Ride with a splint (ligament damage) on index finger?
 

A week and a half ago I had an accident and suffered ligament damage in my left index finger. I also needed stitches on my chin and forehead as well as suffered some very big cuts. Someone cut in front of me on the bike path (coming from the opposite direction) and I ended up going OTB, leaving a pool of blood on the bike path and taking an ambulance to the hospital. The ambulance also took my bike which was nice of them lol. I was advised it's grade 1 or 2 two damage and should take 4 weeks in a splint with daily therapy to heal. My finger was swollen and quite stiff. It's better now but it's still very stiff do to the splinting. Am I crazy for wanting to put a smaller, less-intrusive splint on and take my bicycle out? I can't see this doing any damage if I'm careful. Obviously I won't be using the finger at all to control the brakes, gears, or grips. I'm dying to get some exercise and miss biking. The current splint covers my wrist and middle finger so it would be impossible. I have flat bars on my hybrid with mini bar-ends on the ergo grips. I live in Korea and have trouble explaining this situation to my orthopedic doctor. Now the stitches are out (thankfully no scars somehow) and I learned the person who caused it (who escaped unscathed) is paying my bills (ambulance, ct scan, stitches, x-rays, therapy.. not cheap even with insurance, makes me miss Canada) so I'm feeling 1000x better than I did a week ago.

It's going to be painful passing up this beautiful weather to wait another 3 weeks or so :(

Should I do it?

I don't believe I would.

Maybe you could get into the middle chain ring and give up the front brake with the splint you've got now, but what would happen if you had another accident or took a fall? Having one injury could get you into a situation that could cause further damage.

Valid points. I'm thinking I'd limit my speed to the 15-20/kmh range, the accident happened at my usual 30kmh. I have no doubts it was avoided if I wasn't flying even though it wasn't my fault.

Go for a walk....

If I could ride without stressing the injuries I would, but I'd take it easy so as to minimize risk of reinjury. I'd ride a spin bike or on a trainer to maintain fitness.

Or introduce Korea to this:


I really have got to quit sharing this video.

But I can't...

Feel free to "enjoy" it as often as you want in the privacy of your own home.

Sorry to read about your accident.
I'd probably ride my rollers.

:lol:

Having experienced torn ligaments on my L thumb, I can advise letting it heal. Do not use it if you can avoid it, especially cycling, as braking and shifting will make you use the finger and you don't want that.

Note that hand injuries, should you ever need therapy, are typically not covered under most medical insurance policies, which consider them "occupational therapy" (I.E. Workers Comp cases). Thus you end up with a lot of out of pocket getting your finger back and working.

And you need your index finger to work correctly. If you don't believe me, try typing a reply one handed.

When I broke my right wrist, the break was in a place that the doc didn't want ANY collateral movement; I ended up with a CAST from the hand to mid-bicep. After 4 weeks, it was reduced to below the elbow. I had to take that 4 weeks off. With the half-cast, I "shaved" the hand shell down to the point where I could grip the bar. Had to rotate the brake lever up, too for the 3 weeks of that cast.

Hurt more AFTER the cast came off...!

I purchased a sports splint, I'm quite sure I can operate my bike without using that finger at all. Not worried about medical insurance policies. I'm covered here in Korea for these injuries and I'd get coverage back home in Canada without question (or having to pay). The politics of American healthcare are absurd, so glad I'll never have to deal with that nonsense.

Thanks for the feedback, leaning towards giving it a few more weeks to heal, it's already been 11 days in a splint at this point and the first 2-3 weeks are critical for establishing proper healing from what I've read.

DX-Man, that sucks, sorry to hear,