. Cast will come off in a few weeks hopefully, then 3-6 months before serious riding. Eventually I'll get the plates out and
be down for two more months.

Update on my arm. Unfortunately my ulna has been declared a nonunion, no growth over the last month. Surgeon says it's due to lack of blood and nutrient supply to the bone, common with compound fractures. Sometime in the next month I'll go for a synthetic bone graft to help give things a little nudge.

Bummed, but on the bright side I've been getting some great "endurance" backpacking trips in. Wouldn't have explored these San Gabes wilderness areas if I was still on the bike.

[A-NON-A]

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Update on my arm. Unfortunately my ulna has been declared a nonunion, no growth over the last month. Surgeon says it's due to lack of blood and nutrient supply to the bone, common with compound fractures. Sometime in the next month I'll go for a synthetic bone graft to help give things a little nudge.

Bummed, but on the bright side I've been getting some great "endurance" backpacking trips in. Wouldn't have explored these San Gabes wilderness areas if I was still on the bike.

Ouch Get better brother. Heres to a succesful recovery

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Update on my arm. Unfortunately my ulna has been declared a nonunion, no growth over the last month. Surgeon says it's due to lack of blood and nutrient supply to the bone, common with compound fractures. Sometime in the next month I'll go for a synthetic bone graft to help give things a little nudge.

That sucks...

[evdog]

Originally Posted by Magna_Graecia

I've...partially severed the cord my left testicle hangs from

And worse than the pain was the month and a half of testicle humor I had to endure from my fellow (SCV) Dirtbags... (^_^);;;

Sorry, but

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Evan, do you still have the hardware in your wrist? Mine is similar and my surgeon is saying she wants it out because it might cause me irritation when I get back to riding.

Yup, mine is still in after 6 years. I also have 2 screws in my L hand that are staying in (separate incident). The plate doesn't bother me, though it protrudes a bit on one side of my wrist where there is now an obvious bump.

The only problem with the wrist is its a bit loose-goosey as there's not all that much left of it (even with the plate). If I don't contract the muscles in my hand/arm when I shake someones hand, it can move up/down/or to the side slightly during the handshake, which can really freak people out.

You could always leave it in for a while and see if it bothers you. My doc did mention taking mine out is an option but only recommended if it causes problems.

Originally Posted by jeff^d

Update on my arm. Unfortunately my ulna has been declared a nonunion, no growth over the last month. Surgeon says it's due to lack of blood and nutrient supply to the bone, common with compound fractures. Sometime in the next month I'll go for a synthetic bone graft to help give things a little nudge.

Bummed, but on the bright side I've been getting some great "endurance" backpacking trips in. Wouldn't have explored these San Gabes wilderness areas if I was still on the bike.

That does suck, sorry to hear. If I was the doc I'd just amputate.

But seriously, I think you should hang on the couch and not exercise at all til you're healed. That way the rest of us will be able to keep up with you when you get back on the bike

[Red Ryder]

I've had concussions, broken neck, broken arm, broken teeth and many minor but painful injuries to my knees and back. From surfing, skateboarding, and just being stupid. Too many remember them all, but I've always healed up good. But now that I'm in my 50's, they're coming back to haunt me. Especially when I wake up in the mornings. It's hard to get moving. Was it worth it? YEAH! I'd rather live and get banged up a bit than just sit and die. My only advice, let your injuries heal up good.

[Piranha]

It all started for me with a comminuted, displaced tibial plateau fracture in December of 2002. I had a bone graft from my hip to rebuild my tibial plateau. Was non weight bearing for about three years due to a non union. Have undergone multiple knee surgeries. Was off the bike for several years and finally began riding again in October 2007.
I just had my 7th knee surgery on Wednesday 6/24 (resurface, remove loose bodies, clean up arthritic patella, MCL and meniscus repair). I am trying to stave off the inevitable total knee replacement until I am in my late 60's if possible as their effecive life sapn is only 10-15 years and I am only 50 now.
I'll be off the bike for 8 weeks or so, but I hope to be back out on the trails soon with all my cycling pals.
Being injured sucks! I'd like to offer healing vibes and best wishes for speedy recoveries to all of my 2 wheeled injured comrades.


Here's what my knee looked like in 2002. Several orthos said that I'd never be able to ride a bike again but I proved the nay sayers wrong. While I'll never be one of the fastest up or down the hill, I sure enjoy cycling and I hope I can continue riding for many years to come. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. There is always hope, you just have to believe in yourself. Most of it is mental IMO. On the other hand I don't recommend this type of injury to anyone, it's very difficult to recover from.