Curtis_Elwood

In fact, my first injury between snow skiing, wakeboarding, and class V kayaking.

I had a lot of stuff on my brain and went for a ride to clear my head. I wasn't having a great ride mentally, but sure beats work. I was descending this manky, loose slope last night on my normal after-work trail. The move is down a loose, rocky slope, turn a mild switchback, drop over a huge root forming a 1 footer and then straightening back out to take more softball-sized rocks. I made it over the root fine, but my rear end took a hop after hitting a big rock just after that. That put all of my breaking on my front wheel, locking it up and over I went. I busted up my right shin, got a nice goose egg on my right forearm and messed my my left hand/wrist. I pushed back up to the top of the hill and down the back (the way back to the car). I splinted it with a SAM splint and tape and headed down. My friend Tracey followed. It was just about dark and we had 2 miles left to go. I pretty much rode with one hand, as I could only grip the bar with my index finger and thumb on the left. Braking was interesting to say the least. I'm pretty sure I broke the bone in my hand below my pinky, near my wrist. Even after a Percocet and two glasses of wine last night, it hurt like a biatch. My first big (26 miles) was scheduled for this weekend, but that's out now. Gonna go to the Dr. and see if it's broken. No way they're putting a cast on me, though. Just want to see what exactly broke, if anything.

On that note, let me plug SAM splints. I've used them a bunch for kayaking injuries and I don't think MTB'ers should be without them. Light, stiff, and customizable. Mine fits between my bladder and the back of my hydro pack perfectly.

https://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...berId=12500226

I just hope I can get out there again soon.

btadlock

Welcome to Mtn Biking. How long have you been riding?
I have been riding since '91, 3 dislocated shoulders, I seperation and once broken arm, and way too many scars to count, so you could either deduct that this is a risky sport, or I just suck at it, I am ok with which ever one you pick
Knock on wood, no injuries since the broken arm in 01.

Curtis_Elwood

I just started in July. I'm pretty aggressive at whatever sport I do. I started riding on the hardest trail in the area and until last night I'd usually ride at least three spots that I couldn't/didn't ride the previous ride. I'm used to risky sports. My take on MTBing is that you're not all that likely to die, but you'll definitely get banged up once in a while. Kayaking is a bit different. Even on class IV-V runs, you're not too likely to get banged up too much. But when you're number's up, it's up.

I'm not sure what I learned from last night's ride. Maybe just that stuff happens. If it was easy/not risky everyone would do it. I just hope it doesn't sideline me too long. I am missing my epic ride this weekend and may be missing a kayak/bike trip to NC next weekend. Heading to the Doc. I'll post back with the verdict.

Drunken Chicken

Ah yes, first MTB injuries, er... congrats? Hey, it's an acomplishment! I remember my first serious injury was two broken fingers, and just two months ago I had a bad fall twisting my ankle and nearly having to have skin transplant on my right calf.

At least you've got something to brag about now.

santiago

Let me ask you this, is there any form of body armour or protection you think would have prevented some of your injuries?

btadlock

. I am missing my epic ride this weekend and may be missing a kayak/bike trip to NC next weekend.


That is the bad thing about injury and major damage, the forced downtime, and no doubt, while you are out of commission, it will be the perfect conditions for riding, and your friends will have some epic rides, not to mention the experiences of the NC trip.
Hope you are at least able to make the kayak trip.

pinkrobe

I used to go over the bars all the time, but eventually I learned to ease off on the front brake. Nothing broken since '88, but lots of blood loss, a couple of concussions and regular skin removal. I hope you can make your kayak trip!

Curtis_Elwood

Thanks for the well wishes.

Santiago: I'm not sure there's any equipment that would have prevented my injuries that wouldn't impede my riding. My shin and forearm got a little banged up, but that's not a big deal. Shin guards/forearm guards would have done the trick, but those bumps and scrapes won't keep me off the bike. I've got some elbow/forearm guards for kayaking. Maybe I'll try then out on the bike. I can't think of anything that would be practical for preventing my wrist injury. I'll probably get something to help stabilize it for a while until it fully heals, but I wouldn't use it every day.

It's starting to feel better, so hopefully I won't be out too long. I may be able to make the kayak trip as it's not as jarring to my hand. It's starting to feel like a deep, tissue bruise on my palm. Hopefully that's all it is.

pothole

bummer man! yeah, it sounds weird, but there's a right way and a wrong way to crash. learning "how to crash" was really important during my time racing downhill events at the pro/expert level. I took some serious diggers, some of which were captured on video, and I never got injuried to the point where I couldn't ride, and I've been riding since 1987. One of the hardest things to do is to not put your hand out to catch your fall, learning to pull your arms in to your body in a defensive postion and take the impact with a large area of your body really saves alot of the little bones from being broken. I ride motocross alot now, and I would have to say that some of the lightweight protection that I wear on my dirt bike would be very helpful for mountain biking, although climbing with that stuff is kind of a pain. One of those six-six-one under jersey chest/shoulder protectors would help alot, along with knee/shin guards and elbow/forearm guards. All that stuff could go in your backpack or hydration pack on the climb and use it for the downhill. Anyway, heal fast and don't let one wreck slow you down too much, if you ain't wreckin', you ain't learnin'......

Zapcod

Well...well...well...looks like us St Louis guys like crashing as much as riding . I am still healing from my crash 3 weeks ago. As a matter of fact I am seeing a Dr. today because something does not feel right in my shoulder still. I missed my Berry Man ride because of this also. I will be riding all winter (as long as I can stand the cold) in hopes of a spring ride at Berry Man. We talked a little while ago about getting togeather for a ride at Chub and maybe we can get a fourm ride planned for the Bery Man this next spring. Just a thought, get well soon and listen to what the Dr. stays...no cheating the healing process

Curtis_Elwood

The Berryman in the Spring sounds good. That is if it isn't raining. The Saint Francis is very close by. I'm game, though. The doc didn't X-ray, but said it looks like a muscle injury. So, I'm gonna ice it and see what happens. It's gonna be tender for a while, but it's probably not broken. I'll post when I'm ready to hit the Chubb again. If you didn't figure it out, that's where it happened.

Zapcod

I kind of had and idea of where you crashed . The Chubb is naaaaaaasty...just like I like it. Let me know when you are ready. I have a funky job so time off is weird but we'll work something out.

Dannihilator

Sounds like you need to get a 2nd opinion and xrays.

nbgrom

Definately get it checked out. Last friday I hurt my foot skateboarding and proceeding to go skating andsailing in monterey in mast-snapping conditions. I got x-rays monday and found out it was a clean break. Doctor said that walking, skating, and sailing on it probably worsened the break which meant more downtime. No mountain biking, surfing, skating, or dirtbiking for 8-10 more weeks so I feel your pain.

Curtis_Elwood

I'm heading to an Ortho doc this afternoon. The pain is relocating on me. We'll see what the X-rays have to say. Will post back here with an update. I wish I had a scanner so I could post a pic of the X-ray.

Curtis_Elwood

The verdict is in. Looks like a bruised tendon on the plam side of my 5th metacarpal. Better than it being broken, but it still hurts. He said it will feel better in a week or two. It may be at leat three weeks before I can take the discomfort of MTBing. I'm still going to try to make the paddling trip next weekend. I can grip well with two fingers and probably with all 3 or 4 by then. Some vitamin I should also help.

cheezthis

Just make sure you have some way of getting someone to help you out. On Monday morning, I had a crash that separated my shoulder and gave me a pretty serious concussion. I called a friend that I ride w/often to help me out. I actually don't remember much at all from that day, including how I got out (friend got me, but I don't remember any of it). I'm just glad I had a helmet.

It was humbling to say the least...

Curtis_Elwood

Man, sorry to hear that. Yes, it's a solo sport, but it's much better to ride with buds. I don't get on any rivers above class III without my friends. Making sure that you and your friends have good first aid training is a plus too. I've put in two dislocated shoulders on the river in places that you just can't walk out of. Mountain biking brings you to those kind of places sometimes. I took a two-day course in wilderness first aid about 5 years ago. While I'm a little rusty, I still remember quite a bit from that class and I've been able to help out several buds with serious injuries ranging from concussions to shattered ankles. Just something to think about. Hope you get well soon. I feel like such a wuss compared to others' on this board with bigger injuries.
https://www.nols.edu/wmi/