Fractured Wrist

Yes - I've been there (fell over on an ice rink. Everybody heard the crack of the bones breaking echoing around the arena...)

If you only broke it yesterday, you're probably still in a "backslab" while the swelling goes down a bit. When they put a proper cast on in a day or two, you'll be a little more comfortable and you'll be able to do more with your hand. If you can get them to use fibreglass bandage as well as or instead of plaster in the cast it'll be lighter and more waterproof (maybe this is standard these days?)

Not only could I not ride a bike for three months or so (it was too weak and sore even after the plaster came off), I couldn't play guitar for six months (it was my left wrist.) Although there are those who'll say I couldn't play anyway and still can't....

If you live on your own, you're in for some challenges. Driving may be difficult. Tying your shoe laces can be impossible, buttons and zips tricky while your fingers are weak, and you may starve before you're able to use a tin opener. (I resorted to holding the tin in a vice and using the jiggle-it-up-and-down tin opener on a swiss army knife, rather than the squeeze-and-turn-the-handle type).

I think I was able to maintain some fitness largely because I lived four miles from the nearest shop and I had to walk to get food - or go hungry! So I did a <i>lot</i> of walking. When the break started to mend, I was able to run as well (vibration made it too sore initially).

You'll know what's OK to do with your wrist. If it's not OK it'll hurt. A lot in the early stages. Playing squash with that hand will be out of the question for months. Contact sports are probably unwise for a while - you don't want to crack it again while it's weak. That's probably where the "don't play sports" advice comes from.

You won't want to put any weight on your wrist for quite a while, so the trainer'll probably be OK as long as you can ride it hands free. But you'll get bored. Once you're able to run, you might find that more satisfying. When the plaster finally comes off, your wrist'll feel (and look!) like wet spaghetti - see if you can get the hospital to give you a neoprene support for it at that stage.

Of course, if you get a recumbent bike, that puts no weight on your wrists. You could probably ride one tomorrow. Well, maybe next week. I have one now - I wish I'd had it then. On the other hand, <i>learning </i> to ride recumbent, with the attendant probability of falling off, probably wouldn't be wise with a dodgy wrist...

One other thing - after the plaster's off, grab any offers of physiotherapy with both hands. It's a nuisance schlepping back and forth to appointments, but I promise it'll be worth the hassle and pain in the long run. Broken wrists can get stronger and stronger, but stiffer and stiffer. If you don't do the physio, you may end up with one hand that won't do what it used to, ever. Physio should help prevent this, so do it.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot
Nothing is going to get better. It's not"
- Dr Seuss

Give Baby Elephants Room!

Or just join a local gym.. they will have sit down stationary bikes..

be careful of the fact that it will throb nicely for a couple of hours after exercise.. that is just the fact that your blood vessels are dilated and your heart is pumping..

Personally would leave it for about 4 weeks and then think about it... you will lose a bit but nothing to worry about.

Turbo trainer sessions are as Paul-B has pointed out are very sweaty and the cast doesn't smell to pleasant after[xx(]. I found that after 3 weeks I was able to ride the bike with it on. so that could be an option, though I would advise riding on your own because control is impaired.

Not to put a damper on your day but it seemed to me that it's when the cast comes off that your troubles really begin, Wrist weak as a kitten and pains that shoot off in all directions, whenever you try to do something with it.

Not an option yet but after the cast comes off then swimming seems to be a good form of exercise to strengthen it.

One side note that Uncle Phil pointed out about driving being difficult, i was told that my insurance was invalid whilst i had a cast on and was not allowed to drive. Not a problem at 15 i know but others might wish to find out if it happens to them

<font size="1">"You can't get lucky all the time" </font id="size1">
<font size="1"><font color="blue">"but you can be smart everyday" </font id="blue"></font id="size1">

and the morale of the story is, don't go mountain biking. It's an accident waiting to happen.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by coopj</i>
I'm just recovering from a broken elbow, it's been 2 months since I broke it, I've been having physio every week since and still can't cycle as my arm is far too weak and I can't straighten it enough. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

What bit did you break coopj? It's sounds nasty.

I fractured my elbow last weekend (radial head) but was told it doesn't need a cast or plaster. The doc didn't say how long I should stay off the bike other than "when you feel comfortable". Two months out would really depress me...My aim is to do the Maratona and Marmotte in 3 and 4 weeks time but don't know if I should cancel and claim back what I can on insurance.