Nate552

Rode with my Dad today, we were about 35 miles into a 50 miler when he went down. We were heading north, with a west wind, and I had just finished up a 2 mile pull. I pulled off to the left, into the wind, and felt some pressure on my rear wheel and my Dad said, "Whoa...." Aw crap I thought. I looked over my right should to see him sliding off the road on his right shoulder. Circled back and he said, "My shoulder's messed up." Uh oh, I thought, broken? Dislocated? Collar Bone? Luckily, none of the above. After determining it wasn't broken we checked his bike, (I know I know, what took us so long??). His Lemond Tete de Course wasn't scratched at all! His DA shifter was a bit scratched up, but no biggie. He couldn't lift his arm up very well but felt ok enough to try to ride. He was able to finish the last 15 miles, but couldn't get out of the saddle or change hand positions. It's weird, his shoulder doesn't hurt, but he can't lift his arm, maybe nerve damage? My tactical sense says his crash wasn't my fault, but I feel awful... He's an experienced rider, rides about 7000-10000 miles a year for the last 8 years, it's not like he's a bad rider. I just feel so bad......

NealH

**** happens. Its unfortunate but, I suspect its only a bad internal bruise or strain which will be painful for a few days and limit his arm motions. Usually takes 4-6 weeks to heal. Ice today, and heat tomorrow and thereafter. Do whatever you can for him, you only have one father and he will not be here forever.

Val23708

sounds like a crossed wheel. though if he were drafting you he should have been on the right side of your wheel.

Jakedatc

I would have him ice for far longer than the first day.. accute inflammation can go on for at least 72 hrs. Heat feels good but it increases blood flow and increases inflammation in the area.

could be all kinds of things. no way of determining over the internet. If he is having seriously limited motion and any tingling, numbness, burning then he should get it looked at. (i don't know what Neal is talking about with his 4-6 week thing... it could be anything from a bruise to a subluxed shoulder (dislocate then relocates immediately)

I'd feel bad but not horribly bad. he should know not to overlap your wheel. now both of you will think about it more next time.

Nachoman

Lucky! My dad went down about five years ago with a broken wrist, broken clavicle and fractured hip. The doctors told me he might never walk again because of the severity of his hip fracture. They weren't sure they could repair it. He's basically fine now, but he never got back on the bike.

NealH

Yes, the more I think about it the more I think he should be looked at. It could be any number of things, some of which might need medical attention, not merely rest.

Gluteus

Bummer!

Nate552

Thanks for the advice guys!

Nate552

Wow. I'm glad he did recover though.

Swat369

If your thinking nerve damage like symptoms, it may be a brachial plexus injury otherwise known as a stinger in football. The nerve branch in the shoulder is compressed or stretched but aside from paralysis there would also be nerve like burning pain for awhile at first.

Kai Winters

See a doctor to make sure nothing is wrong.
Sounds like a bit of overlap to me.
Ah well it happens.
Glad he is basically ok.

gabdy

For sure get it checked, shoulders can be a real biatch to heal and deal with.I damaged my shoulder from bowling(cricket) all out without a warmup. I ignored it and thought it was just soft tissue damage. 6 months later my shoulder was still ****ed and it took 12 months to heal without medical assistance.

HigherGround

I'd add another vote to having his shoulder checked by a medical professional. Maybe it is a false alarm and you're out a few bucks. If so, it beats wishing later on that you had gotten it checked out. Either way, I hope he has a speedy recovery.

1955

How old is dad?

vmajor

It may be nothing.

I did an endo while trying to jump down to the road and hyperestended my shoulder followed by a roll right on it. I could not really use my arm much, or lift my arm for a while.

I was amazed your dad managed to do 15 miles! I considered myself lucky to make it back home only 3km away.

The symptoms went away during the day.

If your dad's symptoms persist, get him to see a doctor just to see if infact he did not fracture it.

V.

RichinPeoria

Hope he is feeling better soon.

Wanderer

Always get checked by a professional (Doctor) immediately.

Many injuries are made more severe by not getting proper treatment quickly.

Especially us older guys - we don't heal as good or as fast......

Nate552

58. I'll encourage him to go see a Doc. Years ago my brother was an ace pitcher for the local Junior College and my Dad hurt his rotator cuff on this same shoulder spending all those years coaching him. It could perhaps be related. But we never could get him to a Doctor about his shoulder then. Maybe now he will go. And yeah, it was overlap, he had overlapped my rear wheel on the left and had left his hands on the tops, away from his brakes. So when I pulled off to the left I swiped his front wheel.

milnerpt

at that age, it definitely sounds like a cuff injury. Sometimes you can damage it and kinda inhibit it, where you cant lift... sometimes you FOOSH (fall on outstretched shoulder) and tear your cuff...and cant lift it. Sometimes it can even be painless.


Its a good idea to see your doc/orthopedist.

You can fully tear through an old partial tear as well....

1955

Yeah, pester him until he goes to the doctor.

Gluteus

By the way, I envy you. I think is great that you ride with your dad. I wish I could do the same.

Nate552

It truly is a blessing to be able to ride with my Dad. We try to go up to Angel Fire NM once a year to ride the Enchanted Circle, and those are some of my favorite rides I've ever done. He actually got me into cycling back in 2001-02. He started riding a Trek 820 in a local park. I was 24 at the time and one day I said, "I cant' have my Dad be in better shape than me, gimme a bike!"

Update, I talked to my dad today and he thinks he has a mild shoulder separation based on his symptoms. He actually went and rode around his neighborhood today....he's so hard headed. I told him to go see a Doctor but he said he wanted to wait to see if it'll get better. Hard headed......

Bontrager

or more depending.. but +1 anyway.

Reynolds 

Your dad is a brave guy.
As for the crash, I know you feel bad - happened to me once with a friend. But wheel overlaps, distractions, etc. happen. Even the pros touch wheels and crash sometimes.

Nate552

He is doing the ice thing.