Broken elbow - anyone else suffered one?

[Cycle Fan]

So broke my elbow about 2 weeks ago after a fall and been in a sling for the past 2 weeks.

 

Just wondering if any other hubbers suffered from from 1 and what their recovery time was like?

 

Thanks

 

PS - its a fractured radial head if that helps

[I-FELT-the-FORCE]

Oh hell yeah.. Been there, done that!!

I too fractured the radial head and at the same time, snapped all three ligaments on my Acromio Clavical Joint, grade 4 seperation

Doctor said to me, "forget it sir, you will have to give up on riding the Argus this year", to which I replied, "I will come visit you in the Medic Tent at the end!". ALOT of pain, 4 weeks before Argus, and I was riding Chappies again . HEAVILY strapped up round the elbow and shoulder. I DID go see that same Doctor in the Medical tent by the way...... took him a coke

 

So, all in all I was off the bike for 3 weeks, hurt like the $^%^&^* , but take it easy, rest up a few weeks then get back ont he bike....

Cataflam is your FRIEND

Edited January 17, 2011 by Scultura Rider

[Cycle Fan]

Its a real bugger. Its not so much the pain, just the inconvenience. Sitting here typing with 1 hand

 

Hows the elbow now? U got your full range of motion back? Were you in a sling? For how long?

[DJR]

As with all fractures of this kind, make sure you have an orthopod that knows his ELBOWS. They often super-specialize and you don't want a knee boffin. Secondly, it is essential to get the right physiotherapy afterwards to get the best possible strength, flexibility and function back. When you start riding again, get yourself a riser bar or a higher stem at first to take weight of that arm, the bum wil hurt a bit more, but that is only temporary. Broke a wrist myself and learnt a lot through my dad who broke both elbows together in a nasty crash. O yes, and be very very patient throughout.

[SteveS]

I fell of a ladder and badly broke/dislocated my elbow (apparantly most of the time a fracutre and dislocation happens at the same as the elbow pops/breaks out of the socket) and two ribs. They had to surgically repair the elbow. I still have a screw in my elbow where the doctor reattached the tendon. The doctor told me that I would never be able to straighten my arm completely but after numerous Fisio sessions and loads of work with one of those elastic bands it eventually recovered. Pain wise the two broken ribs kept me off the bike and not the elbow for at least 6 weeks.

Edited January 17, 2011 by SteveS

[I-FELT-the-FORCE]

My elbow was actually OK, more the shoulder that i was REALLY eina with. I wore a sling 24/7 for 2 weeks and 2 days. Tried to move it around from day 4 though, little uncomfortabel and painful, but I REALLY appreciate going through that pain now.

I have FULL range of movement in my elbow and VERY luckily, FULL range of movement in my shoulder as well. Granted, 1 year later and it is a little uncomfortable if I sleep on my right side for more than a few hours.....

Take it a day at a time, rest it, but also make sure that you are still getting motion into that joint, you will be back ont he bike in NO time! You should be able to start moving it along now though (2 weeks later). If you are going to ride, use proper strapping along the back of your arm, from your forearm to your tricep, with a couble of stability bandages across the inside of your arm.

Good luck mate and SAFE riding

[Cycle Fan]

Thanks guys. Just went to my GP who is also a sports doc. Put me in a sling and told me not to move it for 2 weeks which I've done. Just waiting for him to call me to find out what the next step is.

[Cycle Fan]

Thanks SC - glad to hear its not all doom and gloom.

[Seeker911]

hit a patch of diesel on the road riding my motorcycle to work. ended up being high ended and my right elbow took one hell of a bashing. nothing broken but could not use it at all for 2 weeks after that. took about 4 weeks for swelling and bruising to clear up. my jacket fortunately has some serious armor plating on the elbow otherwise it would have broken for sure. i have never seen anyone wear knee and elbow pads riding MTB but if you are on a motorcycle best you do

[mark ellis]

never done it but just the thought of it makes me feel sick! it must be SO sore

[iRob]

I've dislocated my elbow, and broken a piece off the radial head, about half the size of your pinky nail. I was 17 at the stage, all this while doing dirt jumps on an MTB. I LAUNCHED into the air, landed on my right side, put my left arm down and it popped out right in front of my eyes. I remembered a doc saying put it back ASAP so I yanked my arm and it jumped back.

 

I think that is were the radial head broke. I walked down the little hill with my 12 year old brother frantically cycling to call my family. I got to one of them brown Eskom boxes, lay back against it and it popped out again. Almost fainted.

 

The orthopedic surgeon wanted to give me an artificial joint. 4 weeks before matric exams, 3 before matric farewell. Temporary sling for 2 weeks, was swollen so badly.

 

Oh yes, the little piece of bone was never removed from my arm...

 

All in all, 9 weeks. THEN the physio started. Man that was painful. 3 years later I decided to join the gym, 5kg MAX on my left arm. 0 strength...

 

Took me 2 years to even consider riding a bike, and when I did it hurt like hell.

 

9 years later: 90% mobility in the joint, if I fall it hurts way more then normal, and after the Sabie last month, a fall on 24/12 and the ATTAKWAS on Saturday I realised it is badly inflamed. So I've booked a visit to the doc just before I read this thread.

 

Lets hope its not too bad.

[flymango]

In 2006 I fell after my first 100m of single track ever (Mamba, Tokai). Broke my coronoid bone, shattered the radial head, and dislocated the joint. Known as "terrible triad". Four operations and 9 months later, I was able to start cycling again. Elbow can only extend to about 120 degrees (normal being 180 degrees). The psychological scars remain, but hey, once the cycling bug bites ...

 

I had a brilliant doctor!! Make sure you get to see an orthopod who is also an elbow expert, without delay!!

[Wernervdmerwe]

Cracked my radial head in a freak fall in Tokai as well.

 

Had it in a sling for 2 weeks and then a cast for 4. One session with the physio with exercises that I did maybe twice after.

Full range of elbow and no pain.

 

Little sore after the cast came off getting the muscles to work again after their time off, but within a week or so I was back in business.

Took about another week to get the minerals to push my limits it again

[flymango]

In 2006 I fell after my first 100m of single track ever (Mamba, Tokai). Broke my coronoid bone, shattered the radial head, and dislocated the joint. Known as "terrible triad". Four operations and 9 months later, I was able to start cycling again. Elbow can only extend to about 120 degrees (normal being 180 degrees). The psychological scars remain, but hey, once the cycling bug bites ...

 

I had a brilliant doctor!! Make sure you get to see an orthopod who is also an elbow expert, without delay!!

Forgot to add: a prosthesis remains an option, as I don't have full strength in the joint. Also damaged my ulnar nerve, and to this day I don't have full function of my hand.

[Cycle Fan]

iRob, man that's terrible. Thankfully, dont think mines as bad.

 

Cracked my radial head in a freak fall in Tokai as well.

 

Had it in a sling for 2 weeks and then a cast for 4. One session with the physio with exercises that I did maybe twice after.

Full range of elbow and no pain.

 

WVW, did you have the cast put on after the sling? If so, why?

[flex]

Had exactly the same injury, cracked radial head bone after crashing at Carnival City race in 2009. Took 6 weeks to recover and I don't really have any issues now. I've been taking Arthro Choice tablets since then, at my orthopaedic surgeon's recommendation, to minimise my chances of arthritis at a later stage in life.