Broken bones - how long before you could ride again?

[Godzilla]

Broke collarbone in June this year. Was back on bike after 9 weeks. Tell me, anyone who has broken collarbone and who has had plates and screws from op. How do you sleep these days ? I still cannot sleep on broken side at all. Also, when i sleep on good side if i do not prop up my arm on the broken side it aches like hell. I have doen all the rehab and physio stuff but it still aches like hell at night (after 7 months). Perfect during the day, but a bitvh at night !!!

Anyone have the same problem ?

[TALUS]

Could be: non-union (sometimes only visible on CT scan), AC joint injury (common) or Sterno- clavicular injury (uncommon). Have your rotator cuff checked with a ultrasound. Should have been better by now.

[V12man]

Broke collarbone in June this year. Was back on bike after 9 weeks. Tell me, anyone who has broken collarbone and who has had plates and screws from op. How do you sleep these days ? I still cannot sleep on broken side at all. Also, when i sleep on good side if i do not prop up my arm on the broken side it aches like hell. I have doen all the rehab and physio stuff but it still aches like hell at night (after 7 months). Perfect during the day, but a bitvh at night !!!

Anyone have the same problem ?

 

Definitely should not be causing pain by now - relook at it on a ct scan - might want to have a look at the condition of the plate and screws too - seen a few loose that cause pain or make contact with other structures.

 

Have them taken out when you have confirmed full union if they give you trouble - I have had 1 out, definitely helped the slight discomfort and occasional mind numbing pain it caused.

[leona]

I've had no problems at all with mine. Bit of nerve damage and sometimes my seatbelt is a bit uncomfy but you definately shouldn't be having pain still! They offered to take my plate out f I wanted but it's no bother.

[Peach.]

2012-03-04 - Boxxers fracture, 5 weeks with pins, was back on MTB after 6 weeks, ached a little but came right quickly.

 

2012-08-12 - Fractured Left Radius, got some hardware put in, cast for 6 weeks, IDT after 6 weeks, back on MTB after 10 weeks, DJ after 3 months.

 

2012-11-23 - Fractured Right Radius, Got some more hardware, Cast for 2 weeks, IDT after 3 weeks, back on MTB after 2 months.

 

Got my plates removed from both arms last week, should be back on the bike 3 or 4 weeks after op.

[Peach.]

Broke collarbone in June this year. Was back on bike after 9 weeks. Tell me, anyone who has broken collarbone and who has had plates and screws from op. How do you sleep these days ? I still cannot sleep on broken side at all. Also, when i sleep on good side if i do not prop up my arm on the broken side it aches like hell. I have doen all the rehab and physio stuff but it still aches like hell at night (after 7 months). Perfect during the day, but a bitvh at night !!!

Anyone have the same problem ?

 

Broke my collar bone 8 years ago, no plate or op, just left to heal up.

If I lie on that side for a long time it starts to ache, other than that no issues.

[hayleyearth]

I'd rather take a broken bone than a torn ligament.... but I'm pretty sure a had a few cracked ribs the last few months.

 

I am praying that I keep all bones in tact in 2014 though (I need to order body armour asap)!! I need a good health year!

[Grebel]

I had a Latarjet Procedure done on my right shoulder due to multiple dislocations in October. Doc reckons 3 months and I'll be able to play rugby if I want.... Basically they remove the coracoid from the scapula and do a bone graft onto the front of the glenoid attaching it with two screws which prevents any further dislocations as well as some other muscle and tendon removal and replacement to get to the area that they need to do the bone graft. We are currently almost at 3 months and I don't see myself running onto a rugby field anytime soon... I think the doctor was a bit optimistic TBH

 

Every person heals up differently. I have done all the physio and recently started with the strengthening work. I am disappointed that it is taking this long but I suppose patience is the key here. I would rather let it heal properly than rush it and run the risk of additional damage.

 

Not really a break but like a fracture, the boned need to fuse in order to do their job. I'm pretty sure they are fused by now, just didn't realise how much strength I would lose in the process....

 

Hoping to do a proper ride sometime soon after all this Christmas cheer has subsided

[worriesnot]

Broke L1 vertebrae on 16 Dec 2012 @ Northern Farm (yes, I was the guy getting airlifted to Milpark that day...).

Got back on stationary bike by mid Feb and first off-road ride again on 8 June 2013, and still going.

Not recommended...

[Jigghead]

I had a Latarjet Procedure done on my right shoulder due to multiple dislocations in October. Doc reckons 3 months and I'll be able to play rugby if I want.... Basically they remove the coracoid from the scapula and do a bone graft onto the front of the glenoid attaching it with two screws which prevents any further dislocations as well as some other muscle and tendon removal and replacement to get to the area that they need to do the bone graft. We are currently almost at 3 months and I don't see myself running onto a rugby field anytime soon... I think the doctor was a bit optimistic TBH

 

Every person heals up differently. I have done all the physio and recently started with the strengthening work. I am disappointed that it is taking this long but I suppose patience is the key here. I would rather let it heal properly than rush it and run the risk of additional damage.

 

Not really a break but like a fracture, the boned need to fuse in order to do their job. I'm pretty sure they are fused by now, just didn't realise how much strength I would lose in the process....

 

Hoping to do a proper ride sometime soon after all this Christmas cheer has subsided

 

Ja, lost muscle is the big problem. After my ankle, I lost around 12cm diameter on my quad and around 9cm around my calf. This was compared to the healthy side, bearing in mind the only work done by the healthy side was the walking on crutches.

 

It's a b~tch, but rather ensure full recovery before getting back into exercise

[Ratty]

I'd rather take a broken bone than a torn ligament.... but I'm pretty sure a had a few cracked ribs the last few months.

 

I am praying that I keep all bones in tact in 2014 though (I need to order body armour asap)!! I need a good health year!

 

I'm with you there. First time I've torn ligaments (thumb) and its taking longer to be useable than when I broke my hand. With a break its more just pain, with the ligament I had a total loss of strength which freaked me out. Been a month off so far and can only start riding on smooth trails on the 4th Jan.

 

Longest break to heal was my hand. Had a cast on for 3 weeks, then flew to England and went to the wind tunnel to practice my sky diving which involved grabbing the side of the entrance to get out. Got back 2 weeks later and had an X-Ray - bone had not healed at all so got a more secure/restrictive brace put on. Managed to cycle with the brace, even did a little road race. Total time to heal was 11 weeks, lesson learnt.

[Tacet]

It's a b~tch, but rather ensure full recovery before getting back into exercise

 

Yep - I'll rather be frustrated a couple of weeks more than sit with problems when I'm a bit older. I'm 29 now, so these bones have to last me quite a while yet, I hope.

 

@Peach, a broken arm is one thing, but you seem to make a hobby of it! If I've broken as many times as you have, you'll find me looking like this:

 

http://bossnotboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/5523017579_8a35ee50aa_o-369x516.png

[Grebel]

I'm with you there. First time I've torn ligaments (thumb) and its taking longer to be useable than when I broke my hand. With a break its more just pain, with the ligament I had a total loss of strength which freaked me out. Been a month off so far and can only start riding on smooth trails on the 4th Jan.

 

Longest break to heal was my hand. Had a cast on for 3 weeks, then flew to England and went to the wind tunnel to practice my sky diving which involved grabbing the side of the entrance to get out. Got back 2 weeks later and had an X-Ray - bone had not healed at all so got a more secure/restrictive brace put on. Managed to cycle with the brace, even did a little road race. Total time to heal was 11 weeks, lesson learnt.

 

That's what freaked me out the most... While lying on my back, I was unable to lift my hand up off the bed... I am only just able to complete a set of shoulder press using 4kg weights.... building up slowly but it is hard work. The right arm really burns while my left arm is idling!

[RockCoach]

I broke my wrist in 7 places and dislocated it by about 30mm. The doctors reffered to it as one of the more untreatable breaks as they have not yet perfected the shape of the plate. You don't usually have a full cast for 2 months for a wrist fracture.

 

Was back on the bike after 3 months and riding gnarly stuff after 4 months. Two years later and still only have 90% mobility. Wrist does tend to tire on long or rough rides.

 

[ACM]

mmm... break... nothing... chopped.. yes, chopped off a part of my finger with my rotor whilst preparing my bike for the Norhern farms race on 07/09/2013. Ended up at the ER with the Doc booking theatre to amputate top part of finger. Then ortopedic surgean suggested that we close finger and it will grow back by itself... duh....????

 

Well, was back on the bike 6 weeks later, but not without discomfort. But, kept at it and trained hard and rode Sabie Experience a week or so ago.

 

First pic day of accident.

Second +- 12 weeks later.

[Wyatt Earp]

4 broken ribs, 4 broken toes and two dislocated fingers this year as well as a femoral hernia repair, some good strapping and I trained through it all.