injury from accident

vertigoscene

Had a fall from the bike and have injured my wrist. Had an x-ray the other day and no fracture was visible, but doc said that some fractures on the wrist aren't visible for the first few days.

This was about 5 days ago and wrist is still feeling really tender (for those who know it is around the scaphoid bone - http://orthoinfo.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00012).

I only find out definitively if it's fractured when I go back to the docs on Monday, but am starting to think it might be - if it is it means a cast for about 8 weeks, and no cycling this summer!!!!!

Anyone had any similar injuries, how did you first few days go? Would be keen to hear other experiences...

DancesWithSheep

I've boinged on both wrists and fractured a couple of the little blighters on one wing and I thought I'd done it on the other wrist when I ended up head first in a hedge (don't ask!).

A&E nurse said they couldn't tell from the X-ray because of the swelling and had to pop back a couple of days later to fracture clinic. It turned out it was a sprain but it was tender for a week or so.

OOI when I did fracture a scaphoid - no plaster, just a reinforced wrist brace to restrict movement for a month.

Good luck!

garryac

I fractured my scaphoid about 4 years ago falling off over a pothole, aparently it is a very tricky bone to heal due to its strange blood supply, I was in plaster and off work for 9 weeks, then in a wrist brace for a few weeks after that. I hade regular xrays to make sure it healed properly otherwise I would have to be pinned. as for cycling...hmmm I bought a turbo trainer just to keep fit.....big mistake...just think of all that sweat inside the plaster...the amount of dead skin and ...the smell as disgusting when it finally came off

Small Fish

I chipped my scaphoid last year in an embarrassing clipless moment type incident.

I was told exactly the same as you before my x-ray - but my fracture showed up straight away, it was very hard to see - in fact only the doctor could really see it!

I was 'only' in plaster for 6 weeks. The absolute worst part of the whole healing process was the week after the cast was removed - my wrist was really immobile, painful and tender.
It was at least a week before I was able to get back on the bike but once I got back on I very quickly got back to normal - took a couple of weeks before I was back to daily commuting.

It wasn't a pleasant couple of months but mine has healed 100% with no complications. (oh and yes, stinking skin loss, I had that too it's pretty gross!!)

richardast

It happened to me earlier this year after a spill.
I was in a wrist splint for 4 weeks before they decided that it was just ligament damage, not a scaphoid fracture.
Like you, I was convinced for the first week or 2 that it was fractured because of the sharp pain if it moved. I hope you have my luck in that respect.

Paramol and Grolsch would be my prescription for you.

vertigoscene

Thanks for all the advice, it feels a little better, but will probably go back to the hospital on monday to make sure it's not broken.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed - on my right hand anyway....