Wired jaw & cycling

[juliajaj]

Hi everyone. My husband was out for an early morning ride last Thursday & got in an accident when a small animal got caught in the front tire spokes, causing my husband to go over the bars. He ended up breaking his jaw, requiring it to be wired shut for 4-6 weeks. Fortunately he isn't hurt any place else, except for some bruising on his shoulder & hip & some nasty road rash.

For the past 13 years, he's participated in the DALMAC bike ride, and usually does the quad-century option (4 days - approximately 100 miles/day). This year's ride starts August 28.

After the accident, he said he's accepted the fact that he won't be able to do the ride this year since his jaw is wired shut. Today he said he's considering it. I'm trying not to overreact, but should he even be considering it? He's only able to consume liquids. The earliest the wires could come off is Sept. 11. He hasn't tried riding since the accident, so he's going to go for a 20 mile ride tonight. For daily nutrition, he's been consuming Instant Breakfast, Ensure, smoothies, protein drink & anything he can puree in the blender.

He knows I'm not "happy" about him considering this ride, but I've also told him it's his decision. He's had a few problems with dehydration after long rides, so this is another concern of mine, especially with the wired jaw.

Can you give me your opinion? Any words of wisdom for my husband. Is it possible to participate in a 4 day ride (100 miles/day) & only consume liquids both on & off the bike. If so, how much would he need to consume each day? Thanks for your help.


Julie

[waterlilli]

Only he knows how his body feels. If he has done it before then he knows what he is getting into. Ensure is suppost to be really good energy source. I know it sounds gross, but a lot of ultra runners use it for quick energy, that does not upset the tummy. What about baby food, doesn't that have lots of nutrients and such? How is he feeling right now, he many get on the bike to start training and find that he does not have the energy anyway. All you can do is trust and support him (and worry on the side because you care so much)

[MightyMitre]

Poor hubby sounds nasty.

Maybe I'm being over cautions but what would happen if he fell again? Also, I'm guessing he can't ge his mouth open very wide, so how would he manage with his breathing. I find it almost impossible to breath just through my nose.

[waterlilli]

Same thing you do everytime you fall, you get up, brush yourself off and you keep going.

[missliz]

I had my jaw wired shut for four months once. Three things concern me.

Is he on pain pills? They usually go with the territory. Probably shouldn't do an endurance event full of narcotics. He won't be able to hear the body tell him he's in trouble. Bad thing in the heat. That may also be clouding his judgement- I was full of Demerol and thought I was Superwoman...

Is he rushing back onto the horse that threw him? What are his reasons for doing this even though he knows it's probably a bad idea? it's hard to come to grips with injury and missing events, especially if it's the first time you get hurt like that.

Baby food doesn't get through a wired jaw. I spent all day putting food in a blender and eating ice cream floats and could barely get the calories I needed- I dropped too much weight, and my sports activity was really restricted from the beginning. I doubt he can get the calories and electrolyte he'll need- this may be good, as he'd bonk and be scraped up by the SAG wagon early. God, I was so hungry all the time.
Ensure and all may be great for runners on event day- but a guy who effectivly hasn't eaten in weeks is in a totally different situation. Living off that stuff is survival, not good nutrition. Been there, done it, it doesn't make a good total diet over time.

Having been there, I don't think it's a good idea. And his doctor will say absolutely not to do this. Even when the wires come out your jaw muscles are atrophied and you don't go right back to eating normally. Soup with small stuff in it. He has a while to go.
Perhaps you need to play dirty pool for his own good. Get a freind to tell the event organizers his jaw is broken and wired- they won't let him play. Heck, tell him straight out that if he shows up like that he won't be allowed to start. And it is the truth. No matter how many Euro team jerseys he has, he's not Tyler Hamilton. There are liability concerns here for the event. Especially if he's full of pain pills. And another fall could be truly disastrous. he needs to consider that he could be a hazard to other riders.
He may sulk about it, but it ain't double knee and foot surgury. All athletes have injury and miss events, even whole seasons. I've been out for three years being put back together.
Maybe you all could go and help SAG the event? Just being there may be what he needs. Bonding with the other Citizens of the Bicycle Nation and all that.
Hope this helps

missliz

[waterlilli]

You said that he is just considering it, and that he was going to go for a ride to see, how did he feel? You said he knows your not "happy" with him riding, but it's his decision. Believe that he will make the right one. Encourage him to volunteer, or maybe there is a shorter ride, you said he choose the quad-century option. He can always just ride for fun, or drop out if he finds it was over his head. What ever you do support him, do not go behind his back, or lie, that is horrible. It might be the greatest ride of his life- I hurt the whole way, I bonked on every hill, I was so hungry, It was so fun!

[MightyMitre]

I agree with MissLiz on this one - there's more than just himself to consider here, and I feel the event organisers wouldn't be too comfortable with letting him ride with a wired jaw.

I don't know the set up in the USA, but many events here are insured against people injuring themselves, so I don't know how it would stand if he rode, as if he was to fall again could be potenially be very serious.

I know he must be very disappointed for this to happen, after training hard and looking forward to it for a long time, but hey - not riding because you've got a broken jaw is hardly whimping out!

I can really understand the desire to tough it out and ride with the injury, but sometimes it takes just as much toughness to swallow the disappointment and stand back. I'm also pretty sure the race isn't going to turn down extra support crew.

It is his choice, but there's always next year and if he does decide to ride please make sure he takes a pair of wire cutters with his ( heaven forbid he should need them....)

[missliz]

Yeah, MM, we have the same legal issues here. I coached and organised events in other sports for years, and would NEVER have allowed anybody with a broken jaw to start. We'd never get insurance again.
It's not his decision- the event organizers aren't going to let this fella endanger himself, the other riders, or the future of the event and the sponsering club. At least I can't imagine that possibly happening. The injury is too serious, and the whole lack of food thing is really major in an endurance event. He could have lethal heart trouble from lack of electrolyte, all kinds of weird things can happen. Even riding down the street in that condition is a potential legal nightmare. If some idiot hits him the fact that he's on a bike in that condition will get him shredded in court. This isn't a cracked or stress fractured secondary bone that can be taped up. Totally different deal.
Hey waterlilli, apparently you've never had a broken jaw. It's more in the league of broken leg than broken toe. Someday you'll have a real biff or get hit and find out what injury is. And husbands sometimes need to be given a reality check, and marriage can be an underhanded game. Such is life.

Lizzy

We don't let people jump off of bridges and buildings, do we?

[MightyMitre]

I suppose at the end of the day if you're serious about your training and look after your body, you also have to be serious about how you treat it if you get injured.

If you break a bone it send a massive shock through your whole system, as your body goes into overdrive to try and get things repaired as fast as it can. As the accident was only last week I'm sure his body will still be feeling the effects.

I spoke to my boyfriend about this last night - whether he'd ride. He's a mad-keen cyclist and done several 10 hour endurance rides this year, including the Etape de Tour and he said No Way. All other issues aside, he said he just wouldn't be able to eat enough.

However, he also pointed out that the famous Eddy Mercx, (still regarded as the best cyclist ever due to his multiple Tour de France wins - amongst other victories,) rode the last 2 stages of a Tour de France in the early 70's, with a broken jaw. Totally mad, but I guess going for the yellow jersey and a Tour win is kinda special.

Juliajaj - has hubby made a decision yet, before we get ourselves any hotter under the collar?

[waterlilli]

marriage can be an underhanded game
Well I guess that explains the divorce rate! I would never wish for you to hurt yourself like you did to me. I guess I am on the wrong forum.

[missliz]

I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings Waterlilli, that was not my intent. You bruise mighty easily. But did it ever occur to you that the divorce rate being high might be a good thing- people can get out of hell instead of suffering silently, and that would mostly apply to women. It might also be mentioned that in truly successful long term relationships theres a lot of knowing when to keep your mouth shut and when to put your foot down. If you tell a woman in a successful forty year old marriage that it's sometimes an underhanded game she'll laugh and agree. She'll get it. Maybe you could learn something there? Like words have many shades of meaning according to context. Go look up pragmatism in the big dictionary. Also, honesty is very sweet but diplomacy is often more useful. Now before you get all hurt, go look up diplomacy.
Didn't I tell the lady to look her guy in the eye and tell him he wouldn't be allowed to start? I'm betting he is full of pain pills, and it's her responsibility to keep him from doing anything really stupid in that state.


Eddie Mercx was a proffessional athlete who rode two stages (relatively easy ones being last?) on low calories, but had been eating normally 'till that time. Tyler Hamilton finished sixth this year with a broken collarbone. Both had team doctors and coaches who would have retired them if their health was truly endangered. Their careers were on the line, as well as the biggest prize in their world. It's a little different here.

Lizzy

[juliajaj]

Sorry it's taken me a few days to reply. Before discussing this issue with my husband, I made a mental checklist of all the points I wanted to bring up (most of the points were discussed in this post). He did go out for a 20 mile group ride on Tuesday evening. His average is typically 18-20 mph, and he was able to ride somewhat close to this average. However, when he would break from the pace line he had a problem catching his breath, so he had to reduce his speed to get his breathing under control. After the ride, he assumed he wouldn't do the 4 day century ride, but I didn't find this out until I discussed my concerns with him.

I told him I was concerned about him not being able to bring properly or catch his breath, not be able to consume enough liquid/fuel/electrolytes both on & off the bike to perform, what would happen if he dehydrated again, what would happen if he fell/crashed again. Yes, I did get emotional & threw in that I'm worried that he wouldn't make it & that his 1 year old daughter is too young to live without a father & than I'm too young to be a widow. I was kind of impressed with myself, because I didn't cry at all. I stated my concerns, told him in the long run it's his decision. He told me about the bike ride, that his bike wouldn't be repaired in time for the ride, and also that he isn't healthy enough for the ride.

Yes, he wishes he could do the ride, but he's not going to endanger his health for a 4 day bike ride. Even if he has the jaw wired shut for 4-6 weeks, there still another month or 6 weeks left of ride (we live in the Chicagoland area), so he can hop back on the saddle after the wires are snipped.

Thanks for all your help & concern. I feel a great deal better & am so glad I posted my question here. Take care,

Julie

[MightyMitre]

Thanks for the update Juliajaj and all the best to your hubby for a speedy recovery.

Waterlilli - you're definitly not on the wrong forum, after all, it is a discussion forum and the whole point of a discussion is to hear different views.

MissLiz - having a broken jaw youself you've got a pretty unique insight into this which ( here's hoping ) none of the rest of us will ever have.

As for marriages, relationships, men.... I'm only too aware and grateful of the sacrifices made by women before us so we can be where we are today. It still blows my mind sometime to think that just 25 years ago women in the UK , who did the exact-same jobs as men were paid less, because they were women.!!!! However, that's definitly for a different forum. Bring on the bikes...