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Gutted (:0(
6 weeks . I am not a Doctor
Brake with your middle finger?
2 to 4 weeks off the bike, 2 months off mountain biking, 3 months off downhill. For me anyway.
Greg Minnaar didn't wait. Just taped it to the grip and rode.
I'd probably not suggest doing that though. What did they say in the fracture clinic? There's quite a few things you can damage on fingers (nerves and tendons) if you don't let it heal properly. But you'll be back before the summer starts.
Cheers all..feeling a bit low as I have just built up a new ride ..I did it at work..had an op today and they removed my nail...it hurts so much, worse than childbirth I recon..lol
until you can ride without it hurting so much you have to stop (codeine helps;-)
How are you with pain ? Broke my ffinger during practise at a mx meeting. Left my glove on and taped it to the one nxt to it. Did the 3 races but it was sore the nxt day 8O. Had a couple of weeks of then back riding. Co-codamol is your friend.
I've done this a number of times playing cricket. I assume they have strapped it to the adjacent finger? I always allowed 4-6 weeks.
MTFU and ride!
Did it couple years back along with couple of fingers on the other hand. 4 weeks back on the bike. Index finger in splint, just use middle finger instead.
Bit of physio and few weeks later I was in the alps doing Passportes. After I was told I could start riding doing gentle stuff 😀 . Being braking finger it worked out good physio for it. Still can't bend the finger fully but nearly there now.
Depends on the fracture
Couple of hand ones at 6 weeks immobilised then took another 6 to be on the mtb. That was also pushing myself hard. Get a trainer
I won't bore you with details, Tape it to one that's not broke and just crack on.
discapade - Member
had an op today and they removed my nail...it hurts so much,
snapped the tip of mine off and yanked the nail bed out in a brake disc. sorest bit was when they pushed the nail bed back in. 2 weeks bandaged up, had to move my brake lever a centimetre outboard so i could use my next finger.
As long as it takes for the vibration going through it to not hurt!
Currently got a broken thumb, they gave me a plastic splint to keep the thumb straight. Been riding after 2 weeks, got another 2 of the twelve left! Just have to use the palm of the hand for dropper!!
Did you trip down some steps?
Simple.
Front brake on working side. Fixed rear wheel. Problem solved. 🙂
stupidly - MTFU 🙂
sensibly - don't MTFU and / or mask the pain with drugs. Pain means something isn't right. I took painkillers and carried on sailing with a dislocated thumb / broken fore-finger for a 2 week event. 15 years later, my hand aches and my thumb's 'lazy'. I won, so arguably worth it!
Ask a Dr. Do exactly what they tell you. If you think you need or want physio then push for it. There's a reason they spend so long training / earn a fortune!
I cracked my index finger's knuckle and it took 5 weeks for the pain to go. Was riding after 4.
The issue isn't the 6weeks for the bone is any tendon etc damage you need to worry about.
People get away with all sorts of abuse of injured digits but I'd want to be sure I want making things worse by riding - get some professional advice.
I damaged some tendons in my left thumb in a fall last year, they're still not 'right', although I took advice and stayed if the bike for 6 weeks and started out gently bones heal a lot more quickly than other bits.
Cheers all, some great advice here..Only had the op yesterday...jeez the pain is close to broken ribs. I don't like taking drugs of any sort but have been knocking back pain killers like smarties..wtf do we have so many nerve endings in hands and teeth..lol
If you've had an Op ignore all the Mtfu advise including my own. You'll have to wait untill it's properly healed, could be weeks !!
The Doc advised me to stay off the bike for a couple of weeks, but in essence use common sense. If it hurts = stop. I was riding to work again after one week, the vibration was the killer. Riding my cx bike with disc brakes was the only thing that made it feasible in my opinion: wider tyres and disc brakes.
As said, it's the tendon and ligament damage that you have to be careful about. In my case a ligament had partially ripped a bit of bone off and they insisted many months of a finger splint. They weren't really that bothered about the general fractures I had in the other hand.
ajantom - Member
Brake with your middle finger?
Initially I thought this, but obviously be sensible.
I had an injury (I didn't go to the doc in case (s)he told me not to ride my bike or climb) in my hand twice from falling in exactly the same place. It took 3-6 months to stop hurting whilst riding - though for the vast majority of that it only hurt when braking on bumpy sections. Using your middle finger to brake may help you get back on the bike in comfort sooner.
You should of had it removed. You could have been back on the bike next day.
I've not fractured a finger but I've broke a few knuckles and found the small vibrations of going off road really took its toll.
that was after a few weeks of 'healing'
rest is your friend. if you feel ready to ride in a few weeks just don't push to hard.
3 months for me but broke braking and next finger. With physio it now has full movement and is almost at full strength.
Middle finger braking depends on whether your brake will hit the index finger before it comes on...
It's kinda interesting though, I think i might actually have a better grip on the bars like that than with the index on the lever.
I share your pain. Broke my 5th metacarpal last Saturday clipping a tree with the bars. Ive fracture clinic have grounded me for 4 weeks until my next appointment. Not happy as its spring and want to be out when its not a freezing cold bog fest.
Mine did recover to full strength and movement, which was also kind of part of the reason I didn't go to docs, as movement was improving and pain decreasing over time, and I feared resting it could restrict the movement and weaken it. I'm obviously not a doctor and am not recommending my course of action.
Damaged mine riding, ending up having a fusion been riding for 3 years with no movement at all just wear a finger brace and use middle finger for braking, you soon get used to it. 🙂
So the fusion was the last joint? How come it couldn't be repaired mate?
If you've had an op then it's more than a straightforward fracture - and if that's the case the only people you should be taking advice from is the doctors.
Agreed but not going back for a week so want some real life happenings
I won't bore you with details, Tape it to one that's not broke and just crack on.
This
(depending on how you're bred) you have another 9 to use
Turbo trainer time!
Tendons stuck to the bone discapade, the finger wouldn't bend do 3 operations later I had no option but to have a fusion
I chipped the bone next to the knuckle 3 weeks ago. I couldn't see any crack on the xray but took their word for it. It was taped to the next finger for a week and is still swollen compared to the other finger. Not a full on fracture so it's probably not all that bad but catching it on stuff over the first week was sore and I still cant grip tight enough to form a fist. I'm now stretching it and trying some kind of massage each day and its been good over the past few days. Hot water,cold water,hot water - repeat,before the massage is feeling good. Maybe ask someone how long you should wait before you start any stretching or deep massages!
It's only a finger for crying out loud. Good grief
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I was back on the bike the next day but it took a while to get it right 🙂
Mrsfry
This is very painful..broken ribs type pain..it's not the fracture that I'm bothered about really it's the nail being removed and the bed being repaired..Imagine slamming your finger in a door x 100...
Just how attached are you to this finger exactly?
It's the one I pick my nose with...very..
Hurt my finger last Friday, wasn't getting much better, but nothing unbearable, but thought best get checked it out anyway. Stopped off at a Minor Injuries Unit on ride home from work last night.
Turns out I've knocked a chunk out of the bone and was then sent to hospital (after riding home first of course). Initially they said it would need an op, but luckily it doesn't and seeing the Doc/Surgeon last last night seemed to help with the Jedi mind trick... "I will be able to carry on riding my bike won't I as it's my ring finger and don't need it to brake/change gear)?"
Back on bike this morning, just a bit awkward getting gloves over the mallet splint.