Broke wrist in bike crash

[runningteach]

Hi ladies! I had a car make a right turn in front of me on Sunday. The lady was going into a Wendys, did not see me. I hit her car and fell. Outcome is that my wrist is fractured and tomorrow I am having surgery. Will have a plate and screws put in permanently. Need to have PT. I was lucky that it wasn't worse. My bike is in the shop, but it didn't look bad. I was riding in a bike lane and very nice people saw it and called the police for me.

My question is, has anyone had a broken wrist and when do you think I'll be able to ride again? My main thing is running, but I love riding. Now I am worried about being fearful on the bike. I already have my mountain bike set up on my trainer. Also, I didn't see the police report yet because it takes time for it to be completed. I shouldn't be at fault at all, right? I am very cautious at intersections and just did not think someone would be so blind. I was going about 18 mph. When riding I always look at the driveways and will slow down when needed. Why couldn't she? Her car has a dent and scratch from me hitting. It was a rental car too, mercedes no less. She didn't see me and said she heard the bang. She was worrying about the car behind her driving too fast.

Thanks for any advice!

[velogirl]

It sure sounds like she's at fault. Has her insurance company called you to settle yet? Don't talk to them. Instead, talk to a good attorney. Not sure if there are cycling-specific liability lawyers in NY, but I'd recommend you chat with Gary Brustin -- http://www.bicyclelawyer.com He only handles bicycle liability/personal injury cases and although he's in CA I'm sure he can refer you to someone in NY.

[eclectic]

No suggestions just sorry to hear about your accident :(
prayers that surgery goes well and recovering time is quick

Take care

[Nanci]

Sounds like the driver failed to yield the right of way.

Here's a really good website about how to avoid the Right Hook:

http://bicyclesafe.com/

PS, sorry to hear about the wrist! It will be much stronger and heal faster with the plates/screws, though.

[Susie]

I'm so sorry to hear about your crash. I was hit by a truck in May and I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to talk to an attorney. The driver's insurance quickly replaced my bike, but starting ignoring me about the medical. I finally talked to a lawyer and things are rolling.

I'm still off the bike since an MRI two months after the crash showed a fracture (that did not show up in x-rays the night of the accident) as well as cartilage damage but I'm sure that you can ride on a trainer right now if you either sit up straight or only use one hand on the bars. I wouldn't hit the road again until your doctor says it's OK, though.

Take care and I hope you feel heal quickly.

Susie

[DDH]

Oh my goodness, I'm glad you are okay. I cannot believe she was worried about the car and not you. I think, fault or not, my first thought would be with those involved. Material items can be replaced, bodies, people and body parts cannot.

I don't know what to tell you about your case other than like veogirl said, don't settle or talk to anyone until you talk to an attorney.
I mean, I am not a sue crazy person. I don't believe in all these people that sue for anything and everything little thing they can find, but you do have to protect yourself.

I would think that a bicycle or a pedestrian would always have the right of way as long as they are crossing or riding where they are suppose to. And they don't run or ride right out in front of you.
Anyway, good luck with your surgery, and let us know what happens.

[Brandy]

I'm sorry to hear about your crash. I hope that surgery goes well and that you heal quickly!

[eclectic]

Sounds like the driver failed to yield the right of way.

Here's a really good website about how to avoid the Right Hook:

http://bicyclesafe.com/

PS, sorry to hear about the wrist! It will be much stronger and heal faster with the plates/screws, though.
Great website Nanci THANKS ! ! !

[Crankin]

Sorry about your crash; perhaps I can shed some light on getting back to riding. In August 03 my husband fell off a ladder and broke BOTH wrists. One was just a hairline that only required a splint, but the other required surgery and pins. He got the cast off after 5 weeks (after annoying the Dr. not to wait 6) and got on the bike the next day. He was in horrible pain and could only do ten miles, but he increased it slowly for a couple of weeks, along with going to OT and home exercises. I would say after 2 months he felt totally normal. By then it was getting cold out, so when he started riding again in March there were no problems. He was religious about doing the exercises and probably would not have listened if the doc had said to stay off of the bike (he didn't).
Hope your recovery goes well.

Robyn

[hsmpcycle]

I am so sorry about your accident. I hope it is nothing serious.

About 4 or 5 years ago I was riding in a bike lane and an old lady in a huge Caddy, who wanted to turn right into a bank parking lot as I was approaching the entrance, moved right into the bike lane so that other cars could pass her then finally made the turn. In doing this, I had to brake very very hard. My tire was up against her bumper when I finally stopped. I was so Hot:mad: , I slammed my fist down on her trunk. She looked up in her mirror, shocked but did nothing to apoligize. To this day, I hate it when people use the bike lane as a turn or passing lane.

My opinion about the wrist, consult a physical therapist and see what you need to do to condition it. They may suggest to exercise it by sitting on the floor at a hard surface (a chair or an end table) in front of you. Place your arm on the surface with your wrists just over the far end of the table at the ledge. Place a 5 lb. weight in your hand and have your hand lift it up and down slowly.

Hope this helps.

[Bikingmomof3]

I read the previous posts and you have been given some excellent advice. I am sorry about your wrist and will keep you in my thoughts during your sugery tomorrow.

[HappyAnika]

I'm so sorry! That's terrible. I hate bad drivers enough as it is, but this is just inexcusable. I broke my "wrist" in February (snowboarding fall), it was actually a distal radius fracture: arm bone near the wrist. I didn't have to have surgery, just a cast for 2 weeks, then a splint for 2 more weeks, then I was on my bike 6 weeks after the fall. Yours will likely take more time since you are having hardware put in. However my advice is be adamant about starting physical therapy as soon as possible. Make it very clear to your therapist that you want to get back on the bike ASAP. I think a lot of therapists are used to dealing with sedentary people who's primary goal is to be able to get back to using the remote control. Do your home exercises diligently. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

[SouthernBelle]

I wanted to point out that the insurance company won't reimburse you for your medical or injury expense until they are all in. This isn't like medical insurance, where it is paid as it's incurred. When you are done, and all your expenses, lost wages, pain suffering, etc are determined after negotiation, one check is cut and a release is signed in exchange.

HTH,

[Nanci]

Hardware is good! Then the fracture is stabilized, over, done with, rather than in a cast, flopping around till it finally makes a bridge. It'll heal faster!!

[Denise223]

I'm very sorry to hear about the crash & also about your broken wrist :( !!

You definitely WILL be able to ride -- just be sure to follow your hand surgeon's advice post surgery. Don't have PT until he/she says that it's okay.

I have had several bilateral upper extremity operations, (hands, wrists, thumbs, elbow), and have been left with surgically fused wrists. I don't have any motion -- I can't move my wrists up or down, nor can I move them side to side. (I was a passenger in a car accident).

Against the advice of my hand surgeon, I went to see a doctor "for the performing arts" - (I play the guitar). He told me that, "I would never play again, because my wrists were totally fused".

I'm happy to report that I CAN play the guitar -- the only thing that's different is the way I position my hand on the neck of the guitar.

I'm not in the market at all right now, but, if I ever do purchase a road bike, I think that I'll have to stick with straight handlebars.

Nanci's right -- with hardware, you will heal quicker and most likely will not need to wear a cast/splint for more than a month.

Take good care of yourself -- I'll be keeping you in my prayers!

Denise

[chickwhorips]

sorry to hear about your wrist. not sure how long it will heal and when you'll be back up and going, but nanci is right about healing faster than a cast.

good luck on the recovery and i hope things work out with the stupid 'person' that cut infront of you and she gets what she deserves.

[Steph_in_TX]

DH broke his wrist three years ago after a head-on collision with a big rock hiding in a shady area. :rolleyes: Anyway, it wasn't as severe as yours, but he was in a cast for six weeks and then a brace for another six while doing PT. He bought clip-on aero bars and started riding on the trainer as soon as the initial soreness subsided. All that sweating did wonders for the cast. It stunk! It took him almost the entire six weeks of PT to get back his range of motion and most of the soreness worked out before he headed outside again. It doesn't bother him at all now unless he rides a REALLY rough rode for miles on end.

Good luck!!

[runningteach]

Thanks ladies! I am a little more optimistic about getting back out there soon. I was afraid it would take months. I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks for the website too!

[Nanci]

I always wonder if you could ride in aero bars with a broken wrist...That would be my plan. There's absolutely no weight on it.

Nanci

[HappyAnika]

Hardware is good! Then the fracture is stabilized, over, done with, rather than in a cast, flopping around till it finally makes a bridge. It'll heal faster!!

I was thinking it might take longer because you are messing with the bone even more by putting screws in it. That in itself will take time to heal. Of course your doctor will have the best idea of how long it will take, everyone's breaks are different. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[Nanci]

I had a fractured fibula caused by a horse accident that took _six months_ to heal!! It just kept wobbling around in there, disturbing the new callus bone. This is my field- I'm betting it will heal faster. It needs to not move to heal.

[Kathi]

I always wonder if you could ride in aero bars with a broken wrist...That would be my plan. There's absolutely no weight on it.

Nanci

Sorry to hear of your accident. It's a really tough to be injured in the middle of the season.

I thought of trying to ride in a cast too when I broke my wrist a few years ago but the way my hand was casted I couldn't reach my brakes or shifters.

I was in a cast for 6 weeks, but it took another six weeks to gain the strength in my hand to shift and brake. My Ortho did not send me to pt but I had an athletic trainer/pt at my gym that helped me. By that time it was fall and by the next spring my strength was back and I rode without problems.

I took spinning classes, but I didn't do any of the standing, just rested my arms on the handlebars. In 03 I messed up my elbow. I put aero bars on my trainer bike and spent the rest of the summer riding it. That worked very nicely.

Do ice a lot even in a cast. For me, the icing kept the itchiness down.

I don't know if hardware speeds the healing. I had ACL surgery 5 mos ago tomorrow and I still get tingling and pain in the area where they drilled to insert the pins that the ACL is attached to. The pins are supposed to be asorbed into the bone but it takes a good year for the ACL to heal.

The good news is I've not had a problem with my wrist. After that 6 weeks of getting my strength back it was as good as new.

[pooks]

Please keep us posted about your surgery and recovery.

[margo49]

Healing toughts your way

Like what others have said - do the physical therapy.
It is quite important that your physio knows that you are a "rehabilitative type". I dunno how this phrase translates into English; but there is a recognition in the field of physical therapy that there are 2 kinds of patients. The ones who are out to maximise disability %-age and get back to the remote and those like your- and my-self who have to be restrained from doing themselves *more* damage by over-motivation.

I feel like I get into this focussed and driven mental space/state when I am ill or injured. I have had quite a few times like this but didn't appreciate how effing crazy I am till they gave me steroids while I was on chemo and they had to reduce them to 50% of the usual dose because I was so "aggressive" and then finally had to give me tranks to stop me doing myself (or the walls!) a damage in my objectively seriously weakened and immuno-supressed condition.I mention this so that you can be aware of the fine line between motivation and a particular personal psychology and can manage the situation more appropriately than Yours Truly (who prob'ly distresses and worries those around her without realising it).

[RoadRaven]

Healing thoughts and aroha from Middle Earth
Wishing you quick healing
~R~

[Bad JuJu]

Sending healing thoughts your way, for what it's worth. I'm sure the fractured wrist is no fun, but glad to hear you weren't hurt worse. I narrowly missed being injured by a car turning right in front of me about 10 years ago--the only thing that saved me was that I had just crossed an intersection and hadn't fully accelerated yet. Lady made a quick turn into a hot-dog joint because her kids yelled that they wanted hot dogs. :mad: Said she never saw me--big surprise.:rolleyes: