KevinmH9

Well, as the title says I received my first cycling related injury while out on the bike Sunday evening. I was biking along a local highway stretch and the road was rather poor with cracks, potholes and other obstructions along the way. I had biked this road many times before with no problems. On this particular day the road was rather busy and cars did not seem to move to the left to me to give me more room. The shoulder was heavily damaged with pieces of it missing. I kept my cool and remained to the right of the road as far as possible. As I gained more speed my front tire caught the edge of the pavement and dirt and I lost control of my bike and I flew off of it. At the time of the crash I was going approximately 22-23 mph. As human instinct, I extended my arms out in front of me to keep myself from sliding across the road. I picked myself up quickly to find rather severe road rash on my knee and wrist and real discomfort to my left wrist. I began to ride home and ice my wrist. I went to the hospital the next day to learn that I had a hairline fracture to my wrist. I have the next two days off from work and the urge to go biking is overpowering. I'll see what happens tomorrow morning and see if I can possibly hop on the bike for a quick ride.

With this story, a question comes about. Would going out biking with a fractured wrist be an ignorant idea? Doctors have said that it’s a minor fracture and shouldn't put me out of activity too long. Has anyone else biked through any injuries and found themselves in more trouble than they had to begin with?

Roody

I'm real sorry about your accident. If you fractured the scaphoid bone, I'm afraid that I have some bad news for you. Wrist fractures can be very serious, especially the common cyclist's fracture of the scaphoid bone. This bone has a poor blood supply so it may heal poorly and if it doesn't heal right, you may have "failure" of the entire wrist joint in a few years. I had such a fracture last summer and was off work for six months (because I can't work with a cast) and off the bike for five months. My fracture would not heal, so I had to have surgery about 10 weeks after the accident, and start the recovery process all over again. Then there was physical therapy to rehabilitate the entire arm after being in a cast so long. I strongly suggest that you see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hands if you have a scaphoid injury. Check it out on Google if you don't believe me. Try "wrist fracture scaphoid".

The good news? First, it doesn't really hurt too much. Also, your doctor may allow you to ride again quite soon, especially if you are in a cast. My doctor told me, "Riding a bike never hurt anybody. Falling off it, on the other hand..." The reasons I didn't ride right away were that I also have some nerve damage in my other hand, it hurt to ride, and I might have been a little chicken for a while there.

discosaurus

Yep, if it's a scaphoid fracture STAY AWAY FROM THE BIKE! That's essentially the same bone as the navicular bone in the foot and if you mess it up too badly you'll end up with something like this.

You don't want that. No bike for at least 12 weeks.

slvoid

Good lord disco, you have some long assed toes.

If you HAVE to ride, get something with wide tires and shocks. And try to keep all the pressure off your broken wrist. Only AFTER a couple months of R&R though.

Kinger

It could also be either an ulna or radial fracture too. These are commonly called wrist fractures as well, depending on the proximity to the wrist.

va_cyclist

I broke my radius and ulna both (no hairline fracture, snapped 'em both clean) in a skateboard accident in 8th grade (about 29 years ago!). Mine healed completely and I haven't had any issues with the wrist since then. Good luck with yours -- stay off the bike!

ivan_yulaev

Had a hairline fracture on the ulna a few years back. Had a cast for a few weeks, then nothing. It would have healed just fine without a cast...