So who broke their Ulna?

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

30 October 2016, came off the road bike, snapped off a piece of the bone on the Ulna and they McGuyvered it back with some pins. 

 

I can't extend my arm fully yet, a slight bend. It is very noticeable on the IDT.

 

For the first 35 days I could not flex my bicep beyond 90 Degrees. It is now slowly moving which is good. I'm seeing doc tomorrow.

 

So any hubbers had a similar injury, did you make a full recovery? How long it take.

 

How long before you were back on the bike?

 

Needless to say, seeing the FB posts etc, the FOMO is real, not riding the bike, and then Tokai opens

 

ps. I will need some wheels to suck CTCT 2017 in pursuit of a sub 3.

[DJR]

Outch, that looks like you got attacjked by a grumpy granny with a pair of knitting needles.

 

I cannot give advice on the fracture, other than to urge you to do exactly what the orthopaedic surgeon says. Oh, and do your prescribed physio and exercises to get the joint fully rehabilitated afterwards.

 

If your surgeon is happy with it, This is what I did on the indoor trainer while recovering from a broken wrist and a collarbone to keep up the fitness level: Three or four times a week. Short sharp 30 minute rides. 10 minutes warm up. Then 5 intervals of 1 minute each at absolute maximum effort, with 1 minute of easy pedalling in between. Then 10 minutes easy riding to cool down, and you are done. It was incredibly effective and I really felt fantastic (aerobically)after 8 weeks. 

 

What I lacked when I started riding on the road again, was upper body strength, my neck, back, shoulders and arms got tired quickly. It recovered soon enough.

[Lurch the stalker]

I haven't done that, but did break the elbow inside the joint in 3 places in a MTB crash in 2011.

 

1 plate and half dozen screws to put it back together.

 

Recovery was 2 weeks in a sling after the surgery, and only then did the doctor put it in a cast (in his rooms). I had that for another 6 weeks.

 

Couldn't bend the arm because the muscles had obviously atrophied so I had about 3,5 months of physio. They initially said 6 months, and that the arm wouldn't ever extend fully again, but I was fortunate that the physio was a guy who did Krav Maga and I told him I needed to get back into the dojo and back on the bike asap and no matter how much I threatened, swore, or cried he must push me.

 

For me, I think the biggest thing in the recovery, other than the rest was to not settle for the 'oh well this is good enough' and to push through.

[(Deon)]

Ouch! Just say the word and the FB posts will stop till you're back.. promise! But then take the doc's advice.. 

[TALUS]

That is an Olecranon fracture. That is by definition an intra-articular fracture. They can be problematic. If those are your newest XR your wires may have migrated (but those lok like intra-operative pics). The lateral view is needed to confirm this. Factors that will influence healing negatively are smoking and age. Swelling is a rough indicator that the elbow is not happy yet. Tension band wiring (the op you had) is designed to give BETTER compression when the elbow is flexed - so no problem there. Extension often takes longer to return. 6 Weeks is often enough time for bone healing so I think your surgeon is likely to say it is time to do more aggressive rehab. BTW: IMHO you should only remove the metal if it irritates you after 9 months.

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Talus, you sound like a Doc! You right those pics were on op day. the ones he looked at 3 weeks ago he was happy with the bone healing, will ask him for those pics and tomorrow's X-rays. There is no swelling and 6weeks is the marker for the bone to heal. At this stage the Doc didn't recommend physio,just two exercises . one exercise is to twist the fist left and right which I can do with no issue. The flexing of the bicep is very slow and it comes to a point where I feel that metal contraption is holding it back, but that is not the case cause it is making progress. Lurch summed it up well about pushing through and honestly, that is my problem. I'm so afraid something will break or I will hurt myself. Thanks for advice folks. Ps, I'm a non-smoker for a couple of years now and 41. Other than the 3kgs I picked up since the crash, I'm tip top.

 

DJR, I'm doing 30 - 60 minute spells on the IDT and keeping the legs moving, heart pumping and the power enough to keep me honest.

 

I am worried about full  recovery and very frustrated, but lets see what doc says tomorrow. btw, my bike is my transport to work, so now I'm driving a car or taking a train. That just pounds the pocket and frustration levels.

 

But, hopefully I'm on the bike soon.

[TALUS]

Talus, you sound like a Doc! You right those pics were on op day. the ones he looked at 3 weeks ago he was happy with the bone healing, will ask him for those pics and tomorrow's X-rays. There is no swelling and 6weeks is the marker for the bone to heal. At this stage the Doc didn't recommend physio,just two exercises . one exercise is to twist the fist left and right which I can do with no issue. The flexing of the bicep is very slow and it comes to a point where I feel that metal contraption is holding it back, but that is not the case cause it is making progress. Lurch summed it up well about pushing through and honestly, that is my problem. I'm so afraid something will break or I will hurt myself. Thanks for advice folks. Ps, I'm a non-smoker for a couple of years now and 41. Other than the 3kgs I picked up since the crash, I'm tip top.

 

DJR, I'm doing 30 - 60 minute spells on the IDT and keeping the legs moving, heart pumping and the power enough to keep me honest.

 

I am worried about full  recovery and very frustrated, but lets see what doc says tomorrow. btw, my bike is my transport to work, so now I'm driving a car or taking a train. That just pounds the pocket and frustration levels.

 

But, hopefully I'm on the bike soon.

DEFINITELY get a professional to help you with rehab.

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Doc happy, healed up

 

can get go ride now