Cycling through the pain.

[BlackPanther]

'Tis all my own fault. I spent 2 weeks 'holiday' sitting on my a**e. On my last day off (Tues) I went for a ride of about 20 miles, some of it 'flat out'. An almost unnoticeable ache in my left ankle from that ride turned into a throbbing after Wednesdays commute. Like a fool, I thought I could ride it off. I really struggled for the 2nd half of this mornings ride, and coming home today turned into my most painful, and slowest ride ever. I very nearly rang the Missus to come and pick me up, but just made it back. It made my ride home after last years crash (25 mph worth of road rash on my left buttock) seem like a walk in the park. I'll be digging out the motorbike for the first time in months tomorrow. Hopefully 3 days rest and I'll be fit for Monday. More likely though, I'll have to spend some of my hard earned cash buying that stuff that you get from the end of that hose thing.....petrol I think it's called?


It's made me wonder though. What's the worst injury that anyone on here's had, but still rode all the way home? Extra points for pictures!

 

[Matthew_T]

I have always had problems with my knees. Today I had a pain in my right one. Mine are only mild and I am able to cycle through the pain.

GWS with your anckle.

 

[Drago]

Broken elbow.

 

[jonny jeez]

BP...sorry if I sound like a nanny but I am just back on the bike after nearly 10 weeks of being off due to a recurring tendonitis in my ankle.

what's the pain like, is it at the rear...is there selling.

if so I'd be happy to pass on the coclusion that took me ten weeks to arrive at.

 

[BlackPanther]

It feels better now after an ice pack, can't see any swelling. The tendon feels like I've been kicked hard at the back of my ankle, but it doesn't go away. When cycling I feel the tendon stretching, as though the the pedals are way too far away (I ride a recumbent bike, but it's set up bang on) I'm guessing that I've just stretched it a little on my over enthusiastic ride t'other day, and hopefully a few days rest (and a week or so taking it a bit steadier) will cure it......hopefully it'll not be a 10 week recovery.

Wish I'd read this yesterday!
Treating tendonitis

In many cases, a painful tendon will get better after a few days.
You should stop doing the exercise or activity that caused your symptoms. Self-help techniques, such as rest, painkillers and ice packs, can often help relieve tendonitis.

So I'm guessing that I shouldn't have tried to 'ride it off. Oops!

 

[jonny jeez]

It feels better now after an ice pack, can't see any swelling. The tendon feels like I've been kicked hard at the back of my ankle, but it doesn't go away. When cycling I feel the tendon stretching, as though the the pedals are way too far away (I ride a recumbent bike, but it's set up bang on) I'm guessing that I've just stretched it a little on my over enthusiastic ride t'other day, and hopefully a few days rest (and a week or so taking it a bit steadier) will cure it......hopefully it'll not be a 10 week recovery.

Wish I'd read this yesterday!
Treating tendonitis

In many cases, a painful tendon will get better after a few days.
You should stop doing the exercise or activity that caused your symptoms. Self-help techniques, such as rest, painkillers and ice packs, can often help relieve tendonitis.

So I'm guessing that I shouldn't have tried to 'ride it off. Oops!

This is the problem though (at the risk of becoming a tendinitis bore) Cycling is a low impact sport and not one that is prone to causing tendinitis. So, as I have found after months of recurring problems, visits to GP's and physiotherapy, you really need to identify and isolate the cause of the problem as its unlikely to be down to just pure cycling.

For me it was trial and error that resulted in the understanding that, as I put my right foot down in traffic (at stops) I clench the muscles in my leg. If I don't I often get cramp in the arch of my foot. The problem was that as I ride with a high saddle my toes only just reach the floor.

Hundreds of stops with a tightened muscles, extended to the max...caused the tendon to inflame. Repetitive riding (even slow, low impact) still invited stops and as such the bloody thing never went away.

so now, I dismount at the lights or use the left foot and the result; no more creaking swelling or tightness in the dodgy ankle.

 

[Zakalwe]

It's great working out the odd little reasons that yield the best eureka moments. I had some knee trouble recently underneath the kneecap, did all the google medical research, found all the causes and treatments and horror stories of how my cycling days were numbered. Finally realised it was down to the stairs in my new house, my knee made a loud pop as I turned on each landing so I changed the way I walk up the stairs et voila, pain-be-gone.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

1. Went over the bars down a steep descent going round Rushop Edge and Edale. Legs went through the frame, the pedal spikes gouged three 10 inch slices into my shin. Shame first aid kit was in the car back in Castleton. Mopped the blood with a hankie and carried on.

2. Tore ligaments in both knees while mud plugging (and subsequently puncturing) on a January morning near Doncaster. Sharp knee pains on every pedal stroke for remaining 10 miles. The latest opinion is that I've stripped the cartilage off the back of both kneecaps too. Couldn't bend knees properly for 4 months, icing every day. Spent 1 year from that day in constant pain, with the addition of constant recurring chronic bursitis, 4 months in physio. Shame I'm allergic to anti-inflammatories and codeine. Nearly 4 years later I can manage the occasional maximum of 20 miles and knees are 'temperamental'.
Many thanks to the first doctor I saw for not giving a flying fcuk, and telling me to go home and rest at every appointment for those 4 months. His gift to me was totally wasted oblique muscles and kneecap tracking problems to add to the mix.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i came off fractured my left wrist, dislocated my right middle finger, fractured my right index finger, cut above my eye and road rash on my cheek. rode home, mopped the blood up, cleaned the bike up and made sure it was ok, went to ride to work and noticed my wrist looked like a cricket ball so i drove myself to hospital! showed up at a petrol station with a big red wrist, blood pouring down my face picking up tissues and paracetemol. bizarrly noone asked if i was ok or offered to help me!

result was glued eyelid, cast on my left wrist and splints on my right fingers so no driving for me!! oops.

 

[Matthew_T]

I have a traveller's first aid kit in my saddle bag, just in case of emergencies which I might need to see to before I continue and get more help.
A guy on a club run cut his knee open on a fall and I offered to sort it out but he just opted for the tissue I gave him. Not sure if he got it looked at though.

 

[Peowpeowpeowlasers]

I get a minor ache in the tendon on the left, behind my left knee. Its bloody annoying, I've tried all sorts of position changes to get rid of it but it persists. Never gets "ouch" painful though, just "hello, remember me?" achey.

 

[Matthew_T]

I get a minor ache in the tendon on the left, behind my left knee. Its bloody annoying, I've tried all sorts of position changes to get rid of it but it persists. Never gets "ouch" painful though, just "hello, remember me?" achey.

Same as me.

 

[gambatte]

I tried to cross the road and bunny hop the MTB up the kerb, to head down a snicket.
Kerb was higher than I thought
Bike stopped
I didn't
Stem/nuts interface
.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

heres me after my spill on diesel at about 10-15 mph (ish)

 

[Cyclopathic]

Out cycling once about 3 miles from home when I got a bit of the sniffles which I thought might be the very first symptoms of a cold. I thought about ringing home for a lift or even putting the bike in a taxi but I didn't have a phone or any cash with me. Bravely I resolved to carry on and try and ride through the pain and risk exhausting my body to the point where it would impede the natural healing process.
I made it home and went straight to bed. Fortunately it wasn't the onset of a cold, probably just some dust that had made me sneeze a couple of times. Nevertheless I think you will all agree it was a close run thing and I was more lucky than anything else. Apart from brave. I was very brave about it.