SheFly
03-24-2008, 12:34 PM
I am very happy to report that through several weeks of PT, my right shoulder (rotator cuff tendonitis and laberal SLAP tear) is doing much better. I have been continuing to ride and do my normal activites without surgery (Yay!) or cortisone.
Of course the injury could have been avoided by me NOT falling on the shoulder while racing/training (3 times in 2 weeks)...
Fast forward (or backward) to January. Despite the shoulder injury, I was still riding, and went out with the boys for a snow/ice ride on the 27th (with studded tires on th MTB). Unfortunately, I slid on the ice near the end of our ride, and in trying NOT to fall on my injured shoulder, landed instead on my left handm fingers outstretched, and the middle finger taking the brunt of the impact.
I blinked away any tears, decided I hadn't broken anything and rode home. Two days later, swelling and bruising seemed to confirm to me that I had likely sprained something. Of course, I don't typically stop for much (high tolerance for pain), and continued riding, snowmobiling and going about daily life.
Eight weeks later, I went to the hand specialist today. Daily activities are painful, there is still some swelling, and braking is difficult (not to mention that race season starts next month, and the training is ramping up). Apparently I have sprained a tendon as well as tendonitis on the radial side of my 3rd metatarsul(?). My options were: 1. cortisone; 2. hand surgeon (but likely nothing they could do); 3. splint for 3 weeks and NSAIDS.
I chose the splint (and am sitting typing with one hand). I am supposed to wear it constantly, except for showers. I figure that is ok, but I likely will still ride and take it off for that as well. 85% of the time (vs. the recommended 99.9%) has to be better than 0%, right?
Mostly, I'm just venting. And realizing how it must sound to non-cyclists when I tell them about these injuries being a result of falling off my bike...
SheFly
Of course the injury could have been avoided by me NOT falling on the shoulder while racing/training (3 times in 2 weeks)...
Fast forward (or backward) to January. Despite the shoulder injury, I was still riding, and went out with the boys for a snow/ice ride on the 27th (with studded tires on th MTB). Unfortunately, I slid on the ice near the end of our ride, and in trying NOT to fall on my injured shoulder, landed instead on my left handm fingers outstretched, and the middle finger taking the brunt of the impact.
I blinked away any tears, decided I hadn't broken anything and rode home. Two days later, swelling and bruising seemed to confirm to me that I had likely sprained something. Of course, I don't typically stop for much (high tolerance for pain), and continued riding, snowmobiling and going about daily life.
Eight weeks later, I went to the hand specialist today. Daily activities are painful, there is still some swelling, and braking is difficult (not to mention that race season starts next month, and the training is ramping up). Apparently I have sprained a tendon as well as tendonitis on the radial side of my 3rd metatarsul(?). My options were: 1. cortisone; 2. hand surgeon (but likely nothing they could do); 3. splint for 3 weeks and NSAIDS.
I chose the splint (and am sitting typing with one hand). I am supposed to wear it constantly, except for showers. I figure that is ok, but I likely will still ride and take it off for that as well. 85% of the time (vs. the recommended 99.9%) has to be better than 0%, right?
Mostly, I'm just venting. And realizing how it must sound to non-cyclists when I tell them about these injuries being a result of falling off my bike...
SheFly