first proper fall

[Cocheese]

I was cycling last weekend through Core in Dorset. I was coming down the hill on the opposite side of core and realised that I was going a little too fast for the next corner. I put the brakes on but as it was raining they were not as effective as I had hoped , essentially I started to broadside around the bend then the tyres gripped again but as I was sideways the bike flipped me over hitting the road shoulder first. An ambulance was called and appeared in 10 mines which I cannot thank them enough for as the pain was pretty unbearable. After x rays and a cat scan I was told that I dislocated my shoulder but also broke my humerous just below the ball socket. The consultant pretty much has not given me any encouragement that I will be able to use the arm 100 % or even be able to get back on the bike. I have been discharged still with dislocation and broken arm until 5 days’ time when I have to go back for an operation where they will insert various plates and pins to stabilise the joint, hopefully that will provide enough support to the joint or they were considering bone grafts. Any way I know I’m going to be out of action for the whole summer or even the year (or longer) and I was looking for a bit of support as I am really down at the moment and also I would really like to hear if anyone out there has experienced similar injuries and can offer advice on their outcomes/ treatment/recovery.

Many thanks. Stay safe

 

[Fnaar]

Oof, sounds nasty. I've had 3 falls, I think, but nowt more than scrapes on me and the bike. Hope recovery goes well.

 

[yello]

That's a real bummer. Poor you. Sort of thing that could happen to anyone of us.

Take your time in recovery, don't rush it, things will improve as they do. Don't think about what the consultant says either . They may be right and they may be wrong, as I'm sure they'd agree. You certainly don't know now how you'll be next week, next month, so take it one day at a time. Make a decision about riding again when the time comes. It's too early now.

In the meantime, get some DVDs in, put your feet up and take it easy.

 

[Kies]

I fell earlier this year,also on my shoulder,but luckily nothing more than some aches and pains for a few days. I'm sure you will be back on the bike by late summer. Get well soon!

 

[Flossyrockstar]

That sucks, I,ve only come off once in 6 years due to being a muppet and going too fast in the wet. I now go a lot slower in wet conditions (almost grinding to a halt way before I hit bends), could you get by on a turbo for the foreseeable?

 

[Black Sheep]

that's sounding like what in the motorcycle world is known as a high sider,

feared more than a low side (where the bike slides out and drops you onto the road)
done the latter on a road bike myself, still not pleasant.

Hope you mend soon

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

You must feel pretty fed up (British understatement). Have had a busted elbow myself after my front light failed and I hit the kerb. Late at night of course alone and 10 miles out. I passed out with the pain but as there were no mobiles back then, when I came to I got back on and cycled home one handed and went to casualty next morning. They said they couldn't operate or anything and I just had to wait til the bone knitted, keeping it very still. It didn't take anything like a year but I had to have physio because the thing had ceased to work and that was painful, involving a lot of ice. Was riding after about 6 months tho' and can still feel it occasionally, otherwise fine.

Best wishes with your recovery.

 

[alicat]

Ouch! I've never had anything as bad as that. Hope they have painted the worst scenario and you will be back on the bike sooner and taking those corners more gently.

 

[TVC]

2006 I suffered a posterior dislocation and separation of the humeral head in the right shoulder. ( I did plenty of other stuff, but I'll not bore). Anyway, the dislocation was undiagnosed for 10 days, then when the hospital worked out what was going on they panicked and I had an emergency operation to put it back.

So, after your operation, expect to have the shoulder immobilised for 4 to 6 weeks, then after about 10 start physio. I was 90pc sorted after three months and back at work, and fully repaired after six.

PM me if I can help any more, and I hope it's not too painful.

 

[fossyant]

That sounds nasty. The work starts after the operation, so do what you are told. Getting mobility back is important. I've never had anything that nasty, only a banged up shoulder that needed a decompression operation. Recovery times can take much longer to get back to where you feel recovered, especially if doing sport.

Take it easy, and then focus on the recovery post op.

 

[Cocheese]

Thank you all for your messages of support, it really means a lot. Currently on morphine for the pain so pretty out of it between bouts of sleeping. Thanks for the positive messages giving me hope and encouragement.

 

[jazzkat]

Nasty high side! Keep your chin up, you'll be ok in the end.

At the start of November one of the guys I was riding with lost it on some ice. He went down and I realised I had nowhere to go, my first thought was this was going to hurt. Sure enough it did. I hit him and went over the bars. When I landed I broke my collar bone right at the end of the bone, at the shoulder joint. I had it plated with a hook plate which joins the bone and supports the shoulder joint. I was six weeks in a sling. When the sling came off I had lost a lot of muscle and so started physio. I've made good progress and after two and a half months went back to work (would have been sooner but I need to drive and I had insufficient strength to drive). Three months on the bone is healed and I'm now on the waiting list to have the plate out.

Its been a long process but it will get better. Keep your chin up, get on the turbo as soon as you can, the endorphins and just exercising will make you feel better and keep the weight off.

Good luck and get well soon!

 

[Cocheese]

hi guys, had my operation yesterday and discharged today. The surgeon said it was a complicated fracture and fix but it went as good as they hoped. In 4 weeks i have a further scan to see if the pinned bones are knitting well as there is a chance that they could die through lack of blood flow. In that event i woulnd need to have a fuerther op and undergo bone grafts. I am hoping to be fit again for late summer early autumn and am looking for a decent national/international ride for me to focus on and get me through. If anyone has any recommendations for ride that would be great.

Thanks for all your kind messages of support, they all really have helped.

 

[yello]

Day at a time, Cocheese, day at a time. Take it easy, feet up and give yourself the time to need.

 

[Aperitif]

Yes - take your time...and, whilst resting, change the pic of a lasagne licking a bottom in your ar5evatar! Quite disturbing!