Originally Posted by cavit8
Not to second guess your doc, but it may not have occured to him/her that you can use a recumbent trainer and not put any pressure on the wrist or hand. Scaphoid fractures are notoriously twitchy and difficult to heal because the bone's main artery supply runs through the neck of the bone itself. It's understandable that if you asked about using an exercise bike they envisioned you sitting on an upright and leaning on the wrist and they said no. Check in with them about using a recumbent and if you have access to one, try that to help get yourself going and if it will be any use at this point.
I'm not sure if it's an option, but you might consider running aerobars so your elbows take most of the load even if it's just for resting. At least its an option if you're in the middle of your 30 mile ride and you are too uncomfortable to continue otherwise. Check to make sure your wrist can be properly positioned to use one before you fork out $.
Do you have recent x-rays to assess the healing progression?
the reason for no exercise is that they dont want sweat and moisture in the cast itself. It causes mold and possible skin infection. So no exercise.
when I broke my scaphoid, I had a pin put in it (by the same doctor that treated Travis Pastrana) due to the dubious likelihood of it actually healing in the 8 week period. I got a plaster cast for a week, then after the swelling from surgery went down, they fitted me for a plastic removable brace, and I used coolmax "socks" under it so I could still go running.
I broke my wrist on memorial day of 2005, got back on the bike by august. Looking back, it was probably the most expensive way to have a wrist treated, however, I was still covered by my mom's health insurance...so it was basically free.